2019 CLEVELAND CRITICS CIRCLE THEATER AWARDS
The Cleveland Critics Circle each year honors local theaters, performances, writers, performers and technicians of plays staged by Cleveland area professional theaters during the January 1-December 31 year. Award Committee Voters: Roy Berko, Kerry Clawson, Howard Gollop, Mark Horning, Laura Kennelly and Andrea Simakis. Participation in these awards does not preclude individual critics from preparing their own recognitions.
Those recognized for Superior Achievement are listed alphabetically, not by order of achievement.
Best Musical Production
ONCE, Beck Center/Baldwin Wallace Music Theatre Program
Honorable Mention:
KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN, Blank Canvas Theatre
MAN OF LA MANCHA, Porthouse Theatre
THE MUSIC MAN, Great Lakes Theater
Best Non-Musical Production
TWO, none too fragile
Honorable Mention:
AN ILIAD, Cleveland Play House
BY THE BOG OF CATS, Ensemble Theatre
HAMLET, Ohio Shakespeare Festival
INTO THE BREECHES, Cleveland Play House
STUPID FUCKING BIRD, Dobama Theatre
Best Actor – Musical
Fablo Polanco, MAN OF LA MANCHA, Porthouse Theatre
Honorable Mention
Alex Syiek, THE MUSIC MAN, Great Lakes Theater
Jake Slater, ONCE, Beck Center/Baldwin Wallace Music Theatre Program
Patrick Ciamacco, THE TOXIC AVENGER, Blank Canvas Theatre
Scott Esposito, KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN, Blank Canvas Theatre
Best Actor – Non-Musical
David Peacock, TWO, none too fragile
Robert Hawkes, KING LEAR, Beck Center
Honorable Mention
Alex Brightwell, EVERY BRILLIANT THING, Cleveland Play House
Christopher M. Bohan, GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS, Beck Center
Kieron Cindric, HOMOS OR EVERYONE IN AMERICA, convergence-continuum
Best Actress – Musical
Nicole Sumlin, LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR & GRILL, Beck Center
Honorable Mention
Jillian Kates, THE MUSIC MAN, Great Lakes Theater
Kelsey Brown, ONCE, Beck Center/Baldwin Wallace Music Theatre Program
Mary-Francis R. Miller, AIDA, Karamu Theatre
Best Actress – Non-Musical
Tarah Flanagan, AN ILIAD, Cleveland Play House
Honorable Mention
Amy Fritsche, THE PENELOPIAD, Ensemble Theatre
Derdriu Ring, TWO, none too fragile
Laura Perotta, STUPID FUCKING BIRD, Dobama Theatre
Tess Burgler, HAMLET, Ohio Shakespeare Festival
Rising Stars
Male
Jake Spencer, RAGTIME, Cain Park
Female
Calista Zajac, NETHER, Dobama Theatre
Best Director – Musical
Victoria Bussert, ONCE, Beck Center/Baldwin Wallace Music Theatre Program
Honorable Mention
Patrick Ciamacco, KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN, Blank Canvas Theatre
Terri Kent, MAN OF LA MANCHA, Porthouse Theatre
Victoria Bussert, MUSIC MAN, Great Lakes Theater
Best Director – Non-Musical
Nathan Motta, STUPID FUCKING BIRD, Dobama Theatre
Honorable Mention
Robert Barry Fleming, NATIVE GARDENS, Cleveland Play House
Sara Brunner, JULIUS CAESAR, Great Lakes Theater
Sean Derry, TWO, none too fragile
Tarah Flanagan and Andrew Carlson, AN ILIAD, Cleveland Play House
Best Choreographer
Martin Céspedes, MAN OF LA MANCHA, Porthouse Theatre
Honorable Mention
Gregory Daniels, ONCE, Beck Center/Baldwin Wallace Music Theatre Program
Imani Jackson, RAGTIME, Cain Park
Martin Cespedes, MATILDA, Beck Center