The New York Innovative Theatre announced Monday the nominees for its annual award ceremony, which recognizes outstanding independent theater. In the basement of a church-turned–theater venue at Our Lady of Pompeii, throngs of theater artists mingled and chatted with each other, exchanging celebratory words.
"I found out I was nominated the day I came back from a vacation in Mexico," said solo performance candidate Andrea Caban, who was nominated for her work "Questions My Mother Can't Answer." "It was a really nice thing to come home to. I'm just really happy to be here tonight."
The Innovative Theatre Awards is in its seventh year and has honored more than 300 theater companies, 400 productions, and 1,500 individual artists. This year's ceremony is set for Sept. 19. Candidates usually are announced on the third Monday of July, but the announcement was delayed this year due to confusion about whether the artists would be informed of their nominations beforehand.
According to the Innovative Theatre's official website, there was a consideration to attempt something new and to integrate more of the community. However, an official decision was then made to notify the nominees prior to Monday's event.
"I don't really have an opinion on it," said Caban. "I would have come either way; it's just such an honor to be here."
Lauren Rayner, who worked on two nominated productions, understood the other perspective.
"If I hadn't found out, I would have thought that our companies didn't get one, so there's a chance I might not have come," said Rayner, who worked as associate producer for choreography/movement nominee "disOriented" at Theatre C and produced performance art production candidate "Hold Music" for Peg Leg Productions. "But I probably would have come either way."
After each name was called, cheers and applause came in spurts from all corners of the room, from the photo station near the stage to the concession tables in the back. For solo performance contender Elaine Del Valle, her first-time nomination was particularly meaningful.
"This was something I had done without the help of many people," she said of her one-woman show "Brownsville Bred." "It was just me writing a play and putting it on in a downtown theater, getting my friends to help me with the lighting. It really meant something to have succeeded in that way."
And to others, such as Seth Allen, a nomination may highlight a landmark moment. He and his cast members received an ensemble nomination for T. Schreiber Studio's production of Lanford Wilson's "Balm in Gilead." Allen said, "It was the first show he [Wilson] wrote, and he came to the theater to see it while he was in hospice before he passed. He gave us his feedback, and it was one of the top moments of inspiration of my life."
Selected List of 2011 Nominees:
Production of a Musical
"(oh my god I am so) THIRST(y)," Little Lord (a theater company)
"A Christmas Carol," Literally Alive
"Reefer Madness the Musical," The Gallery Players
"The Drowsy Chaperone," The Gallery Players
"The Human Comedy," Astoria Performing Arts Center
"The Walk Across America for Mother Earth," LaMaMa Experimental Theater Club
Production of a Play
"Balm in Gilead," T. Schreiber Studio
"Benefactors," Retro Productions
"Circus of Circus," The House of Yes
"St. Nicholas," Theatre of the Expendable
"The Navigator," WorkShop Theater Company
"The Revival," Project Y Theatre Company
Ensemble
"(oh my god I am so) THIRST(y)," Little Lord (a theater company)
"Balm in Gilead," T. Schreiber Studio
"Benefactors," Retro Productions
"Radio Purgatory" Theater THE
"The Drowsy Chaperone," The Gallery Players
"The Tremendous Tremendous," The Mad Ones
"Theater of the Arcade: Five Classic Video Games Adapted for the Stage," Brick Theater
Solo Performance
Andrea Caban, "Questions My Mother Can't Answer," Coyote REP Theatre Company & the terraNOVA Collective
Nat Cassidy, "Things at the Doorstep: An Evening of Horror Based on the Works of H.P. Lovecraft," Manhattan Theatre Source, Greg Oliver Bodine, and Nat Cassidy
Elaine Del Valle, "Brownsville Bred," Del Valle Productions Inc.
Monica Hunken, "Blondie of Arabia," Monica Hunken and Co.
Darrell James, "St. Nicholas," Theatre of the Expendable
Grant Neale, "Polanski, Polanski," terraNOVA Collective
Actor in a Featured Role
Daniel Abeles, "Keep Your Baggage With You (at all times)," Artists Empire
David Darrow, "The Revival," Project Y Theatre Company
Gregory Konow, "An Impending Rupture of the Belly," Godlight Theatre Company
Jeff Pagliano, "Fracturing," Sweeter Theater Productions
Colin Pritchard, "The Drowsy Chaperone," The Gallery Players
Brent Vimtrup, "Sight Unseen," InProximity Theatre Company
Actress in a Featured Role
Becky Byers, "Dog Act," Flux Theatre Ensemble
Deanna McGovern, "An Impending Rupture of the Belly," Godlight Theatre Company
Elizabeth Neptune, "Weekend at an English Country Estate," Ateh Theater Group
Lauren Roth, "Billy Carver and the Children in Mind," OptiMystics
Nicole Taylor, "The Navigator," WorkShop Theater Company
Laura von Holt, "(oh my god I am so) THIRST(y)," Little Lord (a theater company)
Actor in a Lead Role
DJ Canaday, "A Christmas Carol," Literally Alive
Trent Dawson, "The Revival," Project Y Theatre Company
Kevin Kane, "Someone Who'll Watch Over Me," The Collective NY
Nick Paglino, "An Impending Rupture of the Belly," Godlight Theatre Company
Jeff Paul, "Interchange," WorkShop Theater Company
Craig E. Treubert, "The Drowsy Chaperone," The Gallery Players
Actress in a Lead Role
Viriginia Bartholomew, "Macbeth," Redd Tale Theatre Company
Jill Bianchini, "Balm in Gilead," T. Schreiber Studio
Kelly Anne Burns, "The Navigator," WorkShop Theater Company
Belle Caplis, "Balm in Gilead," T. Schreiber Studio
Heather E. Cunningham, "Benefactors," Retro Productions
Daphne Gaines, "The Walk Across America for Mother Earth," LaMaMa Experimental Theater Club
