Atlanta, GA

Last night was the annual Suzi Bass award ceremony held at the Egyptian Ballroom at the Fabulous Fox Theater. This award ceremony is for local Atlanta theater productions recognizing all areas needed to produce a theatrical production - from lighting, director, actors, and more. The award ceremony is a black tie event, and it exudes old Hollywood glamour.

Marietta’s Theater in the Square walked away as the big winner this year with eight awards.

I have personally had the privilege to work with 5 of this year’s nominees with the current production of Water Coolers at Horizon Theater. Water Coolers is in its final week of performances, so I strongly encourage you to come see some of the best talent in Atlanta. For more information on Water Coolers, visit Horizon Theater website: www.horizontheatre.com

Although everyone wants to be a winner – it’s quite the feat to have been nominated in such an incredible pool of talent. Congratulations to all the nominees, winners, and the unrecognized artists of Atlanta who share their talent with this city every year.

Here are the nominees and winners (in bold) for this year’s Suzi Bass Award:

2007 Spirit of Suzi Award Jerry’s Habima Theatre

2007 Gene-Gabriel Moore Playwrighting Award - Eddie Levi Lee and Larry
Larson for their play Charm School produced this season by Horizon Theatre
Company

Outstanding Featured Actress - Play

Carol Mitchell-leon *The Bluest Eye *Horizon Theatre
Jackie Prucha *Waiting to be Invited *Theatrical Outfit
Jill Jane Clements *The Chase *Theatrical Outfit
Jill Jane Clements *Turned Funny *Theatre in the Square
Kate Donadio *All The King’s Men *Theatre in the Square
Kathleen Wattis *Based on a Totally True Story *Actor’s Express
Valerie Payton *Romeo and Juliet *Shakespeare Tavern

Outstanding Featured Actress - Musical

Amy K. Murray *Sister Act the musical *Alliance Theatre
Ellen McQueen *Cabaret *Shakespeare Tavern
Jennifer Akin *Mount Pleasant Homecoming *Theatre in the Square
Karen Howell *Mount Pleasant Homecoming *Theatre in the Square
Libby Whittemore *The Great American Trailer Park Musical *Actor’s Express

Outstanding Featured Actor - Play

Andrew Benator *Brooklyn Boy *Jewish Theatre of the South
Chris Kayser *Glengarry Glen Ross *Alliance Theatre
Jason Dirden *Ceremonies in Dark Old Men *True Colors
John Benzinger *The Pillowman *Actor’s Express
John G. Preston *Othello *Georgia Shakespeare
Neal A. Ghant *Glengarry Glen Ross *Alliance Theatre
Ric Reitz *Turned Funny *Theatre in the Square

Outstanding Featured Actor - Musical

Alan Kilpatrick *Mount Pleasant Homecoming *Theatre in the Square
Brandon O’Dell *The Thing About Men *Horizon Theatre
Craig A. Meyer *A Year with Frog and Toad *Synchronicity Performance Group
Dolph Amick *The Great American Trailer Park Musical *Actor’s Express
Jeff Watkins *Cabaret *Shakespeare Tavern

Outstanding Choreography

Jeff McKerley * Cabaret * Shakespeare Tavern
Jen Macqueen * A Year with Frog and Toad * Synchronicity Performance Group
Marguerite Derricks * Sister Act the musical * Alliance Theatre

Outstanding Music Direction

Bryan Mercer * A Year with Frog and Toad * Synchronicity Performance Group
Dale Grogan * Respect * Gfour Productions/Bob & Gudrun Cuillo
Michael Kosarin/Brent-Alan Huffman * Sister Act the musical * Alliance Theatre
Michael Monroe * Mount Pleasant Homecoming * Theatre in the Square
Renee Clark * Cabaret * Shakespeare Tavern

Outstanding Costume Design

Douglas J. Koertge * The Servant of Two Masters * Georgia Shakespeare
English Benning * I Am My Own Wife * Actor’s Express
Garry Lennon * Sister Act the musical * Alliance Theatre
Joanna Schmink * The Violet Hour * 7 Stages
Katherine Aurora Callahan * A Year with Frog and Toad * Synchronicity Performance Group
Sydney Roberts * Othello * Georgia Shakespeare
Sydney Roberts * Pericles * Georgia Shakespeare

Outstanding Lighting Design

Donald Holder * Sister Act the musical * Alliance Theatre
Jessica Coale * Beckett’s Memories * 7 Stages
Liz Lee * Cuttin’ Up * Alliance Theatre
Liz Lee * Othello * Georgia Shakespeare
William H. Grant III * Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue * Alliance Theatre

Outstanding Scenic Design

Derek Kinsler/Nick Collins * A Year with Frog and Toad * Synchronicity Performance Group
Jonathan Williamson * The Great American Trailer Park Musical * Actor’s Express
Kat Conley * Othello * Georgia Shakespeare
Kat Conley * Pericles * Georgia Shakespeare
Lisa Johnson * Voices Underwater * Synchronicity Performance Group
Shaun L. Motley * Cuttin’ Up * Alliance Theatre
Tamara McElhannon * 9 Parts of Desire * Horizon Theatre

Outstanding Sound Design

Chris Bartelski * 9 Parts of Desire * Horizon Theatre
Clay Benning * Cuttin’ Up * Alliance Theatre
Clay Benning/ Kendall Simpson * False Creeds * Alliance Theatre
Joseph P. Monaghan, III * Turned Funny * Theatre in the Square
Klimchak/Clay Benning * Pericles * Georgia Shakespeare
Mimi Epstein * Voices Underwater * Synchronicity Performance Group

Outstanding Director - Play

B.J. Jones *Glengarry Glen Ross *Alliance Theatre
Fred Chappell *Turned Funny *Theatre in the Square
Jasson Minadakis *The Pillowman *Actor’s Express
Kenny Leon *Ceremonies in Dark Old Men *True Colors
Lisa Adler *9 Parts of Desire *Horizon Theatre

Outstanding Director - Musical

Clint Thornton *A Year with Frog and Toad *Synchronicity Performance Group
Dex Edwards *Mount Pleasant Homecoming *Theatre in the Square
Freddie Ashley *The Great American Trailer Park Musical *Actor’s Express
Heidi Cline *Cabaret *Shakespeare Tavern
Peter Schneider *Sister Act the musical *Alliance Theatre

Outstanding Ensemble - Play

9 Parts of Desire * Horizon Theatre
Glengarry Glen Ross * Alliance Theatre
The Bluest Eye * Horizon Theatre
The God Committee * Theatrical Outfit
The Pillowman * Actor’s Express

Outstanding Ensemble - Musical

A Year with Frog and Toad * Synchronicity Performance Group
Mount Pleasant Homecoming * Theatre in the Square
Respect * Gfour Productions/Bob & Gudrun Cuillo
Sister Act the musical * Alliance Theatre
The Great American Trailer Park Musical * Actor’s Express

Outstanding Lead Actress - Play

Agnes Harty *Educating Rita *Red Clay Theatre
Farida Kalala *I Have Before Me a Remarkable Document Given to Me by a Young
Lady from Rwanda *Theatre in the Square
Linda Stephens *Turned Funny *Theatre in the Square
Mary Lynn Owen *Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue *Alliance Theatre
Park Krausen *Othello *Georgia Shakespeare
Veronika Duerr *Romeo and Juliet *Shakespeare Tavern

Outstanding Lead Actress - Musical

Agnes Harty *Cabaret *Shakespeare Tavern
Claci Miller *The Great American Trailer Park Musical *Actor’s Express
Dawnn Lewis *Sister Act the musical *Alliance Theatre
Sara Onsager *The Thing About Men *Horizon Theatre
Wendy Melkonian *The Great American Trailer Park Musical *Actor’s Express

Outstanding Lead Actor - Play

Daniel May *The Pillowman *Actor’s Express
David Milford *All The King’s Men *Theatre in the Square
Doyle Reynolds *I Am My Own Wife *Actor’s Express
Eddie Levi Lee *Charm School *Horizon Theatre
Glynn Turman *Ceremonies in Dark Old Men *True Colors

Outstanding Lead Actor - Musical

Bryan Mercer *A Year with Frog and Toad *Synchronicity Performance Group
David Jennings *Sister Act the musical *Alliance Theatre
Jeff McKerley *Cabaret *Shakespeare Tavern
Jeff McKerley *The Thing About Men *Horizon Theatre
Spencer G. Stephens *A Year with Frog and Toad *Synchronicity Performance Group

Outstanding Production - Play

9 Parts of Desire * Horizon Theatre
I Am My Own Wife * Actor’s Express
I Have Before Me a Remarkable Document Given to Me by a Young Lady from
Rwanda * Theatre in the Square
The Pillowman * Actor’s Express
Turned Funny * Theatre in the Square

Outstanding Production - Musical

A Year with Frog and Toad * Synchronicity Performance Group
Cabaret * Shakespeare Tavern
Mount Pleasant Homecoming * Theatre in the Square
Sister Act the musical * Alliance Theatre
The Great American Trailer Park Musical *Actor’s Express

For another look into the inside world of acting, check out: www.alwaysauditioning.com