2008 IT Awards Nominees Announced

 On July 21, 2008, the IT Awards (New York Innovative Theatre Awards), the organization dedicated to celebrating Off-Off-Broadway, announced the 2008 nominees at a standing-room only event at "Our Lady of Pompeii" located at 25 Carmine Street. The 2008 Nominees were selected from an adjudication pool of over 3,000 artists. Nominees include 127 individual artists, 47 different productions and 40 theatre companies.

Among the nominees are a husband and wife team, Jack and Rebecca Cunningham, who share a nomination for Outstanding Set Design for Mill Fire, which was produced by their daughter, Heather Cunningham. Three artists; Dan Bianchi, Michael Kramer and Qui Nguyen are each nominated for more than 1 production. And although most of the nominated productions have already closed, two of them, Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind and Elizabeth Rex continue to have performances in the new season. "To have done this amazing play to packed houses and then make the move to an Off-Broadway Premiere is a great experience. And now to be honored with two IT Award nominations is just the icing on the cake! The judges and audience votes have just been really terrific and the whole cast is incredibly pleased and excited for our August run at Center Stage" states Stephanie Barton-Farcas, Actor and Artistic Director, Elizabeth Rex produced by Nicu's Spoon.

A major announcement was made: Blue Man Group, the wildly popular Off-Broadway sensation at the Astor Place Theater and international entertainment phenomenon which combines music, comedy and multimedia theatrics to create a totally unique form of entertainment, will be performing the opening number at this year's award ceremony on September 22nd, 2008.

"We are excited about participating in this New York tradition of honoring diverse theater in NYC," states Blue Man performer, Wes Day. "Blue Man Group celebrates its New York roots and is proud to be grounded in this vibrant New York theatre culture."

Press photos and information about the event are available at www.nyitawards.com and from our press agent Katie Rosin at 917-438-9223 and Katie@kampfirefilmspr.com.

AND THE NOMINEES ARE:

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE

Tanya Calamoneri, Heather Harpham, Lisa Ramirez, Cassie Terman
Art of Memory, Company SoGoNo

Jessica Burr, Zenzele Cooper, Dave Edson, Jason Griffin, Anna Kepe, Eunjee Lee, Celli Pitt, Matthew Sincell, Darrell Stokes, Laura Wickens
Burn, Crave, Hold: The James Wilde Project, Blessed Unrest

Elena Chang, Noshir Dalal, Jon Hoche, Kelley Rae O'Donnell, Melissa Paladino, Maureen Sebastian, Andrea Marie Smith, Paco Tolson, Temar Underwood
Fight Girl Battle World, Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company

Michael Crane, Andrew Guilarte, Sanjiv Jhaveri, Rock Kohli, Ramiz Monsef, Gita Reddy, David Sajadi
The Leopard and The Fox, Alter Ego Productions

Danny Ashkenasi, Matt W. Cody, Paul Daily, Tatiana Gomberg, Emily Hartford, Ned Massey
The Night of Nosferatu, Rabbit Hole Ensemble

Joe Basile, Christopher Borg, Jeffrey Cranor, Kevin R. Free, Ryan Good, Eevin Hartsough, Jacquelyn Landgraf, Sarah Levy, Erica Livingston, Rob Neill, Joey Rizzolo, Justin Tolley, Jenny Williams
Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind, New York Neo-Futurists

OUTSTANDING SOLO PERFORMANCE

Dana Berger
Washing Machine, Fist In The Pocket Theater in association with The Chocolate Factory

Andrea Caban
You Got Questions? I Got Answers!, Coyote REP Theatre Company

Taylor Mac
The Young Ladies Of..., HERE Arts Center

Petronia Paley
On the Way to Timbuktu, Ensemble Studio Theatre

Jonathan Pereira
American Cake, Prickly Pear Productions in association with the FRIGID Festival

Melle Powers
Whence Came Ye Scarlett O'Hara O'Hanrahan?, 53 Hysterics in association with the FRIGID Festival

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A FEATURED ROLE

Tom Bain
The Pied Pipers of the Lower East Side, The Amoralists Theatre Company

Jason Griffin
Burn, Crave, Hold: The James Wilde Project, Blessed Unrest

Greg T. Parente
Night of Nigro, The Strain Theatre Company

Rob Sheridan
The Two Lives of Napoleon Beazley, Incumbo Theater Company

Matthew Sincell
Burn, Crave, Hold: The James Wilde Project, Blessed Unrest

Paco Tolson
Fight Girl Battle World, Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A FEATURED ROLE

Britney Burgess
Professional Skepticism, Zootopia Theatre Company

Megan Byrne
No End of Blame, Potomac Theatre Project

Kaylin Lee Clinton
The Round of Pleasure, New Stage Theatre Company

Catherine Correa
The Round of Pleasure, New Stage Theatre Company

Tatiana Gomberg
The Night of Nosferatu, Rabbit Hole Ensemble

Erica Terpening
Night of Nigro, The Strain Theatre Company

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A LEAD ROLE

Michael DiGioia
Elizabeth Rex, Nicu's Spoon

Alex Draper
No End of Blame, Potomac Theatre Project

Peter Judd
You Can't Take It With You, T. Schreiber Studio

Cameron J. Oro
The Accidental Patriot: The Lamentable Tragedy of the Pirate Desmond Connelly, Irish by Birth, English by Blood, and American by Inclination
The Stolen Chair Theatre Company

Maximilian Osinski
Cherry Docs, Theatre of the Expendable

Bobby Steggert
Yank! A New Musical, The Gallery Players

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A LEAD ROLE

Abby Baum
Triumph of Love, Astoria Performing Arts Center

Stephanie Barton-Farcas
Elizabeth Rex, Nicu's Spoon

Laura Heidinger
Six Degrees of Separation, The Gallery Players

Lauren Kelston
Mill Fire, Retro Productions

Kira Sternbach
Gerald's Method, Gallant Arts

Kristen Vaughan
Mill Fire, Retro Productions

OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY/MOVEMENT

Julie Atlas Muz
The Round of Pleasure, New Stage Theatre Company

Barbara Charlene
The Accidental Patriot: The Lamentable Tragedy of the Pirate Desmond Connelly, Irish by Birth, English by Blood, and American by Inclination
The Stolen Chair Theatre Company

Kelly Hayes
Burn, Crave, Hold: The James Wilde Project, Blessed Unrest

Patrick Hogan & Robert O'Neill
Echo Lake, Embodiment Productions

Anabella Lenzu & Qui Nguyen
(RUS)H, HERE Arts Center

Qui Nguyen
Fight Girl Battle World, Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company

OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR

Edward Elefterion
The Night of Nosferatu, Rabbit Hole Ensemble

David Gow
Cherry Docs, Theatre of the Expendable

Emma Griffin
Removable Parts, HERE Arts Center

Richard Romagnoli
No End of Blame, Potomac Theatre Project

Robert Ross Parker
Fight Girl Battle World, Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company

Damen Scranton
Burn, Crave, Hold: The James Wilde Project, Blessed Unrest

OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN

Christopher Brown
(RUS)H, HERE Arts Center

Deborah Constantine
Same Train, Algonquin Theater Productions

Kevin Hardy
The Night of Nosferatu, Rabbit Hole Ensemble

Kerrie Lovercheck
Mill Fire, Retro Productions

Philip Sandstrom
Echo Lake, Embodiment Productions

Benjamin C. Tevelow
Burn, Crave, Hold: The James Wilde Project, Blessed Unrest

OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN

Rebecca Cunningham
What I Did Last Summer, Retro Productions

Leon Dobkowski
The Leopard and The Fox, Alter Ego Productions

Jessica Sofia Mitrani & Ildiko Nemeth
The Round of Pleasure, New Stage Theatre Company

Mioko Mochizuki
Art of Memory, Company SoGoNo

Bobby Pearce
The Chaos Theories, Shotgun Productions in association with The Resistance Theatre Company and MILJam Productions

Jessica Wegener
Fight Girl Battle World, Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company

OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN

Sean Breault
Art of Memory, Company SoGoNo

Jack Cunningham & Rebecca Cunningham
Mill Fire, Retro Productions

Michael Kramer
Proof, Astoria Performing Arts Center

Michael Kramer
Triumph of Love, Astoria Performing Arts Center

Travis McHale
The People vs. Mona, Ground Up Productions

Tim McMath
Six Degrees of Separation, The Gallery Players

Matt Ward
Mary Trilogy, Mir Productions

OUTSTANDING SOUND DESIGN

Amy Altadonna
Mill Fire, Retro Productions

Dan Bianchi
The Invisible Man, Radiotheatre

Dan Bianchi
The Island of Dr. Moreau, Radiotheatre

Miguel Frasconi
Art of Memory, Company SoGoNo

Damen Scranton
Burn, Crave, Hold: The James Wilde Project, Blessed Unrest

Patrick Shearer
Fight Girl Battle World, Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company

OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL MUSIC

Dan Bianchi
The Invisible Man, Radiotheatre

Dan Bianchi
The Island of Dr. Moreau, Radiotheatre

Mark Bruckner
Same Train, Algonquin Theater Productions

Larry Lees
The Magic of Mrs. Crowling, Royal Circus in association with Horse Trade

Pete Mills
The Rockae, Prospect Theater Company

Mitun Sinha
The Leopard and The Fox, Alter Ego Productions

Min Xiao-Fen
On the Way to Timbuktu, Ensemble Studio Theatre

OUTSTANDING FULL-LENGTH SCRIPT

Bekah Brunstetter
You May Go Now, Babel Theatre Project

Qui Nguyen
Fight Girl Battle World, Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company

Matthew Opatrny
Burn, Crave, Hold: The James Wilde Project, Blessed Unrest

David Pumo
Auntie Mayhem, Gato Flaco Productions and Wings Theatre Company

James Scruggs
(RUS)H, HERE Arts Center

Stanton Wood
The Night of Nosferatu, Rabbit Hole Ensemble

OUTSTANDING SHORT SCRIPT

Andrea Caban
You Got Questions? I Got Answers!, Coyote REP Theatre Company

Bronwen Denton-Davis
Pealing Figs, Mind The Gap Theatre

Daniel Gallant
Gerald's Method, Gallant Arts

Philip Gawthorne
Modern Life is Rubbish, Mind The Gap Theatre

Nancy Harris
Girl in a Bath, Mind The Gap Theatre

Aliza Shane
The Three Sillies, The Looking Glass Theatre

C. Denby Swanson
Potato Feast, The Drilling Company

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE ART PRODUCTION

Art of Memory, Company SoGoNo

The Island of Dr. Moreau, Radiotheatre

Removable Parts, HERE Arts Center

Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind, New York Neo-Futurists

You Got Questions? I Got Answers!, Coyote REP Theatre Company

The Young Ladies Of..., HERE Arts Center

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL

Conjur Woman, LaMaMa Experimental Theater Club

Honor, Prospect Theater Company

The People vs. Mona, Ground Up Productions

The Rockae, Prospect Theater Company

Triumph of Love, Astoria Performing Arts Center

Yank! A New Musical, The Gallery Players

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF A PLAY

Burn, Crave, Hold: The James Wilde Project, Blessed Unrest

The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Hipgnosis Theatre Company

Cherry Docs, Theatre of the Expendable

Fight Girl Battle World, Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company

No End of Blame, Potomac Theatre Project

The Night of Nosferatu, Rabbit Hole Ensemble

SAVE THE DATE:
4th Annual IT Awards Ceremony
Monday, September 22nd, 2008
Fashion Institute of Technology
Sponsors: Back Stage, United Stages, Kampfire Films PR, Yeungling Beer and GuS Soda

About The New York Innovative Theatre Foundation:

The IT Awards are given annually to honor individuals and organizations who have achieved artistic excellence in Off-Off-Broadway theatre. The New York Innovative Theatre Foundation recognizes the unique and essential role Off-Off-Broadway plays in contributing to American and global culture, and believes that publicly recognizing excellence in Off-Off-Broadway theatre will expand audience awareness and appreciation of the full New York theatre experience.
For more information please visit www.nyitawards.com