Reagle Music Theatre Nominated for 10 IRNE Awards; Ceremony Set for 4/29

Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston has been nominated for 10 Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) Awards in the Large Theater category for 2012. "Bye Bye Birdie" received eight nominations, including Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for Anita Gillette (Chapter Two, Moonstruck, 30 Rock). "A Chorus Line" and "My Fair Lady" each earned one nomination.

Winners will be announced on April 29 at the Boston Center for the Arts Cyclorama, 539 Tremont Street, Boston. A pre-ceremony reception begins at 7:00 p.m. The awards ceremony begins at 7:30 p.m. For BWW's complete list of 2012 IRNE nominees, click HERE.

"Bye Bye Birdie" was nominated as Best Musical, and Larry Sousa was nominated as Best Director and Best Choreographer of a Musical for his innovative staging. Carman Napier, who starred as Rose Alvarez, was nominated as Best Actress in a Musical. Shonna Cirone as Gloria Rasputin shared a Best Supporting Actress in a Musical nomination with Gillette, while Dan Rodriguez received a nomination as Best Music Director for his work on the show. Naree Ketudat as the bubbly Ursula was nominated as Most Promising Young Performer.

From "A Chorus Line," Scott Abreu was nominated as Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for his sensitive yet powerful portrayal of the talented dancer Paul. Directed and choreographed by Leslie Woodies, who starred as Cassie in the national and international tours of the original Broadway production, Reagle's "A Chorus Line" recreated Michael Bennett's Tony Award-winning choreography.

Also nominated for an IRNE Award was Robert St. Laurence, whose soaring tenor delighted audiences as Freddie in "My Fair Lady." His solo "On the Street Where You Live" was one of many highlights of the sumptuous production.

The Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) Awards were founded by Beverly Creasey of The Journal Newspapers and Larry Stark of TheaterMirror in 1997. The IRNE Awards recognize the extraordinary wealth of talent in the Boston theatre community. IRNE reviewers include among others David Brooks Andrews, Sheila Barth, Jules Becker, Kay Bourne, Beverly Creasey, Shirley Esthimer, Richard Fahey, Thomas Garvey, Guy Giampapa, Norm Gross, Nancy Grossman, Bryce Lambert, Beatrice Lee, Kilian Melloy and Larry Stark. For IRNE consideration, Reagle Music Theatre competes in the Large Theater category alongside Boston's renowned Huntington Theatre Company and Cambridge's Tony Award-winning American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.).

Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston is an award-winning professional regional theater company that features Broadway stars performing alongside local talent. Now in its 45th season, the non-profit organization operates year-round, producing major musicals each summer, spectacular seasonal revues, and celebrity concerts featuring legendary entertainers. Stars who have appeared at Reagle include Brent Barrett, Patrick Cassidy, John Davidson, Mitzi Gaynor, Anita Gillette, Robert Goulet, Rick Hilsabeck, Shirley Jones, Lorenzo Lamas, Patti LuPone, Ann Margaret, Andrea McArdle, Lee Meriwether, The Mills Brothers, Sarah Pfisterer, Debbie Reynolds, Sally Struthers, Tommy Tune, Leslie Uggams, Joanne Worley, and Rachel York.