Reagle Music Theatre Wins 4 IRNE Awards

Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston took home four 2010 Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) Awards in the Large Theater category on Monday, April 25, during the fifteenth annual awards ceremony held at the Boston Center for the Arts Cyclorama on Tremont Street. Winners were Rachel York, Best Actress in a Musical, The Witch in "Into the Woods;" Stacey Stephens, Best Director and Best Costume Design, "Into the Woods;" and Todd W. Smith and Judine Somerville, Best Choreography, "Hairspray."

This is York's second IRNE Award in as many years. Last year she was named Best Actress in a Musical for her role as Dolly Levi in the Reagle production of "Hello, Dolly!" Stephens also won Best Costume Design in the Small Theater category this year for his work in "My Fair Lady" at the Stoneham Theatre.

Reagle Music Theatre earned a total of 17 IRNE nominations for 2010. The Waltham-based company competes in the Large Theater category with Boston's renowned Huntington Theatre Company, Cambridge's A.R.T., and Rhode Island's Tony Award-winning Trinity Rep.

Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston is an award-winning regional theater company that features Broadway stars performing alongside local talent. The 43-year-old 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 John Davidson, Robert Goulet, Shirley Jones, Patti LuPone, Ann Margaret, Andrea McArdle, Lee Meriwether, Sarah Pfisterer, Debbie Reynolds, Sally Struthers, Tommy Tune, Leslie Uggams, Joanne Worley, and Rachel York.

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, Guy Giampapa, Norm Gross, Nancy Grossman, Bryce Lambert, Beatrice Lee, Kilian Melloy and Larry Stark.

For a complete list of 2010 IRNE nominees and winners, visit www.stagesource.org.