METAs Award Winners 2015-16 Announced

Montreal's English theatre community gathered in celebration at the beautiful and historic Rialto Theatre on Monday October 24th for the 4thannual METAs ceremony, honouring excellence in Montreal English theatre for the 2015-2016 Season.

The ceremony - featuring original musical numbers satirizing the joys and challenges of theatre life - was hosted by the sublime and sensational Julie Tamiko Manning (2015 META for Outstanding New Text) and Warona Setshwaelo (nominated this year for Outstanding Supporting Performance), with musical stylings composed and directed by Nick Carpenter with The METAfour, the METAs' annually assembled band of actor-musicians. The evening was scripted by noted playwrights Harry Standjofski and Michael Mackenzie, and directed by Liz Valdez.

Awards were presented onstage by a range of theatre professionals from all disciplines - including recipients from previous years - as well Canadian Actors' Equity Executive Director Arden Ryshpan, CTV's Christine Long and Julien Valmary from the Conseil des Arts de Montreal (Director of Grants and Strategic Initiatives). Noted French actor Jacques L'Heureux also spoke as representative of the ceremony sponsor, the Caisse de la Culture.

The Emerging Artist Award (sponsored this year by the National Theatre School of Canada) was given to Alex Petrachuk for her performances in Moby Dick, Compleat Female Stage Beauty and Confiteor: Vol II. Petrachuck also took the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress for her performance in Compleat Female Stage Beauty. The Outstanding Contribution to Theatre Award was granted to the CHORUS of The Adventures of a Black Girl in Search of God.

The Adventures of a Black Girl in Search of God, which led with 12 nominations, received 6 awards, among them Outstanding PACT Production and Outstanding Direction (Djanet Sears). Another multi- award winning production was Louis Riel: A Comic-Strip Stage Play, taking home 3 METAs including Outstanding Independent Production.

In addition to the juried awards, two Honorary Awards were bestowed.

The Unsung Hero of the Theatre (UHOT) Award - which celebrates an individual working behind the scenes - was given to Steve Scho?n. In honouring Mr. Scho?n, the presenters noted the large number of companies with whom he has worked in his 30-year career, and his selfless approach to solving technical problems describing him as an indispensable member of the Montreal Theatre community.

This year's Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Award (presented in partnership with the Conseil des Arts de Montre?al) went to Black Theatre Workshop's Artist Mentorship Program. Selected by a special panel from nominations submitted by the community, the Artist Mentorship Program was lauded for its commitment to nurturing and supporting a diverse demographic of emerging Montreal theatre artists. The nominators commended the program for its commitment to training young artists of diverse backgrounds and identities, and noted the impact the program will have on the future composition of Montreal English theatre.

Over the course of the 2015-16 theatre season, a jury of 19 theatre professionals from varied disciplines assessed 37 productions across 16 categories. An additional 8 productions were evaluated by a separate jury for the Community Theatre Award, for a total of 45 productions overall. Like Toronto's Doras and Vancouver's Jessies, a peer jury process selects nominees. The METAs are the only regional awards that include quarterly meetings wherein jury members share their experiences and expertise, thus elevating the level of critical discourse and fostering a community of shared appreciation. Award recipients are determined by secret ballot, tabulated by an independent auditor, Amelia Facciola of Ponzo, Facciola, Quaglieri CA CPA.

The METAs Committee is thrilled to announce the list of 2015-16 META recipients. (Recipients bolded)

Outstanding Lead Performance - Actor

Quincy Armorer - The Adventures of a Black Girl in Search of God (Centaur Theatre Company & the National Arts Centre, in association with Black Theatre Workshop)
Walter Borden - The Adventures of a Black Girl in Search of God (Centaur Theatre Company & the National Arts Centre, in association with Black Theatre Workshop)
David Noel - Private Lives (Hudson Village Theatre)
Jack Volpe - Tribes (Segal Centre for Performing Arts)
Thomas Wilkinson Fullerton - Compleat Female Stage Beauty (Persephone Productions)

Outstanding Lead Performance - Actress

Reneltta Arluk - Pig Girl (Imago Theatre)
Deena Aziz - Another Home Invasion (Tableau D'Hôte Theatre)
Gitanjali Jain - The Tragedy of Julius Caesar (Repercussion Theatre)
Anana Rydvald - Love, Child (Level 4 Theatre)
Sarah Segal-Lazar - Bad Jews (Segal Centre for Performing Arts)

Outstanding Supporting Performance - Actor

Chip Chuipka - Butcher (Centaur Theatre Company)
Peter Farbridge - Progress! (Infinithéâtre)
Alain Goulem - Butcher (Centaur Theatre Company)
Marcel Jeannin - The Secret Annex (Segal Centre for Performing Arts)
James Loye - Butcher (Centaur Theatre Company)

Outstanding Supporting Performance - Actress

sponsored by Canadian Actors' Equity Association

Barbara Barnes-Hopkins - The Adventures of a Black Girl in Search of God (Centaur Theatre Company & the National Arts Centre, in association with Black Theatre Workshop)
Tamara Brown - Last Night at the Gayety (Centaur Theatre Company)
Lili Francks - The Adventures of a Black Girl in Search of God (Centaur Theatre Company & the National Arts Centre, in association with Black Theatre Workshop)
Alex Petrachuk - Compleat Female Stage Beauty (Persephone Productions)
Andrea Runge - Tribes (Segal Centre for Performing Arts)
Warona Setshwaelo - The Tragedy of Julius Caesar (Repercussion Theatre)

Outstanding Ensemble

Bar Kapra the Squirrel Hunter - Chip Chuipka, Jennifer Roberts, France Rolland (Scapegoat Carnivale Theatre)
Beethoven Lives Upstairs - Quincy Armorer, Lucinda Davis, Eric Hausknost, Alex McCooeye, Leni Parker (Geordie Productions)
Bus Stops - Victoria Diamond, Nora Guerch, Alexandre Lavigne, Marilyn Perreault, Annie Ranger, Hugues Sarra-Bournet, Victor Andrés Trelles Turgeon (Théâtre I.N.K.)
Confiteor: Vol II - Devon Bate, Burcu Emeç, Jillian Harris, Anthony Kennedy, Alex Petrachuk, Michelle Rambharose, Meagan Schroeder, Allie Shapiro, Peter Shaw (obra anaïs performance ensemble)
Louis Riel: A Comic-Strip Stage Play - Charles Bender, Cat Lemieux, Anne Lalancette, Jimmy Blais, Jon Lachlan Stewart (RustWerk ReFinery)

Outstanding Set Design

Patrice Charbonneau-Brunelle - Bus Stops (Théâtre I.N.K.)
Michael Gianfrancesco - Funny Girl (Segal Centre for Performing Arts)
Lara Kaluza - Another Home Invasion (Tableau D'Hôte Theatre)
James Lavoie - Beethoven Lives Upstairs (Geordie Productions)
obra anaïs performance ensemble - Confiteor: Vol II (obra anaïs performance ensemble)

Outstanding Costume Design

sponsored by Astilbe Florist
Louise Bourret - I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change (Segal Centre for Performing Arts)
Michael Eagan - The Secret Annex (Segal Centre for Performing Arts)
Michael Gianfrancesco - Funny Girl (Segal Centre for Performing Arts)
Astrid Janson - The Adventures of a Black Girl in Search of God (Centaur Theatre Company & the National Arts Centre, in association with Black Theatre Workshop)
Amy Keith - Beethoven Lives Upstairs (Geordie Productions)
Susana Vera - The Tragedy of Julius Caesar (Repercussion Theatre)

Outstanding Lighting Design

sponsored by Solotech

Audrey-Anne Bouchard - Another Home Invasion (Tableau D'Hôte Theatre)
Martin Gagné - Bus Stops (Théâtre I.N.K.)
Jason Hand - The Adventures of a Black Girl in Search of God (Centaur Theatre Company & the National Arts Centre, in association with Black Theatre Workshop)
David Perreault Ninacs - Province (Talisman Theatre & The Other Theatre)
Luc Prairie - Louis Riel: A Comic-Strip Stage Play (RustWerk ReFinery)
Martin Sirois - P@ndora (Youtheatre)

Outstanding Sound Design

sponsored by Solotech

Peter Balov - Funny Girl (Segal Centre for Performing Arts)
Devon Bate - Confiteor: Vol II (obra anaïs performance ensemble)
Peter Cerone - The Adventures of a Black Girl in Search of God (Centaur Theatre Company & the National Arts Centre, in association with Black Theatre Workshop)
Rob Denton - Another Home Invasion (Tableau D'Hôte Theatre)
Catherine Varvaro - The Tragedy of Julius Caesar (Repercussion Theatre)

Outstanding Original Composition

Joseph Browne & David Oppenheim - Bar Kapra the Squirrel Hunter (Scapegoat Carnivale Theatre)
Tristan Capacchione - Louis Riel: A Comic-Strip Stage Play (RustWerk ReFinery)
Rob Denton - Another Home Invasion (Tableau D'Hôte Theatre)
Alejandra Nunez & Djanet Sears - The Adventures of a Black Girl in Search of God (Centaur Theatre Company & the National Arts Centre, in association with Black Theatre Workshop)
Catherine Varvaro - The Tragedy of Julius Caesar (Repercussion Theatre)

Outstanding Contribution to Theatre

Chorus: TRoy Adams, Kaleb Alexander, Tamara Brown, Janelle Cooper, Marie-Christine Depestre, Trudy Lee Gayle, Don Jordan, Evangelia Kambites, Kayvon Kelly, Tristan D. Lalla, Amanda LeBlanc, Paula-Jean Prudat, Saidah Baba Talibah, Alison Woolridge - The Adventures of a Black Girl in Search of God (Centaur Theatre Company & the National Arts Centre, in association with Black Theatre Workshop)
George Allister & Cathia Pagotto: Video Design - Sidewalk Chalk (Geordie Productions)
Zach Fraser: Puppet Design - Louis Riel: A Comic-Strip Stage Play (RustWerk ReFinery)
Anana Rydvald: Mask Design - Love, Child (Level 4 Theatre)
Vivine Scarlett: Choreography - The Adventures of a Black Girl in Search of God (Centaur Theatre Company & the National Arts Centre, in association with Black Theatre Workshop)

Outstanding New Text (Original or Adaptation)

Megan Coles - Squawk (Geordie Productions)
Zach Fraser - Louis Riel: A Comic-Strip Stage Play (RustWerk ReFinery)
Alexandria Haber - On This Day (Centaur Theatre Company)
Peter Hinton - Funny Girl (Segal Centre for Performing Arts)
Joseph Shragge - Bar Kapra the Squirrel Hunter (Scapegoat Carnivale Theatre)

Outstanding Emerging Artist

sponsored by the National Theatre School of Canada
Amanda Goldberg: Director - Bright Half Life (Brave New Productions & We Are One)
obra anaïs performance ensemble: Company - Confiteor: Vol II (obra anaïs performance ensemble)
Kelly O'Toole: Actress - Bright Half Life (Brave New Productions & We Are One)
Alex Petrachuk: Actress - Moby Dick / Compleat Female Stage Beauty / Confiteor: Vol II(Persephone Productions / obra anaïs performance ensemble)
Jack Volpe: Actor - Tribes (Segal Centre for Performing Arts)

Outstanding Direction

Dean Patrick Fleming - Beethoven Lives Upstairs (Geordie Productions)
Zach Fraser - Louis Riel: A Comic-Strip Stage Play (RustWerk ReFinery)
Peter Hinton - Funny Girl (Segal Centre for Performing Arts)
Djanet Sears - The Adventures of a Black Girl in Search of God (Centaur Theatre Company & the National Arts Centre, in association with Black Theatre Workshop)

Outstanding Community Production

Boeing Boeing - Lakeshore Players Dorval
Bye Bye Birdie - West Island Theatre Association (WISTA)
The Curious Savage - Lakeshore Players Dorval
The Producers - The Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theatre in association with The Côte Saint-Luc Dramatic Society (CSLDS)

Outstanding Independent Production

Another Home Invasion - Tableau D'Hôte Theatre
Bus Stops - Théâtre I.N.K.
Cock - PlayShed
Confiteor: Vol II - obra anaïs performance ensemble
Louis Riel: A Comic-Strip Stage Play - RustWerk ReFinery
Love, Child - Level 4 Theatre

Outstanding PACT Production

The Adventures of a Black Girl in Search of God - Centaur Theatre Company & the National Arts Centre, in association with Black Theatre Workshop
Beethoven Lives Upstairs - Geordie Productions
Butcher - Centaur Theatre Company
Funny Girl - Segal Centre for Performing Arts
P@ndora - Youtheatre
The Tragedy of Julius Caesar - Repercussion Theatre

In addition to the preceding juried awards, the following Honorary Awards were bestowed at the METAs Ceremony on October 24th -

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Award

presented in partnership with the Conseil des arts de Montréal
Established to encourage practices of access and inclusion, the EDI recognizes those who embrace the range of cultures, identities and abilities that make up and enrich our city.

Black Theatre Workshop's Artist Mentorship Program

Unsung Hero of the Theatre (UHOT) Award

Celebrating those in our community who too rarely get the public recognition they deserve, the UHOT honours a member of a production or administrative team working behind the scenes.

Steve Schon

 

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