New York Innovative Theatre Foundation Announces 2014 IT Awards Nominees

On Monday, July 21, 2014, The New York Innovative Theatre Foundation, the organization who for the past 10 years has been dedicated to celebrating Off-Off-Broadway, announced the 2014 nominees at its annual event. Celebrating ten years and thousands of nominees, the IT PARTY took place at XL Night Club, 512 West 42nd Street.

The FREE event was open to the entire community, celebrating the best and the brightest in OOBR. The announcement was made by the co-executive directors, Shay Gines and Nick Micozzi, plus members of the community including: Shaun Bennet Fauntleroy (Actor, Playwright, and Producer), Blake Lawrence Bradford (Event Producer and Fundraising Consultant), Jody Christopherson (Performer/Writer/Founder & Editor in Chief of New York Theatre Review), Jason Cicci (Artistic Director, Monday Morning Productions), Chis Harcum (Actor, playwright, Executive Director of Elephant Run District & Managing Director of the League of Independent Theatre), and Sara Thigpen (Actor and Director at Boomerang Theatre company).

The 2014 Nominees include 130 individual artists, 58 different productions and 57 Off-Off-Broadway theatre companies.

In an emotional presentation, Martin and Rochelle Denton of Indie Theater Now, presented The New York Innovative Theatre Foundation with the Joe Cino Ring. Martin remarks, "We are proud to pass the Joe Cino Ring to the New York Innovative Theatre Foundation. It was presented to us as a symbol of the ongoing Cino "spirit" of discovering and honoring the art of America's new indie theater artists, and with the intent of having it "rolll" on to another group committed to doing that same kind of discovering and honoring. We thought, who better than our friends at NYITA? And so, the cycle continues..."

The 2014 Nominees are as follows:

Oustanding Ensemble
As You Like It, Happy Few Theatre Company
Ellen Adair, Nat Cassidy, Eric Gilde, Patrick Mulryan, Anna O'Donoghue, Christopher Seiler, Alexander Sovronsky
At First Sight (and Other Stories), Broken Box Mime Company
Rebecca Baumwoll, Dinah Berkeley, Seikai Ishizuka, David Jenkins, Meera Kumbhani, Tasha Milkman, Marissa Molnar, Dan Reckart, Joe Tuttle, Leah Wagner
The Complete and Condensed Stage Directions of Eugene O'Neill Vol 2, New York Neo-Futurists
Cecil Baldwin, Christopher Borg, Roberta Colindrez, Cara Francis, Dylan Marron, Martina Potratz
Magic Bullets, Buran Theatre Company
Caitlin Bebb, Abigail Blueher, Donna Jewell, Jud Knudsen, Catrin Lloyd-Bollard, Erin Mallon, Michael McKim Karp, Kate Schroeder, Mari Yamamoto
Old Familiar Faces, Tin Drum Productions
Tandy Cronyn, Marianne Miller, James Patrick Nelson, Sam Tsoutsouvas
Pirira, Theatre 167
Adrian Baidoo, J.Stephen Brantley, Todd Flaherty, Flor De Liz Perez

Outstanding Solo Performance
Adam Boncz
Fatelessness, SceneHouse Productions and Gia Forakis & Company
J.Stephen Brantley
Chicken-Fried Ciccone: A Twangy True Tale Of Transformation, Hard Sparks
Aizzah Fatima
Dirty Paki Lingerie, Aizzah Fatima
Kim Katzberg
Darkling, Eat a Radish Productions in association with IRT Theater
Sandy Moore
The Simple Stories, WorkShop Theater Company
Nora Woolley
Hip, Nora Woolley

Outstanding Actor in a Featured Role
Noel Joseph Allain
Luft Gangster, Nylon Fusion Collective
Joshua Levine
Wild, Sanguine Theatre Company
Brendan McDonough
Beckett in Benghazi, Less Than Rent Theatre in association with Horse Trade Theater Group
Tony Naumovski
Sawbones & the Diamond Eater, Days of the Giants LLC
Lyonel Reneau
Wild, Sanguine Theatre Company
Dwayne Washington
Rent, The Gallery Players

Outstanding Actress in a Featured Role
Milee Bang
My Father's Ashes, Original Binding Productions
Manna Nichols
Allegro, Astoria Performing Arts Center
Diana Oh
Frankenstein Upstairs, Gideon Productions
Jenny Seastone
The Gin Baby, Kid Brooklyn Productions and Mermaid Sands Productions
Alyssa Simon
Within Arm's Reach, Going to Tahiti Productions
Jenne Vath
Sawbones & the Diamond Eater, Days of the Giants LLC

Outstanding Actor in a Lead Role
Goran Ivanovski
The Lonesome West, Mark Forlenza Productions
James Patrick Nelson
Old Familiar Faces, Tin Drum Productions
Jason O'Connell
Don Juan In Hell, Phoenix Theatre Ensemble
Tom Pavey
The Lonesome West, Mark Forlenza Productions
Brian Silliman
Dark Water, Manhattan Theatre Works (MTWorks)
J.Stephen Brantley
Pirira, Theatre 167

Outstanding Actress in a Lead Role
Debra Ann Byrd
The Importance of Being Earnest, Take Wing And Soar Productions, Inc.
Tandy Cronyn
Old Familiar Faces, Tin Drum Productions
Heather E. Cunningham
An Appeal to the Woman of the House, Retro Productions
Christina Pumariega
Sousepaw: 'A Baseball Story', Shelby Company
Lesley Shires
The Gin Baby, Kid Brooklyn Productions
Hannah Sloat
The Glory of Living, Revolve Productions

Outstanding Choreography/Movement
Jim Cooney & Greg Zane
Nothing But Trash, Theater For The New City
Thiago Felix
Infinite While it Lasts, Group .BR
Grasshopper Mitch
David's RedHaired Death, One Old Crow Productions
Carlos Neto
Gymnos: A Geek's Tragedy, Ticket 2 Eternity Productions
David Norwood & Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj
Salome: Da Voodoo Princess of Nawlins, Rebel Theater
Christine O'Grady
Allegro, Astoria Performing Arts Center

Outstanding Director
Kevin Augustine & Edward Einhorn
The God Projekt, La MaMa in association with Lone Wolf Tribe
Karen Case Cook
Don Juan In Hell, Phoenix Theatre Ensemble
Tyrus Holden
The Pregnancy of Angela Freak, AqUa MeRcUrY Creations
Kelly O'Donnell
Jane the Plain, Flux Theatre Ensemble
DeLisa M. White
Lights Narrow, Teatro Oscuro
Tazewell Thompson
Sawbones & the Diamond Eater, Days of the Giants LLC

Outstanding Lighting Design
Joshua Benghiat
Pirira, Theatre 167
Joan Racho-Jansen
The Lonesome West, Mark Forlenza Productions
Evan Roby
The Cottage, Astoria Performing Arts Center
Kia Rogers
Jane the Plain, Flux Theatre Ensemble
Kia Rogers
The Gin Baby, Kid Brooklyn Productions and Mermaid Sands Productions
Alexandra Mannix
Within Arm's Reach, Going to Tahiti Productions

Outstanding Costume Design
Gail Cooper-Hecht
The Importance of Being Earnest, Take Wing And Soar Productions, Inc.
Sidney Fortner
A Man's World, Metropolitan Playhouse
Amanda Jenks
Rubber Ducks and Sunsets, Ground Up Productions
Thomas Kleinert
The Pregnancy of Angela Freak, AqUa MeRcUrY Creations
Ryan Moller
The Cottage, Astoria Performing Arts Center
Carrie Robbins
Sawbones & the Diamond Eater, Days of the Giants LLC

Outstanding Set Design
Stephen Karoly Dobay
The Cottage, Astoria Performing Arts Center
Donald Eastman
The Chairs, La MaMa in association with Skysaver Productions
Travis McHale
Rubber Ducks and Sunsets, Ground Up Productions
Brandon McNeel
Sawbones & the Diamond Eater, Days of the Giants LLC
Jacques Roy
And to the Republic, The Guerrilla Shakespeare Project
Tsubasa Kamaei & Jennifer Stimple Kamei
Don Juan In Hell, Phoenix Theatre Ensemble

Outstanding Sound Design
Janie Bullard
The Gin Baby, Kid Brooklyn Productions and Mermaid Sands Productions
Janie Bullard
Jane the Plain, Flux Theatre Ensemble
Janie Bullard
Pirira, Theatre 167
Christopher Loar
Mute, New York Neo-Futurists
Tim Schellenbaum & Alice Tolan-Mee
The Chairs, La MaMa in association with Skysaver Productions
Christian Frederickson
The Awake, kef theatrical productions

Outstanding Innovative Design
Gyda Arber, Brian Fountain, David Gochfeld, and Allen Hahn
For Phone & Text Design
FutureMate, Brick Theater
Laia Cabrera, Isabelle Duverger, and Ildiko Nemeth
For Video Design
Cosmicomics, The New Stage Theatre Comapny
Nicole Hill
For Puppet Design
Mute, New York Neo-Futurists
Kaitlyn Pietras
For Projection Design
The Gin Baby, Kid Brooklyn Productions and Mermaid Sands Productions
Matt Reeves
For Projection Design
And to the Republic, The Guerrilla Shakespeare Project
Jane Catherine Shaw & Theodora Skipitares
For Puppet Design
The Chairs, La MaMa in association with Skysaver Productions

Outstanding Original Music
Scott Allen Klopfenstein
Rubber Ducks and Sunsets, Ground Up Productions
Jennifer Makholm & Ian Wehrle
Relent, an Indie Musical, WorkShop Theater Company
Ellen Mandel
Don Juan In Hell, Phoenix Theatre Ensemble
Scott Munson
Sawbones & the Diamond Eater, Days of the Giants LLC
Alexander Sovronsky
As You Like It, Happy Few Theatre Company
Alla Zagaykevych
Fire Water Night, La MaMa in association with Yara Arts Group

Outstanding Original Short Script

J.Stephen Brantley
Chicken-Fried Ciccone: A Twangy True Tale Of Transformation, Hard Sparks
Kate Gersten
First Love from The Spring Fling, F*It Club
Kate Kertez
Dumbo from Brooklyn Labyrinth, Oracle Theatre Inc
Mark Loewenstern
One is the Road fromSuper Shorts 2013, WorkShop Theater Company
Lenore Wolf
April March, Fragments from an Unintegrated Life from East Side Stories: Movers, Metropolitan Playhouse
Nora Woolley
Hip, Nora Woolley

Outstanding Original Full-length Script
Nat Cassidy
Old Familiar Faces, Tin Drum Productions
Vincent Marano
Lights Narrow, Teatro Oscuro
Christie Perfetti Williams
An Appeal to the Woman of the House, Retro Productions
Sarah Shaefer
The Gin Baby, Kid Brooklyn Productions and Mermaid Sands Productions
David Stallings
Dark Water, Manhattan Theatre Works (MTWorks)
J.Stephen Brantley
Pirira, Theatre 167

Outstanding Performance Art Production
At First Sight (and Other Stories), Broken Box Mime Company
FutureMate, Brick Theater
Magic Bullets, Buran Theatre Company
The Chairs, La MaMa in association with Skysaver Productions
The God Projekt, La MaMa in association with Lone Wolf Tribe
The Maiden, The Nerve Tank

Outstanding Production of a Musical
A Little Night Music, The Gallery Players
Allegro, Astoria Performing Arts Center
Candide - The Musical, Theater 2020
Fire Water Night, La MaMa in association with Yara Arts Group
Life on the Mississippi: A New Musical Play, WorkShop Theater Company
The Pregnancy of Angela Freak, AqUa MeRcUrY Creations

Outstanding Premiere Production of A Play
An Appeal to the Woman of the House, Retro Productions
Dark Water, Manhattan Theatre Works (MTWorks)
Frankenstein Upstairs, Gideon Productions
Lights Narrow, Teatro Oscuro
Pirira, Theatre 167
The Complete and Condensed Stage Directions of Eugene O'Neill Vol 2, New York Neo-Futurists

Outstanding Revival of A Play
A Man's World, Metropolitan Playhouse
As You Like It, Happy Few Theatre Company
Don Juan In Hell, Phoenix Theatre Ensemble
Julius Caesar, Smith Street Stage
R+J: Star-Cross'd Death Match, Three Day Hangover
Wild, Sanguine Theatre Company

The New York Innovative Theatre Foundation is a not-for-profit organization recognizing the great work of New York City's Off-Off-Broadway, honoring its artistic heritage, and providing a meeting ground for this extensive and richly varied community. The organization advocates for Off-Off-Broadway and recognizes the unique and essential role it plays in contributing to American and global culture. They believe that publicly recognizing excellence in Off-Off-Broadway will expand audience awareness and foster greater appreciation of the New York theatre experience. www.nyitawards.com

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