Alliance Theatre's TUCK EVERLASTING and BULL DURHAM, Will Swenson & More Among Nominees for Atlanta's 2015 Suzi Bass Awards

This evening, Suzi Bass Awards, Inc. revealed nominations for the 2014-2015 Atlanta professional theatrical season. The Suzi Nomination Party, which rotates venues, was hosted this year by Horizon Theatre. Guest announcers included the ladies of The Weird Sisters Theatre Project: Kelly Criss, Veronika Duerr, Jaclyn Hofmann, Tiffany Porter, and Megan Rose.

The Alliance Theatre, producing on two stages, led the Suzi nomination tally with fifty-one (51). Theatrical Outfit took second place with twenty-four (24) nominations. Actor's Express owned third place with twenty-one (21) nominations, Aurora Theatre came in fourth with twenty (20), and Serenbe Playhouse came in fifth place with eleven (11) nominations. Strong musical productions were the first five leaders in terms of "by show" nominations: Memphis, Aurora Theatre & Theatrical Outfit, leads with thirteen (13); Tuck Everlasting, Alliance Theatre, is in second place with twelve (12); Serenbe Playhouse's musical, Evita, is in third place with nine (9); Rent, Actor's Express, is fourth with eight (8); and Chasin' Dem Blues, Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre hold fifth place with seven (7) nominations. Even with large groups of nominations going to the above, a wide distribution of Atlanta area theatres were recognized, with multiple nominations also going to Georgia Ensemble Theatre (8), Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre (8), Horizon Theatre (5), Center for Puppetry Arts (3), The Legacy Theatre (2), and Synchronicity Theatre (2).

Multiple nominations highlighted the talent of Atlanta-based professionals. Scenic designer sisters Isabel Curley-Clay and Moriah Curley-Clay garnered a record six (6) Suzi Nominations in one season for their work at five different theatres: Clybourne Park (Aurora Theatre), Detroit (Horizon Theatre), Silent Sky (Theatrical Outfit), Evita (Serenbe), and Murder Ballad (Actor's Express). Sound designer Clay Benning was next with four (4) nominations for his work at the Alliance Theatre last season.

Actors Molly Coyne and Julissa Sabino were the most-nominated actors with three (3) nominations for their work last season. Coyne was nominated for her work as Outstanding Lead Actress in My Fair Lady, and in the Ensemble Cast of Pump Boy and Dinettes (both at Georgia Ensemble Theatre), and for Outstanding Performance, Theatre for Young Audiences, James and the Giant Peach, (Alliance Theatre). Sabino was recognized for her work as Outstanding Lead Actress in Rent (Actor's Express), and for Outstanding Performance, Theatre for Young Audiences, James and the Giant Peach and The Lizard and El Sol (Alliance Theatre).

It their third year, the TYA Suzis (Theatre for Young Audiences) will acknowledge the outstanding productions professional theatres create for younger audiences and families. The 2015 TYA Suzis recognize overall production, direction, design and performance. The Alliance Theatre, Aurora Theatre, The Center for Puppetry Arts, Serenbe Playhouse, and Synchronicity Theatre were nominated across those categories.

Special Awards:

In addition to the Suzi Performance and TYA Awards, the organization presents four awards which are nominated by members or participating theatres: the Spirit of Suzi Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, the Callboard Award and the Volunteer of the Year award. The organization also names the publicly voted Audience Choice Award for Outstanding Season. And lastly, the Gene-Gabriel Moore Playwriting Award goes to an Atlanta playwright produced in the past season, and is decided by a special committee of educators, playwrights and theatre professionals.

Final Ballot voting for the Suzi Awards begins this week and culminates in the presentation of Suzi trophies at the 11th Annual Suzi Awards Ceremony on Monday, November 2, 2015 at the Porter Sanford Performing Arts Center in DeKalb County. Members of the Suzi Awards may also vote the final ballot, and the results of Member voting will be tallied in as a percentage of the panel judge votes. The Suzi Awards, Inc. is a member non-profit organization, and anyone may join by paying annual dues of $25.

For further information regarding the awards process, becoming a Member of the Suzi Bass Awards, or purchasing business or congratulation ads in the Awards Event Program, visit www.SuziAwards.org or email info@suziawards.org.

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2014-2015 Suzi Bass Award Nominees:

Outstanding Production of a Play

Blues for an Alabama Sky at Alliance Theatre
Edward Foote at Alliance Theatre
The Elephant Man at Georgia Ensemble Theatre
Silent Sky at Theatrical Outfit
The Whale at Actor's Express

Outstanding Direction of a Play

Chris Coleman for Edward Foote at Alliance Theatre
David Crowe for The Elephant Man at Georgia Ensemble Theatre
David Crowe for Silent Sky at Theatrical Outfit
Heidi Cline McKerley for The Whale at Actor's Express
Gary Yates for My Children! My Africa! at Theatrical Outfit

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play

Cynthia Barker* for Uprising at Horizon Theatre
Danielle Deadwyler* for The C.A. Lyons Project at Alliance Theatre
Crystal Fox* for Blues for an Alabama Sky at Alliance Theatre
Ann Marie Gideon* for Edward Foote at Alliance Theatre
Park Krausen* for Les Liaisons Dangereuses at Actor's Express

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play

Freddie Ashley for The Whale at Actor's Express
Terry Guest* for Marcus; or the Secret of Sweet at Actor's Express
Tyrone Mitchell Henderson* for Blues for an Alabama Sky at Alliance Theatre
Jonathan Horne for The Elephant Man at Georgia Ensemble Theatre
Eugene Lee* for How I Learned What I Learned at Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play

Carolyn Cook* for Silent Sky at Theatrical Outfit
Bethany Anne Lind* for Edward Foote at Alliance Theatre
Deadra Moore* for Silent Sky at Theatrical Outfit
Tiffany Porter for The Whale at Actor's Express
Maria Rodriquez-Sager* for My Children! My Africa! at Theatrical Outfit

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play

Thomas Neal Antwon Ghant* for Blues for an Alabama Sky at Alliance Theatre
Enoch King* for Uprising at Horizon Theatre
Joe Knezevich for Storefront Church at Theatrical Outfit
Doyle Reynolds for Sylvia at Stage Door Players
Dane Troy for My Children! My Africa! at Theatrical Outfit

Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Play

Bad Jews at Actor's Express (Galen Crawley*, Rachel DeJulio, Wyatt Fenner*, Louis Gregory)
Clybourne Park at Aurora Theatre (Robin Bloodworth*, Tess Malis Kincaid*, Danielle Deadwyler*, Eric J. Little*, Bobby Labartino, Joe Sykes, Cara Mantella)
The Explorers Club at Aurora Theatre (Courtney Patterson*,Tony Larkin, Chris Kayser*, Chad Martin, George Contini, Al Stilo, Jacob York, Steve Hudson, Tim Whitson)
Pericles, Prince of Tyre at Shakespeare Tavern (Drew Reeves*, Matt Felten, Andrew Houchins*, Chris Schulz, J. Tony Brown*, Troy Willis*, Kevin Roost, Nicholas Faircloth, Miranda Wilson, Kati Grace Brown, Mary Russell, Hayley Platt, Mary Ruth Ralston, Andy Offutt Irwin)
Steel Magnolias at Alliance Theatre (Becky Ann Baker*, Beth Broderick*, David de Vries*, Mary Pat Gleason*, Deirdre Lovejoy*, Sarah Stiles*, Zoe? Winters*)

Outstanding Costume Design in a Play

Deyah Brenner for The Whale at Actor's Express
Lex Liang for Blues for an Alabama Sky at Alliance Theatre
Elizabeth Rasmusson for The Explorers Club at Aurora Theatre
Elizabeth Rasmusson for Silent Sky at Theatrical Outfit
Erik Teague for Les Liaisons Dangereuses at Actor's Express

Outstanding Lighting Design in a Play

Liz Lee for The C.A. Lyons Project at Alliance Theatre
Rebecca M.K. Makus for Marcus; or the Secret of Sweet at Actor's Express
Mike Post for Silent Sky at Theatrical Outfit
Seth Reiser for Edward Foote at Alliance Theatre
Diane Ferry Williams for A Christmas Carol at Alliance Theatre

Outstanding Scenic Design in a Play

D. Martyn Bookwalter for A Christmas Carol at Alliance Theatre
Kat Conley for Marcus; or the Secret of Sweet at Actor's Express
Isabel Curley-Clay & Moriah Curley-Clay for Clybourne Park at Aurora Theatre
Isabel Curley-Clay & Moriah Curley-Clay for Detroit at Horizon Theatre
Isabel Curley-Clay & Moriah Curley-Clay for Silent Sky at Theatrical Outfit

Outstanding Sound Design in a Play

Clay Benning for Blues for an Alabama Sky at Alliance Theatre
Clay Benning for Edward Foote at Alliance Theatre
Clay Benning for Native Guard at Alliance Theatre
Thom Jenkins for Uprising at Horizon Theatre
David Wilson for The C.A. Lyons Project at Alliance Theatre

Outstanding Production of a Musical

Chasin' Dem Blues at Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company
Evita at Serenbe Playhouse
Memphis at Aurora Theatre & Theatrical Outfit
Rent at Actor's Express
Tuck Everlasting at Alliance Theatre

Outstanding Direction of a Musical

Freddie Ashley for Rent at Actor's Express
Brian Clowdus for Evita at Serenbe Playhouse
Tom Key for Memphis at Aurora Theatre & Theatrical Outfit
Casey Nicholaw for Tuck Everlasting at Alliance Theatre
Kevin Ramsey for Chasin' Dem Blues at Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company

Outstanding Musical Direction

Rob Berman for Tuck Everlasting at Alliance Theatre
Jeremy Cohen for Chasin' Dem Blues at Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company
Chris Brent Davis for Evita at Serenbe Playhouse
Alli Lingenfelter for Rent at Actor's Express
Ann-Carol Pence for Memphis at Aurora Theatre & Theatrical Outfit

Outstanding Choreography of a Musical

Joshua Bergasse for Bull Durham at Alliance Theatre
Bubba Carr for Evita at Serenbe Playhouse
Dell Howlett for The C.A. Lyons Project at Alliance Theatre
Waverly Lucas for Memphis at Aurora Theatre & Theatrical Outfit
Casey Nicholaw for Tuck Everlasting at Alliance Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical

Molly Coyne for My Fair Lady at Georgia Ensemble Theatre
Randi Garza for Evita at Serenbe Playhouse
Sarah Charles Lewis* for Tuck Everlasting at Alliance Theatre
Naima Carter Russell* for Memphis at Aurora Theatre & Theatrical Outfit
Julissa Sabino* for Rent at Actor's Express

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical

Charlie Brady* for Evita at Serenbe Playhouse
Carey Curtis Smith for My Fair Lady at Georgia Ensemble Theatre
Travis Smith* for Memphis at Aurora Theatre & Theatrical Outfit
Will Swenson for Bull Durham at Alliance Theatre
Jeremy Varner* for Rocket Boys at The Legacy Theatre

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical

Jennifer Alice Acker for Rent at Actor's Express
Shannon Eubanks* for Tuck Everlasting at Alliance Theatre
Jeanette Illidge* for Rent at Actor's Express
Beth Leavel* for Tuck Everlasting at Alliance Theatre
Megan McFarland* for Memphis at Aurora Theatre & Theatrical Outfit

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical

Mark Cabus* for My Fair Lady at Georgia Ensemble Theatre
Eric Moore* for Memphis at Aurora Theatre & Theatrical Outfit
Eugene Russell IV* for Memphis at Aurora Theatre & Theatrical Outfit
Austin Tijerina for Rent at Actor's Express
Cecil Washington Jr* as Delray Jones for Memphis at Aurora Theatre & Theatrical Outfit

Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Musical

The cast of Chasin' Dem Blues at Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company (M. McQueen*, B. Raymond, A. David, Jeremy Cohen*, S. Bean, C. Marshall)
The cast of Hands on a Hardbody at Aurora Theatre (Rob Lawhon*, Matt Lewis, Randi Garza, Ben Davis, Ricardo Aponte, Jeremy Wood, Laura Floyd, Wendy Melkonian*, Jeremy Aggers, Jessica Meisel, Diany Rodriguez*, Jill Hames, Steve Hudson, Eric Moore*, Matthew Sidney Morris
The cast of Murder Ballad at Actor's Express (Kristen Alyson Browne*, Jessica De Maria, Jeremy Harrison, Kevin Harry)
The cast of Pump Boys & Dinettes at Georgia Ensemble Theatre (Dolph Amick, Molly Coyne, Chris Damiano*, Lyndsay Ricketson, Mark Schroeder, Jeremy Wood, Eric Moore*, Matthew Sidney Morris)
The cast of Ring of Fire at The Legacy Theatre (Amanda Bridgette, Daniel Burns, Paul Glodfelter, Mike Parker, Jeremy Varner*)

Outstanding Costume Design for a Musical

Gregg Barnes for Tuck Everlasting at Alliance Theatre
Shilla Benning for Memphis at Aurora Theatre & Theatrical Outfit
Emmie Childers for My Fair Lady at Georgia Ensemble Theatre
Toni-Leslie James for Bull Durham at Alliance Theatre
Erik Teague and Abby Parker for Evita at Serenbe Playhouse

Outstanding Lighting Design for a Musical

André Allen for Memphis at Aurora Theatre & Theatrical Outfit
Jeff Croiter for Bull Durham at Alliance Theatre
Kevin Frazier for Evita at Serenbe Playhouse
Joseph Futral for Chasin' Dem Blues at Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company
Kenneth Posner for Tuck Everlasting at Alliance Theatre

Outstanding Scenic Design for a Musical

Kat Conley for Chasin' Dem Blues at Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company
Isabel Curley-Clay and Moriah Curley-Clay for Evita at Serenbe Playhouse
Isabel Curley-Clay and Moriah Curley-Clay for Murder Ballad at Actor's Express
Derek McLane for Bull Durham at Alliance Theatre
Walt Spangler for Tuck Everlasting at Alliance Theatre

Outstanding Sound Design for a Musical

Angie Bryant for Rent at Actor's Express
Bobby Johnston for Chasin' Dem Blues at Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company
Brian Ronan for Tuck Everlasting at Alliance Theatre
Leon Smith for Black Nativity at Dominion Entertainment Group
Daniel Terry for Memphis at Aurora Theatre & Theatrical Outfit

Outstanding World Premiere

Bull Durham at Alliance Theatre
The C.A. Lyons Project at Alliance Theatre
Edward Foote at Alliance Theatre
Tuck Everlasting at Alliance Theatre
Uprising at Horizon Theatre Company

Outstanding Production - Theatre for Young Audiences

Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type at Center for Puppetry Arts
James and the Giant Peach at Alliance Theatre
Knuffle Bunny at Alliance Theatre
The Lizard and El Sol at Alliance Theatre
The 3 Little Pigs at Aurora Theatre

Outstanding Direction - Theatre for Young Audiences

Courage at Alliance Theatre, Director Rosemary Newcott
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type at Center for Puppetry Arts, Director - Jon Ludwig, Music Director - Dolph Amick
James and the Giant Peach at Alliance Theatre, Director - Rosemary Newcott, Choreographer - Ricardo Aponte, Music Director - Christopher Cannon
The Lizard and El Sol at Alliance Theatre, Director - Rosemary Newcott, Choreographer - Ricardo Aponte The Secret Garden at Serenbe Playhouse, Director - Ryan Oliveti

Outstanding Design - Theatre for Young Audiences

Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type at Center for Puppetry Arts, Puppet Designer - Jason Hines, Scenic Designer - Ryan Sbaratta, Lighting Designer - Liz Lee, Sound Designer - Gregory Montague, Costume Designer - Angela Malone
James and the Giant Peach at Alliance Theatre, Set Design - Kat Conley, Costume Design - Sydney Roberts, Lighting Design - Pete Shinn, Sound Design - Clay Benning
Lyle the Crocodile at Synchronicity Theatre, Scenic & Properties Design - Ryan Bradburn, Costume & Puppet Design - Scottie Rowell, Lighting & Sound Design - Kevin Frazier
The Secret Garden at Serenbe Playhouse, Garden Design - Cameron Watkins, Costume Design - Erik Teague, Sound Design - Daniel Pope
The 3 Little Pigs at Aurora Theatre, Set & Costume Designers - Isabel and Mariah Curley-Clay, Lighting Designer - Mike Post, Sound Designer - Thom Jenkins, Props Designer - Suzanne Cooper Morris

Outstanding Performance - Theatre for Young Audiences

Courage at Alliance Theatre, Ensemble - Lauren Boyd, Matt Felten, Stephanie Lloyd, J.L. Reed
James and the Giant Peach at Alliance Theatre, Ensemble - Caleb Clark, Molly Coyne, Benjamin Harding, Wendy Melkonian, Brandon O'Dell, Julissa Sabino, Googie Uterhardt, Jeremy Varner, Minka Wiltz
Knuffle Bunny at Alliance Theatre, Devon Hales
The Lizard and El Sol at Alliance Theatre, Julissa Sabino
Lyle the Crocodile at Synchronicity Theatre, Matt Baum

Nominations by Theatre Company:

Alliance Theatre - 51
Theatrical Outfit - 24
Actor's Express - 21
Aurora Theatre - 20
Serenbe Playhouse - 11
Georgia Ensemble Theatre - 8
Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre - 8
Horizon Theatre - 5
Center for Puppetry Arts - 3
The Legacy Theatre - 2
Synchronicity Theatre - 2
Dominion Entertainment Group - 1
New American Shakespeare Tavern -1
Stage Door Players - 1

Photo Credit: Greg Mooney