Boston Theater Critics Association Spreads Love to Hometown Talent with 30th Annual Norton Awards

The 2012 Elliot Norton 30^th Anniversary Awards

Presented by the Boston Theater Critics Association at the Paramount Center, 559 Washington Street, Boston, MA, on Monday, May 21, 2012

The Boston Theater Critics Association hosted the 30^th Anniversary presentation of the Elliot Norton Awards last night at the Paramount Center. Named in honor of the late esteemed drama critic, the awards honor local and visiting artists for distinguished work in numerous categories, as well as special individual achievements. The evening was dedicated to Caldwell Titcomb, the respected long-time President of BTCA who died on June 13, 2011. Current President Joyce Kulhawik served as Master of Ceremonies, introducing her fellow critics and past winners who served as presenters, with piano flourishes provided by Barry Rocklin.

Befitting an event for the theater community, the festivities began with a live performance by the cast of SpeakEasy Stage Company's The Drowsy Chaperone, followed later in the program by a selection from Next to Normal, also courtesy of SpeakEasy. The first individual honor, the 2012 Elliot Norton Prize for Sustained Excellence, was awarded to Kate Snodgrass, Artistic Director of Boston Playwrights' Theatre and Co-Founder of the Boston Theater Marathon. The Factory Theatre received the 30^th Anniversary Emerging Artists Award for its support of new talent, and Broadway Producer/Chamber Theatre Productions Spring Sirkin took home the 30^th Anniversary Award. The Charlestown Working Theater was presented a Special Citation for "adventurous collaborations that provide unique insights into theater from around the world."

The icing on the cake was the presentation of the 30^th Anniversary Elliot Norton Lifetime Achievement Award to director/choreographer/performer Tommy Tune. He serenaded the audience with "'Swonderful" and fondly remembered trying out shows at Boston's Colonial Theatre before tap dancing a brief tribute to Norton to the accompaniment of another Gershwin tune, "Embraceable You." Tune joined the members of the theater community in the Jackie Liebergott Blackbox for a celebration following the ceremony.

For a complete of winners and nominees visit: http://nortonawardsboston.com/winners/

Photo: Kate Snodgrass

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