Domingo, 'RIVER' Among Connecticut Critics Circle Award Winners

Goodspeed Musicals' production of "Big River" and its director Rob Ruggiero are big winners of the 19th annual Connecticut Critics Circle awards, announced June 15. The show received nods for best musical, for Russell Joel Brown who played Big Jim as best actor in a musical, for Michael Schweikardt's sets, and for Ruggiero's direction.

In addition, Ruggiero received CCC's highest honor, its Tom Killen Memorial Award for outstanding contribution to Connecticut theater.

Other multiple winners are Hartford Stage and director Michael Wilson for the production of Horton Foote's "Dividing the Estate" (which was also nominated for a Tony when it played on Broadway) and Westport Country Playhouse's "Around the World in 80 Days." Outstanding actor and actress were Colman Domingo for "Coming Home" at Long Wharf Theatre and Andrea Maulella for "Tryst" at Westport. Kristen Martin won for her turn as Peggy Sawyer in Goodspeed's "42nd Street."

The accolades for the 2008-09 season, spread out to eight local theaters, recognized outstanding achievements. CCC is an organization of professional critics who review Equity productions in newspapers and blogs, as well as on radio.

The full list follows:

THE 2008-2009 CONNECTICUT CRITICS CIRCLE WINNERS

Play: "Dividing the Estate" (Hartford Stage)
Musical: "Big River" (Goodspeed Musicals)
Actress in a play: Andrea Maulella ("Tryst," Westport Country Playhouse)
Actor in a play: Colman Domingo ("Coming Home," Long Wharf Theater)
Actress in a musical: Kristen Martin ("42nd Street," Goodspeed Musicals)
Actor in a musical: Russell Joel Brown ("Big River," Goodspeed Musicals)
Director of a play: Michael Wilson ("Dividing the Estate," Hartford Stage)
Director of a Musical (tie): Semina De Laurentis ("The Producers," Seven Angels Theater) and Rob Ruggiero ("Big River," Goodspeed Musicals)
Choreography: Rick Conant ("42nd Street," Goodspeed Musicals)
Set design: Michael Schweikardt ("Big River," Goodspeed Musicals)
Lighting design: Robert Wiertzel ("Of Mice and Men," Westport Country Playhouse)
Costume design: Ilona Somogyi ("Passion Play," Yale Repertory Theater)
Sound design: David Levy ("Around the World in 80 Days,"
Westport Country Playhouse)
Ensemble: Donnetta Lavinia Grays, Lizan Mitchell, Portia, Anthony Mark Stockard
("No Child," TheaterWorks)
Roadshow: "Marilyn: Forever Blonde" (Ivoryton Playhouse)
Debuts: Donnetta Lavinia Grays ("No Child," TheaterWorks) and Olivia Scott
("To Kill a Mockingbird," Hartford Stage)
Special achievement award: Elizabeth Helitzer and Mark Parenti
("Around the World in 80 Days," Westport Country Playhouse)
Tom Killen award for outstanding contribution to Connecticut theater: Rob Ruggiero

For further information on the Connecticut Critics Circle, visit the Web site at www.ctcritics.org

Photo by RD /Dziekan /Retna Digital