Maltz Jupiter's ME AND MY GIRL, Zoetic Stage's AFTER and More Top 41st Annual Carbonell Award Nominations
By: BWW News Desk Jan. 18, 2017
An old-fashioned, splashy musical about a working-class Londoner who discovers he's nobility and a world premiere play about the consequences of bullying received the most nominations in the musical and play categories when the nominations were announced for the 41st annual Carbonell Awards, which honors excellence in theater in South Florida.
Me and My Girl, produced by Maltz Jupiter Theatre in Jupiter, led the musical category with 10 nominations. After, produced by Zoetic Stage in Miami, led the play category with 8 nominations. Nineteen of South Florida's theaters earned nominations for a variety of shows produced during 2016. Maltz Jupiter Theatere in Palm Beach County earned the most nominations of any theater with 18. Zoetic Stage and GableStage, both in Miami-Dade County, earned 13 nominations each. Slow Burn Theatre Company in Fort Lauderdale earned 12 nominations, the most of any theater in Broward County. Nominations were spread over 36 shows from theaters stretching from Coral Gables north to Jupiter.
Palm Beach County theaters and Miami-Dade County theaters tied with a total of 39 nominations for each county, while Broward County theaters earned 22 nominations.
The awards will be handed out at the Carbonell Awards ceremony, which will be held Monday, April 3, 2017 at Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale.
Nine performers and designers have double the reason to be happy with the nominations this year. Jeni Hacker was nominated as Best Actress, Musical for Passion as well as Best Supporting Actress, Play, for After, both at Zoetic Stage. Laura Hodos is nominated as Best Actress, Musical, for The Will Rogers Follies at Maltz Jupiter Theatre as well as for Best Supporting Actress, Musical, for 1776 at Palm Beach Dramaworks. Matt Loehr garnered a pair of Best Actor, Musical, nominations for his performances in Me and My Girl and The Will Rogers Follies, both at Maltz Jupiter Theatre. Michael McKeever received a Best New Work nomination and a Best Supporting Actor, Play, nomination for his world premiere at Zoetic Stage, After. Stuart Meltzer is nominated for Best Director in both the play and musical categories for Passion and After, both at Zoetic Stage. Patrick Fitzwater earned a Best Director, Musical, nomination for Spring Awakening and a Best Choreography nomination for Heathers, both at Slow Burn Theatre Company. Caryl Fantel received two nominations for Best Musical Direction of Slow Burn Theatre Company's The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Passion at Zoetic Stage. Gail Baldoni received two nominations for Best Costume Design for Me and My Girl and The Will Rogers Follies, while Marty Mets earned two Best Sound Design nominations for Frost/Nixon and Me and My Girl, all at Maltz Jupiter Theatre.
"South Florida boasts a thriving theater scene which continually raises the standard of excellence that the Carbonell Awards seeks to recognize and reward," said Don Walters, president of the Carbonell Awards Board of Directors. "Look at the Carbonell nominees for Best Production of a Play---that category alone shows the diversity of theater being produced regularly in South Florida, from classics of American theater to experimental work, as well as a world premiere play. And there are six nominees in that category, which means our judges simply could not winnow their selections to the standard five and exemplifies the enormous amount of excellent work being produced here in our tri-county area."
The ceremony will take place Monday, April 3 in the Amaturo Theater, at Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 S.W. 5th Ave., Fort Lauderdale. Tickets for Nominees and Groups will be available starting January 28 through March 6th. Visit CarbonellAwards.org and click the TICKETS link for full details. Single tickets priced at $25 plus service fee will go on sale to the public on March 13 and can be purchased at the Broward Center's Box Office by calling 954-462-0222 or visiting www.browardcenter.org. Day of show tickets will be available for $30 plus service fee.
The Carbonell Awards is a not-for-profit organization and is funded by tax-deductible donations and award sponsorships. This season's sponsors include South Florida Cultural Consortium, the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County, the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, Rita and Jerry Cohen, Kerry and Scott Shiller, South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center, Mary Ellen and Michael Peyton, Tony Finstrom and the South Florida Theatre League. Opportunities to sponsor an award category and appear on stage to announce the winner are still available. Email carbonellhotline@gmail.com for more information.
A complete list of the 2016 nominations and a breakdown of nominations by county, theater and production follows.
Carbonell Award Nominations, 2016:
Best New Work (play or musical)
After, Michael McKeever, Zoetic Stage
Middletown, Dan Clancy, West Boca Theatre Company
Three Sisters of Weehawken, Deborah Zoe Laufer, Theatre Lab
Unlikely Heroes, Charles Gluck, Family Pool Productions
Best Production of a Play
After, Zoetic Stage
Frost/Nixon, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Hand to God, GableStage
Long Day's Journey Into Night, Palm Beach Dramaworks
Mud, Thinking Cap Theatre
The Royale, GableStage
Best Director/Play
Joseph Adler, The Royale, GableStage
J. Barry Lewis, Frost/Nixon, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Stuart Meltzer, After, Zoetic Stage
Nicole Stodard, Mud, Thinking Cap Theatre
Paul Tei, The Flick, Mad Cat Theatre
Best Actor/Play (cannot be for a role in a cast nominated for Best Ensemble)
Aygemang Clay, The Royale, GableStage
Chris Crawford, Buyer and Cellar, Actors' Playhouse
Peter Galman, A Public Reading of an Unproduced Screenplay About the Death of Walt Disney, Thinking Cap Theatre
John Jellison, Frost/ Nixon, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Wesley Slade, Hand to God, GableStage
Best Actress/Play (cannot be for a role in a cast nominated for Best Ensemble)
Rita Joe, The Submission, Island City Stage
Margery Lowe, Hand to God, GableStage
Mia Matthews, After, Zoetic Stage
Elizabeth Price, Reborning, The Theatre at Arts Garage
Avery Sommers, The Devil's Music, The Theatre at Arts Garage
Best Supporting Actor/Play
Alex Alvarez, Stalking the Bogeyman, GableStage
Kristian Bikic, Hand to God, GableStage
Michael McKeever, After, Zoetic Stage
Tom Wahl, After, Zoetic Stage
Conor Walton, The Normal Heart, Outré Theatre Company
Best Supporting Actress/Play
Elizabeth Dimon, Three Sisters of Weehawken, Theatre Lab
Christina Groom, Perfect Arrangement, Island City Stage
Jeni Hacker, After, Zoetic Stage
Shein Mompremier, The Royale, GableStage
Lourelene Snedeker, It's Only a Play, GableStage
Best Production of a Musical
1776, Palm Beach Dramaworks
The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Slow Burn Theatre Company
Me and My Girl, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Passion, Zoetic Stage
Spring Awakening, Slow Burn Theatre Company
Best Director/Musical
Clive Cholerton, 1776, Palm Beach Dramaworks
James Brennan, Me and My Girl, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Michel Hausman, The Golem of Havana, Miami New Drama
Patrick Fitzwater, Spring Awakening, Slow Burn Theatre Company
Stuart Meltzer, Passion, Zoetic Stage
Best Actor/Musical (cannot be for a role in a cast nominated for Best Ensemble)
Gary Cadwallader, 1776, Palm Beach Dramaworks
Bobby Cassell, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Slow Burn Theatre Company
Matt Loehr, Me and My Girl, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Matt Loehr, The Will Rogers Follies, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Nicholas Richberg, Passion, Zoetic Stage
Best Actress/Musical (cannot be for a role in a cast nominated for Best Ensemble)
Jeni Hacker, Passion, Zoetic Stage
Laura Hodos, The Will Rogers Follies, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Julie Kleiner, Me and My Girl, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Stephanny Noria, Spring Awakening, Slow Burn Theatre Company
Jenna Pastuszek, Evita, Broward Stage Door Company
Best Supporting Actor/Musical
Matthew Korinko, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Slow Burn Theatre Company
Chaz Mena, The Golem of Havana, Miami New Drama
Dominique Scott, Million Dollar Quartet, Actors' Playhouse
Dominic Servidio, Heathers, Slow Burn Theatre Company
Christian Vandepas, A Minister's Wife, GableStage
Best Supporting Actress/Musical
Laura Hodos, 1776, Palm Beach Dramaworks
Isabelle McCalla, West Side Story, Actors' Playhouse
Jessica Brooke Sanford, Sister Act, The Wick Theatre
Leah Sessa, Heathers, Slow Burn Theatre Company
Mary Stout, Me and My Girl, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Best Musical Direction/Musical
Eric Alsford, West Side Story, Actors' Playhouse
Craig D. Ames, 1776, Palm Beach Dramaworks
Caryl Fantel, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Slow Burn Theatre Company
Caryl Fantel, Passion, Zoetic Stage
Helen Gregory, Me and My Girl, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Best Choreography/Musical
Patrick Fitzwater, Heathers, Slow Burn Theatre Company
Ron Hutchins, West Side Story, Actors' Playhouse
Dan Knechtges, Me and My Girl, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Kelly Shook, I Love a Piano, The Wick Theatre
Shea Sullivan, The Will Rogers Follies, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Best Scenic Design/play or musical
Michael Amico, The Night of the Iguana, Palm Beach Dramaworks
Jodi Dellaventura, The Nether, Area Stage
Paul Tate De Poo III, Me and My Girl, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Michael McClain, After, Zoetic Stage
Sean McClelland, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Slow Burn Theatre Company
Best Lighting Design/play or musical
Paul Black, The Night of the Iguana, Palm Beach Dramaworks
Jeff Quinn, The Royale, GableStage
Eric Nelson, Mud, Thinking Cap Theatre
Giancarlo Rodaz, The Nether, Area Stage
Donald Edmund Thomas, Long Day's Journey Into Night, Palm Beach Dramaworks
Best Costume Design/play or musical
Gail Baldoni, Me and My Girl, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Gail Baldoni, The Will Rogers Follies, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Peter A. Lovello, Perfect Arrangement, Island City Stage
Brian O'Keefe, 1776, Palm Beach Dramaworks
Rick Peña, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Slow Burn Theatre Company
Best Sound Design/play or musical
Matt Corey, The Night of the Iguana, Palm Beach Dramaworks
David Hart, Perfect Arrangement, Island City Stage
Marty Mets, Frost/Nixon, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Marty Mets, Me and My Girl, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Shaun Mitchell, Million Dollar Quartet, Actors' Playhouse
Best Ensemble Production (play or musical)
The Flick, Mad Cat Theatre Company
It's Only a Play, GableStage
Million Dollar Quartet, Actors' Playhouse
Mud, Thinking Cap Theatre
The World Goes 'Round, MNM Productions
2016 Carbonell Award Nominations, By County:
Miami-Dade 39 nominations
Broward 22 nominations
Palm Beach 39 nominations
2016 Carbonell Award Nominations, By Theater:
Miami-Dade County
13 GableStage
13 Zoetic Stage
7 Actors' Playhouse
2 Area Stage
2 Mad Cat Theatre
2 Miami New Drama
Broward County
12 Slow Burn Theatre Company
5 Thinking Cap Theatre
4 Island City Stage
1 Broward Stage Door
Palm Beach County
11 Palm Beach Dramaworks
2 Theatre at Arts Garage Arts Garage
2 Theatre Lab
2 The Wick Theatre
1 Family Pool Productions
1 MNM Productions
1 Outré Theatre Company
1 West Boca Theatre
2016 Carbonell Award Nominations, By Production:
10 Me and My Girl, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
8 After, Zoetic Stage
6 The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Slow Burn Theatre
6 1776, Palm Beach Dramaworks
5 Passion, Zoetic Stage
5 The Royale, GableStage
4 Frost/Nixon, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
4 Hand to God, GableStage
4 Mud, Thinking Cap Theatre
4 The Will Rogers Follies, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
3 Heathers, Slow Burn Theatre
3 Million Dollar Quartet, Actors' Playhouse
3 The Night of the Iguana, Palm Beach Dramaworks
3 Perfect Arrangement, Island City Stage
3 Spring Awakening, Slow Burn Theatre Company
3 West Side Story, Actors' Playhouse
2 The Flick, Mad Cat Theatre
2 The Golem of Havana, Miami New Drama
2 It's Only a Play, GableStage
2 Long Day's Journey Into Night, Palm Beach Dramaworks
2 The Nether, Area Stage
2 Three Sisters of Weehawken, Theatre Lab
1 A Minister's Wife, GableStage
1 Buyer & Cellar, Actors' Playhouse
1 Evita, Broward Stage Door Theatre
1 The Devil's Music, The Theatre at Arts Garage
1 A Public Reading of an Unproduced Screenplay About the Death of Walt Disney, Thinking Cap Theatre
1 I Love a Piano, The Wick Theatre
1 Middletown, West Boca Theatre Company
1 The Normal Heart, Outré Theatre Company
1 Reborning, The Theatre at Arts Garage
1 Sister Act, The Wick Theatre
1 Stalking the Boogeyman, GableStage
1 The Submission, Island City Stage
1 Unlikely Heroes, Family Pool Productions
1 The World Goes 'Round, MNM Productions
Double Nominees:
Best Costume Design/play or musical, Me and My Girl, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Best Costume Design/play or musical, The Will Rogers Follies, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Caryl Fantel
Best Musical Direction/Musical, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Slow Burn Theatre Co.
Best Musical Direction/Musical, Passion, Zoetic Stage
Patrick Fitzwater
Best Choreography/Musical, Heathers, Slow Burn Theatre Company
Best Director/Musical, Spring Awakening, Slow Burn Theatre Company
Best Supporting Actress/Play, After, Zoetic Stage
Best Actress/Musical, Passion, Zoetic Stage
Best Actress/Musical, The Will Rogers Follies, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Best Supporting Actress/Musical, 1776, Palm Beach Dramaworks
Best Actor/Musical, Me and My Girl, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Best Actor/Musical, The Will Rogers Follies, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Best New Work/play or musical, After, Zoetic Stage
Best Supporting Actor/Play, After, Zoetic Stage
Stuart Meltzer
Best Director/Play, After, Zoetic Stage
Best Director/Musical, Passion, Zoetic Stage
Marty Mets
Best Sound Design/play or musical, Frost/Nixon, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Best Sound Design/play or musical, Me and My Girl, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Along with New York's Drama Desk and Chicago's Joseph Jefferson Awards, the Carbonell Awards are among the nation's senior regional arts awards and predate others including Washington, D.C.'s Helen Hayes Awards. The Carbonell Awards fosters the artistic growth of professional theater in South Florida by celebrating the diversity of our theater artists, providing educational scholarships, and building audience appreciation and civic pride by highlighting achievements of our theater community. Named after Manuel Carbonell, an internationally-renowned sculptor, who designed the original solid bronze and marble award in 1976, each season volunteer panelists and judges choose nominees and recipients from hundreds of shows produced on stages throughout the tri-county area. For more information, visit www.carbonellawards.org.
Photo by Jen Vasbinder
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