Ogunquit Playhouse Receives Ten IRNE Award Nominations

The Ogunquit Playhouse is thrilled to announce that it has received ten Independent Reviewers of New England Award (IRNE) Nominations for two of its 2010 productions: Sunset Boulevard and Spamalot.

Film and television star Stefanie Powers and the Ogunquit Playhouse production of Sunset Boulevard leads with nine of those nominations. Stefanie Powers was nominated for Best Actress in a Musical for her powerful and critically acclaimed performance as Norma Desmond in Ogunquit's premier production of Sunset Boulevard. Todd Gearhart was given a nomination for Best Actor in a Musical for his haunting performance as Joe Gillis. Sunset Boulevard also received nominations for Best Ensemble and Best Musical.

Other nominations for the Ogunquit Playhouse production of Sunset Boulevard in the Large Theatre category are for Best Set Design, Todd Edward Ivins, who also designed the set for the Ogunquit 2008 production of Les Misérables; Lighting Design, Rich Latta, who is now in his 27th year with the Ogunquit Playhouse; Best Musical Direction, Ken Clifton who has worked on many productions for Ogunquit; and Best Director, Shaun Kerrison, for his third production at Ogunquit. Anthony Powell was recognized for his work on Sunset Boulevard for Best Costume Design and Casey Nicholaw for Spamalot in the Best Choreography category.

Upon hearing the good news, Executive Artistic Director Bradford Kenney said, "These nominations are particularly gratifying, as many Directors and Designers who received nominations have been returning to the Ogunquit Playhouse for many seasons - congratulations to our colleagues Rich Latta, Todd Ivins, Ken Clifton and Shaun Kerrison and to all the nominees!"

The Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) Awards were founded by Beverly Creasey of The Journal Newspapers and Larry Stark of Theater Mirror in 1997. The IRNE Awards recognize the extraordinary wealth of talent in the Boston and New England theatre community. The IRNE Award ceremony will take place on Monday, April 25, 2011, (Time TBA) at the Boston Center for the Arts.

Five main stage musicals are slated for the 2011 season at the Ogunquit Playhouse. The season includes the new Broadway hit musical Legally Blonde, Summer of Love, The Music Man,
Miss Saigon and a Best Musical of the year cutting-edge Broadway hit we can't announce yet!

The Ogunquit Playhouse is America's Foremost Summer Theatre, a 501c3 not-for-profit organization, producing the finest Broadway musicals each season, with performances Tuesday through Sunday, from May 25 to October 23, 2011. Main Stage tickets go on sale late March. Gift Certificates, Flex-Passes and Season Subscriptions are on sale now. For a complete list of show times, pricing and more information about the season, visit our website www.ogunquitplayhouse.org. Tickets on-line or through the box office at 207-646-5511.