2015 METAs Award Winners Announced!

By: Oct. 29, 2015
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Montreal's English theatre community gathered in celebration at the beautiful and historic Rialto Theatre on Monday October 26th for the 3rd annual METAs ceremony, honouring excellence in Montreal English theatre for the 2014-2015 Season.

The ceremony - which featured original musical numbers satirizing the unique identity of Montreal - was hosted by the multi-talented Gitanjali Jain and James Loye, with musical stylings composed and directed by Nick Carpenter with The METAfour, the METAs' annually assembled band of actor-musicians. The evening was scripted by noted playwrights Alexis Diamond and Michael Mackenzie, and directed by Mike Payette - who took home the award for Outstanding Direction forHosanna.

Awards were presented onstage by a range of theatre professionals from all disciplines - including recipients from previous years - as well as Jeanette Kelly (CBC Radio Montreal), Alisa Palmer (Artistic Director, English Section, National Theatre School of Canada) and Guy Rodgers (Executive Director, English Language Arts Network (ELAN).

The Emerging Artist Award was given to Virgilia Griffith for her performance in Black Theatre Workshop's production of Gas Girls, and the Outstanding Contribution to Theatre Award was bestowed on Zach Fraser for his Puppet and Mask Design in Persephone Production's The Nisei and the Narnauks.

In addition to the familiar juried awards, the second Unsung Hero of the Theatre (UHOT) Award - which celebrates an individual working behind the scenes - was given to Centaur Theatre's Production Manager, Howard Mendelsohn. In honouring Mr. Mendelsohn, the presenters noted his history of mentoring emerging production personnel, and his generous support of independent theatre makers in the community.

This year's ceremony also inaugurated the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Award to recognize practices of access and inclusion. The recipient - Geordie Productions - was lauded for their commitment to engaging and reflecting the diversity of Montreal and its artists. In praising Geordie Productions, the nominators noted the company's longstanding practice of inclusive casting, Suspended Tickets program and accessible performances.

Over the course of the 2014-15 theatre season, a jury of 19 theatre professionals from varied disciplines assessed 36 productions across 16 awards categories. An additional 9 productions were evaluated by a separate jury for the Community Theatre Award, for a total of 45 productions overall. Like Toronto's Doras and Vancouver's Jessies, nominees were selected by a peer jury process. METAs recipients are determined by secret ballot, tabulated by an independent auditor.

The following awards were presented (recipients highlighted in bold):

2014/15 Recipients & Nominees


Outstanding Lead Performance - Actor

  • Eloi ArchamBaudoin - Hosanna (Tableau D'Hôte Theatre)
  • Damien Atkins - We Are Not Alone(The Segal Centre for Performing Arts & Crow's Theatre)
  • Greg Ellwand - Travesties(The Segal Centre for Performing Arts)
  • Matt Miwa - The Tashme Project: The Living Archives(Tashme Productions)


Outstanding Lead Performance - Actress

  • Lucinda Davis - random (Black Theatre Workshop & Imago Theatre)
  • Virgilia Griffith - Gas Girls(Black Theatre Workshop)
  • Julie Tamiko Manning - The Tashme Project: The Living Archives(Tashme Productions)
  • Brigitte Robinson - The Graduate(The Segal Centre for Performing Arts)


Outstanding Supporting Performance - Actor

  • Julian Bailey - The Glass Menagerie(Hudson Village Theatre)
  • Adam Capriolo - Twelfth Night(Repercussion Theatre)
  • Davide Chiazzese - Hosanna (Tableau D'Hôte Theatre)
  • Chimwemwe Miller - Gas Girls(Black Theatre Workshop)
  • Paul Rainville - Twelfth Night(Repercussion Theatre)


Outstanding Supporting Performance - Actress
Award sponsored by Canadian Actors' Equity Association

  • Lisa Horner - Belles Soeurs: The Musical(produced by Copa de Oro Productions, presented by The Segal Centre for Performing Arts)
  • Chala Hunter - Travesties (The Segal Centre for Performing Arts)
  • Gitanjali Jain - Twelfth Night(Repercussion Theatre)
  • Cat Lemieux - Triplex Nervosa(Centaur Theatre Company)
  • Jennifer Roberts - Chloe's Choice The True But Not Entirely Reasonable Holiday Fable of Chloe Rebecca Ramadan, Aged 9 4/5 (Geordie Productions)
  • Jane Wheeler - The Graduate(The Segal Centre for Performing Arts)


Outstanding Ensemble

  • 33 Variations - Ian Baird, Sean Curley, Marie-Noelle Dufour, Nir Guzinski, Bryan Libero, Stephanie McKenna, Emma McQueen & Joy Ross-Jones (Brave New Productions)
  • Don Quixote de Lac Brome - Davide Chiazzese, Mary Harvey & Mike Hughes (Theatre Lac Brome)
  • Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde - Vanessa Carter, Lucas Chartier, Alex Goldrich, James Harrington, Martin Law & Allie Shapiro (Persephone Productions)
  • Forever Plaid - Chris Barillaro, Gab Desmond, Michael Daniel Murphy & Jonathan Patterson (Copa de Oro Productions & The Segal Centre for Performing Arts)
  • The Mighty Carlins - Chip Chuipka, Alain Goulem & Mike Hughes (ASM Performing Arts)


Outstanding Set Design

  • Jean Bard - Belles Soeurs: The Musical(produced by Copa de Oro Productions, presented by The Segal Centre for Performing Arts)
  • Julie Fox - We Are Not Alone(The Segal Centre for Performing Arts & Crow's Theatre)
  • Lara Kaluza - Hosanna(Tableau D'Hôte Theatre)
  • James Lavoie - The Tashme Project: The Living Archives(Tashme Productions)
  • Pierre-Étienne Locas - Travesties (The Segal Centre for Performing Arts)

Outstanding Costume Design

  • Louise Bourret - Travesties (The Segal Centre for Performing Arts)
  • Mérédith Caron - Belles Soeurs: The Musical (produced by Copa de Oro Productions, presented by The Segal Centre for Performing Arts)
  • Evita Karasek & Michèle Gagné - Twelfth Night(Repercussion Theatre)
  • Noémi Poulin - Hosanna(Tableau D'Hôte Theatre)
  • Susana Vera - The Graduate(The Segal Centre for Performing Arts)


Outstanding Lighting Design

  • Nicolas Descôteaux - Travesties(The Segal Centre for Performing Arts)
  • David Perrault Ninacs - The Tashme Project: The Living Archives(Tashme Productions)
  • Kimberly Purtell - We Are Not Alone (The Segal Centre for Performing Arts & Crow's Theatre)
  • Martin Sirois - random(Black Theatre Workshop & Imago Theatre)
  • Peter Vatsis - The Glass Menagerie(Hudson Village Theatre)


Outstanding Sound Design

  • Peter Cerone - random (Black Theatre Workshop & Imago Theatre)
  • Rob Denton - Hosanna(Tableau D'Hôte Theatre)
  • Gabriella Hook & Harry Standjofski - The Invisible Man / L'homme invisible(Third Way-Troisième Voie & Théâtre de la Manufacture)
  • Thomas Ryder Payne - We Are Not Alone (The Segal Centre for Performing Arts & Crow's Theatre)


Outstanding Original Composition

  • Devon Bate - Corpus(Teesri Duniya Theatre)
  • Matthew Barber & Justin Rutledge - The Graduate (The Segal Centre for Performing Arts)
  • Rob Denton - Gas Girls(Black Theatre Workshop)
  • Gabriella Hook & Harry Standjofski - The Invisible Man / L'homme invisible(Third Way-Troisième Voie & Théâtre de la Manufacture)
  • Alan Menken - The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz: The Musical(The Segal Centre for Performing Arts)


Outstanding New Text (Original or Adaptation)

  • Damien Atkins - We Are Not Alone(The Segal Centre for Performing Arts & Crow's Theatre)
  • Neil Bartram & Brian Hill - Belles Soeurs: The Musical(produced by Copa de Oro Productions, presented by The Segal Centre for Performing Arts)
  • Julie Tamiko Manning & Matt Miwa - The Tashme Project: The Living Archives (Tashme Productions)
  • Marcus Youssef - Chloe's Choice The True But Not Entirely Reasonable Holiday Fable of Chloe Rebecca Ramadan, Aged 9 4/5(Geordie Productions)


Outstanding Contribution to Theatre

  • George Allister & Patrick Andrew Boivin: Video Design - The Tashme Project: The Living Archives (Tashme Productions)
  • Matthew Barber & Justin Rutledge: Live Music - The Graduate(The Segal Centre for Performing Arts)
  • Nadine Desrochers: Translation - Billy (The Days of Howling)(Talisman Theatre)
  • Zach Fraser: Puppet & Mask Design - The Nisei and the Narnauks (Persephone Productions)
  • Gabriella Hook & Harry Standjofski: Live Music - The Invisible Man / L'homme invisible (Third Way-Troisième Voie & Théâtre de la Manufacture)
  • Noémi Poulin: Video Design - Corpus(Teesri Duniya Theatre)


Outstanding Emerging Artist

  • Laurence Gagnon Lefebvre: Set Design - Corpus(Teesri Duniya Theatre)
  • Virgilia Griffith: Performance - Gas Girls (Black Theatre Workshop)
  • Donnub Jafarzadeh: Performance - Game Changers(Geordie Productions)
  • Marjolaine Provençal: Set Design - Twelfth Night(Repercussion Theatre)
  • Jennifer Roberts: Performance - Chloe's Choice The True But Not Entirely Reasonable Holiday Fable of Chloe Rebecca Ramadan, Aged 9 4/5(Geordie Productions)
  • Charlotte Rogers: Performance - Chloe's Choice The True But Not Entirely Reasonable Holiday Fable of Chloe Rebecca Ramadan, Aged 9 4/5 (Geordie Productions)


Outstanding Direction

  • Micheline Chevrier - random (Black Theatre Workshop & Imago Theatre)
  • René Richard Cyr - Belles Soeurs: The Musical(produced by Copa de Oro Productions, presented by The Segal Centre for Performing Arts)
  • Mike Payette - Hosanna (Tableau D'Hôte Theatre)
  • Jacob Tierney - Travesties(The Segal Centre for Performing Arts)
  • Matthew Tiffin - The Glass Menagerie (Hudson Village Theatre)


Outstanding Community Production

  • Disney's Beauty and the Beast - West Island Theatre Association (WISTA)
  • Hairspray the Broadway Musical - Côte Saint-Luc Dramatic Society (CSLDS)
  • The Mousetrap - Lakeshore Players
  • Not Now, Darling - Lakeshore Players
  • The Pirates of Penzance - Lakeshore Light Opera

Outstanding Independent Production
  • Billy (The Days of Howling) - Talisman Theatre
  • The Dumb Waiter - Theatre Esperance
  • Hosanna - Tableau D'Hôte Theatre
  • The Mighty Carlins - ASM Performing Arts
  • The Tashme Project: The Living Archives - Tashme Productions


Outstanding PACT Production

  • Belles Soeurs: The Musical - produced by Copa de Oro Productions, presented by The Segal Centre for Performing Arts
  • random - Black Theatre Workshop & Imago Theatre
  • Travesties - The Segal Centre for Performing Arts
  • We Are Not Alone - The Segal Centre for Performing Arts & Crow's Theatre


Non-juried Awards, selected from nominations submitted by the community:

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Award (EDI)
Geordie Productions - Artistic Director, Dean P. Fleming


Unsung Hero of the Theatre Award (UHOT)
Howard Mendelsohn - Production Manager, Centaur Theatre Company


http://metas.ca/2015-winners/


About the METAs
The Montreal English Theatre Awards (METAs) recognize and celebrate outstanding artistic work in Montreal's English Theatre. Established in 2012, these peer-juried awards exist to promote professional and emerging English theatre artists and companies, to heighten their visibility both regionally and beyond, and to elevate the level of critical discourse about theatre in Montreal, amongst artists and with the community at large.

The METAs are managed by a volunteer coordinating committee (METAC) of active professionals from various theatre disciplines, who oversee the running of the Awards and ensure the METAs integrity as a project "by the community and for the community". The METAs are supported by Quebec Drama Federation with financial support in part from the Government of Canada, Conseil des arts de Montréal and Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec.

For information: http://www.metas.ca/


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