Review: RICHMOND'S 2020 ARTSIES AWARDED at Richmond Theatre Critics Circle

Richmond's TheatreLAB won ten awards and eight went to Virginia Rep in the 13th edition of the Richmond Theatre Critics Circle's Artsies awards. Presented virtually (and available to view offline at artsies.org), the hour-long show also honored Firehouse Theatre's productions of "Passing Strange" and "Stupid Kid."

The event doubled as a fundraiser for the Theatre Artist Fund of Greater Richmond, which since 2006 has raised over $80,000 to help theater artists with emergency financial needs. The online event was free, but viewers were encouraged to donate through a link at artsies.org.

Although the 2019-2020 theater season was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, Richmond-area professional theaters staged a number of remarkable productions, including Virginia Rep's "Fences" and "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder," Virgina Rep was also given a special award for excellence in children's theater for its productions of "Tuck Everlasting" and "Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad," the latter written by local playwright Douglas Jones.

TheatreLAB's awards went to its production of "Urinetown," with seven Artsies, and to its premiere of Dante Piro's "Level 4." Quill Theatre's Joe Pabst won the award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Play) for "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead," and Joe Doran won for Best Lighting Design (Play) for Swift Creek Mill Theatre's "Holmes and Watson." Maggie Bavolack was chosen as Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Play) for TheatreLAB's "The Revolutionists," and Ruth Hedberg won for Best Costume Design (Play) for the same show. And Terri Moore was awarded Best Actress (Play) for "The Cake" at Richmond Triangle Players.

The full list of winners follows.

Best Musical: "Urinetown" TheatreLAB

Best Direction, Musical: Matt Polson "Urinetown"

Best Actor, Musical: Scott Wichmann "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder"

Best Actress, Musical: Bianca Bryan "Urinetown"

Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Musical: Luke Schares "Urinetown"

Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Musical: Kelsey Cordrey "Urinetown"

Best Musical Direction: Sandy Dacus "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder"

Best Choreography: Nicole Morris-Anastasi "Urinetown"

Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design, Musical: Sue Griffin "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder"

Outstanding Achievement in Lighting Design, Musical: Michael Jarett "Urinetown"

Outstanding Achievement in Set Design, Musical: Chris Raintree "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder"

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design, Musical: Jimmy Fecteau "Passing Strange"

Best Play: "Fences" Virginia Rep

Best Direction, Play: Alison Devereaux "Stupid Kid"

Best Actor, Play: James Craven "Fences"

Best Actress, Play: Terri Moore "The Cake"

Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Play: Joe Pabst "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead"

Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Play: Maggie Bavolack "The Revolutionists"

Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design, Play: Ruth Hedberg "The Revolutionists"

Outstanding Achievement in Lighting Design, Play: Joe Doran "Holmes and Watson"

Outstanding Achievement in Set Design, Play: Josafath Reynoso "Fences"

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design, Play: Nicholas Seaver "Fences"

2020 Ernie McClintock Best Acting Ensemble Award--The cast members of Firehouse Theatre's "Passing Strange" were honored for their notable performance as a cohesive and compelling ensemble: Patricia Alli, Keydron Dunn, Keaton Hillman, Dylan Jones, Jamar Jones, Katrinah Carol Lewis, Jeremy V. Morris

Breakout Performance: Lorin-Hope Turner "Stupid Kid"

Outstanding Original Work: Level 4, TheatreLAB

Excellence in Children's Theatre: "Tuck Everlasting" and "Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad," Virginia Rep