Best of 2016 BWW Rhode Island – Critics' Picks: As Selected by Your Local Reviewers
by Robert Barossi, Veronica Bruscini, Larry O'Brien and Andria Tieman
2016 was a year for imagination and innovation on Rhode Island stages. Here's a look back on some of the productions that stole the spotlight in the Ocean State this season.
Best Play
Black Coffee - The Granite Theatre
A Christmas Carol - Trinity Repertory Company
Dracula - OUT LOUD Theatre
Stupid F#%*ing Bird - The Wilbury Group
To Kill a Mockingbird - Trinity Repertory Company
Ui [oo-ey] - The Wilbury Group
The Winter's Tale - The Gamm
Best Musical
Avenue Q - Ocean State Theatre Company
Side Show - Brown/Trinity Rep
Best Director - Play
Kevin Broccoli - Harold & Maude - 2nd Story Theatre
John Cillino - Black Coffee - The Granite Theatre
Kira Hawkridge - Dracula - OUT LOUD Theatre
Brian McEleney - To Kill a Mockingbird - Trinity Repertory Company
James Dean Palmer - A Christmas Carol - Trinity Repertory Company
Josh Short - Ui [oo-ey] - The Wilbury Group
Fred Sullivan, Jr. - The Winter's Tale - The Gamm
Best Director - Musical
Richard Jenkins and Sharon Jenkins - Oklahoma! - Trinity Repertory Company
Wendy Overly - Murder Ballad - Wilbury Theatre Group
Jason Parrish - Avenue Q - Ocean State Theatre Company
Ashley Teague - Side Show - Brown/Trinity Rep
Best Actor, Leading Role - Play
Tony Estrella - The Winter's Tale - The Gamm
Michael Jepson - Black Coffee - The Granite Theatre
Padriag Mahoney - The Hound of the Baskervilles - Rhode Island Stage Ensemble
Brian McEleney - A Christmas Carol - Trinity Repertory Company
David Tessier - Ui [oo-ey] - The Wilbury Group
Stephen Thorne - To Kill a Mockingbird - Trinity Repertory Company
Best Actor, Leading Role - Musical
Tommy Labanaris - Avenue Q - Ocean State Theatre Company
Jake Loewenthal - Side Show - Brown/Trinity Rep
Nate Suggs - Anything Goes - Ocean State Theatre Company
Charlie Thurston - Oklahoma! - Trinity Repertory Company
Brad Wilson - Side Show - Brown/Trinity Rep
Joe Wilson, Jr. - Oklahoma! - Trinity Repertory Company
Best Actress, Leading Role - Play
Angela Brazil - To Kill a Mockingbird - Trinity Repertory Company
Karen Carpenter - The Winter's Tale - The Gamm
Jeanine Kane - The Winter's Tale - The Gamm
Sarah Leach - Dracula - OUT LOUD Theatre
Hannah Lum - Total Strangers - Epic Theatre Company
Brittany Rolfs - The Miracle Worker - Ocean State Theatre Company
Best Actress, Leading Role - Musical
Jeannette Bayardelle - Sister Act - Theatre by the Sea
Rachel Clausen - Side Show - Brown/Trinity Rep
Laura Lyman Payne - Side Show - Brown/Trinity Rep
Rachael Warren - Oklahoma! - Trinity Repertory Company
Rochelle Weinrauch - Avenue Q - Ocean State Theatre Company
Best Actor, Supporting Role - Play
Richard Donelly - The Winter's Tale - The Gamm
Vince Petronio - Ui [oo-ey] - The Wilbury Group
Best Actor, Supporting Role - Musical
Greg LoBuono - Billy Elliot - Ocean State Theatre Company
Mark S. Cartier - 1776 - Ocean State Theatre Company
Jared Dixon - Sister Act - Theatre by the Sea
Matt Ketai - Side Show - Brown/Trinity Rep
Christopher Swan - 1776 - Ocean State Theatre Company
Stephen Thorne - Oklahoma! - Trinity Repertory Company
Best Actress, Supporting Role - Play
Ottavia De Luca - Dracula - OUT LOUD Theatre
Rachel Dulude - Stupid F#%*ing Bird - The Wilbury Group
Rachel Dulude - Ui [oo-ey] - The Wilbury Group
Meg Taylor-Roth - The Final Voyage of X Minus One - Counter-Productions Theatre Company
Rachael Warren - A Christmas Carol - Trinity Repertory Company
Best Actress, Supporting Role - Musical
Elise Arsenault - Avenue Q - Ocean State Theatre Company
Rebecca Gibel - Oklahoma! - Trinity Repertory Company
Katie Howe - Anything Goes - Ocean State Theatre Company
Marina Morrissey - Side Show - Brown/Trinity Rep
Best Ensemble Cast - Play
Black Coffee - The Granite Theatre
A Christmas Carol - Trinity Repertory Company
Stupid F#%*ing Bird - The Wilbury Group
To Kill a Mockingbird - Trinity Repertory Company
Ui [oo-ey] - The Wilbury Group
The Winter's Tale - The Gamm
Best Ensemble Cast - Musical
Avenue Q - Ocean State Theatre Company
Oklahoma! - Trinity Repertory Company
Side Show - Brown/Trinity Rep
Best Choreography
Richard Jenkins and Sharon Jenkins - Oklahoma! - Trinity Repertory Company
Ashley Teague - Side Show - Brown/Trinity Rep
Best Costumes
Montana Blanco - Side Show - Brown/Trinity Rep
Jessie Darrell Jarbadan - The Winter's Tale - The Gamm
Emily Taradash - Anything Goes - Ocean State Theatre Company
Emily Taradash - White Christmas - Ocean State Theatre Company
Best Scenic Design
Anshuman Bhatia - Side Show - Brown/Trinity Rep
David Jepson - Black Coffee - The Granite Theatre
Eugene Lee - Oklahoma! - Trinity Repertory Company
Ken Martin - The Miracle Worker - Ocean State Theatre Company
Michael McGarty - Beowulf: A Thousand Years of Baggage - Trinity Repertory Company
Michael McGarty - To Kill a Mockingbird - Trinity Repertory Company
Bert Scott - Anything Goes - Ocean State Theatre Company
Cindy Strobel - The Hound of the Baskervilles - Rhode Island Stage Ensemble
Best Lighting Design
Anshuman Bhatia - Side Show - Brown/Trinity Rep
Eugene Lee - Oklahoma! - Trinity Repertory Company
Max Ponticelli - Harold & Maude - 2nd Story Theatre
Seth Reiser - A Christmas Carol - Trinity Repertory Company
Byron Winn - To Kill a Mockingbird - Trinity Repertory Company
Best Sound Design
Janie Bullard - Side Show - Brown/Trinity Rep
Peter Sasha Hurowitz - To Kill a Mockingbird - Trinity Repertory Company
Miles Polaski - A Christmas Carol - Trinity Repertory Company
Andy Russ - Ui [oo-ey] - The Wilbury Group
Best Musical Direction
Yan Li - Side Show - Brown/Trinity Rep
Michael Rice - Oklahoma! - Trinity Repertory Company
Special Mentions
Best Concert/Musical Performance
Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire (Heart and Soul Tour 3.0) - Dunkin' Donuts Center
The Happy Together Tour 2016 - Park Theatre
The Piano Guys - Providence Performing Arts Center
Richard Nader's Doo Wop and Rock & Roll All Stars - The Vets
Rosanne Cash - The Vets
Best Dance/Special Performance
Festival Ballet Providence - Swan Lake
Festival Ballet Providence - Up Close on Hope: Spring Program
Karen Sklaire - Ripple of Hope: One Teacher's Journey to Make an Impact - Community College of Rhode Island
Best Touring Production
A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder - Providence Performing Arts Center
The King & I - Providence Performing Arts Center
Pippin - Providence Performing Arts Center
Ragtime - Providence Performing Arts Center
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Pictured: Brown/Trinity Rep's Side Show - Laura Lyman Payne as Daisy Hilton and Rachel Clausen as Violet Hilton
PHOTO CREDIT: Mark Turek
