By Howard Pousner
hpousner@ajc.com

The Alliance Theatre led Suzi Bass Award nominees for the 2009-2010 Atlanta professional theatrical season, with 27 nominations, on the strength of Twyla Tharp’s Frank Sinatra homage  “Come Fly With Me” (eight) and “Lookingglass Alice” (seven).

Theatrical Outfit, Horizon Theatre, Actor’s Express, Theatre in the Square, Atlanta Lyric Theatre and Aurora Theatre each received 10 or more nominations across the play, musical, and design categories.

The 6^th Annual Suzi Bass Awards Ceremony will be held Nov. 8 at Oglethorpe University’s Conant Center.

Full nominee list:

Production – Play

Around the World in 80 Days                                                           Theatrical Outfit

Jitney                                                                                                            Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre

King Lear                                                                                                    Georgia Shakespeare

Lookingglass Alice                                                                                 Alliance Theatre

Shakin’ the Mess Outta Misery                                                        Horizon Theatre

Production – Musical

A Catered Affair                                                                                       Aurora Theatre

Come Fly With Me                                                                                 Alliance Theatre

Grey Gardens                                                                                           Actor’s Express

Hairspray                                                                                                   Atlanta Lyric Theatre

I Dream                                                                                                        Musical-Dramatic Arts Inc.

World Premiere (Play or Musical)

Brownie Points                                                       Janece Shaffer                                                        Theatrical Outfit

Come Fly With Me                                               Twyla Tharp, Frank Sinatra Entpr.             Alliance Theatre

Fair Use                                                                    Sarah Gubbins                                                        Actor’s Express

I Dream                                                                      Douglas Tappin, Cedric Perrier                      Musical-Dramatic Arts Inc.

Tennis in Nablus                                                   Ismail Khalidi                                                          Alliance Theatre

Director – Play

David Catlin                                                             Lookingglass Alice                                               Alliance Theatre

James Donadio                                                      Ethan Frome                                                           Theatre in the Square

Jessica Phelps West                                            The Sunset Limited                                              Theatrical Outfit

Sabin Epstein                                                          King Lear                                                                  Georgia Shakespeare

Thomas W. Jones II                                             Shakin’ the Mess Outta Misery                      Horizon Theatre

Director – Musical

Brandt Blocker                                                       Hairspray                                                                 Atlanta Lyric Theatre

Freddie Ashley                                                       A Catered Affair                                                     Aurora Theatre

Freddie Ashley                                                       Grey Gardens                                                         Actor’s Express

Jasmine Guy                                                            I Dream                                                                      Musical-Dramatic   Arts Inc.

Twyla Tharp                                                            Come Fly With Me                                               Alliance Theatre

 

Music Direction

Ann-Carol Pence                                                  A Catered Affair                                                     Aurora Theatre

BJ Brown                                                                  Hairspray                                                                 Atlanta Lyric Theatre

Darryl Jovan Williams                                         Avenue X                                                                  Alliance Theatre

Keith Williams                                                        I Dream                                                                      Musical Dramatic Arts Inc.

Sam Lutfiyya                                                           Come Fly With Me                                               Alliance Theatre

Choreography

Cindy Mora                                                             Hairspray                                                                 Atlanta Lyric Theatre

Cindy Mora                                                             The Will Rogers Follies                                       Atlanta Lyric Theatre

Danny Pelzig                                                           Avenue X                                                                  Alliance Theatre

Jen MacQueen                                                       Shrew: The Musical                                             Georgia Shakespeare

Twyla Tharp                                                            Come Fly With Me                                               Alliance Theatre

Lead Actress – Play

Bethany Anne Lind                                              The Storytelling Ability of a Boy                     Aurora Theatre

Kate Donadio                                                         Around the World in 80 Days                         Theatrical Outfit

Minka Wiltz                                                             Black Pearl Sings                                                  Horizon Theatre

Naima Carter Russell                                          Tranced                                                                     Aurora Theatre

Tess Malis Kincaid                                               Good Boys and True                                            Actor’s Express

Lead Actress – Musical

Bernardine Mitchell                                            His Eye is on the Sparrow                                 Theatre in the Square

Caitlin Smith                                                           Hairspray                                                                 Atlanta Lyric Theatre

Ingrid Cole                                                               A Catered Affair                                                     Aurora Theatre

Jill Hames                                                                 Grey Gardens                                                         Actor’s Express

Park Krausen                                                          Shrew: The Musical                                             Georgia Shakespeare

Lead Actor – Play

E. Roger Mitchell                                                  The Sunset Limited                                              Theatrical Outfit

Nick Arapoglou                                                      The Storytelling Ability of a Boy                     Aurora Theatre

Robin Bloodworth                                               Ethan Frome                                                           Theatre in the Square

Steve Coulter                                                          The Men of Mah Jongg                                      Georgia Ensemble Theatre

Tim McDonough                                                  King Lear                                                                  Georgia Shakespeare

Lead Actor – Musical

Alan Kilpatrick                                                        The Will Roger’s Follies                                      Atlanta Lyric Theatre

Daniel Thomas May                                            Cotton Patch Gospel                                           Theatrical Outfit &

Georgia Ensemble Theatre

Glenn Rainey                                                          Hairspray                                                                 Atlanta Lyric Theatre

Joe Knezevich                                                         Shrew: The Musical                                             Georgia Shakespeare

Quentin Earl Darrington                                    I Dream                                                                      Musical Dramatic Arts INC

Featured Actress – Play

Ellen McQueen                                                      Ethan Frome                                                           Theatre in the Square

Naomi Lavette                                                       Shakin’ the Mess Outta Misery                      Horizon Theatre

Nita Hardy                                                               Boeing, Boeing                                                       Aurora Theatre

Stacey Melich                                                         Good Boys and True                                            Actor’s Express

Tonia Jackson                                                         Shakin’ the Mess Outta Misery                      Horizon Theatre

Featured Actress – Musical

Ann Marie Gideon                                               Shrew: The Musical                                             Georgia Shakespeare

Christy Baggett                                                      Hairspray                                                                 Atlanta Lyric Theatre

Courtney Godwin                                                Hairspray                                                                 Atlanta Lyric Theatre

Kathleen McManus                                             Grey Gardens                                                         Actor’s Express

Kayce Grogan Wallace                                       Hairspray                                                                 Atlanta Lyric Theatre

Featured Actor – Play

Andrew Benator                                                   Tennis in Nablus                                                   Alliance Theatre

James Donadio                                                      Around the World in 80 Days                         Theatrical Outfit

Jimi Kocina                                                              True Love Lies                                                         Horizon Theatre

Kevin Dougherty                                                  The Men of Mah Jongg                                      Georgia Ensemble Theatre

William S. Murphey                                            Around the World in 80 Days                         Theatrical Outfit

Featured Actor – Musical

Ben Polite                                                                I Dream                                                                      Musical Dramatic Arts INC
Chase Todd                                                             A Funny Thing . . . Forum                                 Atlanta Lyric Theatre

Chase Todd                                                             Hairspray                                                                 Atlanta Lyric Theatre

Glenn Rainey                                                          A Catered Affair                                                     Aurora Theatre

Jevares C. Myrick                                                 Hairspray                                                                 Atlanta Lyric Theatre

Ensemble – Play

It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play                                     ART Station

Brik Berkes, Bryan Brendle, Kate Donadio, Bethany Irby,   Barry Stoltze

Jitney                                                                                                            Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre

Tracey Bonner, Anthony Chisholm, E. Roger Mitchell, Eric Moore, Yaegel Welch, Ellis Eugene Williams,                        Geoffrey D. Williams, Cedric Young, LaParee Young

Lookingglass Alice                                                                                Alliance Theatre

Molly Brennan,   Kevin Douglas, Anthony Fleming III, Doug Hara, Lindsey Noel Whiting

Shooting Star                                                                                           Horizon Theatre

Leigh Campbell-Taylor, Jim Hammond

The Savannah Disputation                                                               Theatre in the Square

Nita Hardy, Mary Kathryn Kaye, Judy Leavell, Peter Thomasson

Ensemble – Musical

Avenue X                                                                                                   Alliance Theatre
Rebecca Blouin, Lawrence Clayton, Jeremy Cohen, Steve French, J.D. Goldblatt, Nick Spangler,                                         Neda Spears, J.D. Webster

Children’s Letters to God                                                                   The Legacy Theatre
Brent Davis, Maddie Mateer, Paige McCauley, Austin Monk, Benjamin Peacock

Come Fly With Me                                                                                Alliance Theatre
Kristine Bendul, Alexander Brady, Todd Burnsed, Dee Daniels, Matthew Dibble, Carolyn Doherty,
Holley Farmer, Heather Hamilton, Laura Mead, Jodi Melnick, Charlie Neshyba-Hodges, Rika Okamoto,
Eric Otto, Justin Peck, Karine Plantadit, Joel Prouty, Matt Rivera, Keith Roberts, John Selya,
John Sorensen-Jolink, Ashley Tuttle

Hair                                                                                                               7 Stages
Dorothy Victoria Bell, Franceca Byrd, Thoedus X. Crane II, Christie Lee Fisher , Doug Graham,
Naomi Lavender, Chris Love, Jason Royal, Jenna Tamisiea, Warren E. Ullom IV, Christine Verderese,
Jacob Wood

Costume Design – Play

Christine Turbitt                                                   King Lear                                                                  Georgia Shakespeare

Jonida Beqo                                                            Around the World in 80 Days                         Theatrical Outfit

Linda Patterson                                                     Boeing, Boeing                                                       Aurora Theatre

Mara Blumenfeld                                                 Lookingglass Alice                                               Alliance Theatre

Nyrobi Moss                                                           Shakin’ the Mess Outta Misery                      Horizon Theatre

Costume Design – Musical

Douglas J. Koertge                                               Shrew: The Musical                                             Georgia Shakespeare

Katherine Roth                                                      Come Fly With Me                                               Alliance Theatre

Mariann Verheyen                                              Avenue X                                                                  Alliance Theatre

Shilla Benning                                                        I Dream                                                                      Musical Dramatic Arts Inc.

Sydney Roberts                                                     Grey Gardens                                                         Actor’s Express

Lighting Design – Play

Christine Binder                                                    Lookingglass Alice                                               Alliance Theatre

Jessica Coale                                                           Around the World in 80 Days                         Theatrical Outfit

Mike Post                                                                 Ethan Frome                                                           Theatre in the Square

Rob Dillard                                                              Brownie Points                                                       Theatrical Outfit

Rob Dillard                                                              The Woman in Black                                           Theatre in the Square

Lighting Design – Musical

Ken Yunker                                                              Avenue X                                                                  Alliance Theatre

Donald Holder                                                        Come Fly With Me                                               Alliance Theatre

Joseph Futral                                                          I Dream                                                                      Musical Dramatic Arts Inc.

Joseph P. Monaghan III                                     Grey Gardens                                                         Actor’s Express

Bradley Bergeron                                                 Hairspray                                                                 Atlanta Lyric Theatre

Scenic Design – Play

Clint Ramos                                                             A Life in the Theatre                                            Alliance Theatre

Daniel Ostling                                                         Lookingglass Alice                                               Alliance Theatre

Isabel A. and Moriah Curley-Clay                 The Sunset Limited                                              Theatrical Outfit

Isabel A. and Moriah Curley-Clay                 Shooting Star                                                          Horizon Theatre

Kat Conley                                                               Ethan Frome                                                           Theatre in the Square

Scenic Design – Musical

Kat Conley                                                               I Dream                                                                      Musical Dramatic Arts Inc.

Lee Shiver                                                                A Funny Thing . . . Forum                                 Atlanta Lyric Theatre

Philip Male                                                              A Catered Affair                                                     Aurora Theatre

Philip Male                                                              Grey Gardens                                                         Actor’s Express

Todd Rosenthal                                                     Avenue X                                                                  Alliance Theatre

Sound Design – Play

Christopher Bartelski                                          The Woman in Black                                           Theatre in the Square

Clay Benning                                                           Tennis in Nablus                                                   Alliance Theatre

Jonathan Summers                                             The Sunset Limited                                              Theatrical Outfit

Ray Nardelli                                                            Lookingglass Alice                                               Alliance Theatre
Thom Jenkins                                                         Shakin’ the Mess Outta Misery                      Horizon Theatre

Sound Design – Musical

Bobby Johnston                                                     I Dream                                                                      Musical Dramatic Arts Inc.

Brian Patterson                                                     His Eye is on the Sparrow                                 Theatre in the Square

Clay Benning                                                           Avenue X                                                                  Alliance Theatre

Jonathan Summers                                             Cotton Patch Gospel                                           Theatrical Outfit and

Georgia Ensemble Theatre Peter McBoyle                                                       Come Fly With Me                                               Alliance Theatre