The 29th Annual Artie Awards presented by WNED/WBFO at Shea’s 710 Theatre on Monday night was a spectacle of sparkles and selfies in celebration of Buffalo’s theatre community. Theatre practitioners and those who love them packed the space to honor outstanding achievements from this year’s theatre season, and share a laugh or two…or many.
The evening began with an acknowledgment to the Arties’ charity of choice, ECMC HIV/AIDS and Immunodeficiency Services, which benefits from the annual Red Ribbon collection. To date the theatre community has contributed almost $500,000 to support the agency’s important work.
Next up was the opening number, gloriously delivered by Amy Jakiel and Charmagne Chi. “Welcome to Arties Night in Buffalo,” sung to the tune of Fun Home’s “Welcome to Our House on Maple Avenue,” the tune was a witty homage to this year’s nominees, and even poked fun choreographer-director Michael Walline’s multiple nominations. Co-host, founder and producer Anthony Chase announced the traditional first award of the night (Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play) to newcomer Augustus Donaldson, Jr. for his role in Native Son at the Paul Robeson Theatre.
In a playbill and menu couture crinolined skirt, Lisa Ludwig paid tribute to Jay Desiderio, recipient of this year’s Outstanding Achievement Award. His revisioning of his family’s restaurant into dinner theatre destination quality cuisine and productions is beloved by audiences and actors alike. Desiderio’s acceptance speech gave the evening it’s unofficial theme: family. He talked about his birth family and his theatre family, and that sentiment pervaded the rest of the evening celebratory vibes. Later on when Louis Colaiacovo accepted his Artie for Outstanding Leading Actor in a Musical for Second Generation Theatre’s production of “Big Fish,” he cited his mom – a school nurse whose work doesn’t always result in a room full of love – for her support and encouragement. This earned her a standing ovation. Arin Lee Dandes, a founder of Second Generation Theatre whose production of “Big Fish” won the Artie for Outstanding Production of a Musical, remembered her late mother. Dandes says “Big Fish” was the first show after her mother’s passing which added poignancy and reflection to the moment.
Yes, the Buffalo theatre community is indeed a family. It’s heartening to hear the cheers theatre folk have for their peers and the support they show, even with good natured ribbing on the side.
There were other bright spots, too. O’Connell & Company’s spirited rendition of “Sit Down John” from “1776” (winner for Outstanding Ensemble of a Musical), and Melinda Capeles’ number from Raices Theatre Company’s La Lupe: My Life, My Destiny brought down the house.
The winners are highlighted and there are links to Buffalo Theatre Guide reviews sprinkled in:
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A PLAY
Augustus Donaldson, Jr., Native Son, Paul Robeson Theatre
Al Garrison, King Hedley II, Paul Robeson Theatre
Adriano Gatto, Equivocation, The Kavinoky Theatre
Dudney Joseph Jr., Angels in America, Second Generation Theatre
Patrick Moltane, Sive, Irish Classical Theatre Company
Adam Yellen, Frost/Nixon, Irish Classical Theatre Company
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Charmagne Chi, Silence! The Musical, Buffalo United Artists
Arin Lee Dandes, Spamalot, The Kavinoky Theatre
Dominique Kempf, Ragtime, MusicalFare Theatre
https://buffalotheatreguide.com/2019/02/18/theatre-review-ragtime-at-musicalfare-theatre/
Victoria Perez, Big Fish, Second Generation Theatre
Michele Marie Roberts, Spamalot, The Kavinoky Theatre
Emily Yancey, 1776: The Musical, O’Connell & Company
OUTSTANDING TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT
Tom Makar, sound design, Hamlet, Irish Classical Theatre Company
Brian Milbrand, video design, 1984, The Kavinoky Theatre
https://buffalotheatreguide.com/2019/03/16/theatre-review-1984-at-kavinoky-theatre/
Chester Popiolkowski, sound design, The Jungle Book, Theatre of Youth
John Rickus, lighting, The Illusion, Road Less Traveled Productions
Brett Runyon, puppet design, Little Shop of Horrors, O’Connell & Company
Bob Van Valin, video design, Fahrenheit 451, Subversive Theatre Collective
KATHARINE CORNELL AWARD
Chris Hatch, Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare in Delaware Park
Tom Dudzick, Christmas Over the Tavern, MusicalFare Theatre
Alphonso Walker, Jr., Native Son, Paul Robeson Theatre
Edward G. Smith, King Hedley II, Paul Robeson Theatre
OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY
Carlos R.A. Jones, Purlie, Paul Robeson Theatre
Lynne Kurdziel Formato, Spamalot, The Kavinoky Theatre
https://buffalotheatreguide.com/2019/01/13/theatre-review-spamalot-at-kavinoky-theatre/
Carly Luksch, Heathers: The Musical, American Repertory Theater of Western New York
Michael Walline, Big Fish, Second Generation Theatre
Michael Walline, Ragtime, MusicalFare Theatre
Michael Walline, Late in the Evening, MusicalFare Theatre
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Cassie Cameron, Golden Boy, Irish Classical Theatre Company
https://buffalotheatreguide.com/2018/09/16/theatre-review-golden-boy-at-irish-classical-theatre/
Diane DiBernardo, The Undeniable Sound of Right Now, Road Less Traveled Productions
Kiana Duggan-Haas, Sive, Irish Classical Theatre Company
Janae Leonard, Native Son, Paul Robeson Theatre
Maureen Anne Porter, The Ladies Foursome, Desiderio’s Dinner Theatre
Renita Shadwick, King Hedley II, Paul Robeson Theatre
OUTSTANDING LEADING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Louis Colaiacovo, Big Fish, Second Generation Theatre
https://buffalotheatreguide.com/2018/10/14/theatre-review-big-fish-by-second-generation-theatre-at-sheas-smith-theatre/
Philip Farugia, Murder for Two, MusicalFare Theatre
Greg Gjurich, Spamalot, The Kavinoky Theatre
London Lee, Purlie, Paul Robeson Theatre
Jordan Levin, Parade, American Repertory Theater of Western New York
Lorenzo Shawn Parnell, Ragtime, MusicalFare Theatre
EMANUEL FRIED AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING NEW PLAY
The Killing of a Chinese Bookie, adapted by Torn Space from original screenplay by John Cassavetes
King John (adaptation), Larry Smith
Late in the Evening, Michael Walline
Once In My Lifetime: A Buffalo Football Fantasy, Donna Hoke
https://buffalotheatreguide.com/2018/09/02/theatre-review-once-in-my-lifetime-a-buffalo-football-fantasy-at-sheas-smith-theatre/
The Sidewalk Stageplay (adaptation), Paulette Harris and Edreys Wajed
Tales of the Driven, Kurt Schneiderman
OUTSTANDING LEADING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Melinda Capeles, La Lupe: My Life, My Destiny, Raíces Theatre Company
Maria Droz, Silence! The Musical, Buffalo United Artists
Melissa Leventhal, Mother Jones in Heaven (and Hell), Subversive Theatre Collective
Pamela Rose Mangus, 1776, O’Connell & Company
Jenny Marie McCabe, Little Shop of Horrors, O’Connell & Company
Michele Marie Roberts, Big Fish, Second Generation Theatre
OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN
Paul Bostaph, Lady Windermere’s Fan, Irish Classical Theatre Company
Dyan Burlingame, The Undeniable Sound of Right Now, Road Less Traveled Productions
David Dwyer, Talley’s Folly, Jewish Repertory Theatre
Bethany Kasperek, Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, Road Less Traveled Productions
Lynne Koscielniak, The Illusion, Road Less Traveled Productions
https://buffalotheatreguide.com/2019/01/26/theatre-review-the-illusion-at-road-less-traveled-theatre/
Kenneth Shaw, The Jungle Book, Theatre of Youth
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Jacob Albarella, Big Fish, Second Generation Theatre
Kyle Baran, Ragtime, MusicalFare Theatre
https://buffalotheatreguide.com/2019/01/30/first-look-ragtime-at-musicalfare-theatre/
Steve Copps, Spamalot, The Kavinoky Theatre
Tim Goehrig, Parade, American Repertory Theatre of Western New York
Alejandro Gabriel Gomez, Desde el Puente: Musical Edition, Raíces Theatre Company
Peter Palmisano, Sweeney Todd, The Kavinoky Theatre
OUTSTANDING LEADING ACTOR IN A PLAY
Ray Boucher, Sive, Irish Classical Theatre Company
Chris J. Handley, Talley’s Folly, Jewish Repertory Theatre
Jack Hunter, Frost/Nixon, Irish Classical Theatre Company
Jimmy Janowski, The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey, Buffalo United Artists
Stan Klimecko, The Killing of a Chinese Bookie, Torn Space
Ben Michael Moran, Angels in America, Second Generation Theatre
OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN
Jenna Damberger, The Illusion, Road Less Traveled Productions
Kari Drozd, Frost/Nixon, Irish Classical Theatre Company
A. Lise Harty, Sense & Sensibility, Irish Classical Theatre Company
Dixon Reynolds, The Three Musketeers, All for One Theatre Productions
Kenneth Shaw, The Jungle Book, Theatre of Youth
Jess Wegrzyn/Kelly Copps/Sarah Bos, Big Fish, Second Generation Theatre
OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTOR
Charmagne Chi, Ragtime, MusicalFare Theatre
Jake Hayes, Little Shop of Horrors, O’Connell & Company
Kevin Kennedy, Spamalot, The Kavinoky Theatre
Marc Sacco, Sweeney Todd, The Kavinoky Theatre
David Spychalski, Big Fish, Second Generation Theatre
Christopher Standart, Philosophus, Alleyway Theatre
OUTSTANDING LEADING ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Kristin Bentley, Angels in America, Second Generation Theatre
Bethany Burrows, After the Fall, Subversive Theatre Collective and Post-Industrial Productions
Marie Costa, King John, New Phoenix Theatre
Lisa Ludwig, Annapurna, New Phoenix Theatre
Aleks Malejs, Sive, Irish Classical Theatre Company
https://buffalotheatreguide.com/2018/11/05/theatre-review-sive-at-irish-classical-theatre/
Christine Turturro, The Undeniable Sound of Right Now, Road Less Traveled Productions
OUTSTANDING DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL
Randall Kramer, Ragtime, MusicalFare Theatre
Lynne Kurdziel Formato, Spamalot, The Kavinoky Theatre
Victoria Pérez, La Lupe: My Life, My Destiny, Raíces Theatre Company
Steve Vaughan, 1776, O’Connell & Company
Michael Walline, Big Fish, Second Generation Theatre
Doug Weyand, Murder for Two, MusicalFare Theatre
OUTSTANDING DIRECTION OF A PLAY
Brian Cavanagh, Frost/Nixon, Irish Classical Theatre Company
Paulette D. Harris, Native Son, Paul Robeson Theatre
Vincent O’Neill, Sive, Irish Classical Theatre Company
Fortunato Pezzimenti, Golden Boy, Irish Classical Theatre Company
Dan Shanahan, The Killing of a Chinese Bookie, Torn Space
Todd Warfield, The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey, Buffalo United Artists
OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE OF A MUSICAL
1776, O’Connell & Company
https://buffalotheatreguide.com/2019/04/28/theatre-review-1776-at-oconnell-company/
Big Fish, Second Generation Theatre
Desde el Puente: Musical Edition, Raíces Theatre Company
Late in the Evening, MusicalFare Theatre
Parade, American Repertory Theatre of Western New York
Silence! The Musical, Buffalo United Artists
OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE OF A PLAY
Equivocation, The Kavinoky Theatre
Golden Boy, Irish Classical Theatre Company
The Jungle Book, Theatre of Youth
https://buffalotheatreguide.com/2019/03/17/theatre-review-the-jungle-book-at-theatre-of-youth/
The Life and Death of King John, New Phoenix Theatre
Sense & Sensibility, Irish Classical Theatre Company
Sive, Irish Classical Theatre Company
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL
1776, O’Connell & Company
Big Fish, Second Generation Theatre
La Lupe: My Life, My Destiny, Raíces Theatre Company
Ragtime, MusicalFare Theatre
Silence! The Musical, Buffalo United Artists
Spamalot, The Kavinoky Theatre
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF A PLAY
Between Riverside and Crazy, Road Less Traveled Productions
Equivocation, The Kavinoky Theatre
Frost/Nixon, Irish Classical Theatre Company
https://buffalotheatreguide.com/2019/03/03/theatre-review-frost-nixon-at-irish-classical-theatre/
The Jungle Book, Theatre of Youth
The Killing of a Chinese Bookie, Torn Space
Sive, Irish Classical Theatre Company
Doug Weyand curates this fun look at the big data behind the Arties, too.
Buffalo Theatre Guide 