Celebrating the best in professional theatre in Nova Scotia, the 2023 Robert Merritt Awards were handed out last night in a ceremony at Alderney Landing.
This year’s big winner was Parrsboro’s Ship’s Company Theatre, which took home seven trophies for its production of Newfoundland playwright Sharon King-Campbell’s rural drama, Dayboil. Among the haul included awards for outstanding direction and production.
Multiple-nominee The Rocky Horror Show from Halifax’s Neptune Theatre was virtually shut-out of the awards despite its nine nominations, with a single win for its musical direction.
Other multiple winners of the night included two each for the Halifax Theatre for Young People and Eastern Front Theatre production of #IAMTHECHEESE, the Highland Arts Theatre production of Samqwan and the Savoy Theatre production of Dear Rita.
A complete listing of winners follows:
Outstanding Performances Leading Role
Stephanie MacDonald – Dayboil – Ship’s Company Theatre
Mary Fay Coady – Lauchie, Liza & Rory – Theatre Baddeck
Outstanding Performances Supporting Role
Garry Williams – Hamlet – Shakespeare by the Sea
Micha Cromwell – The Stranger – Two Planks and a Passion Theatre
Outstanding Costume Design
Kayla Cormier – The Happy Prince – Highland Arts Theatre
Outstanding Direction
Samantha Wilson – Dayboil – Ship’s Company Theatre
Outstanding Lighting Design
Alison Crosby – Dayboil – Ship’s Company Theatre
Outstanding Projection Design
Christian Ludwig Hansen – #IAmTheCheese – Halifax Theatre for Young People + Eastern Front Theatre
Outstanding Choreography
Sarah Prosper – Samqwan – Highland Arts Theatre
Outstanding Musical Direction
Avery Jean Brennan – The Rocky Horror Show – Neptune Theatre
Outstanding New Nova Scotia Adaptation
Josh MacDonald – #IAmTheCheese – Halifax Theatre for Young People + Eastern Front Theatre
Outstanding New Nova Scotia Play
shalan joudry – Koqm – Nestuita’si Storytelling
Outstanding Original Score or Composition
Rita MacNeil, Mike Ross, Lindsay Kyte – Dear Rita – Savoy Theatre
Outstanding Scenic Design
Andrew Cull – Misery – Neptune Theatre
Outstanding Sound Design
Aaron Collier – Dayboil – Ship’s Company Theatre
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble
Dayboil – Ship’s Company Theatre
Outstanding Independent Production
Samqwan – Highland Arts Theatre
Outstanding Production
Dayboil – Ship’s Company Theatre
Outstanding Emerging Production
Crypthand – Gale Force Theatre Co-operative
Wes Daniels Design Award
MacKenzie Cornfield & Brenda Duran
Outstanding Stage Manager Award
Heather Lewis
Outstanding Volunteer Award
Lara Lewis
Outstanding Technician
Thomas Rice
Theatre Nova Scotia Professional Development Scholarship
Lyndsey Kyte
RBC Chrysalis Emerging Artist Award
Sara Graham
Merritt Legacy Award
Walter Borden