The epic six-hour, two-part Cape Breton story Fall On Your Knees, based on Ann-Marie MacDonald’s sweeping novel, tops the list of nominations for the 2024 Robert Merritt Awards, celebrating excellence in Nova Scotia’s professional theatre.
The co-production between Halifax’s Neptune Theatre, National Arts Centre, Vita Brevis Arts, Canadian Stage, and Grand Theatre garnered 14 nominations, including best production.
Following close on its heels is the Ship’s Company Theatre & Eastern Front Theatre in association with Matchstick Theatre’s production of Downed Hearts with eleven, including best production.
Other locally produced multi-nominated shows include Neptune Theatre’s Billy Elliot the Musical, The Play That Goes Wrong, and Cinderella, as well as the reWork Productions and 2b theatre company productions of Let’s Run Away, The Villains Theatre’s A Beginner’s Guide to the Night Sky & Rain on the Parade, Shakespeare by the Sea’s Pinocchio, and Zuppa’s The Movements.
Also making the list of locally produced multiple nominations is the Neptune Theatre & Highland Arts Theatre co-production of In Lieu of Flowers, the Bus Stop Theatre’s The Crevice: Season 2, and F*cking Theatre Co.’s F*cking Trans Women.
Celebrating Nova Scotia’s outstanding talent in the theatre industry, the annual awards named after late Dalhousie Theatre professor Robert Merritt will be handed out during a ceremony at Dartmouth’s Alderney Landing Theatre on April 15. Visit theatrens.ca for tickets and more information.
A complete list of nominees follows:
Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role
|
Name |
Role |
Production |
Producing Company |
|
Emma Vickers |
Little Girl |
The Adventures of the Little Girl and the Wind |
Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre |
|
Jackson Seib |
The Suspect |
Murder For Two |
Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre |
|
Samatha Hill |
Kathleen Piper, Ensemble |
Fall on Your Knees |
A Neptune Theatre, National Arts Centre, Vita Brevis Arts, Canadian Stage, Grand Theatre production |
|
Jenny L. Wright |
Mercedes Piper, Jeanna Lacroix |
Fall on Your Knees |
A Neptune Theatre, National Arts Centre, Vita Brevis Arts, Canadian Stage, Grand Theatre production |
|
Deborah Hay |
Francis Piper, Ensemble |
Fall on Your Knees |
A Neptune Theatre, National Arts Centre, Vita Brevis Arts, Canadian Stage, Grand Theatre production |
|
Jeff Schwager |
Robert Grove |
The Play That Goes Wrong |
Neptune Theatre |
|
Ryan Brown |
Prince Charmin |
Cinderella |
Neptune Theatre |
|
Daniel MacIvor |
Peter |
Let’s Run Away |
reWork Productions and 2b theatre company |
|
Zach Faye |
Aaron |
Downed Hearts |
Ship’s Company Theatre & Eastern Front Theatre in association with Matchstick Theatre |
|
Geneviève Steele |
Albertine |
A Beginner’s Guide to the Night Sky |
The Villains Theatre |
Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role
|
Name |
Role |
Production |
Producing Company |
|
Janelle Cooper |
Adelaide Taylor, |
Fall on Your Knees |
A Neptune Theatre, National Arts Centre, Vita Brevis Arts, Canadian Stage, Grand Theatre production |
|
Eva Foote |
Lily Piper, Ensemble |
Fall on Your Knees |
A Neptune Theatre, National Arts Centre, Vita Brevis Arts, Canadian Stage, Grand Theatre production |
|
Nicola Lipman |
Grandma |
Billy Elliot the Musical |
Neptune Theatre |
|
Patricia Zentilli |
Mrs. Wilkinson |
Billy Elliot the Musical |
Neptune Theatre |
|
Dan Bray |
Elsworth/ |
Rain on the Parade |
The Villains Theatre |
|
Wally MacKinnon |
Stuart MacPhail |
The New Canadian Curling Club |
Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre |
|
Sherry Smith |
Pearl |
Downed Hearts |
Ship’s Company Theatre |
|
Elm Reyes |
Lucas |
Downed Hearts |
Ship’s Company Theatre |
|
Chris Vergara |
Boutons |
Cinderella |
Neptune Theatre |
|
Becca Guilderson |
Deetah |
Cinderella |
Neptune Theatre |
Outstanding Choreography
|
Name |
Production |
Producing Company |
|
Sarah Prosper |
Jack and the Beanstalk – |
Highland Arts Theatre |
|
Ray Hogg |
Billy Elliot the Musical |
Neptune Theatre |
|
Stephanie Graham |
Cinderella |
Neptune Theatre |
|
Jade Douris-O’Hara |
Pinocchio |
Shakespeare by the Sea |
|
Liliona Quarmyne |
The Movements |
Zuppa |
Outstanding Costume Design
|
Name |
Production |
Producing Company |
|
Diego Cavedon Dias |
The Adventures |
Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre |
|
Judith Bowden |
Fall on Your Knees |
A Neptune Theatre, National Arts Centre, Vita Brevis Arts, Canadian Stage, |
|
Tea Stewart |
Pinocchio |
Shakespeare by the Sea |
|
Oliver Dorais-Fleming |
Rain on the Parade |
The Villains Theatre |
|
Diego Cavedon Dias |
Wind in the Willows |
Two Planks and a Passion Theatre |
Outstanding Direction
|
Name |
Production |
Producing Company |
|
Alisa Palmer |
Fall on Your Knees |
A Neptune Theatre, National Arts Centre, |
|
Ann-Marie Kerr |
In Lieu of Flowers |
Highland Arts Theatre & Neptune Theatre |
|
Jeremy Webb |
The Play That Goes Wrong |
Neptune Theatre |
|
Jesse MacLean |
Pinocchio |
Shakespeare by the Sea |
|
Samatha Wilson |
Downed Hearts |
Ship’s Company Theatre |
Outstanding Lighting Design
|
Name |
Production |
Producing Company |
|---|---|---|
|
Ingrid Risk |
The Adventures |
Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre |
|
Leigh Ann Vardy |
Fall on Your Knees |
A Neptune Theatre, National Arts Centre, Vita Brevis Arts, Canadian Stage, Grand Theatre production |
|
Jessica Lewis |
Billy Elliot the Musical |
Neptune Theatre |
|
Alison Crosby |
Downed Hearts |
Ship’s Company Theatre |
|
Jessica Lewis |
The Movements |
Zuppa |
Outstanding New Nova Scotia Adaptation (Playwright)
|
Name |
Production |
Producing Company |
|
Zoë Comeau |
F*cking Trans Women |
F*cking Theatre Co. |
|
Wesley J. Colford |
Jack and the Beanstalk – A Musical Comedy Pantomime |
Highland Arts Theatre |
|
Hannah Moscovitch |
Fall on Your Knees |
A Neptune Theatre, National Arts Centre, Vita Brevis Arts, Canadian Stage, Grand Theatre production |
|
William Shakespeare, Adapted by Drew Douris-O’Hara |
Romeo and Juliet |
Shakespeare by the Sea |
|
Allen Cole and Ken Schwartz |
Wind in the Willows |
Two Planks and a Passion Theatre |
Outstanding New Nova Scotia Play (Playwright)
|
Name |
Production |
Producing Company |
|
Wesley J. Colford |
The Beloved |
Highland Arts Theatre |
|
Alison Crosby |
In Lieu of Flowers |
Highland Arts Theatre & Neptune Theatre |
|
Daniel MacIvor |
Let’s Run Away |
reWorks Productions and |
|
Catherine Banks |
Downed Hearts |
Ship’s Company Theatre |
|
Colleen MacIssac |
A Beginner’s Guide to the Night Sky |
The Villains Theatre |
Outstanding Musical Direction
|
Name |
Production |
Producing Company |
|
Sean Mayes |
Fall on Your Knees |
A Neptune Theatre, National Arts Centre, |
|
Paul de Gurse |
Billy Elliot the Musical |
Neptune Theatre |
|
Garry Williams |
Pinocchio |
Shakespeare by the Sea |
|
Lisa St Clair |
Cinderella |
Neptune Theatre |
|
Avery-Jean Brennan |
Murder For Two |
Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre |
Outstanding Score
|
Name |
Production |
Producing Company |
|
Sean Mayes |
Fall on Your Knees |
A Neptune Theatre, National Arts Centre, Vita Brevis Arts, Canadian Stage, Grand Theatre production |
|
Garry Williams |
Pinocchio |
Shakespeare by the Sea |
|
Garry Williams and Evan Brown |
Rain on the Parade |
The Villains Theatre |
|
Jenny Trites & Colleen MacIsaac |
A Beginner’s Guide to the Night Sky |
The Villains Theatre |
|
Stewart Legere |
The Movements |
Zuppa |
Outstanding Ensemble
|
Name |
Production |
Producing Company |
|
Ensemble |
The New Canadian Curling Club |
Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre |
|
Ensemble |
Fall on Your Knees |
A Neptune Theatre, National Arts Centre, Vita Brevis Arts, Canadian Stage, Grand Theatre production |
|
Ensemble |
Billy Elliot the Musical |
Neptune Theatre |
|
Ensemble |
The Play That Goes Wrong |
Neptune Theatre |
|
Ensemble |
Downed Hearts |
Ship’s Company Theatre & Eastern Front Theatre in association with Matchstick Theatre |
Outstanding Production
|
Production |
Producing Company |
|
Murder for Two |
Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre |
|
The New Canadian Curling Club |
Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre |
|
Fall on Your Knees |
A Neptune Theatre, National Arts Centre, Vita Brevis Arts, Canadian Stage, Grand Theatre production |
|
The Play That Goes Wrong |
Neptune Theatre |
|
Downed Hearts |
Ship’s Company Theatre & Eastern Front Theatre in association with Matchstick Theatre |
Outstanding Independent Production
|
Production |
Producing Company |
|
The Crevice: Season 2 |
Bus Stop Theatre |
|
F*cking Trans Women |
F*cking Theatre Co. |
|
The Beloved |
Highland Arts Theatre |
|
Half-Cracked: The Legend of Sissy Mary |
Theatre Baddeck |
|
A Beginner’s Guide to the Night Sky |
The Villains Theatre |
Outstanding Projection Design
|
Name |
Production |
Producing Company |
|
Stevey Hunter |
MACRO Series: ISOLATIONS (GENTLY, SOFTLY, NOW) |
Eastern Front Theatre |
|
Matt Downey |
Billy Elliot the Musical |
Neptune Theatre |
|
Christian Ludwig Hansen and Anna Sheppard |
The Movements |
Zuppa |
|
Victoria Ryan & Matthew Downey |
F*cking Trans Women |
F*cking Theatre Co. |
|
MacKenzie Cornfield |
Downed Hearts |
Ship’s Company Theatre & Eastern Front Theatre in association with Matchstick Theatre |
Outstanding Scenic Design
|
Name |
Production |
Producing Company |
|
Sue LePage, with assistance from Brenda Duran |
Downed Hearts |
Ship’s Company Theatre & Eastern Front Theatre in association with Matchstick Theatre |
|
Andrea Evans |
Half-Cracked: The Legend of Sissy Mary |
Theatre Baddeck |
|
Vickie Marston |
The Adventure of the Little Girl and the Wind |
Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre |
|
Zach Faye |
The Crevice: Season 2 |
Bus Stop Theatre |
|
John Dinning |
The Play That Goes Wrong |
Neptune Theatre |
Outstanding Sound Design
|
Name |
Production |
Producing Company |
|
Deanna H. Choi |
Cinderella |
Neptune Theatre |
|
Jackson Fairfax-Perry |
Downed Hearts |
Ship’s Company Theatre & Eastern Front Theatre in association with Matchstick Theatre |
|
Brian Kenny |
Fall on Your Knees |
A Neptune Theatre, National Arts Centre, |
|
Deanna H. Choi |
Let’s Run Away |
reWorks Productions and 2b theatre company |
|
Stewart Legere with Thomas Rice |
The Movements |
Zuppa |