Halifax theatre companies are well represented as Theatre Nova Scotia announced the nominees for the 2020 Robert Merritt Awards, the province’s annual celebration of excellence in professional theatre.
Among the local professional companies to score multiple nods is the 2b theatre/Neptune Theatre/Obsidian Theatre production of Shauntay Grant’s The Bridge, the gospel-infused tale of two estranged brothers set in a rural Black community. Neptune also scored big for its production of the musical adaptation of Alice Walker’s The Color Purple. Both productions received eleven nominations each, including outstanding direction, musical direction and production.
Indie theatre company Keep Good [Theatre] Company walked away with nine nominations for its production of The Children, Lucy Kirkwood’s cautionary drama about the aftermath of a nuclear meltdown.
The Children is also vying for a trophy alongside the Halifax-based Xara Choral Theatre’s Rings Through Water and Kick At The Dark Theatre Co-Operative production of Every Brilliant Thing for outstanding production by a new or emerging company.
Neptune Theatre is also nominated for its productions of Peter Pan, Pleasureville, The Last Wife, Noises Off and Lo (or Dear Mr. Wells).
Other local theatre companies receiving nominations include KAZAN CO-OP’s The Realistic Joneses, Eastern Front Theatre’s Miss ‘N Me, Below The Salt’s Hamlet, The Villians Theatre production of Fox, Halifax Theatre for Young People‘s Brundibar, Zuppa Theatre’s tiny and Terra Novella Theatre’s Firebird: The Musical.
The outstanding new play by a Nova Scotia category saw three local productions – The Bridge, An Ordinary Afternoon in 1974 and Zomblet – all receiving nominations.
Among the other awards to be announced at the awards ceremony later this month include outstanding technician, stage manager, volunteer and the Theatre Nova Scotia Legacy Award.
“Theatre Nova Scotia is proud to promote the talents and creativity of theatre practitioners
working in this province,” says Nancy Morgan, Theatre Nova Scotia’s executive director in a media release. “From original works to classical repertoire, there is a vibrant theatre community in Nova Scotia.”
A complete list of nominees follows.
The 2020 Robert Merritt Awards will take place at the Dalhousie Student Union in Halifax on March 30 to coincide with International Wolrd Theatre Day. Visit theatrens.ca for tickets and more information.
Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role
| Name | Show | Company |
| Jacob Sampson | The Bridge | 2b theatre and Neptune Theatre in association with Obsidian Theatre |
| Ronica Sajnani | A Brimful of Asha | Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre |
| Mauralea Austin | The Children | Keep Good [Theatre] Company |
| Martha Irving | The Children | Keep Good [Theatre] Company |
| Tara Jackson | The Color Purple | Neptune Theatre |
| Burgandy Code | Hamlet | Below The Salt |
| Jackie Torrens | Hamlet | Below The Salt |
| Burgandy Code | In This Light | Two Planks and a Passion Theatre |
| Taylor Olson | Monster | That’s Us Collective |
| Kelly Holiff | Peter Pan | Neptune Theatre |
Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role
| Name | Show | Company |
| Jim Codrington | The Bridge | 2b theatre and Neptune Theatre in association with Obsidian Theatre |
| Daniel Ellis | The Bridge | 2b theatre and Neptune Theatre in association with Obsidian Theatre |
| Sophia Walker | The Bridge | 2b theatre and Neptune Theatre in association with Obsidian Theatre |
| Karen Burthwright | The Color Purple | Neptune Theatre |
| Janelle Cooper | The Color Purple | Neptune Theatre |
| Samantha Walkes | The Color Purple | Neptune Theatre |
| Breton Lalama | Pleasureville | Neptune Theatre |
| Sherry Smith | Pleasureville | Neptune Theatre |
| Gil Anderson | The Realistic Joneses | KAZAN CO-OP |
| Matthew Lumley | The Realistic Joneses | KAZAN CO-OP |
Outstanding Choreography
| Name | Show | Company |
| Veronique MacKenzie | Ben Hur | Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre |
| Veronique MacKenzie | The Children | Keep Good [Theatre] Company |
| Tracy Fanous | Miss ‘N Me | Eastern Front Theatre |
| Stephanie Graham | Peter Pan | Neptune Theatre |
| Sarain Fox | Rings Through Water | Xara Choral Theatre |
Outstanding Costume Design
| Name | Show | Company |
| Rachel Forbes | The Bridge | 2b theatre and Neptune Theatre in association with Obsidian Theatre |
| Tamara Marie Kucheran | The Color Purple | Neptune Theatre |
| Kaelen MacDonald | Fox | The Villians Theatre |
| Janet MacLellan | The Last Wife | Neptune Theatre |
| Emlyn Murray | Miss ‘N Me | Eastern Front Theatre |
Outstanding Direction
| Name | Show | Company |
| Pamela Halstead | Bed and Breakfast | Ship’s Company Theatre |
| Anthony Black | The Bridge | 2b theatre and Neptune Theatre in association with Obsidian Theatre |
| Laura Vingoe-Cram | The Children | Keep Good [Theatre] Company |
| Kimberley Rampersad | The Color Purple | Neptune Theatre |
| Heidi Malazdrewich | He’d Be Your Mother’s Father’s Cousin |
Theatre Baddeck |
Outstanding Lighting Design
| Name | Show | Company |
| Leigh Ann Vardy | The Bridge | 2b theatre and Neptune Theatre in association with Obsidian Theatre |
| Vicky Williams | The Children | Keep Good [Theatre] Company |
| Leigh Ann Vardy | The Color Purple | Neptune Theatre |
| Ingrid Risk | The Last Wife | Neptune Theatre |
| Vicky Williams | Peter Pan | Neptune Theatre |
Outstanding Musical Direction
| Name | Show | Company |
| Murleta Williams | The Bridge | 2b theatre and Neptune Theatre in association with Obsidian Theatre |
| Eszter Horvath | Brundibar | Halifax Theatre for Young People |
| Sean Mayes | The Color Purple | Neptune Theatre |
| Lisa St. Clair | Peter Pan | Neptune Theatre |
| Christina Murray | Rings Through Water | Xara Choral Theatre |
Outstanding New Play by a Nova Scotian
| Name | Show | Company |
| Shauntay Grant | The Bridge | 2b theatre and Neptune Theatre in association with Obsidian Theatre |
| Catherine Banks (based on Enemy of the People by Henrik Ibsen) |
In This Light | Two Planks and a Passion Theatre |
| Daniel MacIvor | An Ordinary Afternoon in 1974 | Mulgrave Road Theatre |
| Gillian Clark | The Ruins | Two Planks and a Passion Theatre |
| Dan Bray | Zomblet | The Villains Theatre |
Outstanding Original Score or Composition
| Name | Show | Company |
| Aaron Collier | Bed and Breakfast | Ship’s Company Theatre |
| Carolyn Curry | Firebird:Â The Musical | Terra Novella Theatre |
| Allen Cole and Ken Schwartz |
Frankenstein by Fire | Two Planks and a Passion Theatre |
| Keke Beatz | Miss ‘N Me | Eastern Front Theatre |
| Jenny Trites and Deantha Edmunds |
Rings Through Water | Xara Choral Theatre |
Outstanding Scenic Design
| Name | Show | Company |
| Rachel Forbes | The Bridge | 2b theatre and Neptune Theatre in association with Obsidian Theatre |
| Stephen Olser, assisted by Patricia Vinluan |
The Children | Keep Good [Theatre] Company |
| Tamara Marie Kucheran | The Color Purple | Neptune Theatre |
| John Dinning | Noises Off | Neptune Theatre |
| Jess Lewis and Anna Shepard (video) |
tiny | Zuppa Theatre presented by Eastern Front Theatre |
Outstanding Sound Design
| Name | Show | Company |
| Aaron Collier | Bed and Breakfast | Ship’s Company Theatre |
| Tori Morrison | The Children | Keep Good [Theatre] Company |
| Miquelon Rodriguez | The Color Purple | Neptune Theatre |
| Aaron Collier | Lo (or Dear Mr. Wells) | Neptune Theatre |
| Aaron Collier | Miss ‘N Me | Eastern Front Theatre |
Outstanding Production by a New or Emerging Company
| Show | Company |
| Bunny | Highland Arts Theatre |
| The Children | Keep Good [Theatre] Company |
| Every Brilliant Thing | Kick At The Dark Theatre Co-Operative |
| He’d Be Your Mother’s Father’s Cousin | Theatre Baddeck |
| Rings Through Water | Xara Choral Theatre |
Outstanding Production
| Show | Company |
| The Bridge | 2b theatre and Neptune Theatre in association with Obsidian Theatre |
| A Brimful of Asha | Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre |
| The Children | Keep Good [Theatre] Company |
| The Color Purple | Neptune Theatre |
| In This Light | Two Planks and a Passion Theatre |