Jessies 2011: A Nifty Night with Vancouver’s Theatre Greats

The 29th Annual Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards were held on June 20, 2011 at the Commodore Ballroom. Each year, the Jessie Awards recognize outstanding contributions to theatre in Vancouver. This year, I had the opportunity to attend as media and cover the event for Hummingbird604.com.

Award winners this year include:

Outstanding Production:

Theatre for Young Audiences: Bird Brain (Carousel Theatre)
Small Theatre: Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train (Glass City Theatre)
Large Theatre: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Arts Club Theatre Company, co-prod. with the Belfry Theatre)

Outstanding Performance by Leading Actress:

Small Theatre: Susan Bertoia, Mambo Italiano (Firehall Arts Centre, co-prod. with Western Canada Theatre)
Large Theatre: Deborah Williams, Becky’s New Car (Arts Club Theatre Company)

Outstanding Performance by Leading Actor:

Small Theatre: Robert Olguin, Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train (Glass City Theatre)
Large Theatre: Gerard Plunkett, Glengarry Glen Ross (Arts Club Theatre Company)

Outstanding Performance – Theatre for Young Audiences:

Georgina Beaty, The Shape of a Girl (Green Thumb Theatre)

Outstanding Performance by Supporting Actress:

Small Theatre: Barbara Pollard, A Lie of the Mind (Main Street Theatre Equity Co-op)
Large Theatre: Jennifer Clement, The Trespassers (Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company, co-prod. with the Belfry Theatre)

Outstanding Performance by Supporting Actor:

Small Theatre: Simon Webb, Hamlet (The Honest Fishmongers Equity Co-op)
Large Theatre: Bob Frazer, Death of a Salesman (Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company)

Outstanding Direction:

Small Theatre: Stephen Malloy, A Lie of the Mind (Main Street Theatre Equity Co-op)
Large Theatre: Michael Shamata, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Arts Club Theatre Company, co-prod. with the Belfry Theatre)

Outstanding Original Script:

Kevin Kerr & Jonathon Young, Tear the Curtain! (Arts Club Theatre Company, in assoc. with Electric Company Theatre)

Critic’s Choice Innovation Award:

Neworld Theatre/Leaky Heaven Circus, Peter Panties

*For a full list of this year’s winners, please see the official Jessie Awards website.

Although there was obviously a lot of great Vancouver theatre I missed last year (I never see enough!), I did attend many of the nominated productions and several of the winners (instinctive good taste, I guess). I was very happy to see Neworld Theatre/Leaky Heaven Circus’ commitment and generous spirit honoured with the Critic’s Choice Innovation Award for the creation of the kooky and beautiful Peter Panties.

While the Commodore Ballroom was seriously dolled up for the occasion, the tone of the evening was kept light-hearted and celebratory by the ever-delightful production and direction of Vancouver TheatreSports, with videos, music, and a little game called “Don’t Forget the Monologue” in which audience members read monologues from this year’s nominated productions and attempted to fill in the blanks.

After the awards had been given to the deserving recipients and the official portion of the evening was over, the tables were removed and happy theatre artists (myself included) danced the night away. After a quick survey of the room, I concluded that the Pacific Theatre/Glass City Theatre folks were the most committed dancers of the bunch and I boogied down with them to my heart’s content.

I was starstruck to be dancing next to Carl Kennedy, nominated for an Outstanding Performance by a Leading Actor Award for his role in Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train. I shook hands with Robert Olguin, winner of the Outstanding Performance by a Leading Actor Award – Small Theatre (also for ‘A’ Train) and they obliged me with a photo. I had been floored by their electric performance together in Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train, which I reviewed on NiftyNotCool.com.

Carl Kennedy, nominee Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Lead Role with Robert Olguin, winner Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Lead Role (Both from “Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train”)

I was smitten when I was able to meet and snap a photo with Benjamin Elliot, nominated for the Significant Artistic Award-Theatre for Young Audiences, for his Outstanding Musical Direction and Performance in Munscha Mia (Carousel Theatre). Benjamin had charmed me with his skilled slapstick and irreverent rendition of “O Little Town of Bethlehem” in Pacific Theatre’s Christmas on the Air last December (reviewed on Hummingbird604.com) and it was lovely to tell him so in person. Please note that the choice of the photo used was Benjamin’s. He is ordinarily a very fine-looking man.

me and Benjamin Elliot, nominee Significant Artistic Achievement – Theatre for Young Audiences

The 2011 Jessie Richardson Awards were a joy to attend, not only as a patron of Vancouver theatre who is a fan of so many great artists in this city, but also as a theatre artist myself. A strong sense of community exists in Vancouver, as evidenced by the number of amazing co-productions mounted last year. I was incredibly inspired by the people nominated and awarded that night. Emerging theatre artists truly do stand upon the shoulders of giants: hardworking, generous, formidable, and impossibly talented giants. Recognizing their achievements and their commitment to showing audiences new worlds, new possibilities, and the scope of imagination is the least we could do.

This guest post was written by Lauren Kresowaty who provided exclusive Jessies coverage for Hummingbird604.com. Lauren blogs at Nifty Not Cool and can also be found on Twitter. Thanks, Lauren, for covering The Jessies for me!

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