Last night I made my way gingerly along a dusty, construction-damaged Granville Street, to the Commodore Ballroom where Vancouver's theatre community gathered to celebrate another year of amazing theatre.  It is always interesting to see how the nominations and the final award winners stack up against what I thought during the year of play-going, and  what details I can remember of the many productions. As well, the productions nominated are only a portion of the many shows staged here - Vancouver has a great theatre scene, and often I find that there are more things available to see than hours to see them in. Any way here is the list of finalists with links to those plays I managed to review during the year and featured pictures. Congratulations to all the nominees, and of course to the Jessie winners

Jessie Richardson Awards Large Theatre  2008-2009



Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Lead Role

Jay Brazeau, The Drowsy Chaperone, Playhouse Theatre Company



Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role

Jennifer Lines, The Tempest, Bard on the Beach



Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

Simon Bradbury, Titus Andronicus, Bard on the Beach



Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

Margo Kane, Where the Blood Mixes, Playhouse Theatre Company & The Savage Society



Outstanding Lighting Design

Alan Brodie, Miss Julie: Freedom Summer, Playhouse Theatre Company



Outstanding Set Design

Ken MacDonald, The Constant Wife, Arts Club Theatre Company



Outstanding Costume Design

Nancy Bryant, The Constant Wife, Arts Club Theatre Company



Outstanding Sound Design or Original Composition

Alessandro Juliani, The Tempest, Bard on the Beach



 

Outstanding Direction

Max Reimer, The Drowsy Chaperone, Playhouse Theatre Company



Outstanding Production

The Drowsy Chaperone,Playhouse Theatre Company



Significant Artistic Achievement

Alan Brodie, Patrick Clark, Jamie Nesbitt,

Exceptional Integration of Visual Design,

Frost/Nixon, Playhouse Theatre Company





Jessie Richardson Awards Small Theatre 2008-2009



Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Lead Role

Russell Roberts, Blackbird, Rumble Productions & Theatre Conspiracy



Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role

Jennifer Mawhinney, Blackbird, Rumble Productions & Theatre Conspiracy



Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

Kevin McNulty, Life Savers, Ruby Slippers Theatre



Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

Sasa Brown, Bone in Her Teeth, Leaky Heaven Circus



Outstanding Lighting Design

Itai Erdal, Life Savers, Ruby Slippers Theatre



Outstanding Set Design

David Roberts, Life Savers, Ruby Slippers Theatre



Outstanding Costume Design

Shelia White, Influence, Touchstone Theatre



Outstanding Sound Design or Original Composition

Joseph “Pepe” Danza, The 8th Land, Pi Theatre



Outstanding Direction

Norman Armour, Blackbird, Rumble Productions & Theatre Conspiracy



Outstanding Production

No Exit, Electric Company Theatre & The Virtual Stage



Significant Artistic Achievement

Progress Lab, Innovative Contribution to the Artistic Community,

Hive 2



Jessie Richardson Awards Theatre for Young Audiences 2008-2009



Outstanding Performance

Emmelia Gordon, New Canadian Kid, Green Thumb Theatre



Outstanding Design

Drew Facey, Ecran de fumée / Théâtre la Seizième

Set and Costume Design



Outstanding Artistic Creation

Marcus Youssef

Are We There Yet?, Neworld Theatre

Direction



Outstanding Production

Are We There Yet?, Neworld Theatre



Significant Artistic Achievement

Hamza Adam, Evelyn Chew, Kenji Maeda, Luc Roderique, Azin Sadr, Ensemble Performance

Are We There Yet?, Neworld Theatre



INDIVIDUAL AWARDS AND PRIZES



Ray Michal Award for Outstanding Work or Body of Work by an Emerging Director:

Shane Snow

( I loved The World Goes 'Round)



Mary Phillips Prize for Behind the Scenes Achievement:

Shirley Lum



John Moffat & Larry Lillo Award:

Louis-Marie Bournival



Sydney Risk Prize for Outstanding Original Script by an Emerging Playwright: Kevin Loring



Critics’ Choice Innovation Award Sponsored by The Vancouver Sun:

No Exit, Electric Company Theatre & The Virtual Stage



GVPTA Career Achievement Award:

Patrick McDonald, Artistic Director, Green Thumb Theatre.



Georgia Straight Patron of the Arts Award:

Granville Island Hotel



Sam Payne Award for Most Promising Newcomer:

Dani Fecko



Outstanding Original Script:

Where the Blood Mixes, Kevin Loring, Playhouse Theatre Company & the Virtual Stage