The Elliot Norton Awards, which recognize excellence in Greater Boston theater, celebrated their 27th anniversary on Monday, May 11, at Harvard University's Sanders Theatre. The awards honored the season's best work in Boston's theaters (from April 2008 to March 2009).
The Boston Theater Critics Association awarded a special Elliot Norton Award to the late Paul Benedict "for his indelible presence in Boston theater and on the national stage." Benedict was a member of David Wheeler's Theatre Company of Boston in the 1960s and returned to the area regularly, appearing with The American Repertory Theatre and the Huntington Theatre Company, among others. Wheeler introduced special guest Al Pacino, who appeared with Benedict in such Theatre Company of Boston productions as "Richard III" and "Arturo Ui."
Rick Lombardo, outgoing artistic director of the New Repertory Theatre, was this year's recipient of the Elliot Norton Prize for Sustained Excellence. New Rep's artists have won 18 Norton Awards since Lombardo joined the company in 1996, and the theater's budget has grown from $500,000 to more than $2 million. Lombardo also shepherded the theater's move from Newton Highlands to the Arsenal Center for the Arts in Watertown. He is now artistic director of the San Jose Repertory Theatre.
In addition, StageSource presented its annual Theatre Hero Award to Joyce Kulhawik, for her service, inspiration and role as a champion to Boston area theatres and the arts. The Norton Committee also presented a special citation to the Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center at Boston University. The evening also included musical performances from the current national tour of "Spring Awakening" and from previous New Rep shows.
2009 Elliot Norton Award Nominees and Recipients (winners are starred)
OUTSTANDING VISITING PRODUCTION
Aurelia's Oratorio, American Repertory Theatre
Spalding Gray: Stories Left to Tell, Institute of Contemporary Art
Wishful Drinking, Huntington Theatre Company*
OUTSTANDING DESIGN, SMALL/MIDSIZE COMPANY
David R. Gammons (set), The Duchess of Malfi (Actors' Shakespeare Project)
Janie E. Howland (set), Eurydice (New Repertory Theatre) and The History Boys (SpeakEasy Stage Company)*
Susan Zeeman Rogers (set), The Light in the Piazza (SpeakEasy Stage Company)
OUTSTANDING DESIGN, LARGE COMPANY
James Noone (set), The Corn Is Green (Huntington Theatre Company)
Francis O'Connor (set and costumes), Two Men of Florence (Huntington Theatre Company)*
Douglas W. Schmidt (set), Rock 'n' Roll (Huntington Theatre Company, in association with American Conservatory Theater)
OUTSTANDING SOLO PERFORMANCE
Elizabeth Aspenlieder, Bad Dates (Shakespeare & Company and Merrimack Repertory Theatre)*
Nancy E. Carroll, The Year of Magical Thinking (Lyric Stage Company of Boston)
Ken Howard, According to Tip (New Repertory Theatre)
OUTSTANDING NEW SCRIPT
Dick Flavin, According to Tip (New Repertory Theatre)
Ryan Landry (book and lyrics), Ryan Landry and Billy Hough (music), Whizzin' (Gold Dust Orphans)
Joyce Van Dyke, The Oil Thief (Boston Playwrights' Theatre)*
OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR, SMALL/FRINGE COMPANY
Akiba Abaka, In the Continuum (Up You Mighty Race)
Judy Braha, The Oil Thief (Boston Playwrights' Theatre)
Summer L. Williams, Voyeurs de Venus (Company One)*
