The Negro Ensemble Company Award Best Production Grandma’s Jukebox – Black Ensemble Theater Living All Alone Phyllis Hyman Musical – Theater 47 Pulled Punches – MPAACT What To Send Up When It Goes Down – Congo Square Theatre Company White – Definition Theatre Company
The Target Community Relations Award Best Ensemble Choir Boy – Steppenwolf Theatre Company Relentless – TimeLine Theater Company Ruined – Invictus Theatre Company School Girls; or, The African Mean Girls Play – Goodman Theatre What To Send Up When It Goes Down – Congo Square Theatre Company
The Lorraine Hansberry Award Best Writing Of A Play Tyla Abercrumbie – Relentless – TimeLine Theatre Company Joshua Allen – The Last Pair Of Earlies – Raven Theatre Company Nicole Brooks – Her Honor Jane Byrne – Lookingglass Theatre Company Ericka Dickerson-Despenza – Cullud Wattah – Victory Gardens Theater Terry Guest – The Magnolia Ballet – About Face Theatre James Ijames – White – Definition Theatre Company
The August Wilson Award Best Writing Of A Musical Michelle Bester – Grandma’s Jukebox – Black Ensemble Theater John Ruffin – Living All Alone Phyllis Hyman Musical – Theater 47 Jackie Taylor – It’s Just Like Coming To Church (Welcome To The Church Of You) – Black Ensemble Theater
The Joel Hall Award Best Choreography in a Dance/Music Production Homer Hans Bryant – React – Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project Bril Barrett and Starinah Dixon – I Can’t Breathe and In The Beginning – Dance Africa Chicago Amansu Eason – Mino Tale – Dance Africa Chicago Kevin Iega Jeff – Aisatnaf – Deeply Rooted Dance Theater Regina Perry Carr and Asiel Hardison – Summer Breeze at Casa de Abuela – Dance Africa Chicago
The Lloyd Richards Award Best Direction Of A Play Nicole Brooks – Her Honor Jane Byrne – Lookingglass Theatre Company Lili-Anne Brown – Cullud Wattah – Victory Gardens Theater Andrea Dymond – Sweat – The Copley Theatre Monty Cole – Fences – American Blues Theater Tasia A. Jones – Intimate Apparel – Northlight Theatre Company Ron OJ Parson – Relentless – TimeLine Theatre Company
The Oscar Brown, Jr. Award Best Direction Of A Musical Christopher Carter – Priscilla Queen Of The Desert – Mercury Theater Chicago Reneisha Jenkins – Sister Act – Mercury Theater Chicago Kenny Ingram – Blues In The Night – Porchlight Music Theatre John Ruffin – Living All Alone Phyllis Hyman Musical – Theater 47 Jackie Taylor – It’s Just Like Coming To Church (Welcome To The Church Of You) – Black Ensemble Theater
The Douglas Alan Mann Award Best Direction Of An Ensemble Mikael Burke – Fireflies – Northlight Theatre Company Lauren Wells-Mann – Pulled Punches – MPAACT Ebby Offord – Ruined – Invictus Theatre Company Daniel Bryant and Ericka Ratcliff – What To Send Up When It Goes Down – Congo Square Theatre Company Ericka Ratcliff – White – Definition Theatre Company
The Sidney Poitier Award Best Leading Actor In A Play Kamal Angelo Bolden – Fences – American Blues Theater Terry Guest – The Magnolia Ballet – About Face Theatre Tyler Hardwick – Choir Boy – Steppenwolf Theatre Company William Anthony Sebastian Rose ll – The Tragedy Of King Christophe – The House Theatre Of Chicago C. Smith – Two Trains Running – Court Theatre
The Ossie Davis Award Best Featured Actor In A Play Sharif Atkins – Gem Of The Ocean – Goodman Theatre La Shawn Banks – Choir Boy – Steppenwolf Theatre Company Robert Cornelius – Her Honor Jane Byrne – Lookingglass Theatre Company Yao Dogbe – Intimate Apparel – Northlight Theatre Company Joshua L. Green – Sweat – The Copley Theatre Stanley King – Ruined – Invictus Theatre Company Alfred H. Wilson – Two Trains Running – Court Theatre
The Sammy Davis, Jr. Award Best Leading Actor In A Musical Curtis Bannister – Ragtime – Music Theater Works Vincent Jordan – Grandma’s Jukebox – Black Ensemble Theater KC Lee – Takin’ Back My Name (The Ike Turner Story) – Theater 47 Nolan Robinson – Passing Strange – Porchlight Music Theatre Michael Wordly – KInky Boots – Paramount Theatre
The Bill Bojangles Robinson Award Best Featured Actor In A Musical Terrell Armstrong – Blues In The Night – Porchlight Music Theatre Randle Michael – Living All Alone Phyllis Hyman Musical – Theater 47 Evan Tyrone Martin – Blues In The Night – Porchlight Music Theatre Blake Reasoner – Grandma’s Jukebox – Black Ensemble Theater Eustace J. Williams – Songs For A Bew World – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
The Ruby Dee Award Best Leading Actress In A Play Ayanna Bria Bakari – Relentless – TimeLine Theatre Company Brianna Buckley – Cullud Wattah – Victory Gardens Theater Deanna Reed-Foster – Rasheeda Speaking – Shattered Globe Tekeisha Yelton-Hunter – Ruined – Invictus Theatre Company Mildred Marie Langford – Intimate Apparel – Northlight Theater Company Shadana Patterson – The Last Pair Of Earlies – Raven Theatre Company
The Hattie McDaniel Award Best Featured Actress In A Play Shanesia Davis – Fences – American Blues Theater Demetra Dee – The Last Pair Of Earlies – Raven Theatre Company Sydney Charles – Her Honor Jane Byrne – Lookingglass Theatre Company Nicole Michelle Haskins – Her Honor Jane Byrne – Lookingglass Theatre Company Shariba Rivers – Sweat – Copley Theatre Jenise Sheppard – Ruined – Invictus Theatre Company
The Lena Horne Award Best Leading Actress In A Musical Liberty Clay – Living All Alone Phyllis Hyman Musical – Theater 47 Robin K. DaSilva – Women Of Soul With A Special Tribute To Aretha – Mercury Theater Chicago Felicia Fields – Blues In The Night – Porchlight Music Theater Jennifer Johnson – Takin’ Back My Name (The Ike Turner Story) – Theater 47 Alexis J. Roston – Sister Act – Mercury Theater Chicago
The Eartha Kitt Award Best Featured Actress In A Musical Cynthia Carter – The Feel Good Musical Revue – Black Ensemble Theater Shantel Cribbs – Pump Boys and Dinettes – Porchlight Music Theatre Noelle Klyce – It’s Just Like Coming To Church (Welcome To The Church Of You) – Black Ensemble Theater Melanie Loren – Pump Boys and Dinettes – Porchlight Music Theatre MJ Rawls – It’s Just Like Coming To Church (Welcome To The Church Of You) – Black Ensemble Theater
The Harry Belafonte Award Best Actor In An Ensemble Ron Conner – What To Send Up When It’s Goes Down – Congo Square Theatre Company Lewon Johnson – Home – Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre Keith Illidge – The Meeting – Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre Al’ Jaleel McGhee – Fireflies – Northlight Theatre Company Victor Musoni – What To Send Up When It Goes Down – Congo Square Theatre Company
The Ethel Waters Award Best Actress In An Ensemble Chanell Bell – Fireflies – Northlight Theatre Company Kierra Bunch – White – Definition Theatre Company Melanie McCullough – Pulled Punches – MPAACT Penelope Walker – What To Send Up When It Goes Down – Congo Square Theatre Company Amber Washington – Marie Antoinette and the Magical Negroes – The Story Theatre
The Bert Williams Award Best Solo Performance In A Play Faye Butler – Fannie (The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer) – Goodman Theatre Jazzma Pryor – Twilight: Los Angeles 1992 – Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre Bethany Thomas – Songs For Nobodies – Northlight Theatre Company
The Denzel Washington Award Most Promising Actor Christian Bufford – (The Tragedy Of King Christophe) – The House Theatre Of Chicago Ajax Dontavius – (Fences) – American Blues Theater Matthew Lolar – (The Meeting) – Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre Jonny Morrison – (The Last Pair Of Earlies) – Raven Theatre Company Willie Round – (Her Honor Jane Byrne) – Lookingglass Theatre Company
The Phylicia Rashad Award Most Promising Actress Rachel Blakes – (Home) – Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre Ciera Dawn – (School Girls; or, The African Mean Girls Play) – Goodman Theatre Danyelle Monson – (Marie Antoinette and the Magical Negroes) – The Story Theatre Tuesdai B. Perry – (Home) – Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre
The Duke Ellington Award Best Musical Direction David Fiorello and Maulty Jewell IV – Blues In The Night – Porchlight Music Theatre Felton Offard – Fannie (The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer) – Goodman Theatre Robert Reddrick – Pump Boys and Dinettes – Porchlight Music Theatre
The Ruth E. Carter Award Best Costume Design Evelyn Danner – Gem Of The Ocean – The Goodman Theatre Izumi Indaba – The Tragedy Of King Christophe – The House Theatre Of Chicago Marquecia Jordan – Sister Act – Mercury Theater Chicago Alexia Rutherford – The Last Pair Of Earlies – Raven Theatre Company Michael Alan Stein – Fannie (The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer) – Goodman Theatre
The Ed Burbridge Award Best Set Design Bek Lambrecht – Grandma’s Jukebox – Black Ensemble Theater Sydney Lynne – Cullud Wattah – Victory Gardens Theater Sydney Lynne – Pump Boys and Dinettes – Porchlight Music Theatre Yu Shibagaki – Her Honor Jane Byrne – Lookingglass Theatre Company Tim Rhoze and Evan Sposato – Twilight: Los Angeles 1992 – Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre
The Shirley Prendergast Award Best Lighting Award Simean Carpenter – The Last Pair Of Earlies – Raven Theatre Company Casey Diers – Pulled Punches – MPAACT Denise Karcewski – Pump Boys and Dinettes – Porchlight Music Theatre Jason Lynch – Cullud Wattah – Victory Gardens Theater
The Mike Sargent Award Best Sound Design Desta Sound – Pulled Punches – MPAACT DJ Douglass – Grandma’s Jukebox – Black Ensemble Theater Justin Ellington – School Girls; or, The African Mean Girls Play – Goodman Theatre Willow James – Cullud Wattah – Victory Gardens Theater Christopher M. Laporte – Her Honor Jane Byrne – Lookingglass Theatre Company
BTAA Special Recognition Projection Design Rasean Davonte Johnson – Fannie (The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer) – Goodman Theatre
BTAA Special Recognition Creatively Designed Presentation Adrian Dunn – Emancipation – Harris Theater for Music and Dance The Katherine Dunham Award Best Choreography In A Play Cheretta Hill-Botchwey and Lili-Anne Brown – School Girls; or, The African Mean Girls Play – Goodman Theatre Christopher Chase Carter – Priscilla Queen Of The Desert – Mercury Theater Chicago Rueben D. Echoles – Pump Boys and Dinettes – Porchlight Music Theatre Kenny Ingram – Blues In The Night – Porchlight Music Theatre Andre McCaskey – Living All Alone Phyllis Hyman Musical – Theater 47
The Alvin Ailey Award Best Choreography (Non-Resident) Robert Battle – Mass – Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Bill T. Jones – Paradise Square – Broadway In Chicago Camille A. Brown and Jay Staten – Fire Shut Up In My Bones – Lyric Opera House
The Andre’ DeShields Award Best Performance In A Play (Non-Resident) Sidney DuPont – Paradise Square – Broadway In Chicago Marcus Paul James – Ain’t Too Proud The Life And Times Of The Temptations – Broadway In Chicago Joaquina Kalukango – Paradise Square – Broadway In Chicago James T. Lane – Ain’t Too Proud The Life And Times Of The Temptations – Broadway In Chicago Elijah Ahmad Lewis – Ain’t Too Proud The Life And Times Of The Temptations – Broadway In Chicago
2020
Black Theater Alliance Awards Nominations
The Negro Ensemble Company Award Outstanding Stage Production Lady Sings The Blues The Musical – John Ruffin’s Theater 47 The Master Comic – MPAACT You Can’t Fake The Funk: A Journey Through Funk Music – Black Ensemble Theater
The Lorraine Hansberry Award Best Writing of a Play Terrance T. Brown, Aaron Tood Douglas, and Yusef Williams – The Master Comic – MPAACT Lee Edward Colston – The First Deep Breath – Victory Gardens Theater James Ijames – Kill Move Paradise – TimeLine Theatre Company Donja R. Love – Sugar In Our Wounds – First Floor Theater Korde Arrington Tuttle – Graveyard Shift – Goodman Theatre
The August Wilson Award Best Writing of a Musical Daryl D. Brooks –You Can’t Fake The Funk: A Journey Through Funk Music – Black Ensemble Theater Stephen Fedo and Tim Rhoze – Black Ballerina – Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre John L. Ruffin – Lady Sings The Blues The Musical – John Ruffin’s Theater 47 Ted Williams III – 1619: The Journey of a People – 3rd Dimension Performance Group
The Target Community Relations Award Best Ensemble The First Deep Breath – Victory Gardens Theater Kill Move Paradise – TimeLine Theatre Company You Can’t Fake The Funk: A Journey Through Funk Music – Black Ensemble Theater
The Lloyd Richards Award Best Direction of a Play Aaron Reese Boseman – A Raisin In The Sun – Invictus Theatre Company Steve H. Broadnax III – The First Deep Breath – Victory Gardens Theater Ilesa Duncan – Middle Passage – Lifeline Theatre Runako Jahi – The Master Comic – MPAACT Ron OJ Parson – Stick Fly – Writers Theatre
The Oscar Brown, Jr. Award Best Direction of a Musical Daryl D. Brooks – You Can’t Fake The Funk: A Journey Through Funk Music – Black Ensemble Theater Lili- Anne Brown – The Color Purple – Drury Lane Theatre Tim Rhoze – Black Ballerina – Fleetwood- Jourdain Theatre John L. Ruffin – Lady Sings The Blues The Musical – John Ruffin’s Theater 47
The Douglas Alan Mann Award Best Direction of an Ensemble Adarius Blakely – TopDog/UnderDog – Beverly Arts Center Mikael Burke – Sugar In Our Wounds – First Floor Theater Wardell Julius Clark – Kill Move Paradise – TimeLine Theatre Company Monty Cole –The Brothers Size – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
The Sidney Poitier Award Best Leading Actor in a Play Donn Carl Harper –The Master Comic – MPAACT David Goodloe – Mlima’s Tale – Griffin Theatre Company Kevin Tre’Von Patterson – Rabbit Summer – Redtwist Summer William Anthony Sebastian Rose ll – Labyrinth – Broken Nose Theatre Kelvin Roston, Jr. – King Hedley ll – Court Theatre
The Ossie Davis, Jr. Award Best Featured Actor in a Play Matthew James Elam – Hoodoo Love – Raven Theatre Darren Jones – Labyrinth – Broken Nose Theatre Clinton Lowe – The First Deep Breath – Victory Gardens Theater Johnard Washington – Thirst – Strawdog Theatre Company Dexter Zollicofer – King Hedley II – Court Theatre
The Ruby Dee Award Best Leading Actress in a Play Ayanna Bria Bakari – The Niceties – Writers Theatre Andrea Conway Diaz – Voice of Good Hope – City Lit Theater Aneisa J. Hicks – Graveyard Shift – Goodman Theatre Martasia Jones – Hoodoo Love – Raven Theatre Company Brooke Reams – Rabbit Summer – Redtwist Theatre Leslie Ann Sheppard – Sheepdog – Shattered Globe Theatre
The Hattie McDaniel Award Best Featured Actress in a Play Deveon Bromby – Rabbit Summer – Redtwist Theatre Nyajai Ellison – A Raisin In The Sun – Invictus Theatre Company Deanna Reed-Foster – The First Deep Breath – Victory Gardens Theater Ashley Joy – A Raisin In The Sun – Invictus Theatre Company Shariba Rivers – Hoodoo Love – Raven Theatre Company Taylar – King Hedley II – Court Theatre Celeste Williams – The First Deep Breath – Victory Gardens Theater
The Harry Belafonte Award Best Actor in an Ensemble Kai A. Ealy – Kill Move Paradise – TimeLine Theatre Company Charles Andrew Gardner – Kill Move Paradise – TimeLine Theatre Company Eric Gerard – P.Y.G., or The Mis-Edumacation of Dorian Belle – Jackalope Theatre Company Cage Sebastian Pierre – Kill Move Paradise – TimeLine Theatre Company Londen Shannon – Sugar In Our Wounds – First Floor Theater
The Ethel Waters Award Best Actress in an Ensemble Shenise Brown – Spoken Word – MPAACT Ashley Crowe – Sugar In Our Wounds – First Floor Theater Ann Joseph – Day of Absence – Congo Square Theatre Company Renee Lockett – Sugar In Our Wounds – First Floor Theater
The Denzel Washington Award Most Promising Actor Trent Davis – (Kill Move Paradise) – TimeLine Theatre Company Gregory J. Fields – (Thirst) – Strawdog Theatre Company Blake Hawthorne – (The Other Cinderella) – Black Ensemble Theater Michael Morrow – (Middle Passage) – Lifeline Theatre
The Phylicia Rashad Award Most Promising Actress Shenise Brown – (Spoken Word) – MPAACT Ashley Crowe – (Sugar In Our Wounds) – First Floor Theatre Saniyah As-Salaam – (Thirst) – Strawdog Theatre Company Noelle Klyce – (Voice of Good Hope) – CityLit Theater
The Sammy Davis, Jr. Award Best Leading Actor in a Musical Blake Hawthorne – The Other Cinderella – Black Ensemble Theater Donterrio Johnson – Sophisticated Ladies – Porchlight Music Theatre James T. Lane – Mary Poppins – Drury Lane Theatre Dwight Neal – You Can’t Fake The Funk: A Journey Through Funk Music – Black Ensemble Theater
The Bill Bojangles Award Best Featured Actor in a Musical Michael Adkins – You Can’t Fake The Funk: A Journey Through Funk Music – Black Ensemble Theater Melvin Abston – The Color Purple – Drury Lane Theatre Jared David Michael Grant – Working – Theo Ubigue Cabaret Theatre Stewart Romeo – The Other Cinderella – Black Ensemble Theater Randle Michael – Lady Sings The Blues The Musical – John Ruffin’s Theater 47
The Lena Horne Award Best Leading Actress in a Musical Jayla Williams Craig – The Other Cinderella – Black Ensemble Theater Makada Grier – Lady Sings The Blues The Musical – John Ruffin’s Theater 47 Eben K. Logan – The Color Purple – Drury Lane Theatre Kara Roseborough – Black Ballerina – Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre Nondumiso Tembe’ – Lindiwe – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
The Eartha Kitt Award Best Featured Actress in a Musical Cynthia F. Carter – Working – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Sydney Charles – The Color Purple – Drury Lane Theatre Kyrie Courter – The Color Purple – Drury Lane Theatre Nicole Michelle Hoskins – The Color Purple – Drury Lane Theatre Porsche King – Lady Sings The Blues The Musical – John Ruffin’s Theater 47
The Duke Ellington Award Best Musical Direction Jermaine Hill – The Color Purple – Drury Lane Theatre Jermaine Hill – Sophisticated Ladies – Porchlight Music Theatre Phil Patterson – Lady Sings The Blues The Musical – John Ruffin’s Theater 47 Robert Reddrick – You Can’t Fake The Funk: A Journey Through Funk Music – Black Ensemble Theater
The Katherine Dunham Award Best Choreography in a Play or Music/Dance Program Gary Abbott, Joshua L. Ishmon, Kevin Iega Jeff, Tshediso Kabulu, and Nicole Clarke Springer – Gesem: East Of The Nile from Reaffirmed/Reimagined – Deeply Rooted Dance Theater Breon Arzell – The Color Purple – Drury Lane Theatre Regina Perry Carr – Carry On – from Elevate – Munti Dance Theatre and Nunufatima Dance Company Christopher Chase Carter – You Can’t Fake The Funk: A Journey Through Funk Music – Black Ensemble Theater Jeremy Noah – Afro Dance Break from Elevate – Muntu Dance Theatre and Nunufatima Dance Company
The Ruth E. Carter Award Best Costume Design Rosalyn Baux – Lady Sings The Blues The Musical – John Ruffin’s Theater 47 Rueben Echoles – You Can’t Fake The Funk: A Journey Through Funk Music – Black Ensemble Theater Izumi Inaba – Kill Move Paradise – TimeLine Theatre Company Muntu Dance Theatre – “Elevate” – Muntu Dance Theatre and Nunufatima Dance Company Alexia Rutherford – King Hedley ll – Court Theatre
The Shirley Prendergast Award Best Lighting Design Sim Carpenter – Hoodoo Love – Raven Theatre Company Jared Gooding – P.Y.G., or The Mis-Edumacation of Dorian Belle – Jackalope Theatre Company Denise Karczewski – You Can’t Fake The Funk: A Journey Through Funk Music – Black Ensemble Theater Jason Lynch – Kill Move Paradise – TimeLine Theatre Company Eric Watkins – Sugar In Our Wounds – First Floor Theater
The Ed Burbridge Award Best Set Design Joy Ahn – Sugar In Our Wounds – First Floor Theater Linda Buchanan – Stick Fly – Writers Theatre Ryan Emens – Kill Move Paradise – TimeLine Theatre Company Regina Garcia – King Hedley ll – Court Theatre Denise Karczewski and Bek Lambrect – You Can’t Fake The Funk: A Journey Through Funk Music – Black Ensemble Theater
The Mike Sargent Award Best Sound Design Jeffrey Levin – Kill Move Paradise – TimeLine Theatre Company David Samba – You Can’t Fake The Funk: A Journey Through Funk Music – Black Ensemble Theater Rick Sims – Day Of Absence – Congo Square Theatre Company
The Alvin Ailey Award Best Choreography (Non-Resident) Camille A. Brown – Once On This Island – Broadway In Chicago Darrell Grand Moultrie – Ounce of Faith – Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Jamar Roberts – Ode – Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
The André DeShields Award Best Actor in a Play (Non-Resident) Phillip Boykin – Once On This Island – Broadway In Chicago Kyle Ramar Freeman – Once On This Island – Broadway In Chicago Mike Wiley – Dar He: The Story Of Emmett Till – Mike Wiley Production
The Melba Moore Award Best Actress in a Play (Non-Resident) Courtnee Carter – Once On This island – Broadway In Chicago Alex Hairston – Summer The Donna Summer Musical – Broadway In Chicago Dan’Yelle Williamson – Summer The Donna Summer Musical – Broadway In Chicago
2019
Black Theater Alliance Awards Nominations
The Negro Ensemble Company Award Best Play (Drama or Comedy) Black and Blue – MPAACT Ethiopianamerica – Definition Theatre Company The Mountaintop – Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre Single Black Female – Congo Square Theatre Company
The African Grove Theater Company Award Best Play (Musical or Revue) Crowns – Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre Mahalia Jackson Moving Thru The Light – Black Ensemble Theater Stand Up! – eta Creative Arts Foundation
The Joseph Holmes Award Best Music/Dance Program An Inspired Past A Jubilant Future – Deeply Rooted Dance Theater Feeling Good A MADD Tribute To Nina Simone – MADD Rhythms New Dimensions – Muntu Dance Theatre Of Chicago Smells Like Freedom – Praize Productions Testimony: An Inspirational Musical – Mahdi Theatre Company
The Lorraine Hansberry Award Best Writing of a Play Shepsu Aakhu – Black and Blue – MPAACT Christina Anderson – How To Catch Creation – Goodman Theatre Jire’h Breon Holder – Too Heavy For Your Pocket – TimeLine Theatre Company Ike Holter – Lottery Day – Goodman Theatre Leonard House – One 4 The Road – MPAACT Sam Kebede – Ethiopianamerica – Definition Theatre Company Tina Landau and Tarell Alvin McCraney – Ms. Blakk For President – Steppenwolf Theatre Company Lisa B. Thompson – Single Black Female – Congo Square
Theatre Company The August Wilson Award Best Writing of a Musical Phyllis Curtwright and Kamesha Khan – Stand Up! – eta Creative Arts Foundation Kyla Frye – Style and Grace In Tribute To Lena Horne and Nancy Wilson – Black Ensemble Theater Margaret Mahdi – Testimony: An Inspirational Musical – Mahdi Theatre Company Jackie Taylor – Mahalia Jackson Moving Thru The Light – Black Ensemble Theater
The Target Community Relations Award Best Ensemble Mahalia Jackson Moving Thru The Light – Black Ensemble Theater Nina Simone: Four Women – Northlight Theatre For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Enuf – Court Theatre Single Black Female – Congo Square Theatre Company Stand Up! – eta Creative Arts Foundation
The Lloyd Richards Award Best Direction of a Play Lili-Anne Brown – Lottery Day – Goodman Theatre Chika Ike – In The Blood – Red Tape Theatre Sophiyaa Nayar – Ethiopianamerica – Definition Theatre Company Ron OJ Parson – Radio Golf – Court Theatre Niegel Smith – How To Catch Creation – Goodman Theatre
The Oscar Brown, Jr. Award Best Direction of a Musical Daryl Brooks – Women Of Soul With A Tribute To Aretha Franklin – Black Ensemble Theater Lili-Anne Brown – Caroline, Or Change – Firebrand Theatre with TimeLine Theatre Company Kemati Porter and Jonathan Wilson – Stand Up! – eta Creative Arts Foundation Margaret Mahdi – Testimony: An Inspirational Musical – Mahdi Theatre Company Jackie Taylor – Mahalia Jackson Moving Thru The Light – Black Ensemble Theater
The Douglas Alan Mann Award Best Direction of an Ensemble Wardell Julius Clark – The Shipment – Red Tape Theatre Ilesa Duncan – Eclipsed – Pegasus Theatre Chicago Taron Patton – Single Black Female – Congo Square Theatre Company Tim Rhoze – The Mountaintop – Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre Seret Scott – For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Enuf – Court Theatre
The Sidney Poitier Award Best Leading Actor in a Play Jalen Gilbert – Too Heavy For Your Pocket – TimeLine Theatre Company Allen Gilmore – Radio Golf – Court Theatre David Goodloe – Defiance – Buffalo Theatre Ensemble Maurice Jones – Hamlet – Chicago Shakespeare Theater Tarell Alvin McCraney – Ms. Blakk For President – Steppenwolf Theatre Michael Aaron Pogue – The Recommendation – Windy City Playhouse Kelvin Roston, Jr. – Ma’ Rainey’s Black Bottom – Writers Theatre
The Ossie Davis, Jr. Award Best Featured Actor in a Play Debo Balogun – Red Rex – Steep Theatre Company David Lawrence Hamilton – Hela – Sideshow Theatre Company Brian Keys – The Recommendation – Windy City Playhouse Cage Sebastian Pierre – Too Heavy For Your Pocket – TimeLine Theatre Company Joseph Primes – Ethiopianamerica – Definition Theatre Company Keith Randolph Smith – How To Catch Creation – Goodman Theatre Andre Teamer – Sweat – Goodman Theatre
The Ruby Dee Award Best Leading Actress in a Play Tyla Abercrumbie – PipeLine – Victory Gardens Theater Karen Aldridge – How To Catch Creation – Goodman Theatre Ayanna Bria Bakari – Too Heavy For Your Pocket – TimeLine Theatre Company J. Nicole Brooks – Lottery Day – Goodman Theatre Sydney Charles – Nina Simone: Four Women – Northlight Theatre Jyreika Guest – In The Blood – Red Tape Theatre Jazzma Pryor – Sunset Baby – Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre
The Hattie McDaniel Award Best Featured Actress in a Play Jasmine Bracey – How To Catch Creation – Goodman Theatre Brianna Buckley – Crumbs From The Table Of Joy – Raven Theatre Company Felicia Fields – Ma’ Rainey’s Black Bottom – Writers Theatre Tiffany Renee Johnson – Flyin’ West – American Blues Theatre Joslyn Jones – Flyin’ West – American Blues Theatre Jennifer Latimore – Too Heavy For Your Pocket – TimeLine Theatre Company Gabrielle Lott-Rogers – Ethiopianamerica – Definition Theatre Company
The Ben Vereen Award Best PerformanceBy An Actor in a Musical Jarrin Comer – Stand Up! – eta Creative Arts Foundation Robert Cornelius – The Total Bent – Haven Theatre Company and About Face Theatre Gilbert Domally – The Total Bent – Haven Theatre Company and About Face Theatre Donterrio Johnson – Pippin – Mercury Theater Company Tristian Arnez Whitaker – Stand Up! – eta Creative Arts Foundation
The Diahann Carroll Award Best Performance By An Actress in a Musical E. Faye Butler – Gypsy – Porchlight Music Theatre Rashada Dawan – Caroline, Or Change – Firebrand Theatre and TimeLine Theatre Company Robin DaSilva – Mahalia Jackson Moving Thru The Light – Black Ensemble Theater Nicole Michelle Haskins – Caroline, Or Change – Firebrand Theatre and TimeLine Theatre Company Rhonda Preston – Style and Grace In Tribute To Lena Horne and Nancy Wilson – Black Ensemble Theater
The Harry Belafonte Award Best Actor in an Ensemble Patrick Agada – Dutch Masters – Jackalope Theatre Company Eric Gerard – The Shipment – Red Tape Theatre Jayson Lee – Hooded or Being Black For Dummies – First Floor Theatre Juwan Lockett – Black and Blue – MPAACT Jelani Pitcher – The Mountaintop – Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre Namir Smallwood – True West – Steppenwolf Theatre Company Justin Walker – Black and Blue – MPAACT
The Ethel Waters Award Best Actress in an Ensemble Tiffany Addison – Single Black Female – Congo Square Theatre Company Adia Alli – No Child… – Definition Theatre Company Melissa DuPrey – For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Enuf – Court Theatre Shadana Patterson – The Mountaintop – Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre Ginneh Thomas – Single Black Female – Congo Square Theatre Company Anji White – For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Enuf – Court Theatre
The Denzel Washington Award Most Promising Actor Jarrin Comer – (Stand Up!) – eta Creative Arts Foundation Matthew James Elam – (PipeLine) – Victory Gardens Theater Omari Ferrell – (One 4 The Road) – MPAACT Jayson Lee – (Hooded Or Being Black For Dummies) – First Floor Theater Freedom Martin – (Ethiopianamerica) – Definition Theatre Company Tristian Arnez Whitaker – (Stand Up!) – eta Creative Arts Foundation
The Phylicia Rashad Award Most Promising Actress Jayla Williams-Craig – (Women Of Soul With A Tribute To Aretha Franklin) – Black Ensemble Theater Daryn Whitney Harrell – (Gypsy) – Porchlight Music Theatre Bre’ Jacobs – (Caroline, Or Change) – Firebrand Theatre and TimeLine Theatre Company Adhana Reid – (Eclipsed) – Pegasus Theatre Chicago Sola Thompson – (Eclipsed) – Pegasus Theatre Chicago
The Duke Ellington Award Best Musical Direction Jermaine Hill – The TotalBent – Haven Theatre and About Face Theatre Ben Johnson – Feeling Good A MADD Tribute To Nina Simone – MADD Rhythms Robert Reddrick – Style and Grace In Tribute To Lena Horne and Nancy Wilson – Black Ensemble Theater Daniel Riley – Nina Simone: Four Women – Northlight Theatre Clifton Robinson – New Dimensions – Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago
The Katherine Dunham Award Best Choreography in a Play Breon Arzell – The Total Bent – Haven Theatre Company Leah Casey – For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Enuf – Court Theatre Destiny Casson – Stand Up! – eta Creative Arts Foundation Lemond Hayes – Style and Grace In Tribute To Lena Horne and Nancy Wilson – Black Ensemble Theater
The Joel Hall Award Best Choreography in a Music/Dance Program Gary Abbott – Parallel Lives from An Inspired Past A Jubilant Future – Deeply Rooted Dance Theater Iddrissu Alahassan – Agbekor from New Dimensions – Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago Reesie Davis – The Fight Within – from Smells Like Freedom – Praize Productions
The Alvin Ailey Award Best Choreography (Non-Resident) Tristan Andrews – Pride and Joy The Marvin Gaye Musical – Marvin Gaye lll and New Day Entertainment Donald Byrd – Rambunctions Iteration #3 – Columbia College Chicago and Spectrum Dance Theater Rennie Harris – Lazarus – Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
The Shirley Prendergast Award Best Lighting Design Natalia Janusz – Black and Blue – MPAACT Denise Karczewski – Style and Grace In Tribute To Lena Horne and Nancy Wilson – Black Ensemble Theater Ed Richardson – Single Black Female – Congo Square Theatre Company Eric Watkins – Ethiopianamerica – Definition Theatre Company
The Ruth E. Carter Award Best Costume Design Jos N. Banks – Single Black Female – Congo Square Theatre Company Rueben Echoles – Style and Grace In Tribute To Lena Horne and Nancy Wilson – Black Ensemble Theater Samantha C. Jones – For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Enuf – Court Theatre Alexia Rutherford – Too Heavy For Your Pocket – TimeLine Theatre Company
The Mike Sargent Award Best Sound Design Desta Sound – Black and Blue – MPAACT Marissa Geocaris – The Mountaintop – Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre David Samba – Mahalia Jackson Moving Thru The Light – Black Ensemble Theater Joshua Willcox – Ethiopianamerica – Definition Theatre Company
The Ed Burbridge Award Best Set Design Eleanor Kahn – Ethiopianamerica – Definition Theatre Company Bek Lambrecht – Mahalia Jackson Moving Thru The Light – Black Ensemble Theater Jacqueline Penrod – Eclipsed – Pegasus Theatre Chicago Therese Richie – No Child…– Definition Theatre Company
The Andre’ DeShields Award Best Performance in a Play (Non-Resident) Kourtney Lenton – Pride and Joy The Marvin Gaye Musical – Marvin Gaye lll and New Day Entertainment Jarran Muse – Pride and Joy The Marvin Gaye Musical – Marvin Gaye lll and New Day Entertainment Chae Stephen – Pride and Joy The Marvin Gaye Musical – Marvin Gaye lll and New Day Entertainment
2018
Black Theater Alliance Awards Nominations
Negro Ensemble Company Award Outstanding Stage Production “Juneteenth Street” – eta Creative Arts Foundation
The Lorraine Hansberry Award Best Writing of a Play Reginald Edmund – “Juneteenth Street” – eta Creative Arts Foundation Michael Allen Harris – “Kingdom” – Broken Nose Theatre Suzan-Lori Parks – “Father Comes Home From The Wars (Parts 1, 2, and 3)” – Goodman Theatre
The Target Community Relations Award Best Ensemble “Shakin’ The Mess Outta Misery” – Pegasus Theatre Chicago
The Douglas Alan Mann Award Best Direction of an Ensemble Chris Jackson – “Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf” – Pulse Theatre Company
The Oscar Brown, Jr. Award Best Direction of a Musical Darryl D. Brooks – “Memphis” – Porchlight Music Theatre
The Lloyd Richards Award Best Direction of a Play Niegel Smith – “Father Comes Home From The Wars (Parts 1, 2, and 3)” – Goodman Theatre
The Sidney Poitier Award Best Leading Actor in a Play Geno Walker – “To Catch A Fish” – TimeLine Theatre Company
The Ossie Davis Award Best Featured Actor in a Play Jaime Lincoln Smith – “Father Comes Home From The Wars (Parts 1, 2, and 3)” – Goodman Theatre
The Ruby Dee Award Best Leading Actress in a Play Tiffany Oglesby – “The Light” – The New Colony
The Hattie McDaniel Award Best Featured Actress in a Play Aime Donna Kelly – “Father Comes Home From The Wars (Parts 1, 2, and 3)” – Goodman Theatre RJW Mays – “Kingdom” – Broken Nose Theatre
The Sammy Davis, Jr. Award Best Leading Actor in a Play Donald Fitzdarryl – “Eye Of The Storm” – eta Creative Arts Foundation
The Bill Bojangles Robinson Award Best Featured Actor in a Play Lorenzo Rush, Jr. – “Memphis” – Porchlight Music Theatre
The Lena Horne Award Best Leading Actress in a Musical Aeriel Williams – “Memphis” – Porchlight Music Theatre
The Eartha Kitt Award Best Featured Actress in a Musical Cynthia F. Carter – “Rick Stone The Blues Man” – Black Ensemble Theater
The Harry Belafonte Award Best Actor in an Ensemble Jelani Pitcher – “TopDog/UnderDog” – Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre
The Ethel Waters Award Best Actress in an Ensemble Melanie Loren – “Shakin’ The Mess Outta Misery” – Pegasus Theatre Chicago
The Denzel Washington Award Most Promising Actor Debo Balogun – “Moon Man Walk” – Definition Theatre Company
The Phylicia Rashad Award Most Promising Actress Chanell Bell – “Moon Man Walk” – Definition Theatre Company
The Duke Ellington Award Best Musical Direction Jermaine Hill – “Memphis” – Porchlight Music Theatre
The Katherine Dunham Award Best Choreography in a Play or Music/Dance Program Christopher Carter – “Memphis” – Porchlight Music Theatre
The Shirley Prendergast Award Best Lighting Design Slick Jorgensen – “Moon Man Walk” – Definition Theatre Company
The Ruth E. Carter Award – Best Costume Design Alexia Rutherford – “Hail Hail Chuck A Tribute To Chuck Berry” – Black Ensemble Theater
The Mike Sargent Award Best Sound Design Matt Test – “Moon Man Walk” – Definition Theatre Company
The Ed Burbridge Award Best Set Design Eleanor Khan – “Moon Man Walk” – Definition Theatre Company
2017
Black Theater Alliance Awards Nomination
The Negro Ensemble Company Award Outstanding Stage Production: An Octoroon – Definition Theatre Company and The Goodman Theatre Black Pearl A Tribute To Josephine Baker – The Black Ensemble Theater By The Apricot Trees – eta Creative Arts Foundation Hobo King – Congo Square Theatre Company Yellowman – Fleetwood Jourdain Theatre
The Lorraine Hansberry Award Best Writing of a Play Kristiana Rae Colon – Octagon – Jackalope Theatre Company Marcus Gardley – A Wonder In My Soul – Victory Gardens Theatre Ntsako Mkhabela – By The Apricot Trees – eta Creative Arts Foundation Dominique Morisseau – Paradise Blue – TimeLine Theatre Company Antoinette Nwanda – Pass Over – Steppenwolf Theatre Company Charles Smith – Objects In The Mirror – The Goodman Theatre
The Target Community Relations Award Best Ensemble Among All This You Stand Like A Fine Brownstone – eta Creative Arts Foundation An Octoroon – Definition Theatre Company and The Goodman Theatre The Colored Museum – Pulse Theatre Company Chicago The Scottsboro Boys – Porchlight Music Theatre Yellowman – Fleetwood Jourdain Theatre
The Lloyd Richards Award Best Direction of a Play Ilesa Duncan – Rutherford’s Travels – Pegasus Theatre Chicago Ron OJ Parson – Paradise Blue – TimeLine Theatre Company Kemati Porter and Ntsako Mkhabela – By The Apricot Trees – eta Creative Arts Foundation Chuck Smith – Objects In the Mirror – The Goodman Theatre
The Oscar Brown, Jr. Award Best Direction of a Musical Daryl D. Brooks – Black Pearl: A Tribute To Josephine Baker – The Black Ensemble Theater Lili-Anne Brown – The Wiz – Kokandy Productions Rueben Echoles and Jackie Taylor – The Other Cinderella – Black Ensemble Theater Samuel G. Roberson (Posthumously) – The Scottsboro Boys – Porchlight Music Theatre
The Douglas Alan Mann Award Best Direction of an Ensemble Donterrio Johnson and Aaron Mitchell Reese – The Colored Museum – Pulse Theatre Company Chicago Tim Rhoze – Yellowman – Fleetwood Jourdain Theatre Jonathan Wilson – Among All This You Stand Like A Fine Brownstone – eta Creative Arts Foundation
The Sidney Poitier Award Best Leading Actor in a Play Breon Arzell – Rutherford’s Travels – Pegasus Theatre Chicago Kamal Angelo Bolden – Man In The Ring – Court Theatre Manny Buckley – Transit – American Blues Theatre Allen Gilmore – Man In The Ring – Court Theatre Daniel Kyri – Objects In the Mirror – Goodman Theatre Al’ Jaleel McGhee – Paradise Blue – TimeLine Theatre Company
The Ossie Davis, Jr. Award Best Featured Actor in a Play Ronald L. Conner – Paradise Blue – TimeLine Theatre Company Jeffrey Owen Freelon, Jr. – A Wonder In My Soul – Victory Gardens Theatre Charles Andrew Gardner – Paradise Blue – TimeLine Theatre Company Edwin Lee Gibson – Beyond Caring – Lookingglass Theatre Company Allen Gilmore – Objects In The Mirror – The Goodman Theatre Namir Smallwood – East Texas Hot Links – Writers Theater Geno Walker – Blues For An Alabama Sky – Court Theatre
The Ruby Dee Award Best Leading Actress in a Play Tyla Abercrumbie – Paradise Blue – TimeLine Theatre Company
Nicole Brooks – Beyond Caring – Lookingglass Theatre Company
Greta Oglesby – A Wonder In My Soul – Victory Gardens Theatre Lanise Shelley – King Liz – Windy City Playhouse Toya Turner – Blues For An Alabama Sky – Court Theatre Wandachristine – Beauty’s Daughter – American Blues Theatre Jacqueline Williams – A Wonder In My Soul – Victory Gardens Theater
The Hattie McDaniel Award Best Featured Actress in a Play Echaka Agba – At The Table – Broken Nose Theatre Caren Blackmore – Beyond Caring – Lookingglass Theatre Company Linda Bright Clay – A Wonder In My Soul – Victory Gardens Theatre Kristin E. Ellis – Paradise Blue – TimeLine Theatre Company Kiki Layne – Octagon – Jackalope Theatre Company Lily Mojekwu – Objects In The Mirror – The Goodman Theatre
The Sammy Davis, Jr. Award Best Leading Actor in a Musical Deverin Deonte – I Am Who I Am: The Story Of Teddy Pendergrass – Black Ensemble Theater Mark ‘JP’ Hood – The Other Cinderella – Black Ensemble Theater Evan Tyrone Martin – Jesus Christ Superstar – Paramount Theatre Rashawn Thompson – I Am Who I Am: The Story Of Teddy Pendergrass – Black Ensemble Theater Denzel Tsopnang – Ragtime – Griffin Theatre Company
The Bill Bojangles Robinson Award Best Featured Actor in a Musical Frederick Harris – The Wiz – Kokandy Productions Steven Perkins – The Wiz – Kokandy Productions James Earl Jones ll – The Scottsboro Boys – Porchlight Music Theatre Vincent Jordan – My Brother’s Keeper: The Story Of The Nicholas Brothers – Black Ensemble Theater Kyle Smith – The Other Cinderella – Black Ensemble Theater
The Lena Horne Award Best Leading Actress in a Musical Sydney Charles – The Wiz – Kokandy Productions Donica Lynn – Smokey Joe’s Café – Drury Lane Theatre Joan Ruffin – Black Pearl: A Tribute To Josephine Baker – Black Ensemble Theater Jessica Seals – The Other Cinderella – Black Ensemble Theater
The Eartha Kitt Award Best Featured Actress in a Musical Anna Dauzvardis – The Wiz – Kokandy Productions Kyla Fyre – The Other Cinderella – Black Ensemble Theater Nicole Michelle Haskins – The Wiz – Kokandy Productions Aeriel Williams – Black Pearl: A Tribute To Josephine Baker – Black Ensemble Theater
The Harry Belafonte Award Best Actor in an Ensemble Kai A. Ealy – Among All This You Stand Like A Fine Brownstone – eta Creative Arts Foundation Jon Michael Hill – Pass Over – Steppenwolf Theatre Company Colin Jones – Among All This You Stand Like A Fine Brownstone – eta Creative Arts Foundation Julian Parker – Pass Over – Steppenwolf Theatre Company Jelani Pitcher – Sweet – Fleetwood Jourdain Theatre Michael Rawls – Yellowman – Fleetwood Jourdain Theatre
The Ethel Waters Award Best Actress in an Ensemble Demetra Drayton – The Colored Museum – Pulse Theatre Company Chicago Asia Jackson – Among All This You Stand Like A Fine Brownstone – eta Creative Arts Foundation Shadana Patterson – Yellowman – Fleetwood Jourdain Theatre Jelani Smith – By The Apricot Trees – eta Creative Arts Foundation Alicia Watley – By The Apricot Trees – eta Creative Arts Foundation
The Denzel Washington Award Most Promising Actor Sheldon Brown – Man In The Ring – Court Theater Daniel Kyri – Objects In The Mirror – The Goodman Theater Tevion Lanier – How We Got On – Haven Theatre Luce Metrius – East Texas Hot Links – Writers Theatre Jelani Pitcher – Sweet – Fleetwood Jourdain Theatre
The Phylicia Rashad Award Most Promising Actress Adia Alli – Sweet – Fleetwood Jourdain Theatre Fania Bourne – In De’ Beginnin’ – eta Creative Arts Foundation Aayisha Humphrey – A Hedda Gabler – Red Tape Theatre Jelani Smith – By The Apricot Trees – eta Creative Arts Foundation Alicia Watley – By The Apricot Trees – eta Creative Arts Foundation
The Duke Ellington Award Best Musical Direction Robert Reddrick – I Am Who I Am: The Story Of Teddy Pendergrass – The Black Ensemble Theater Christie Chiles Twillie – Yellowman – Fleetwood Jourdain Theatre Timothy Walker – Chicago’s Bronzeville: The Musical – Madhi Theatre Company
The Katherine Dunham Award Best Choreography in a Play Breon Arzell and Florence Walker Harris – The Scottsboro Boys – Porchlight Music Theatre Rueben Echoles – Black Pearl: A Tribute To Josephine Baker – Black Ensemble Theater Racheal Walker and Mathew Williams – Chicago’s Bronzeville: The Musical – Madhi Theatre Company
Best Choreography in a Music/Dance Concert Joshua L. Ishmon – When Men… – Deeply Rooted Productions Jeremy Noah – Radio Africa – Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago Christopher Walker – Manifest – Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago
The Alvin Ailey Award Best Choreography (Non-Resident) Hope Boykin – r–Evolution – Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre Robert Garland – Brahms Variations – Dance Theatre Of Harlem Billy Wilson (Posthumously) – The Winter In Lisbon– Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre
The Shirley Prendergast Award Best Lighting Design Phoenix and Oliver Ballentine – Sweet – Fleetwood Jourdain Theatre Darryl Goodman, Sr. – By The Apricot Trees – eta Creative Arts Foundation Denise Karczewski – The Other Cinderella – Black Ensemble Theater Richard Norwood – Hobo King – Congo Square Theater Company
The Ruth E. Carter Award Best Costume Design Jos N. Banks – The Colored Museum – Pulse Theatre Company Chicago De Alexander and Carolyn London – Chicago’s Bronzeville: The Musical – Madhi Theatre Company Samantha Jones – The Scottsboro Boys – Porchlight Music Theatre Ruthanne Swanson – I Am Who I Am: The Story Of Teddy Pendergrass– Black Ensemble Theater
The Mike Sargent Award Best Sound Design Debbie Banos – The Colored Museum – Pulse Theatre Company Chicago Darryl Goodman, Sr. – By The Apricot Trees – eta Creative Arts Foundation Aaron Quick – The Other Cinderella – The Black Ensemble Theater
The Ed Burbridge Award Best Set Design Patrice Davidson – In De’ Beginnin’ – eta Creative Arts Foundation Andrei Onegin – Hobo King – Congo Square Theatre Company Tim Rhoze – Sweet – Fleetwood Jourdain Theatre
2016
Black Theater Alliance Awards Nominations
The Negro Ensemble Company Award Outstanding Stage Production Dynamite Divas A Tribute To Women Of Soul – Black Ensemble Theater Maya’s Last Dream – Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre Migration– Eta Creative Arts Foundation Supreme Love – Tapman Productions What I Learned In Paris – Congo Square Theatre Company
The Target Community Relations Award Best Ensemble Direct From Death Row The Scottsboro Boys (An Evening Of Vaudeville And Sorrow) – Raven Theatre Company Fabulation, Or The Re-Education Of Undine – Pulse Theatre Company Chicago The Hairy Ape – Oracle Theatre The Ho– Use That Will Not Stand – Victory Gardens Theatre Migration – Eta Creative Arts Foundation
The Lloyd Richards Award Best Direction Of A Play Monty Cole – The Hairy Ape – Oracle Theatre Ron Oj Parson – Sunset Baby – Timeline Theatre Company Kemati Porter – Migration – Eta Creative Arts Foundation Aaron Mitchell Reese – Fabulation, Or The Re-Education Of Undine – Pulse Theatre Company Chicago Tim Rhoze – Maya’s Last Poem – Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre
The Lorraine Hansberry Award Best Writing Of A Play Michael Bradford – Migration – Eta Creative Arts Foundation Kevin Douglas – Thaddeus And Slocum – Lookingglass Theatre Company Marcus Gardley – The Ho– Use That Will Not Stand – Victory Gardens Theater Ike Holter – Prowess– Jackalope Theatre Company Dominique Morisseau – Sunset Baby – Timeline Theatre Company Roy Williams – Sucker Punch – Victory Gardens Theater
The Sidney Poitier Award Best Leading Actor In A Play (Drama Or Comedy) Maurice Demus –Sucker Punch – Victory Gardens Theater Osiris Khepera – Bars And Measures– Prop Theatre Company Julian Parker – The Hairy Ape – Oracle Theatre Marc Rogers –Sins Of The Father – Eta Creative Arts Foundation Namir Smallwood – The Grapes Of Wrath – The Gift Theatre Company Eamonn Walker – Between Riverside And Crazy – Steppenwolf Theatre Company Dexter Zollicofer – Charm – Northlight Theatre
The Ossie Davis Award Best Featured Actor In A Play (Drama Or Comedy) David Alan Anderson – Gem Of The Ocean – Court Theatre Bernard Gilbert – Our Lady Of 121st Street – Eclipse Theatre Company Denzel Love – Sucker Punch – Victory Gardens Theater Kevin Patterson –Direct From Death Row The Scottsboro Boys (An Evening Of Vaudeville And Sorrow) –Raven Theater Co. Kelvin Roston, Jr. – Sunset Baby – Timeline Theatre Company Phillip Edward Van Lear – Sunset Baby – Timeline Theatre Company
The Ben Vereen Award Best Performance By An Actor In A Musical Kenny Davis –Those Sensational Soulful Sixties – Black Ensemble Theater Direoce Junirs – Doo Wop Shoo Bop – Black Ensemble Theater Eric Lewis – Dreamgirls – Porchlight Music Theatre Evan Tyrone Martin – Dreamgirls – Porchlight Music Theatre Travis Turner –Thaddeus And Slocum – Lookingglass Theatre Co.
The Ruby Dee Award Best Leading Actress In A Play (Drama Or Comedy) Shanesia Davis – What I Learned In Paris – Congo Square Theatre Company Lizan Mitchell – The Ho– Use That Will Not Stand – Victory Gardens Theater Company Toya Turner – For Her As A Piano – Pegasus Theatre Chicago Anji White – Sunset Baby – Timeline Theatre Company Jacqueline Williams – Gem Of The Ocean – Court Theatre
The Hattie Mcdaniel Award Best Featured Actress In A Play (Drama Or Comedy) Kona N. Burks – The Grapes Of Wrath – The Gift Theatre Company Linda Bright Clay – The Ho– Use That Will Not Stand – Victory Gardens Theater Company Kristin Ellis – What I Learned In Paris – Congo Square Theatre Company Kiki Layne – Byhalia Mississippi – Definition Theatre Company And The New Colony Katrina Richard –Direct From Death Row The Scottsboro Boys (An Evening Of Vaudeville And Sorrow) – Raven Theatre Co. Jacqueline Williams – The Ho– Use That Will Not Stand – Victory Gardens Theater Company
The Diahann Carroll Award Best Performance By An Actress In A Musical Shari Addison – Dynamite Divas A Tribute To Women Of Soull – Black Ensemble Theater Candace C. Edwards – Dreamgirls – Porchlight Music Theatre Kyla Frye – Those Sensational Soulful Sixties – Black Ensemble Theater Donica Lynn – Dreamgirls – Porchlight Music Theatre Alexis J. Rogers – Don’t Make Me Over In Tribute To Dionne Warwick– Black Ensemble Theatre
The Denzel Washington Award Most Promising Actor Donald Conley Kai A. Ealy Gregory Fenner Jeffery Owen Freelon Juwan Lockett
The Phylicia Rashad Award Most Promising Actress Demetria Drayton Laquis Harkin Kiki Layne Alexis Syncere Alexis Willis
The Duke Ellington Award Best Musical Direction Raji Halim – Supreme Love – Tapman Productions Robert Reddrick – Doo Wop Shoo Bop – Black Ensemble Theater Robert Reddrick – Dynamite Divas A Tribute To Women Of Soul – Black Ensemble Theater Clifton Robinson – One Root, Many Branches – Muntu Dance Theatre Of Chicago
Best Costume Design Jos N. Banks – Fabulation, Or The Re-Education Of The Undine – Pulse Theatre Company Chicago Andrea Brown – Migration – Eta Creative Arts Foundation Rueben Echoles – Don’t Make Me Over In Tribute To Dionne Warwick – Black Ensemble Theater Ruthanne Swanson – Doo Wop Shoo Bop – Black Ensemble Theater
Best Lighting Design Jared Gooding – Maya’s Last Poem – Fleetwood-Jordain Theatre Denise Karczewski –Don’t Make Me Over In Tribute To Dionne Warwick – Black Ensemble Theater Richard Norwood – A Small Oak Tree Runs Red – Congo Square Theatre Company Kathy Perkins – Migration – Eta Creative Arts Foundation
Best Set Design Phyllis Griffin – Lines In The Dust – Eta Creative Arts Foundation Justin Longnecker – Maya’s Last Poem – Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre Andrei Onegin – What I Learned In Paris – Congo Square Theatre Company Tianyu Qui – Sins Of The Father – Eta Creative Arts Foundation
Best Sound Design Phyllis Curtwright – Migration – Eta Creative Arts Foundation Mahmoud Khan – Repairing A Nation – Eta Creative Arts Foundation Rick Sims – What I Learned In Paris – Congo Square Theatre Company Aaron Quick – Dynamite Divas A Tribute To Women Of Soul– Black Ensemble Theater
The Katherine Dunham Award Best Choreography Beon Arzell – The Hairy Ape – Oracle Theatre Idy Ciss – Tomanka/Liberte – Muntu Dance Theatre Of Chicago Rueben Echoles – Don’t Make Me Over A Tribute To Dionne Warwick – Black Ensemble Theater Joel Hall – Anja: The Unexpected – Joel Hall Dancers And Center Jumanne Taylor – Supreme Love – Tapman Productions
The Alvin Ailey Award Best Choreography (Non-Resident) Robert Battle – No Longer Silent – Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Camille A. Brown – Black Girl: Linquistic Play – Dance Center Of Columbia College Chicago Samantha Speis And Jawole Willa Jo Zollar – Walking With Trane – Dance Center Of College Chicago
Other Years
Best Play 1995 – Doo Wop Shoo Bop – Black Ensemble Theater 1996 – Train Is Comin’ – Chicago Theater Company 1997 – This Far By Faith – ETA Creative Arts Foundation 1998 – Chicago’s Golden Soul – Black Ensemble Theater
Best Production of a Musical 2003 – Howlin’ At The Moon – Black Ensemble Theater 2004 – Eyes (play) – ETA Creative Arts Foundation 2005 – At Last: A Tribute To Etta James – Black Ensemble Theater 2006 – Nina Simone: The High Priestess Speaks – Black Ensemble Theater 2007 – Memphis Soul: The Story of Stax Records – Black Ensemble Theater 2008 – Sounds So Good Makes You Wanna Holler – Old School vs. Nu Skool – Black Ensemble Theater 2009 – Sanctified (play) – Congo Square Theatre Company