This past weekend, I was part of a select group of seven judges who gathered in a room, debated, bickered and laughed for three and a half hours. And in the end, we wound up with the nominees for the 35th annual Carbonell Awards, South Florida’s answer to the Tonys.
Each of the seven of us arrived at the meeting with our five favorite (sometimes less, in certain hard-to-fill categories) nominees in each category. We raised our hands for each nominee we liked, and majority ruled until we had weaned the category down to five. We did this 19 more times and went home. Here are the results, whose winners will be awarded April 4 in a ceremony at theBroward Center for the Performing Arts’ Amaturo Theater.
COMBINED (Plays and Musicals)
Best New Work (Play or Musical, award to author)
Christopher Demos-Brown: When the Sun Shone Brighter -Florida Stage
Sue Fabisch: Motherhood the Musical – GFour Productions
Karen Hartman: Goldie, Max & Milk – Florida Stage
Michael McKeever: Unreasonable Doubt – Actors’ Playhouse
There’s no way around it: This just wasn’t a great year for new, original work. A couple of these shows are exceptional, but only a couple, and we couldn’t arrive at five nominees.
Best Ensemble, Play or Musical (citations to cast and director):
12 Angry Men Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Completely Hollywood Mosaic Theatre
The Dumb Waiter The Promethean Theatre
Motherhood the Musical GFour Productions
Speech and Debate GableStage
There was some controversy about this award, because last year it went to “Farragut North” at GableStage, a show that technically isn’t even an ensemble piece. Ensembles are defined as shows without lead performances, where every member of the cast is equal and integral to its success. I hope that this year, all the nominees fit the bill. I would be happy with any of these winning, though “12 Angry Man” is the clear front-runner.
PLAYS
Best Production of a Play (award to producing organization)
12 Angry Men: Maltz Jupiter Theatre
50 Words: GableStage
American Buffalo: Palm Beach Dramaworks
Blasted: GableStage
Collected Stories: Mosaic Theatre
In a terrific year for plays, this was a fairly easy category to fill. There was plenty of great shows, and a handful of mind-blowing ones. Of all my original choices, only “Dying City” at Mosaic Theatre did not make the cut.
Best Director, Play
Joseph Adler: 50 Words GableStage
Joseph Adler: Blasted GableStage
Frank Galati: 12 Angry Men Maltz Jupiter Theatre
William Hayes: American Buffalo Palm Beach Dramaworks
Margaret M. Ledford: Collected Stories Mosaic Theatre
Best Actor, Play
Dennis Creaghan: Freud’s Last Session Palm Beach Dramaworks
Todd Allen Durkin: Blasted GableStage
David Hemphill:Â Equus New Theatre
Ricky Waugh: Dying City Mosaic Theatre
Gregg Weiner: 50 Words GableStage
Best Actress, Play
Barbara Bradshaw: Collected Stories Mosaic Theatre
Beth Dixon: Three Tall Women Palm Beach Dramaworks
Erin Joy Schmidt: 50 Words GableStage
Erin Joy Schmidt: Dying City Mosaic Theatre
Karen Stephens: Bridge and Tunnel The Women’s Theatre Project
Both Best Actor and Best Actress are total knockouts this season. I would hold all 10 of these performances up against the 10 best performances on Broadway last year. I have my favorites in each category, but any winner from the 10 will be absolutely deserved. Bravo!
Best Supporting Actor, Play
Marckenson Charles: Groundswell Mosaic Theatre
Will Connolly: Candida Palm Beach Dramaworks
Erik Fabregat: A Behanding in Spokane GableStage
Erik Fabregat: Blasted GableStage
Michael McKeever: Distracted Caldwell Theatre Company
This is a pretty fun category, and I was pleased to see one of my favorite actors in the community, Erik Fabregat, score two nominations. This is a category where there isn;t a clear front-runner; it;s one of the more exciting races in the Carbonells.
Best Supporting Actress/Play
Kim Morgan Dean: Collected Stories Mosaic Theatre
Angie Radosh: Three Tall Women Palm Beach Dramaworks
Jackie Rivera: Speech and Debate GableStage
Deborah L. Sherman: Goldie, Max & Milk Florida Stage
Deborah L. Sherman: No Exit Naked Stage
It took us a while to land at these five entries. Looking at them now, it’s a strong crop of nominees, though none of my picks (mostly from New Theatre’s “Equus”) ended up making the final cut.
MUSICALS
Best Production of a Musical (award to producing organization)
Academy Maltz Jupiter Theatre
The Drowsy Chaperone Broward Stage Door Theatre
La Cage Aux Folles Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Mack and Mabel Broward Stage Door Theatre
Miss Saigon Actors’ Playhouse
Well, I absolutely hated “Academy,” as I have explained on this site, and the fact that it knocked out my favorite musical of the calendar year – “Anything Goes” – is the year’s biggest Carbonell travesty. I also didn’t share the excitement most did for Stage Door’s “The Drowsy Chaperone.” Look for the exceptional “Miss Saigon,” which led all shows with 11 total nominations, to take this home without too much competition.
Best Director, Musical
David Arisco: Miss Saigon Actors’ Playhouse
Dan Kelley: The Drowsy Chaperone Broward Stage Door Theatre
Michael Leeds: Mack and Mabel Broward Stage Door Theatre
Mark Martino: La Cage Aux Folles Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Marcia Milgrom Dodge: Anything Goes Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Best Actor, Musical
Mark Jacoby: La Cage Aux Folles Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Dan Kelley: The Drowsy Chaperone Broward Stage Door Theatre
Herman Sebek: Miss Saigon Actors’ Playhouse
Bret Shuford: Anything Goes Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Shane R. Tanner: Mack and Mabel Broward Stage Door Theatre
Dan Kelly gave one of the year’s most likeable performances in the otherwise unsuccessful “Drowsy Chaperone,” but I doubt he’ll be able to top Herman Sebek’s Broadway-ready portrayal of the engineer in “Miss Saigon.”
Best Actress, Musical
Irene Adjan: Dr. Radio Florida Stage
Mara Gabrielle: Mack and Mabel Broward Stage Door Theatre
Tari Kelly: Anything Goes Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Laura Oldham: The Drowsy Chaperone Broward Stage Door Theatre
E.J. Zimmerman: Miss Saigon Actors’ Playhouse
I’m a little bummed about this one. I’m all for Tari Kelly taking this home for her energetic, infectious performance in “Anything Goes,” but that would mean voting against Irene Adjan, another favorite, in “Dr. Radio.” If Adjan’s performance landed in Supporting Actress, where I feel she belongs, she’d have a much stronger chance to take home a statuette.
Best Supporting Actor, Musical
Tom Beckett: Anything Goes Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Ken Clement: Oliver! Actors’ Playhouse
Nick Duckart: Dr. Radio Florida Stage
Chris-Ian Sanchez: Miss Saigon Actors’ Playhouse
Shane R. Tanner: Oliver! Actors’ Playhouse
Nick Duckart was a revelation in “Dr. Radio.”In my eyes, there’s no competition here.
Best Supporting Actress, Musical
Eileen Faxas: The Drowsy Chaperone Broward Stage Door Theatre
Elizabeth Dimon: Oliver! Actors’ Playhouse
Lisa Manuli: Motherhood the Musical GFour Productions
Amy Miller Brennan: Miss Saigon Actors’ Playhouse
Amy Miller Brennan: Oliver! Actors’ Playhouse
This was by far the hardest category to award, and once again, none of my original choices made the cut. If the Carbonells were bet upon in Vegas, predicting this winner would yield the highest payoff.
Best Musical Direction
Eric Alsford: Miss Saigon Actors’ Playhouse
Helen Gregory: Anything Goes Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Phil Reno: La Cage Aux Folles Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Johnny Rodgers: Motherhood the Musical GFour Productions
Alexander Rovang: Academy Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Best Choreography
Chrissi Ardito: The Drowsy Chaperone Broward Stage Door Theatre
Chrissi Ardito: Mack and Mabel Broward Stage Door Theatre
Chrissi Ardito: Oliver! Actors’ Playhouse
Denis Jones: La Cage Aux Folles Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Marcia Milgrom Dodge: Anything Goes Maltz Jupiter Theatre
What a banner year for choreography Ardito! Despite leading the field in this category, I don’t think she will win the award. But as they say, it’s an honor just to be nominated – and nominated – and nominated.
DESIGN (Plays and Musicals)
Best Scenic Design, Play or Musical
Michael Amico: American Buffalo Palm Beach Dramaworks
Lyle Baskin: 50 Words GableStage
Tim Connolly: Blasted GableStage
Douglas Grinn: Collected Stories Mosaic Theatre
Sean McClelland: Miss Saigon Actors’ Playhouse
This was one of the year’s strongest categories; I originally had penciled in more than 10 sets that I deemed exceptional enough to be nominated. “Blasted” is the front-runner, but the others are very close behind.
Best Lighting, Play or Musical
Ron Burns: The Gin Game Palm Beach Dramaworks
Suzanne Jones: Cane Florida Stage
Jeff Quinn: Blasted GableStage
Jeff Quinn: The Quarrel GableStage
Patrick Tennent: Miss Saigon Actors’ Playhouse
“Blasted” was such a technical marvel that it will likely take home the gold in this category too, but it’s nice to see shows neglected elsewhere, such as “The Gin Game” and “The Quarrel,” to receive some due.
Best Costume Design, Play or Musical
Gail Baldoni: Anything Goes Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Brian O’Keefe: Candida Palm Beach Dramaworks
Jose M. Rivera: La Cage Aux Folles Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Ellis Tillman: Miss Saigon Actors’ Playhouse
Ellis Tillman: Oliver! Actors’ Playhouse
Best Sound Design
Matt Corey: Blasted GableStage
Matt Corey: Groundswell Mosaic Theatre
Alexander Herrin: Miss Saigon Actors’ Playhouse
Matt Kelly: Dr. Radio Florida Stage
Matt Kelly: Cane Florida Stage
