The 53rd annual AUDELCO Awards will be held on Monday, Nov. 17, at the Alhambra Ballroom (2116 Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard) at 7:30 p.m., and it is definitely something to put on your calendar. What an exciting season it has been in Black theater, which is what AUDELCO so beautifully celebrates. This past season had something for everyone, which is obvious from the diverse productions that are nominated for the coveted VIV Award. Black theater excellence was definitely in abundance this past season.
Two productions tied for the top honor with 14 nominations. “Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole,” presented by New York Theatre Workshop, is nominated for Best musical; playwright — Patricia McGregor and Colman Domingo; director of a musical — Patricia McGregor; outstanding musical director — John McDaniel; choreographer — Edgar Godineaux; choreographer — Jared Grimes (tap); lead actor in a musical — Dule Hill; featured actress in a musical — Krystal Joy Brown and Kenita Miller; featured actor in a musical — Daniel J. Watts; sound design — Alex Hawthorn/Drew Levy; costume design — Katie O’Neill; set design — Clint Ramos; and lighting design — Stacey Derosier.
The Public Theater’s production of “Goddess” delivered a heavenly time and is nominated for best musical; director of a musical — Saheem Ali; outstanding musical director — Paul Byssainthe Jr.; choreographer — Darrell Grand Moultrie; lead actress in a musical — Amber Iman; lead actor in a musical — Austin Scott; featured actress in a musical — Arica Jackson and Destinee Rea; featured actor in a musical — Jason Bowen and Nick Rashad Burroughs; sound design — Nevin Steinberg; costume design — Dede Ayite; set design — Arnulfo Maldonado; and lighting design — Bradley King.
Little Island’s production of “The Gospel of Colonus” is close behind with 10 phenomenal nominations for best revival of a musical; director of a musical — Shayok Misha Chowdhury; outstanding musical director — Dionne McClain-Freeney and James Hall; lead actress in a musical — Stephanie Berry; lead actor in a musical — Frank Senior and Davone Tines; featured actress in a musical — Kim Burrell and Ayana George Jackson; and featured actor in a musical — Brandon Michael Nase and Jon-Michael Reese.
“Ceremonies in Dark Old Men,” presented by the Peccadillo Theater Company, Negro Ensemble Company, and Eric Falkenstein, received nine nominations for best revival of a play; director of a play — Clinton Turner Davis; lead actor in a play — Norm Lewis; featured actress in a play — Felicia Boswell and Morgan Siobhan Green; featured actor in a play — Calvin M. Thompson and Bryce Michael Wood; costume design — Isabel Rubio; and set design — Harry Feiner.
The Classic Stage Company served up a fantastic production of “Wine in the Wilderness,” which also tied with nine nominations: best revival of a play; director of a play — LaChanze; lead actress in a play — Olivia Washington; lead actor in a play — Grantham Coleman; featured actor in a play — Milton Craig Nealy; sound design — Bill Toles; costume design — Dede Ayite; set design — Arnulfo Maldonado; and lighting design — Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew.
There is no doubt that this season, audiences were treated to an amazing play written with a great deal of heart and details — “The Wash,” performed by Woodie King Jr.’s New Federal Theatre. This production garnered eight nominations: best play; playwright — Kelundra Smith; director of a play — Awoye Timpo; ensemble performance — Rebecca Haden, Bianca LaVerne Jones, Margaret Odette, Alicia Pilgrim, Kerry Warren and Eunice Woods; sound design — Bill Toles; costume design — Gail Cooper-Hecht; set design — Jason Ardizzone-West; and lighting design — Victor En Yu Tan.
Three productions tied with eight nominations. Hamilton Stage presented “Purlie” in fine fashion and it is nominated for the VIV for best revival of a musical; director of a musical — Kenny Ingram; outstanding musical director — Gary Mitchell Jr.; choreographer — Kenny Ingram; lead actor in a musical — Timothy Ware-Hill; featured actress in a musical — Virginia Woodruff and Nicole Powell; and featured actor in a musical — Tyson Jennette.
The Lincoln Center Theater’s “The Blood Quilt” was a stunning production and is nominated for best play; playwright — Katori Hall; director of a play — Lileana Blain-Cruz; ensemble performance — Lauren E. Banks, Crystal Dickinson, Mirirtai, Adrienne C. Moore and Susan Kelechi Watson; costume design — Montana Levi Blanco; sound design — Palmer Hefferan; set design — Adam Rigg; and lighting design — Jiyoun Chang.
“Searching for Willie Lynch” from Layon Gray Productions is nominated for seven awards: best play; playwright — Layon Gray; director of a play — Layon Gray; lead actress in a play — Raven Jeannette; lead actor in a play — Thaddeus Daniels; featured actress in a play — Sara Jene Beneke; and featured actor in a play — Isaiah Joseph.
The Lucille Lortel Theatre’s production of “Duke and Roya” earned seven nominations as well, including best play; playwright — Charles Randolph Wright; director of a play — Warren Adams; lead actor in a play — Jay Ellis; featured actress in a play — Noma Dumezweni; sound design — Taylor J. Williams; and lighting design — Amina Alexander.
Three times is the charm, as the Public Theater production of “Twelfth Night” comes in with seven nominations for best revival of a play; lead actor in a play — Khris Davis; lead actress in a play — Lupita Nyong’o; featured actress in a play — Sandra Oh; featured actor in a play — Junior Nyong’o and Moses Sumney; and costume design — Oana Botez.
The Negro Ensemble Company’s production of “Day of Absence/Remaining Absent” is nominated for six awards: best revival of a play; director of a play — Patricia R. Floyd; lead actor in a play — Benjamin Rowe; featured actor in a play — Sean Phillips; costume design — Kathy Roberson; and lighting design — Antoinette Tynes.
The Signature Theatre Company’s “Bad Kreyol” also comes in with six nominations: best play; playwright — Dominique Morisseau; director of a play — Tiffany Nichole Greene; lead actress in a play — Pascale Armand; featured actress in a play — Fedna Jacquet; and sound design — Curtis Craig/Jimmy Keys.
The Public Theater production of “Good Bones” is nominated for five VIVs: best play; playwright James IJames; lead actress in a play — Susan Kelechi Watson; featured actor in a play — Khris Davis; and sound design — Fan Nzhang.
“Macbeth in Stride” is nominated for five VIV Awards: best musical; director of a musical — Tyler Dobrowky and Taibi Magar; outstanding musical director — Nygel D. Robinson; choreographer — Raja Feather-Kelly; and lead actress in a musical — Whitney White.
The Classical Theatre of Harlem’s production of “Memnon” is nominated for three VIVs: choreographer — Tiffany Rea-Fisher; lead actress in a play — Andrea Patterson; and lead actor in a play — Eric Berryman.
“Wednesday Woman,” presented by the Black Spectrum Theatre, is nominated for two VIVs: ensemble performance — Talli Basile, Valerie Donaldson, Mary Linda Greene, Michael Anthony Green, Arlene McGruder and Aaron Watkins; and set design — Harlan Penn, Donald Taylor, and Mike Turner.
“A Freaky Introduction,” presented by Atlantic Theater Company, has two nominations: solo performance — Nsangou Njikam and choreographer — Jill M. Vallery.
The Black Spectrum Theatre’s production of “Black Spurs” is nominated for two VIV Awards, for best musical and director of a musical — Lawrence Floyd.
The National Black Theatre and The Flea’s presentation of “Chiaroscuro” received two nominations: best play and ensemble performance — Sidney DuPont, Paige Gilbert, Ebony Marshall Oliver, Abenaa Quiin, Gayle Samuels, TL Thompson, and Lance Coadie Williams.
Several productions have a single nomination. Theatre for the New Audience production of “The Swamp Dwellers” is nominated for best revival of a play. “Rita is the Goat,” presented by Theater for the New City, is nominated for ensemble performance — Danielle Aziza, Valerie Donaldson, Jonathan Duran, Melanie Maria Goodreaux, India Stachyra, and Tiffany Renelle. “When Gold Turns Black” is nominated for ensemble performance — Leon Alexander, Dimitri Dewes Jr., Sania Hyatt, Brian Patterson, Jeffrey Roth, Kelechi Udenkwo, and Jes Washington. “The Prior 55,” presented by Theater for the New City and the Fulton Arts Foundation, is nominated for ensemble performance — Michael Anthony Green and Martine Fleurisma. Primary Stages at 59E59 Theater presented “Amerikin,” which is nominated for featured actress in a play — Amber Reauchean Williams. In the solo performance category, we find three productions and artists: Kwaku Fortune, “The Black Wolfe Tone,” presented by Irish Repertory Theatre and Fishamble; the New Play Company; DeVon Franklin, “Be True,” presented by the Audible Theater; and Bill Posley, “The Day I Accidentally Went to War,” presented by the Soho Playhouse.
In addition to these nominations, the AUDELCO will present honors to many in the Black theater community. Special achievement awards will be given to accomplished Broadway and Off-Broadway pianist, who also plays for Dionne Warwick — Andre Chez Lewis and actress/playwright/director–Zora Howard. Outstanding achievement awards will be presented to the artistic director of Harlem Stages — Dr. Indira Etwaroo; musical director/musician — Kenny Seymour and theater/TV/film star — Adrienne C. Moore. Pioneer Awards will go to producer/actress/director — Kim Weston-Moran, and director/set designer — Ajene D. Washington. Lifetime achievement awards will be bestowed on Mama Foundation founder — Vy Higginsen, founder and producing director of the St. Louis Repertory — Ron Himes and actress/educator/founder and artistic director of the Children’s Theater Workshop — Marie Thomas Foster. Board of Directors awards will be presented to Audience developer/usher/actress Debbie McIntyre; Commissioner of Cultural Affairs for the City of New York, 35 District Councilwoman — Laurie Cumbo; and myself — journalist and theater critic for 40 years — Linda Armstrong.
Legacy awards will be presented to distinguished educator/social justice advocate/community activist/author — Gerry Baker and educator/community activist/former principal of STAR Academy — Dr. Audrey Baker; artistic director for Theater for the New City — Crystal Field and educator/singer/actress/counselor/mentor — Juanita Howard. Humanitarian Awards will be presented to co-founder of Grandparents Around The World/Playwright/fashion designer — Evern G. Randolph and CFO of Grandparents Around The World/community organizer — Brenda Prescott.
To purchase tickets and for more info, visit audelco.org.
I hope to see you there — it will be an evening of Black Theater Family Love!