2008 Tyrone Guthrie Awards

The Stratford Shakespeare Festival's 2008 Tyrone Guthrie Awards recently rewarded company members, theatre staff, and alumni with more than $60,000 for training, development, and special projects.

A few winners are listed below. You can read the entire list in the press release.

Abigail Winter-Culliford -- winner of the Mary Savage Award for an actress who has shown outstanding commitment to her craft. Winter-Culliford appeared this season as Moth in Love's Labours Lost after debuting last season as Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird.

Stephen Kent -- winner of the John Hirsch Award for the young actor who shows the greatest potential. Kent appeared this, his second season, as Bernardo in Hamlet and Rodrigo in Fuente Ovejuna.

Ben Carlson -- winner of the Max Helpmann Guthrie Award for a company member who exhibits dedication and tenacity. Carlson debuted at the Festival season as Hamlet in Hamlet, Tranio in The Taming of the Shrew, and First Lord Dumaine in All's Well That Ends Well. He will return next season as Jack in The Importance of Being Earnest.

Ron Kennell -- winner of the City of Stratford Award to assist a local resident in gaining further training. Kennell appeared this season as Reynaldo in Hamlet, Tailor in The Taming of the Shrew, and in All's Well That Ends Well.

Peter Donaldson -- winner of the William Needles Award in recoginition of special interest shown to newer company members. Donaldson celebrated his 24th season with the Festival this year, in the roles of Friar Lawrence in Romeo and Juliet, Don Armado in Love's Labours Lost, and Rufio in Caesar and Cleopatra.

Shelley Simester -- winner of the Maureen Forrester Award for advanced classical training. Simester stole a few scenes this season as Alma Hix in The Music Man, and also appeared in All's Well That Ends Well.

No Oliviers for Canadians

Despite the total of ten nominations between The Drowsy Chaperone (2007, London) and The Lord of the Rings: The Muscial (2007, London), there were no Canadian wins at the 2008 Laurence Olivier Awards.

Presented last night in London's West End, the awards were dominated by Hairspray (2007), which beat out both of our contenders as the Best New Musical.

For a full list of winners, follow this link.

Help Canadians in the West End

Join On Stratford Stage in supporting our Canadian shows (and one actor) abroad. Vote now for the 2008 London Theatregoers' Choice Theatre Awards.

Nominations are as follows.

For The Drowsy Chaperone (2007, London):

-- The Superbreak Best New Musical (book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar; music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison);
-- Best Actress in a Musical (Summer Strallen);
-- Best Supporting Actress in a Musical (Elaine Paige);
-- Best Choreographer (Casey Nicholaw).

For The Lord of the Rings: The Musical (2007, London):

-- The Superbreak Best New Musical (book and lyrics by Shaun McKenna and Matthew Warchus; music by AR Rahman, Varttina, and Christopher Nightingale);
-- Best Actor in a Musical (James Loye);
-- Best Supporting Actor in a Musical (Michael Therriault);
-- Best Supporting Actress in a Musical (Laura Michelle Kelly);
-- Best Set Designer (Rob Howell);
-- Best Choreographer (Peter Darling).

Noticably absent is Man in Chair Bob Martin, who was nominated yesterday for a Laurence Olivier Award for his delightful, unapologetic theatre addict.

On the flip side, we're thrilled to see a nod for Michael Therriault, who was neglected by the Olivier Awards.

Therriault was a darling of the first Birmingham Conservatory, and made a name for himself at the then-Stratford Festival of Canada with such classic roles as Ariel in The Tempest (1999) and Sir Andrew Aguecheek in Twelfth Night (2001).

His musical theatre credits include Motel the Tailor in Fiddler on the Roof (2000, Stratford; 2004, Broadway) and Leo Bloom in The Producers (2003, Toronto).

Vote now for Therriault at whatsonstage.com.

Olivier Nominates Canadian Shows

Last night nominations were announced for the Laurence Olivier Awards, which celebrate the best in theatre, opera, and dance in London, England.

Canadian content this year accounts for a total of ten nominations, with five each for two shows.

For The Drowsy Chaperone (2007, London), the fantastic musical within a comedy:

-- Best New Musical (book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar; music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison);
-- Best Actor in a Musical (Bob Martin);
-- Best Actress in a Musical (Summer Strallen);
-- Best Theatre Choreographer (Casey Nicholaw);
-- Best Costume Design (Gregg Barnes).

For The Lord of the Rings: The Musical (2007, London), the highly technical financial disappointment that has found a better audience overseas:

-- Best New Musical (book and lyrics by Shaun McKenna and Matthew Warchus; music by AR Rahman, Varttina, and Christopher Nightingale);
-- Best Set Design (Rob Howell);
-- Best Costume Design (Rob Howell);
-- Best Lighting Design (Paul Pyant);
-- Best Sound Design (Simon Baker).

Winners will be announced March 9 in the West End, London.

CanStage Plays on the International Stage

Judith Thompson's topical Palace of the End (2008), which reveals in three monologues three perspectives on the War in Iraq, has been nominated for the $20,000 (U. S.) Susan Smith Blackburn Prize.

Blackburn, an actress and playwright, died in 1977. Thirty-one years later (thirty since the Prize was installed), the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize is still bringing recognition to female playwrights in English language theatre.

This year plays by the ten finalists, who represent five countries, were selected from a total of 92 submissions. Sarah Ruhl, a 2004 Blackburn Prize winner, was one of the jurors.

Also nominated for a prestigious Pulitzer Prize, The Clean House (2008) is up next at CanStage. Seana McKenna (last at MTC/Mirvish with a revival of the Stratford Festival production of Orpheus Descending [2005; 2006, tour]) and Fiona Reid (A Delicate Balance [2007]) will star.

The Clean House (2008) begins previews February 11 at the Bluma Appel Theatre before opening on February 14.

Palace of the End (2008) ends its run at the Berkeley Street Theatre in Toronto on February 23. Don't wait for the Prize to be awarded to see it; that doesn't happen until March!