It’s official. The NORTIES are now the hottest ticket in town! This was the biggest turnout ever to applaud our brilliant, passionate, hardworking, and simply splendid theater community. This year, more individuals, organizations, and businesses from all over greater Boston and beyond stepped up to join the BOSTON THEATER CRITICS ASSOCIATION to support, sponsor, and donate in acknowledgement of the riches these artists bring to our world all year long. In our 41st season, the Elliot Norton Awards have arrived!
PHOTO: Nile Scott Studios
THE HUNTINGTON THEATRE– which once again donated their entire theater and staff –opened the doors at 5:30, the after party ended at midnight, and in between The Boston Theater Critics Association (Don Aucoin, Jared Bowen, Terry Byrne, Christopher Ehlers, Joyce Kulhawik, Jacquinn Sinclair) honored actors, directors, writers, designers, choreographers, and musicians in 37 categories whose work we thought outstanding this season.
Photo: Nile Scott Studios
The sold-out crowd began cheering the minute the lights went down and the cast of Reagle Music Theatre’s nominated musical OKLAHOMA! kicked up their heels to open the show. The audience applauded every one of the 140-plus nominations and went wild as awardees took the stage to accept their awards. Almost three hours later with the energy in the room still rising The Huntington’s JOHN PROCTOR IS THE VILLAIN s was named Outstanding Play and Ensemble.
Photo: Nile Scott Studios
The Elliot Norton Prize For Sustained Excellence went to revered scenic designer Janie E. Howland whose 30-year career encompassed over 250 sets in Boston, New York, London, and throughout New England. Special Citations were awarded to Lyric Stage Boston in honor of its 50th Anniversary, Company One Theatre in honor of its 25th Anniversary, and veteran actress Annette Miller. The 2024 Elliot Norton Arts Education Award was presented to Hyde Square Task Force whose programs focus on the development of Boston’s Latin Quarter as a cultural district, and community-based Afro-Latin arts enrichment.
Photo: Nile Scott Studios
The breadth, depth, and diversity of the work on stages all over greater Boston is reflected in the awardees below, from companies large and small, new and old, or passing through the big houses on their way to and from Broadway. Last year’s awardees presented to this year’s, those who had passed were memorialized, and the warmth, connection, and joy in the room was palpable. I was proud to emcee this glorious night of celebration, a time for the critics to shine a light on the artistry in our midst, the ones who make the magic.
Photo: Nile Scott Studios
2024 Elliot Norton Awards
Outstanding Visiting Production
“Moby Dick,” a production by Plexus Polaire, presented by ArtsEmerson
Outstanding Visiting Musical
“Girl from the North Country,” presented by Broadway In Boston
Outstanding Visiting Performance in a Musical
Heidi Blickenstaff, “Jagged Little Pill,” presented by Broadway In Boston
Outstanding Visiting Solo Performance
“Alex Edelman: Just For Us,” presented by Emerson Colonial Theatre
Outstanding Play, Large in memory of Robert Brustein
“John Proctor is the Villain,” The Huntington
Outstanding Play, Midsize
“Angels in America,” Central Square Theater and Bedlam
Outstanding Play, Small
“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”, Theater UnCorked
Outstanding Musical
“The Band’s Visit,” The Huntington and SpeakEasy Stage Company
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play, Large
Marshall W. Mabry IV, “Fat Ham,” The Huntington, in association with Alliance Theatre and The Front Porch ArtsCollective
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play, Midsize
James Ricardo Milord, “King Hedley II,” Actors’ Shakespeare Project
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play, Small
Sehnaz Dirik, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?,” Theater UnCorked
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Large
Lau’rie Roach, “Fat Ham,” The Huntington, in association with Alliance Theatre and The Front Porch Arts Collective
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Midsize in memory of Sarah DeLima
Kari Buckley, “Angels in America,” Central Square Theater and Bedlam
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Small in memory of Jaime Carillo
Valyn Lyric Turner, “A Raisin in the Sun,” New Repertory Theatre
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical in memory of Henry Lussier
Jennifer Apple, “The Band’s Visit,” The Huntington and SpeakEasy Stage Company
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical
Jack Mullen, “Oklahoma!,” Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston
Outstanding Musical Direction
Dan Rodriguez, “Oklahoma!,” Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston
Outstanding Choreography in memory of Chita Rivera
Rachel Bertone, “Oklahoma!,” Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston
Outstanding Director, Large
Paul Daigneault, “The Band’s Visit,” The Huntington and SpeakEasy Stage Company
Outstanding Director, Midsize in memory of Spiro Veloudos
Courtney O’Connor, “Assassins,” Lyric Stage Boston
Outstanding Director, Small
Sasha Denisova & Igor Golyak, “The Gaaga,” Arlekin Players Theatre
Outstanding Scenic Design, Large
Jason Sherwood, “Evita,” American Repertory Theater in association with Shakespeare Theatre Company
Outstanding Scenic Design, Midsize or Small
Irina Kruzhilina, “The Gaaga,” Arlekin Players Theatre
Outstanding Lighting Design, Large
Stacey Derosier, “The Half-God of Rainfall,” American Repertory Theater and New York Theater Workshop
Outstanding Lighting Design, Midsize or Small
John R. Malinowski, “Angels in America,” Central Square Theater and Bedlam
Outstanding Sound Design, Large
David Remedios and Mackenzie Adamick, “Macbeth,” Commonwealth Shakespeare Company
Outstanding Sound Design, Midsize or Small in memory of Dewey Dellay
David Remedios, “We Had a Girl Before You,” Greater Boston Stage Company
Outstanding Costume Design, Large
Alejo Vietti, “Evita,” American Repertory Theater in association with Shakespeare Theatre Company
Outstanding Costume Design, Midsize or Small
House of Martino, “The Rocky Menorah Christmas Show,” Gold Dust Orphans
Outstanding Solo Performance
Jay Eddy, “Driving in Circles,” Boston Playwrights’ Theatre
Outstanding New Script in memory of Christopher Durang
Phaedra Michelle Scott, “DIASPORA!,” New Repertory Theatre
Outstanding Ensemble
“John Proctor is the Villain,” The Huntington
