[Capdist-announce] PRESS RELEASE: Berkshire Theatre Critics Association Announces 2023 Berkie Award Winners

Tue Nov 14 08:05:53 EST 2023

November 13, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: J. Peter Bergman

pbergman89 at aol.com

413- 443-5631

*Sevent**h** Berkshire Theatre Awards Presented*

*Top Honors **Split Four Ways*

PITTSFIELD, MA (November 13, 2023) - At an SRO ceremony held at Zion
Lutheran Church in Pittsfield, the Board of the Berkshire Theatre Critics
Association (BTCA) presented the Berkshire Theatre Awards, colloquially
known as The Berkies, on the evening of Monday, November 13, 2023. This was
the seventh time the awards have been presented to honor and celebrate the
excellence and diversity of theatre in the greater Berkshire
region. A total of 27 awards were presented in 22 categories.

The 2023 awards really display the commitment of regional theaters to
presenting new and diverse work. Women and minorities were well represented
among the nominees and the winners in all categories. Nominees represented
theaters in Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, and Connecticut. Critics J.
Peter Bergman and Macey Levin once again hosted the ceremony.

“Each year our job is tougher than the one before it. The quality of our
regional theaters is excellent with wildly wonderful new plays and musicals
mixed in with the standards our audiences adore,” Bergman, President of the
BTCA, said. “This was a particularly fascinating season, most especially
with new directors and designers filling our stages with shows we didn't
know. I hope the season to come - which has already started, by the way -
brings us the adventure of artistic ventures that will make us drool with
expectation. and maybe leave us with some new tunes to hum as we make our
exits.”

Several categories saw ties this year, including the top honors for Outstanding
Musical Production and . Barrington Stage Company’s production of *Cabaret* and
the Sharon Playhouse production of *Something Rotten* shared the musical
award. Shakespeare & Company’s production of August Wilson’s *Fences* shared
the top play production honors with Bridge Street Theatre’s *East of Berlin*
.

There was an unprecedented three-way tie in the category Outstanding
Direction of a play with Ariel Bock, director of Shakespeare & Company’s *Dear
Jack, Dear Louise*, sharing the award with Ron Lagomarsino, director of *The
Happiest Man on Earth **at *Barrington Stage, and Maggie Mancinelli-Cahill,
director of *A Midsummer Night’s Dream*, theRep in Albany.

*Cabaret* was the big winner of the evening. In addition to sharing the
Outstanding Production of a Musical prize, the classic Kander and Ebb show
took home awards for Outstanding Direction of a Musical for Alan Paul,
Outstanding Scenic Design for Wilson Chin, Outstanding Choreography for Katie
Spelman, Outstanding Costume Design for Rodrigo Muñoz, and Outstanding
Lighting Design for Philip S. Rosenberg. Krysta Rodriquez was honored
as Outstanding
Lead Actress in a Musical as Sally Bowles, and Richard Kline was recognized
as Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Herr
Schultz.

Robert Sugarman, who along with his late wife Sally was a founding member
of the BTCA, died suddenly on November 2 at age 97, one month after his
most recently produced play, *Players*, opened at The Bennington Theater.
The Sally and Robert Sugarman Award for a World Premiere of a New Play or
Musical was presented by their son, actor, producer, and author Paul
Sugarman, to playwright Mark St. Germain for his play *The Happiest Man on
Earth*, produced by Barrington Stage.

The Larry Murray Award for Community Outreach and Support through Theater
went to Jean-Remy Monnay, founder and artistic director of the Black
Theatre Troupe of Upstate New York, for diversity programming and audience
development. The recipient of this award, named in honor of the late Larry
Murray, BTCA founder, is selected by the Board of the BTCA.

*20**2**3** Berkshire Theatre Critics Association Awards*

1. Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play:

Sally McCarthy, I*nvitation to a March*, Ghent Playhouse

2. Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play:

Brian D. Coats, *Fences*, Shakespeare & Co.

3. Outstanding Scenic Design of a Play or Musical:

Wilson Chin, *Cabaret*, Barrington Stage Company

4. Outstanding Choreography:

Katie Spelman, *Cabaret*, Barrington Stage Company

5. Outstanding Direction of a Musical:

Alan Paul, *Cabaret*, Barrington Stage Company

6. Outstanding Costume Design of a Play or Musical:

Rodrigo Muñoz, *Cabaret*, Barrington Stage Company

7. Outstanding Solo Performance:

Kenneth Tigar, *The Happiest Man on Earth*, Barrington Stage Company

8. Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical:

Salome B. Smith, *A New Brain*, Barrington Stage Company

9. Outstanding Lighting Design of a Play or Musical:

Philip S. Rosenberg, *Cabaret*, Barrington Stage Company

10. Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical:

Richard Kline, *Cabaret*, Barrington Stage Company

11. Outstanding Direction of a Play THREE WAY TIE

   -

   Ariel Bock, *Dear Jack, Dear Louise*, Shakespeare & Co.;
   -

   Ron Lagomarsino, *The Happiest Man on Earth*, Barrington Stage Company
   -

   Maggie Mancinelli-Cahill, *A Midsummer Night’s Dream*, theRep-Albany

12. Outstanding Sound Design of a Play or Musical:

Brendan Aanes, *The Happiest Man on Earth*, Barrington Stage Company

13. Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical:

Krysta Rodriquez, *Cabaret*, Barrington Stage Company

14. Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical:

Billy Rude, *Million Dollar Quartet*, Berkshire Theatre Group

15. Outstanding Ensemble Performance:

*10x10 2023*, Barrington Stage Company

16. Outstanding Production with Fewer Than Six Performances TWO WAY TIE

*La Boheme*, Berkshire Opera Festival

*The Thanksgiving Play*, Dorset Theatre Festival

17. Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play:

Mark H. Dold, *Faith Healer*, Barrington Stage Company

18. Sally and Robert Sugarman Award for a World Premiere of a NEW Play or
Musical

*The Happiest Man on Earth*, Mark St. Germain, Barrington Stage Company

19. Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play:

Rebecca Brooksher, *Photograph 51*, Berkshire Theatre Group

20. The Larry Murray Award for Community Outreach and Support through
Theater:

For extraordinary service to the community; awarded by the Board of the
Organization

   -

   Jean-Remy Monnay Black Theatre Troupe of Upstate New York - for
   diversity programming and audience development

21. Outstanding Production of a Musical TWO WAY TIE

   -

   *Something Rotten*, Book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell,  Music
   and Lyrics by Karey Kirkpatrick and Wayne Kirkpatrick, Directed byAmy
   Griffin -Sharon Playhouse
   -

   *Cabaret*, Book by Joe Masteroff based on the play *I Am a Camera* by
   John van Druten and stories by Christopher Isherwood. Lyrics by Fred Ebb.
   Music by John Kander. Directed by Alan Paul - Barrington Stage Company

22. Outstanding Production of a Play TWO WAY TIE

   -

   *East of Berlin*, by Hannah Moscovitch. Directed by Margo Whitcomb -
   Bridge Street Theatre
   -

   *Fences*, by August Wilson. Directed by Christopher V. Edwards -
   Shakespeare & Co.

-- 
Gail M. Burns
57 Linden Street
Williamstown, MA 01267-2511
413-458-4246 home
gburns35 at gmail.com <gailmburns at roadrunner.com>

Editor & Webmaster for Berkshire on Stage
https://berkshireonstage.blog/

Social Media for the Dolores Heights Improvement Club and the Williamstown
Community Chest

Freelance Writer
<http://www.GailSez.org>
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