<div>Swift Creek Mill’s “BKLYN: The Musical” earned more awards than any other production, while Virginia Rep and Richmond Shakespeare tied for the greatest number of awards at 7 eachThis year marks the 16th year that the Richmond Theatre Community Circle (formerly the Richmond Theatre Critics Circle) has sponsored the Richmond Theatre Community Circle (RTCC) Awards, or “Artsies,” the community’s recognition of excellence in Richmond-area theater. The theme of this year’s event – “Sweet 16” – celebrates youthful energy and highlights young performers who bring a fresh perspective to Richmond stages, infusing performances with energy, creativity, and a unique understanding of modern culture. Their innovative approaches to storytelling and performance resonate with younger, morediverse audiences, ensuring that theater remains accessible and relevant.Not only are the Artsies the community’s recognition of excellence in Richmond-area theater, butthey are the primary fundraising event for the Theatre Artist Fund of Greater Richmond (Fund).The Fund provides emergency financial assistance to theater artists who have experienced anexceptional financial need related to a specific crisis beyond their control. Since its inception, theFund has received $143,349 in gifts and has written 26 grants totaling $46,213 for artists in need.Virginia Repertory Theatre came away with an impressive seven wins, four of which were for its presentation of “9 to 5: The Musical.” The production captured the awards for Outstanding Lighting Design, Outstanding Set Design, Best Choreography, and Outstanding Sound Design, a category that was tied, with the other award going to Virginia Rep’s production of “On Air.” The award for Best Supporting Performance in a Musical went to Irene Kuykendall for her performance in “Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery.” Virginia Rep’s production of “Satchmo at the Waldorf” took the award for Outstanding Lighting Design in a Play.Three of Richmond Shakespeare’s seven wins were for its production of “Hamlet,” including Best Lead Performance in a Play, which went to Joshua Carter, the Ernie McClintock Best Acting Ensemble Award, and Outstanding Costume Design in a Play. The Richmond Shakespeare production of “Into the Woods” also won both acting categories, with Best Lead Performance in a Musical going to Susan Sanford and Best Supporting Performance in a Musical going to Maggie Marlin-Hess. Best Supporting Performance in a Play went to Dixon Cashwell for his work in “Doctor Faustus,” and Best Direction of a Play went to Andrew Gall for “Born with Teeth.”Swift Creek Mill’s production of “BKLYN: The Musical” won five awards, including Best Musical, Best Direction of a Musical, which went to Shanea N. Taylor, Best Musical Direction, which went to Leilani Fenick, Best Supporting Performance in a Musical, which went to Desirée Dabney, and Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical. Caleb Wade took home an award for Best Lead Performance in a Musical for his work in “tick…tick…BOOM!”Firehouse Theatre earned three awards, including Outstanding Set Design in a Play and Outstanding Sound Design in a Play for “Berta, Berta.” Chandler Hubbard’s “Roman à Clef” took the award for Best Original Work.5th Wall Theatre’s production of “Radiant Vermin” took home the award for Best Play. HATTheatre picked up an award for Best Lead Performance in a Play for Catherine Shaffner’s performance in “The Roommate.” The award for Breakout Performance went to Ashley Thompson for her work in Yes, And! Productions’ “Dr. Ride’s American Beach House” and Firehouse Theatre’s “Buried Child.”Each year, the Legacy Award recognizes individuals who have played a foundational role inestablishing or strengthening the Richmond-area theater community. The 2024 Legacy Awardhonorees are the founders of the Richmond Shakespeare Festival: Cynde Liffick and Grant Mudge.They opened the Festival with “As You Like It,” which was staged in 1998 in an open field at TheBoulders office park. By its second year, the Festival had moved to historic Agecroft Hall. At thesame time, Liffick and Mudge were running Encore! Theatre Company. The offerings at theFestival have ranged from classic Shakespeare to other classic works and Shakespeare-inspiredproductions. The two founders expanded and strengthened the company, touring Virginia’s stateparks, developing new educational programs, collaborating with other local institutions such asthe Richmond Symphony and the Richmond Ballet, and offering additional free programming,including OnStage @ Maymont. In 2006, Encore! changed its name to Richmond Shakespeare,then merged with Henley Street Theatre in 2013 to become Quill. Coming full circle, Quillchanged its name to Richmond Shakespeare in 2022.“As a founding member of the RTCC, it has been my pleasure and honor to witness, document,and celebrate the Richmond theater community,” said Julinda Lewis, RTCC President. “I get tosee a LOT of theater, and I approach each show with wonder and respect, expecting to be moved,surprised, enlightened, and generally immersed in the total experience that each production creates.Richmond is often in the news for its restaurants, its breweries, and sometimes for less savoryaccomplishments – but I think it’s past time for Richmond to be known for its rich and variedtheatrical offerings as well. Thank you, Sweet Sixteen. We’re already working on next year’soffering.”Best Musical“BKLYN: The Musical”Swift Creek Mill TheatreBest Direction – MusicalShanea N. Taylor“BKLYN: The Musical”Best Lead Performance – MusicalSusan Sanford“Into the Woods”Best Lead Performance – MusicalCaleb Wade“tick…tick…Boom!”Best Supporting Performance – MusicalDesirée Dabney“BKLYN: The Musical”Best Supporting Performance – MusicalMaggie Marlin-Hess“Into the Woods”Best Musical DirectionLeilani Fenick“BKLYN: The Musical”Best ChoreographyPam Turner“9 to 5: The Musical”Outstanding Costume Design – MusicalMaura Lynch Cravey“BKLYN: The Musical”Outstanding Lighting Design – MusicalJoe Doran“9 to 5: The Musical”Outstanding Set Design – MusicalChris Raintree“9 to 5: The Musical”Outstanding Sound Design – MusicalJonathan Pratt“On Air”Outstanding Sound Design – MusicalJacob Mishler and Jonathan Pratt“9 to 5: The Musical”Best Play“Radiant Vermin”5th Wall TheatreBest Direction – PlayAndrew Gall“Born with Teeth”Best Lead Performance – PlayJoshua Carter“Hamlet”Best Lead Performance – PlayCatherine Shaffner“The Roommate”Best Supporting Performance – PlayIrene Kuykendall“Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery”Best Supporting Performance – PlayDixon Cashwell“Doctor Faustus”Outstanding Costume Design – PlayKeith Walker“Hamlet”Outstanding Lighting Design – PlayJoe Doran“Satchmo at the Waldorf”Outstanding Set Design – PlayChris Raintree“Berta, Berta”Outstanding Sound Design – PlayKyle Epps“Berta, Berta”2024 Ernie McClintock Best Acting Ensemble AwardThe cast members of the Richmond Shakespeare production of “Hamlet” are honored for their notable performance as a cohesive and compelling ensemble:MaryBeth AdamsJody AshworthJoshua CarterKeegan FerrellRachel Garmon-WilliamsAvery Michael JohnsonKenjae LundyLucretia MarieJohn MoonMilind MurthyToby O’BrienRosemary RichardsRobbie WinstonJoseph YeargainBreakout PerformanceAshley Thompson“Dr. Ride’s American Beach House”/“Buried Child”Best Original Work“Roman à Clef”Firehouse Theatre</div>

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Richmond Theatre Community Circle – Sixteenth Annual Theater Awards Winners Announced

Swift Creek Mill’s “BKLYN: The Musical” earned more awards than any other production, while Virginia Rep and Richmond Shakespeare tied for the greatest number of awards at 7 each. This year marks the 16th year that the Richmond Theatre Community Circle (formerly the Richmond Theatre Critics Circle)...