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December 31, 2021:

35th Robby Award Nominations by Rob Stevens

Continuing a New Year’s Eve tradition, I am pleased to announce the 35th Annual (?) Robby Award nominations for Excellence in Southern California Theatre. (As if anything can be annual in this Age of Covid 19 and its mutations.) But optimistically forging ahead, this list honors shows seen in the first three months of 2020 before the pandemic shut down most everything and the final six months of 2021 when theatres began cautiously re-opening.

Twenty-five separate productions managed to garner a total of 131 nominations. Long Beach’s International City Theatre’s Blues in the Night led all productions with 10 nominations followed closely by 3-D Theatricals of Cerritos with 10 nominations for their Kinky Boots. Pasadena Playhouse’s production of The Father led all dramas with eight nominations followed by CTG-Ahmanson’s production of A Christmas Carol with seven. Theatre West’s production of Our Man in Santiago led the Comedy productions with a total of nine nominations followed by eight each for Theatre 40’s As Good as Gold and Del Shores’ This Side of Crazy which played the Zephyr Theatre.

International City Theatre led all producing entities with a whopping 23 nominations for four of their productions. Pasadena Playhouse collected a total of 16 nominations for two of their productions while Theatre 40 and 3-D Theatricals each finished in double digits with ten nominations each.

There will be no live or streamed awards show for these nominees. The winners are noted in bold in the following list. And as typical of the Robby Awards, there are a couple of categories that ended in a tie vote. There is also one special award and a Robby Living Legend Award to frequent awards show co-host Michael. G. Hawkins. Congratulations to the winners and all the nominees. Here’s hoping for a more normal and highly theatrical 2022.


Blues in the Night (Photo by Kayte Deioma Creative)

TERI RALSTON AWARD FOR BEST MUSICAL (TIE)
The Andrews Brothers, International City Theatre
Blues in the Night, International City Theatre
Kinky Boots, 3-D Theatricals
The Reichstag is Burning, Hartstone-Kitney Productions


Kinky Boots

VIRGINIA CAPERS AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL
Wren T. Brown, Blues in the Night
Thomas Kail, Hamilton, Hollywood Pantages Theatre
Tom Kitney, The Reichstag is Burning
Jenny Koons and Sam Pinkleton, Head Over Heels, Pasadena Playhouse
John Tartaglia, Kinky Boots, 3-D Theatricals
Jamie Torcellini, The Andrews Brothers


Lukas Poost

MICHAEL G. HAWKINS AWARD FOR BEST ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Cornelius Jones, Jr., Kinky Boots
Payson Lewis, Hamlet The Rock Musical, El Portal Theatre
Alexander Mashikian, You’re a Good Man, Charile Brown, Sierra Madre Playhouse
Lukas Poost, Kinky Boots, 3-D Theatricals


Vivian Reed (Photo by Kayte Deioma Creative)

MICHELLE NICASTRO AWARD FOR BEST ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Alaska 5000, Head Over Heels
Jenna Gillespie Byrd, Blues In the Night
Kelley Dorney, The Andrews Brothers
Karole Foreman, Blues in the Night
Joanne Hartstone, The Reichstag is Burning
Vivian Reed, Blues in the Night, International City Theatre
Deborah Robin, Day After Day, P3 Theatre Company


Travis Leland and Pamela Hamill (photo by Alan Weston)

GARY BEACH AWARD BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Kevin Bailey, Hamlet The Rock Musical
Freddie, Head Over Heels
Jason Graae, It Shoulda Been You
Chester Gregory, Blues in the Night
Travis Leland, It Shoulda Been You, Musical Theatre Guild


Lea DeLaria, Shanice Williams and Tiffnay Mann (photo by Jeff Lorch)

LISA ROBINSON AWARD BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Eileen Barnett, It Shoulda Been You
Emily Goglia, Kinky Boots
Barbara Carlton Heart, It Shoulda Been You
Tiffany Mann, Head Over Heels, Pasadena Playhouse
Carly Thomas Smith, Hamlet The Rock Musical


Hamilton (photo by Joan Marcus)

DOM SALINARO AWARD FOR BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Andy Blankenbuehler, Hamilton, Hollywood Pantages Theatre
Linda Love Simmons, Kinky Boots
Keith Young, Blues in the Night


The Andrews Brothers (photo by Tracey Roman)

ELAN MCMAHON AWARD FOR BEST MUSICAL DIRECTION
Benet Braun, Kinky Boots
David Cohen, Day After Day
Bent Crayon, The Andrew Brothers
Kris Kukul, Head Over Heels
William Foster McDaniel, Blues in the Night, International City Theatre
Doug Oberhamer, Hamlet The Rock Musical
Ryan Whyman, Lizastrata, Troubador Theater


An Iliad (photo by Eric Pargac)

JOHN RAITT AWARD FOR BEST MUSICAL SCORE
Karen Hall, An Iliad, A Noise Within
Cindy Lauper, Kinky Boots, 3-D Theatricals


Closely Related Keys (photo by Donny Jackson)

NAN MARTIN AWARD FOR BEST DRAMA
A Body of Water, Actors Co-Op
A Christmas Carol, CTG-Ahmanson Theatre
Closely Related Keys, International City Theatre
Daisy, International City Theatre
The Father, Pasadena Playhouse
An Iliad, A Noise Within


The Father (photo by Jenny Graham)

MARTIN BENSON AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTOR OF A DRAMA
caryn desai, Daisy
Jessica Kubzansky, The Father, Pasadena Playhouse
Sandra McClain, Closely Related Keys
Nan McNamara, A Body of Water
Julia Rodriguez-Elliott, An Iliad
Matthew Warchus/Thomas Caruso, A Christmas Carol


Alfred Molina (photo by Jenny Graham)

RAY STRICKLYN AWARD FOR BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA
Landon Beatty, Taming the Lion, Theatre 40
Bruce Ladd, A Body of Water
Alfred Molina, The Father, Pasadena Playhouse
Bradley Whitford, A Christmas Carol


Bruce Ladd and Treva Tegtmeier (photo by Larry Sandez)

SALLY KEMP AWARD FOR BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA (TIE)
Sydney A. Mason, Closely Related Keys
Deborah Strang, An Iliad, A Noise Within
Treva Tegtmeier, A Body of Water, Actors Co-Op


Alex Newell (photo by Joan Marcus)

RICHARD DOYLE AWARD FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA
Robert Mammana, The Father
Nick Molari, Closely Related Keys
Alex Newell, A Christmas Carol, CTG-Ahmanson Theatre


Bruce Ladd, Ivy Beech and Treva Tegtmeier (photo by Larry Sandez)

BELINDA BALASKI AWARD FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA
Ivy Beech, A Body of Water, Actors Co-Op
Marie Broderick, Taming the Lion
Sue Cremin, The Father
Mehrnaz Mohammadi, Closely Related Keys


This Side of Crazy (photo by Karianne Flaathen)

CAROLE COOK AWARD FOR BEST COMEDY
As Good As Gold, Theatre40
Our Man in Santiago, Theatre West
Revenge Song, Geffen Playhouse
This Side of Crazy, Beard Collins Shores Productions


As Good As Gold (photo by Michele Young)

RON LINK AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTOR OF A COMEDY
Charlies Mount, Our Man in Santiago
Robert Ross Parker, Revenge Song
Del Shores, This Side of Crazy, Beard Collins Shores Productions
Ann Hearn Tobolowsky, As Good As Gold


Nicola Victoria Buck, Marie Broderick, Wendy Hammers and Landon Beatty (photo by Michele Young)

TOM TROUPE AWARD FOR BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY
Landon Beatty, As Good As Gold, Theatre 40
Nick McDow Mulsleh, Our Man in Santiago
Michael Mullen, Durang!, Mmmkay Productions and Crown City Theatre Company
Tom Plumley, Have a Good One, Pop Up Playhouse


Bobbie Eakes and Sharon Garrison (photo by Karianne Flaathen)

LU LEONARD AWARD FOR BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY
Marie Broderick, As Good As Gold
Bobbie Eeakes, This Side of Crazy, Beard Collins Shores Productions
Sharon Garrison, This Side of Crazy


Michael Van Duzer and Steve Nevil (photo by Charlie Mount)

ALBERT LORD AWARD FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY (TIE)
Chance Denman, As Good As Gold
Steve Nevil, Our Man in Santiago, Theatre West
Michael Sturgis, Poor Clare, The Echo Theater Company
Michael Van Duzer, Our Man in Santiago, Theatre West


Dale Dickey, Rachel Sorsa and Bobbie Eakes (photo by Karianne Flaathen)

DEE CROXTON AWARD FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY
Nicola Victoria Buck, As Good As Gold
Dale Dickey, This Side of Crazy, Beard Collins Shores Productions
Presciliana Esparolini, Our Man in Santiago
Wendy Hammers, As Good As Gold
Ann Noble, Poor Clare
Rachel Sorsa, This Side of Crazy


Daisy (Photo by Mike Bradecich)

MICHAEL DEVEREAUX AWARD FOR BEST PLAYWRITING
Marilyn Anderson, As Good As Gold
Sean Devine, Daisy
Lisa Peterson and Denis O’Hare, An Iliad
Del Shores, This Side of Crazy, Beard Collins Shores Productions
Mark Wilding, Our Man in Santiago
Florian Zeller (translated by Christopher Hampton, The Father


Head Over Heels (photo by Jeff Lorch)

JOHN IACOVELLI AWARD FOR BEST SCENIC DESIGN
Tom Buderwitz, This Side of Crazy
Rob Howell, A Christmas Carol, CTG-Ahmanson Theatre
David Meyer, The Father
David Meyer, Head Over Heels
Jeff G. Rack, Our Man in Santiago
Rich Rose, A Body of Water
Stephanie Kerley Schwartz, Closely Related Keys

BEST PROJECTION DESIGN
Kaitlyn Pietras and Jason H. Thompson, Revenge Song, Geffen Playhouse


Hamlet The Rock Musical (photo by Barry Weiss)

PAULIE JENKINS AWARD FOR BEST LIGHTING DESIGN
Howell Binkley, Hamilton, Hollywood Pantages Theatre
Ken Booth, An Iliad
Stacey DeRosier, Head Over Heels
John A. Garofalo & Nick Iwaskow, Hamlet The Rock Musical
Tom Kitney, The Reichstag is Burning
Donna Ruzika, Blues in the Night
Bo Tindell, Lizastrata
Hugh Vanstone, A Christmas Carol


Poor Clare (photo by Cooper Bates)

GARLAND RIDDLE AWARD FOR BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Gregg Barnes, Kinky Boots
Kim DeShazo, Blues in the Night
Dianne K. Graebner, Poor Clare
Christy Mauro-Cohen, Day After Day
Mylette Nora, Hamlet The Rock Musical
Halei Parker, Lizastrata, Troubador Theater
Jessica Shay, Revenge Song

STEVE “CANYON” KENNEDY AWARD FOR BEST SOUND DESIGN
Simon Baker, A Christmas Carol
Danny Erdberg & Ursula Kwong Brown, Head Over Heels
Charlie Mount, Our Man in Santiago
Shane Rettig, Revenge Song
Leon Rothenberg & Jonathan A. Burke, Hamlet The Rock Musical
John Zalewski, The Father, Pasadena Playhouse


Lizastrata (photo by Craig Schwartz)

SPECIAL AWARD
Joe Seely, Additional Phallus Design, Lizastrata, Troubador Theater

ROBBY LIVING LEGEND AWARD
Michael G. Hawkins

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