Sebastien Archibald (left) in ITSAZOO’s Killer Joe
The nominations for Vancouver’s 32nd annual Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards are out, and there are once again a number of Phoenix Theatre alumni on the list! The Jessies are divided into three categories: Large Theatre, Small Theatre, and Theatre for Young Audiences, as well as the Significant Achievement Award and a few other special awards.
Foremost among the nominations is alumni company ITSAZOO Productions, whose presentation of Killer Joe earned seven nominations in the small theatre category, including Outstanding Direction, Production, Set Design, and Supporting Actor categories—as well as the Georgia Straight Critics’ Choice Innovation Award. Co-Artistic Director Chelsea Haberlin is nominated for direction, and Co-Artistic Director Sebastien Archibald is nominated for supporting actor.
Also twice nominated is accomplished actress and frequent Jessie nominee Jennifer Lines, up for best supporting actress (large theatre) for Bard on the Beach’s Twelfth Night, and (in small theatre) for Whose Life is it Anyway?
Other nominated Phoenix alumni include Susan Hogan, up for Lead Actress (small theatre) for her role in Kayak, Peter Carlone (of Peter ‘n Chris fame) for Supporting Actor (large theatre) for his turn in The Foreigner, Michelle Deines for Outstanding Original Script for Ghosts in Baghdad and and former student Kim Collier, who is nominated for Outstanding Direction for Bard on the Beach’s Hamlet. (Collier, it’s worth noting, is co-artistic director of Vancouver’s Electric Company Theatre, as is our own Writing professor Kevin Kerr.)
Jeny Cassaday (far right, with yellow & blue bears) in Avenue Q (photo: Emily Cooper)
Alumnus Andrew Wade was also a cast member of Patrick Street Theatre’s Floyd Collins, nominated for Outstanding Production Musical (large theatre), and incoming Directing MFA Alan Brodie is nominated for his work on Blackbird Theatre’s Uncle Vanya (small theatre). Finally, stellar alumna puppeteer Jeny Cassady is among the cast of the Arts Club’s Avenue Q, nominated for Significant Artistic Achievement – Outstanding Ensemble Performance.
The awards ceremony will be held at Vancouver’s famed Commodore Ballroom on June 23.