Here it is, the moment you've all been waiting for - the winners of the First Annual Twin Cities Theater Blogger Awards!
Seven theater writers representing six blogs (Aisle Say Twin Cities, Artfully Engaging, Cherry and Spoon, Minnesota Theater Love, One Girl, Two Cities, and Play off the Page), who saw an average of 65 shows each last year, came together to chose our favorites of 2015. Read on for the results. (Click here for a list of all nominees.)
Seven theater writers representing six blogs (Aisle Say Twin Cities, Artfully Engaging, Cherry and Spoon, Minnesota Theater Love, One Girl, Two Cities, and Play off the Page), who saw an average of 65 shows each last year, came together to chose our favorites of 2015. Read on for the results. (Click here for a list of all nominees.)
FAVORITE MUSICAL:
The Pirates of Penzance (Ordway Center for the Performing Arts)
The Pirates of Penzance (Ordway Center for the Performing Arts)
FAVORITE ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL:
Aimee K. Bryant - The Color Purple (Park Square Theatre)
Aimee K. Bryant - The Color Purple (Park Square Theatre)
FAVORITE ACTOR IN A MUSICAL:
Dieter Bierbrauer - The Sound of Music (Ordway Center)
Dieter Bierbrauer - The Sound of Music (Ordway Center)
FAVORITE DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL:
Peter Rothstein - Into the Woods AND Sweeney Todd (Theater Latte Da) AND Peter Pan (Children's Theatre Company)
Peter Rothstein - Into the Woods AND Sweeney Todd (Theater Latte Da) AND Peter Pan (Children's Theatre Company)
FAVORITE PLAY:
These Old Shoes (Transatlantic Love Affair)
These Old Shoes (Transatlantic Love Affair)
FAVORITE ACTRESS IN A PLAY:
Angela Timberman - Annapurna AND You Can't Take it With You (The Jungle Theater)
Angela Timberman - Annapurna AND You Can't Take it With You (The Jungle Theater)
FAVORITE ACTOR IN A PLAY:
Derek Lee Miller - These Old Shoes (Transatlantic Love Affair)
Derek Lee Miller - These Old Shoes (Transatlantic Love Affair)
FAVORITE DIRECTOR OF A PLAY:
Craig Johnson - Boeing Boeing (Torch Theater Company) AND The Matchmaker (Girl Friday Productions)
Craig Johnson - Boeing Boeing (Torch Theater Company) AND The Matchmaker (Girl Friday Productions)
FAVORITE ENSEMBLE:
The Color Purple (Park Square Theatre)
The Color Purple (Park Square Theatre)
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Outstanding Survey Taking and Fundraising: Mu Performing Arts
Every theater wants you to fill out a survey--or at least they throw one in the program. Mu is the only theater we know of that requires you to fill out the nicely brief survey in order to enter the theater. Very smart! Also, their Playmakers fundraising program is specific and engaging, and truly makes donors feel like a part of the artistic process.
Outstanding Survey Taking and Fundraising: Mu Performing Arts
Every theater wants you to fill out a survey--or at least they throw one in the program. Mu is the only theater we know of that requires you to fill out the nicely brief survey in order to enter the theater. Very smart! Also, their Playmakers fundraising program is specific and engaging, and truly makes donors feel like a part of the artistic process.
Outstanding Theater Festival: Twin Cities Horror Festival
With a blend of dramatic and comedic theater, music and dance, multicultural offerings and shows by theaters new and old, Twin Cities Horror Festival is the perfect theater fest. It's a nice, short run, it takes place at one creepily outfitted theater (the Southern), and is surrounded by great bars. And it's all spooky!
With a blend of dramatic and comedic theater, music and dance, multicultural offerings and shows by theaters new and old, Twin Cities Horror Festival is the perfect theater fest. It's a nice, short run, it takes place at one creepily outfitted theater (the Southern), and is surrounded by great bars. And it's all spooky!
Outstanding Use of Location: TigerLion Arts' Nature, performed in Nature
This lovely outdoor walking play about the friendship between Emerson and Thoreau has been around for a few years, and this year they went on tour around Minnesota. No matter where they went, this creative, innovative, funny, charming, and poignant play had the perfect backdrop - Nature herself, the most important character in the story.
This lovely outdoor walking play about the friendship between Emerson and Thoreau has been around for a few years, and this year they went on tour around Minnesota. No matter where they went, this creative, innovative, funny, charming, and poignant play had the perfect backdrop - Nature herself, the most important character in the story.
Best Theater Trend: Racial Diversity and Non-Traditional Casting
The Twin Cities are lucky to have a number of theaters that focus on telling the stories of a range of racially and culturally diverse populations (Mixed Blood Theatre Company, Penumbra Theatre Company, Mu Performing Arts, Pillsbury House Theatre). It's wonderful to see other theaters starting to tell the stories that reflect our changing populations and making sure the faces on stage reflect the racial diversity in our area. The Ordway's Damn Yankees featured a diverse cast (and a fabulous display on African-Americans in baseball), and Park Square's recent offerings have been expanding their diversity as well. And we can't forget that no one does non-traditional casting as well as Ten Thousand Things. Here's hoping that other theaters, like the Guthrie and the Jungle, continue this fabulous trend.
The Twin Cities are lucky to have a number of theaters that focus on telling the stories of a range of racially and culturally diverse populations (Mixed Blood Theatre Company, Penumbra Theatre Company, Mu Performing Arts, Pillsbury House Theatre). It's wonderful to see other theaters starting to tell the stories that reflect our changing populations and making sure the faces on stage reflect the racial diversity in our area. The Ordway's Damn Yankees featured a diverse cast (and a fabulous display on African-Americans in baseball), and Park Square's recent offerings have been expanding their diversity as well. And we can't forget that no one does non-traditional casting as well as Ten Thousand Things. Here's hoping that other theaters, like the Guthrie and the Jungle, continue this fabulous trend.
MVP: Kersten Rodau
Kersten was in all three of the Ordway's original productions this year, as well as both of their Broadway Songbooks. No matter how small or large the role (a reporter in Damn Yankees, Ruth in Pirates of Penzance, the Baroness in Sound of Music, and also Carrie in the semi-staged concert version of Carousel with the Minnesota Orchestra), she made her characters memorable with humor, charm, and that gorgeously powerful voice.
Kersten was in all three of the Ordway's original productions this year, as well as both of their Broadway Songbooks. No matter how small or large the role (a reporter in Damn Yankees, Ruth in Pirates of Penzance, the Baroness in Sound of Music, and also Carrie in the semi-staged concert version of Carousel with the Minnesota Orchestra), she made her characters memorable with humor, charm, and that gorgeously powerful voice.
