2024 Twin Cities Theater Blogger Award Winners!

The bloggers have voted, and we've decided on our favorite artists, shows, and theaters of 2024. It was such a great year, and these winners are just a small sampling of the amazing performances we saw. Congratulations to our favorites, and everyone who created art in 2024!

See full list of nominees here.

2024 Twin Cities Theater Blogger Award Nominations

Happy New Year friends! With the conclusion of 2024 comes the 10th annual Twin Cities Theater Blogger Awards. It's hard to believe that we've been doing this for ten years, but it never gets easier to choose a few favorites among the cornucopia of fantastic theater in this town. Here are our nominees, which will be voted on by the bloggers, with winners announced next week. Congratulations to everyone on the fantastic work this year!

Update: winners announced here.

2023 Twin Cities Theater Blogger Award Winners!

We announced the winners of our 9th annual TCTB AWARDS on our podcast Twin Cities Theater Chat on January 9. If you missed it, you can listen here. And read the full list of winners below. Thanks to all of the #TCTheater artists, companies, admin, and staff who have welcomed us into your theaters throughout the year! And 2024 is already looking like a fantastic year. See you at the theater!

2023 Twin Cities Theater Blogger Award Nominations

The Twin Cities Theater Bloggers are thrilled to announce the nominees for our 9th annual TCTB AWARDS! This is our first full set of nominations since before the pandemic (in the intervening years we've just announced a few limited awards). The bloggers have voted for their favorites, the votes are being tallied, and we'll announce the winners in a very special episode of our podcast TWIN CITIES THEATER CHAT next week. In the meantime, add your picks in the comments below. Or let us know if we missed any great performance that you loved last year, and maybe we'll mention some on the pod.

UPDATE: listen to the winners here!

Without further ado, here are the nominees:

2022 Twin Cities Theater Blogger Awards

TCTB AWARDS 2022!

Before we get too far into the new year, we wanted to share with you the bloggers' favorites of 2022. There was a lot of great theater last year, in many different forms, but these shows really struck a chord with our bloggers. Congrats to everyone involved, and here's to another great year of live theater in 2023!

Favorite Play, drama - The Humans at Park Square Theatre

Favorite Dramatic performance - Lucy Farrell, The Boys Room at Gremlin Theatre

Favorite Comedic performance - Avi Aharoni and Nathan Keepers, Two Jews Walk Into a War at Six Points Theater

Favorite Play, comedy - Georgiana & Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley at The Jungle Theater

Favorite Musical performance - ensemble of Twelve Angry Men, Theater Latté Da

Favorite Musical - Merrily We Roll Along at Theater Latte Da

2021 Twin Cities Theater Blogger Awards

Before we get too far into the new year, we wanted to share with you the bloggers' favorites of 2021. There was a lot of great theater last year, in many different forms, but these shows really struck a chord with our bloggers. Congrats to everyone involved, and here's to an even better and busier 2022!

Favorite Virtual Production: THE REVOLUTIONISTS by Lyric Arts

Favorite Outdoor Production: WONDERLAND by Collide Theatrical

Favorite Indoor Play: EVERY BRILLIANT THING by The Jungle Theater

Favorite Indoor Musical: ISLANDER by Theatre Elision

2020 Twin Cities Theater Blogger Awards

Hello #TCTheater friends. We've missed you, we've missed each other, and most of all we've missed theater. Like everything else, our sixth annual TCTB Awards look much different this year. Instead of the dozen or so categories, nominees, and winners we usually have, we've chosen to highlight some of our 2020 favorites in just four categories, both pre- and post-pandemic (voted on by 14 bloggers). 2020 was without question a difficult year in many areas, including our beloved theater, but we are impressed with the way that artists use the resources available to them to continue to make art. Let's look back at some highlights of the past year, and we look forward to seeing you all in the theater again soon.

FAVORITE PRE-PANDEMIC MUSICAL - TIE

Bernarda Alba,

Theater Latté Da

The Bridges of Madison County,

Artistry MN

Runners Up: Daddy Long Legs,

Minneapolis Musical Theatre

and Interstate,

Mixed Blood Theatre Company

FAVORITE PRE-PANDEMIC PLAY

The White Card,

Penumbra Theatre Company

Runners Up: A Doll's House, Part 2,

The Jungle Theater

and Twelfth Night,

Guthrie Theater

FAVORITE POST-PANDEMIC SHOW CREATED FOR THE VIRTUAL MEDIUM - TIE

Is Edward Snowden Single?,

The Jungle Theater

Operation: Immigration,

MN Jewish Theatre Company

When Your Love Sets You On Fire,

The Winding Sheet Outfit

for

Twin Cities Horror Festival

FAVORITE POST-PANDEMIC THEATER COMPANY - TIE

Park Square Theatre

Twin Cities Horror Festival

Runner Up:

Minnesota Fringe

2019 Twin Cities Theater Bloggers Award Winners!

ANNOUNCING THE WINNERS OF THE 5TH ANNUAL TCTB AWARDS!
Nine bloggers voted, and here are the results. For the full list of nominees click here: http://www.twincitiestheaterbloggers.com/…/2019-twin-cities…

favorite comedic performance by an individual
Eric Sharp - Hot Asian Doctor Husband, Theater Mu

favorite dramatic performance by an individual
Dame Jasmine Hughes - Benevolence, Penumbra Theatre Company AND Floyd's, Guthrie Theater

favorite musical performance by an individual
Becca Hart - Ride the Cyclone, The Jungle Theater

favorite comedic performance by an ensemble
Hot Asian Doctor Husband, Theater Mu

favorite dramatic performance by an ensemble
School Girls; or, the African Mean Girls Play, The Jungle Theater

favorite musical performance by an ensemble
Ride the Cyclone, The Jungle Theater

favorite director of a play
Rick Shiomi - Caught, Full Circle Theater Company

favorite director of a musical
Peter Rothstein - All Is Calm AND Candide AND Chicago AND Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Theater Latté Da

favorite music director
Jason Hansen - Hedwig and the Angry Inch AND Little Night Music, Theater Latté Da

favorite choreographer
Jared Grimes - 42nd Street, Ordway Center for the Performing Arts

favorite scenic design
Chelsea M Warren - Ride the Cyclone, The Jungle Theater

favorite costume design TIE
Alice Fredrickson - Chicago AND Hedwig And Angry Inch, Theater Latté Da
Jacqueline Addison - School Girls, The Jungle Theater

favorite lighting design
Karin Olson - Brothers Paranormal, Penumbra Theatre Company / Theater Mu AND School Girls, The Jungle Theater

favorite sound design
Scott Edwards - Autonomy, Mixed Blood Theatre Company AND Brothers Paranormal, Penumbra Theatre Company / Theater Mu

favorite play
Roe, Mixed Blood Theatre Company

favorite musical
Ride the Cyclone, The Jungle Theater

favorite new work
Stoopidity, Domino D'Lorion, Ian McCarthy, and Michael McKitt for Minnesota Fringe

favorite theater company
The Jungle Theater

favorite theater venue
Guthrie Theater

2019 Twin Cities Theater Blogger Award Nominations

Announcing the 5th Annual Twin Cities Theater Bloggers Awards, covering #TCTheater performances in 2019! Eight of our bloggers contributed nominations for their favorite performances of the year, and the 5-6 nominees with the most nominations in each category are listed below. From here, our bloggers will vote on their favorite in each category, with winners announced next week.

Participating bloggers: Bite-Sized Beet, Cherry and Spoon, Compendium - Minneapolis, Minnesota Theater Love, Play off the Page, The Stages of MN, Twin Cities Stages, and Kit Bix.

2018 Twin Cities Theater Bloggers Award Winners!

Announcing the winners of the Fourth Annual Twin Cities Theater Bloggers (TCTB) Awards!

Ten Twin Cities Theater Bloggers* participated in the selection of the winners. The full list of nominees was announced last week. Some of the categories were quite hotly contested, so congratulations to all of our wonderful nominees for creating entertaining, inspiring, and challenging theater in 2018.

Below are our 2018 TCTB Award Winners. Be sure to continue reading for some special local theater achievement awards!

2018 TCTB Award Nominations

Announcing the nominees for our Fourth Annual Twin Cities Theater Blogger (TCTB) Awards! Eight bloggers participated in the selection process (including Bite-Sized Beet, Broadway World Minneapolis/St. Paul, Cherry and Spoon , Compendium - Minneapolis, Minnesota Theater Love, Play off the Page, Twin Cities Arts Reader, and Twin Cities Stages)  and will be voting on the winner this week, for announcement next week. In the meantime, congratulations to all of the nominees, and many more artists who inspired us in 2018.

2017 Twin Cities Theater Blogger Award Winners!

Drumroll please... the winners of the 3rd annual Twin Cities Theater Bloggers awards have been determined*! Thanks to all of the amazing #TCTheater companies for keeping us entertained, challenged, intrigued, and engaged in 2017. Here's to an even better 2018!

2017 TCTB Award Nominations

Announcing the Third Annual Twin Cities Theater Bloggers Awards! Ten bloggers* participated in the nomination process and will be voting on the winners this week. Winners will be announced on Monday January 15 on our Facebook page.

2016 TCTB Awards Winners

Announcing the Winners of the Second Annual Twin Cities Theater Bloggers Awards! Thirteen bloggers* voted for their favorite in each category (full nominee list here: http://bit.ly/tctb2016). Winners listed below. Congratulations everyone and thanks for making amazing #TCTheater in 2016!

2016 TCTB Award Nominations

Announcing the Second Annual Twin Cities Theater Bloggers Awards! Eleven bloggers* submitted nominations and will be voting on the winners this week. Winners will be announced on Monday January 9 on our Facebook page and during our #TCTheater Twitter chat at 8 pm. See you there!
https://www.facebook.com/events/387479341594152/

The First Annual Twin Cities Theater Blogger Awards - The Winners!

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.)

FAVORITE MUSICAL:
The Pirates of Penzance (Ordway Center for the Performing Arts)

FAVORITE ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL:
Aimee K. Bryant - The Color Purple (Park Square Theatre)

FAVORITE ACTOR IN A MUSICAL:
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)

FAVORITE PLAY:
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)

FAVORITE ACTOR IN A PLAY:
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)

FAVORITE ENSEMBLE:
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 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!

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.

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.

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.

The First Annual Twin Cities Theater Blogger Awards - The Nominations!

Announcing nominations for 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) chose the nominees and will be voting on winners this week. Like this page and check back soon for the big reveal!

FAVORITE MUSICAL:
The Color Purple (Park Square Theatre)
Glensheen (History Theatre)
The Pirates of Penzance (Ordway Center for the Performing Arts)
Putting It Together (Skylark Opera)
The Sound of Music (Ordway Center)

FAVORITE ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL:
Aimee K. Bryant - The Color Purple (Park Square Theatre)
Maggie Chestovich - The Unsinkable Molly Brown (Ten Thousand Things)
Ann Michels - Mary Poppins (Chanhassen Dinner Theatres)
Katharine Strom - The Spitfire Grill (Lyric Arts)
Regina Marie Williams - Sister Act (Chanhassen Dinner Theatres)

FAVORITE ACTOR IN A MUSICAL:
Dieter Bierbrauer - The Sound of Music (Ordway Center)
Danny Binstock - The Music Man (Guthrie Theater)
Darius Dotch - The Color Purple (Park Square Theatre)
Brandon O'Neill - The Pirates of Penzance (Ordway Center)
Ricardo Vazquez - River Road Boogie (History Theatre)

FAVORITE DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL:
Gary Briggle - The Sound of Music (Ordway Center)
Michael Brindisi - Mary Poppins AND Sister Act (Chanhassen Dinner Theatres)
James Rocco - The Pirates of Penzance (Ordway Center)
Peter Rothstein - Into the Woods AND Sweeney Todd (Theater Latte Da) AND Peter Pan (Children's Theatre Company)
Lewis E. Whitlock III - The Color Purple (Park Square Theatre)

FAVORITE PLAY:
Annapurna (The Jungle Theater)
Equus (Theatre Coup d'Etat)
The Gospel of Lovingkindness (Pillsbury House Theatre)
These Old Shoes (Transatlantic Love Affair)
The Trump Who Stole Christmas (The Brave New Workshop Comedy Theatre)

FAVORITE ACTRESS IN A PLAY:
Joy Dolo - emilie/eurydice (Transatlantic Love Affair)
Jasmine Hughes - Pussy Valley (Mixed Blood Theatre Company)
Angela Timberman - Annapurna AND You Can't Take it With You (Jungle Theatre)
Karen Wiese-Thompson - Forget Me Not When Far Away (Ten Thousand Things) AND The Matchmaker (Girl Friday Productions)
Sally Wingert – Hir (Mixed Blood Theatre) AND Shooting Star (Park Square Theatre)

FAVORITE ACTOR IN A PLAY:
Kevin Fanshaw - Equus (Theatre Coup d’Etat)
Ron Menzel - Forget Me Not When Far Away (Ten Thousand Things)
Derek Lee Miller - These Old Shoes (Transatlantic Love Affair)
Kory LaQuess Pullam - Choir Boy (Guthrie Theater) AND Prep (Pillsbury House Theatre)
Namir Smallwood - The Gospel of Lovingkindness (Pillsbury House Theatre)

FAVORITE DIRECTOR OF A PLAY:
Craig Johnson - Boeing Boeing (Torch Theatre) AND The Matchmaker (Girl Friday Productions)
Isabel Nelson - emilie/eurydice (Transatlantic Love Affair)
Randy Reyes - Twelfth Night (Mu Performing Arts)
Peter Rothstein - Choir Boy (Guthrie Theater)
Niegel Smith - Hir (Mixed Blood Theatre)

FAVORITE ENSEMBLE:
Choir Boy (Guthrie Theater)
The Color Purple (Park Square Theatre)
Forget Me Not When Far Away (Ten Thousand Things)
The Matchmaker (Girl Friday Productions)
Twelfth Night (Mu Performing Arts)