Richmond, VA – October 8, 2023. This year marks the 15th 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 – “Two by Two” – celebrates partnerships (both romantic and artistic) and highlights the collaborations between individuals and organizations that support and strengthen our creative community.
Not only are the Artsies the community’s recognition of excellence in Richmond-area theater, but they 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 an exceptional financial need related to a specific crisis beyond their control. Since its inception, the Fund has received $142,824 in gifts and has written 25 grants totaling $43,213 for artists in need.
Virginia Repertory Theatre came away with an impressive twelve wins, nine of which were for its presentation of “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” which was also the production that won the most Artsies. The production captured the award for Best Musical and one of two awards each in the Best Lead Performance in a Musical and Best Supporting Performance in a Musical categories, which went to Grey Garrett and Logan Foster. Virginia Rep’s production of Bo Wilson’s “After December” took awards as well in three of the four design categories.
Richmond Triangle Players took home seven awards, three of which went to the two-part play, “The Inheritance.” The production was named “Best Play” and also earned an award for Best Lead Performance in a Play, which went to Deejay Gray. Two of the awards honored the musical “Head over Heels,” including Best Supporting Performance in a Musical, which went to Shannon Schilstra. The cast of “How Black Mothers Say I Love You” won the Ernie McClintock Best Acting Ensemble Award for their performance, and Dorothy “Dee D.” Miller’s performance was recognized with an Artsie for Best Supporting Performance in a Play.
Two Artsies went to Firehouse Theatre for its production of “Gabriel: The Musical,” including Best Original Work and Best Lead Performance in a Musical, which went to Jerold Solomon. Swift Creek Mill also took away two Artsies for its production of “Gaslight,” honoring Lindsey Zelli with Best Lead Performance in a Play and Axle Burtness for Best Supporting Performance in a Play. Richmond Shakespeare’s production of “Uncle Vanya” earned an Artsie for Anna Bialkowski’s costume design.
The award for Breakout Performance went to Lukas D’Errico for his work in Richmond Triangle Players’ “The Inheritance” and “Head over Heels,” as well as in Virginia Rep’s performance of “Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley.”
After a three-year hiatus, the RTCC announced a formal process in bestowing its Legacy Award as well as the first recipients under this process. The 2023 Legacy Award honorees are the founders of the Firehouse Theatre Project: Bill Gordon, Anna Senechal Johnson, Harry Kollatz, Jr., Carol Piersol, and Janet Wilson. The company was founded 30 years ago, and the recently merged company, now called The New Theatre at Firehouse Theatre, named its mainstage in honor of founding Artistic Director Carol Piersol, who passed away earlier this year.
“With all that has happened in the past three years, with all that we have come through in learning to adapt to the ‘new normal,’ we are thrilled to be able to celebrate the 15th annual “Arties,” said RTCC president Julinda Lewis. “Our theme, ‘Two by Two,’ is an acknowledgment that we can only succeed in partnership, in community with one another. What that partnership will look like in the coming season, what the community will consist of in the future, remains unanswered. What is clear is that we plan to move into it together. We were aware of that when we changed our name from the Richmond Theatre Critics Circle to the Richmond Theatre Community Circle – a family united around the common interests of live theatre in the Richmond region. The traditional 15th-anniversary gift is crystal – a symbol of light, clarity, and durability. That seems appropriate for this year’s celebration. Cheers!”
Best Musical
“Beautiful: The Carole King Musical”
Virginia Repertory Theatre
Best Direction – Musical
Rick Hammerly
“Beautiful: The Carole King Musical”
Best Lead Performance – Musical
Grey Garrett
“Beautiful: The Carole King Musical”
Best Lead Performance – Musical
Jerold Solomon
“Gabriel: The Musical”
Firehouse Theatre
Best Supporting Performance – Musical
Logan Foster
“Beautiful: The Carole King Musical”
Best Supporting Performance – Musical
Shannon Schilstra
“Head over Heels”
Richmond Triangle Players
Best Musical Direction
Jason Marks
“Beautiful: The Carole King Musical”
Best Choreography
Simeon Rawls
“Beautiful: The Carole King Musical”
Outstanding Costume Design – Musical
Laura Vitale
“Head over Heels”
Outstanding Lighting Design – Musical
Joe Doran
“Beautiful: The Carole King Musical”
Outstanding Set Design – Musical
Frank Foster
“Beautiful: The Carole King Musical”
Outstanding Sound Design – Musical
Jacob Mishler
“Beautiful: The Carole King Musical”
Best Play
“The Inheritance”
Richmond Triangle Players
Best Direction – Play
Lucian Restivo
“The Inheritance”
Best Lead Performance – Play
Deejay Gray
“The Inheritance”
Best Lead Performance – Play
Lindsey Zelli
“Gaslight”
Swift Creek Mill Theatre
Best Supporting Performance – Play
Axle Burtness
“Gaslight”
Best Supporting Performance – Play
Dorothy “Dee D.” Miller
“How Black Mothers Say I Love You”
Richmond Triangle Players
Outstanding Costume Design – Play
Anna Bialkowski
“Uncle Vanya”
Richmond Shakespeare
Outstanding Lighting Design – Play
BJ Wilkinson
“After December”
Virginia Repertory Theatre
Outstanding Set Design – Play
Tennessee Dixon
“After December”
Outstanding Sound Design – Play
Joey Luck
“After December”
2023 Ernie McClintock Best Acting Ensemble Award
The cast members of the Richmond Triangle Players production of “How Black Mothers Say I Love You” are honored for their notable performance as a cohesive and compelling ensemble:
Zakiyyah Jackson
Dorothy “Dee D.” Miller
Bailey Robinson
Shalandis Wheeler Smith
Breakout Performance
Lukas D’Errico
“The Inheritance”/“Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley” (Virginia Rep)/“Head over Heels”
Best Original Work
“Gabriel: The Musical”
Firehouse Theatre
