Richmond, VA – October 13, 2024. This year marks the 16th 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 – “Sweet 16” – celebrates youthful energy and highlights young performers who bring a fresh perspective to Richmond stages, infusing performances with energy, creativity, and a unique understanding of modern culture. Their innovative approaches to storytelling and performance resonate with younger, more diverse audiences, ensuring that theater remains accessible and relevant.
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 $143,349 in gifts and has written 26 grants totaling $46,213 for artists in need.
Virginia Repertory Theatre came away with an impressive seven wins, four of which were for its presentation of “9 to 5: The Musical.” The production captured the awards for Outstanding Lighting Design, Outstanding Set Design, Best Choreography, and Outstanding Sound Design, a category that was tied, with the other award going to Virginia Rep’s production of “On Air.” The award for Best Supporting Performance in a Musical went to Irene Kuykendall for her performance in “Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery.” Virginia Rep’s production of “Satchmo at the Waldorf” took the award for Outstanding Lighting Design in a Play.
Three of Richmond Shakespeare’s seven wins were for its production of “Hamlet,” including Best Lead Performance in a Play, which went to Joshua Carter, the Ernie McClintock Best Acting Ensemble Award, and Outstanding Costume Design in a Play. The Richmond Shakespeare production of “Into the Woods” also won both acting categories, with Best Lead Performance in a Musical going to Susan Sanford and Best Supporting Performance in a Musical going to Maggie Marlin-Hess. Best Supporting Performance in a Play went to Dixon Cashwell for his work in “Doctor Faustus,” and Best Direction of a Play went to Andrew Gall for “Born with Teeth.”
Swift Creek Mill’s production of “BKLYN: The Musical” won five awards, including Best Musical, Best Direction of a Musical, which went to Shanea N. Taylor, Best Musical Direction, which went to Leilani Fenick, Best Supporting Performance in a Musical, which went to Desirée Dabney, and Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical. Caleb Wade took home an award for Best Lead Performance in a Musical for his work in “tick…tick…BOOM!”
Firehouse Theatre earned three awards, including Outstanding Set Design in a Play and Outstanding Sound Design in a Play for “Berta, Berta.” Chandler Hubbard’s “Roman à Clef” took the award for Best Original Work.
5th Wall Theatre’s production of “Radiant Vermin” took home the award for Best Play. HATTheatre picked up an award for Best Lead Performance in a Play for Catherine Shaffner’s performance in “The Roommate.” The award for Breakout Performance went to Ashley Thompson for her work in Yes, And! Productions’ “Dr. Ride’s American Beach House” and Firehouse Theatre’s “Buried Child.”
Each year, the Legacy Award recognizes individuals who have played a foundational role in establishing or strengthening the Richmond-area theater community. The 2024 Legacy Award honorees are the founders of the Richmond Shakespeare Festival: Cynde Liffick and Grant Mudge. They opened the Festival with “As You Like It,” which was staged in 1998 in an open field at The Boulders office park. By its second year, the Festival had moved to historic Agecroft Hall. At the same time, Liffick and Mudge were running Encore! Theatre Company. The offerings at the Festival have ranged from classic Shakespeare to other classic works and Shakespeare-inspired productions. The two founders expanded and strengthened the company, touring Virginia’s state parks, developing new educational programs, collaborating with other local institutions such as the Richmond Symphony and the Richmond Ballet, and offering additional free programming, including OnStage @ Maymont. In 2006, Encore! changed its name to Richmond Shakespeare, then merged with Henley Street Theatre in 2013 to become Quill. Coming full circle, Quill changed its name to Richmond Shakespeare in 2022.
“As a founding member of the RTCC, it has been my pleasure and honor to witness, document, and celebrate the Richmond theater community,” said Julinda Lewis, RTCC President. “I get to see a LOT of theater, and I approach each show with wonder and respect, expecting to be moved, surprised, enlightened, and generally immersed in the total experience that each production creates. Richmond is often in the news for its restaurants, its breweries, and sometimes for less savory accomplishments – but I think it’s past time for Richmond to be known for its rich and varied theatrical offerings as well. Thank you, Sweet Sixteen. We’re already working on next year’s offering.”
Best Musical
“BKLYN: The Musical”
Swift Creek Mill Theatre
Best Direction – Musical
Shanea N. Taylor
“BKLYN: The Musical”
Best Lead Performance – Musical
Susan Sanford
“Into the Woods”
Best Lead Performance – Musical
Caleb Wade
“tick…tick…Boom!”
Best Supporting Performance – Musical
Desirée Dabney
“BKLYN: The Musical”
Best Supporting Performance – Musical
Maggie Marlin-Hess
“Into the Woods”
Best Musical Direction
Leilani Fenick
“BKLYN: The Musical”
Best Choreography
Pam Turner
“9 to 5: The Musical”
Outstanding Costume Design – Musical
Maura Lynch Cravey
“BKLYN: The Musical”
Outstanding Lighting Design – Musical
Joe Doran
“9 to 5: The Musical”
Outstanding Set Design – Musical
Chris Raintree
“9 to 5: The Musical”
Outstanding Sound Design – Musical
Jonathan Pratt
“On Air”
Outstanding Sound Design – Musical
Jacob Mishler and Jonathan Pratt
“9 to 5: The Musical”
Best Play
“Radiant Vermin”
5th Wall Theatre
Best Direction – Play
Andrew Gall
“Born with Teeth”
Best Lead Performance – Play
Joshua Carter
“Hamlet”
Best Lead Performance – Play
Catherine Shaffner
“The Roommate”
Best Supporting Performance – Play
Irene Kuykendall
“Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery”
Best Supporting Performance – Play
Dixon Cashwell
“Doctor Faustus”
Outstanding Costume Design – Play
Keith Walker
“Hamlet”
Outstanding Lighting Design – Play
Joe Doran
“Satchmo at the Waldorf”
Outstanding Set Design – Play
Chris Raintree
“Berta, Berta”
Outstanding Sound Design – Play
Kyle Epps
“Berta, Berta”
2024 Ernie McClintock Best Acting Ensemble Award
The cast members of the Richmond Shakespeare production of “Hamlet” are honored for their notable performance as a cohesive and compelling ensemble:
MaryBeth Adams
Jody Ashworth
Joshua Carter
Keegan Ferrell
Rachel Garmon-Williams
Avery Michael Johnson
Kenjae Lundy
Lucretia Marie
John Moon
Milind Murthy
Toby O’Brien
Rosemary Richards
Robbie Winston
Joseph Yeargain
Breakout Performance
Ashley Thompson
“Dr. Ride’s American Beach House”/“Buried Child”
Best Original Work
“Roman à Clef”
Firehouse Theatre
