According to Stats Canada, roughly only one per cent of Vancouverites speak French as their native tongue, so it was a bit of a coup that Th茅芒tre la Seizi茅me pulled off at last night鈥檚 Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards ceremony held at the Commodore Ballroom. The city鈥檚 sole French theatre troupe took home a total of eight awards at Vancouver鈥檚 answer to the Tony Awards, including six for 脌 toi, pour toujours, ta Marie-Lou, in the large theatre category. The production of Michel Tremblay鈥檚 1971 tragedy was named outstanding production and won for direction (Craig Holzschuh), lead actor (Joey Lesp茅rance), actress (Julie Tr茅panier), supporting actress (France Perras) and set design ().
"I'm just a lucky guy in a lucky job,鈥� said Holzschuh in his acceptance speech. 鈥淭hat's all I can say."
This was only the second year Th茅芒tre la Seizi茅me was considered in a category historically dominated by the Arts Club Theatre Company and Bard on the Beach after the Jessies revamped their three categories 鈥� Large Theatre, Small Theatre and Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) 鈥� based on annual operating budgets that also moved up Pacific Theatre, Touchstone, and the Firehall Arts Centre.
Th茅芒tre la Seizi猫me also picked up hardware for outstanding artistic creation (director Rachel Peake) and outstanding performances (Julie Tr茅panier, Siona Gareau-Brennan and Vincent Leblanc-Beaudoin) in the TYA category for its production of Selfie.
The Arts Club鈥檚 production of George Bernard Shaw鈥檚 also did well in the large theatre category, with Dean Paul Gibson winning for best supporting actor and Alessandro Juliani for sound design. The Gateway Theatre鈥檚 goofy musical won for both costume design (Carmen Alatorre) and significant artistic achievement聽 for Julie Tomaino鈥檚 choreography.
In the small theatre category, Ruby Slippers Theatre鈥檚 After Me (Apr猫s Moi) won both lead acting awards (Scott Bellis and Jennifer Lines), while Pi Theatre鈥檚 artistic director Richard Wolfe won best direction for Sarah Kane鈥檚 gruesome play.
Hiro Kanagawa won the Jessie for outstanding original script for Rumble Theatre鈥檚 Indian Arm, while the Critics鈥� Choice Innovation Award went to Theatre Conspiracy鈥檚 Foreign Radical.
The complete list of winners is below:
Large Theatre
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Lead Role
Joey Lesp茅rance, 脌 toi, pour toujours, ta Marie-Lou, Th茅芒tre la Seizi茅me
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role
France Perras, 脌 toi, pour toujours, ta Marie-Lou, Th茅芒tre la Seizi茅me
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Dean Paul Gibson, Saint Joan, Arts Club Theatre Company
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Julie Tr茅panier, 脌 toi, pour toujours, ta Marie-Lou, Th茅芒tre la Seizi茅me
Outstanding Lighting Design
Lauchlin Johnston, The Whipping Man, Pacific Theatre
Outstanding Set Design
Drew Facey, 脌 toi, pour toujours, ta Marie-Lou, Th茅芒tre la Seizi茅me
Outstanding Costume Design
Carmen Alatorre, Crazy for You, Gateway Theatre
Outstanding Sound Design or Original Composition
Alessandro Juliani, Saint Joan, Arts Club Theatre Company
Outstanding Direction
Craig Holzschuh, 脌 toi, pour toujours, ta Marie-Lou, Th茅芒tre la Seizi茅me
Outstanding Production Play
脌 toi, pour toujours, ta Marie-Lou, Th茅芒tre la Seizi茅me
Significant Artistic Achievement
Julie Tomaino, Crazy for You, Gateway Theatre, Outstanding Choreography
Small Theatre
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Lead Role
Scott Bellis, After Me (Apr猫s Moi), Ruby Slippers Theatre
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role
Jennifer Lines , After Me (Apr猫s Moi), Ruby Slippers Theatre
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Peter Carlone, Hunter Gatherers, Staircase Theatre
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Lindsey Angell, Iceland, Dirt Road Productions
Outstanding Lighting Design
Jeff Harrison, Blasted, Pi Theatre
Outstanding Set Design
Drew Facey, Blasted, Pi Theatre
Outstanding Costume Design
Mara Gottler, The Duchess a.k.a. Wallis Simpson, Ruby Slippers Theatre
Outstanding Sound Design or Original Composition
Mishelle Cuttler, STATIONARY, Delinquent Theatre
Outstanding Direction
Richard Wolfe, Blasted, Pi Theatre
Outstanding Production Musical
STATIONARY: a recession-era musical, Delinquent Theatre
Outstanding Production
Our Town, Osimous Theatre
Significant Artistic Achievement
Bob Frazer, Craig Erickson, Quelemia Stacey Sparrow, Jessica Ross-Howkins, John Shaw, Dawn Petten, Lauren Jackson Chris Cope, Varya Rubin, Our Town, Osimous Theatre, Outstanding Ensemble Performance
Theatre for Young Audiences
Outstanding Performance: Julie Tr茅panier, Siona Gareau-Brennan, Vincent Leblanc-Beaudoin, Selfie Th茅芒tre la Seizi茅me.
Outstanding Design: Dusty Hagerud and Tara Travis, The Little Prince, Monster Theatre.
Outstanding Artistic Creation: Rachel Peake, Selfie, Th茅芒tre la Seizi茅me.
Outstanding Production: Celestial Being, Green Thumb Theatre.
Significant Artistic Achievement: Drew Facey, Outstanding Body of Work.
Special awards
Outstanding Original Script: Hiro Kanagawa, Indian Arm, Rumble Theatre.
Georgia Straight Critics鈥� Choice Innovation Award: Foreign Radical Theatre Conspiracy
Ray Michal Prize for Most Promising New Director: Cameron Mackenzie
Patron of the Arts Award: 聽Stan Hamilton
Mary Phillips Prize for Behind-the-Scenes Achievement: 聽Scott Ashton Swan
Sam Payne Award for the Most Promising Newcomer: Sarah Mobberly
John Moffat and Larry Lillo Prize: Jill Daum
Career Achievement Award: 聽Jerry Wasserman
Sydney Risk Prize: Christine Quintana
Colin Campbell Award for Excellence in Technical Theatre: Lorraine West
