Jessie Awards Announce 2017 Nominees

ADELE NORONHA AND LAARA SADIQ IN TOUCHSTONE THEATRE'S BROTHEL #9
IMAGE: EMILY COOPER

The nominees for the 35th annual Jessie Richardson Awards (the Jessie Awards) were announced in Vancouver on May 23. The awards, which recognize outstanding achievement in the Vancouver professional theatre community, are divided into three categories (Large Theatre, Small Theatre and Theatre for Young Audiences) in addition to special awards and prizes.

In the Large Theatre category, Arts Club Theatre Company walked away with 24 nominations spread amongst eight productions. Their most-nominated production was Angels in America: Millennium Approaches, which won nine nominations including Outstanding Production, Outstanding Performance (Damien Atkins and Ryan Beil), Outstanding Supporting Actor (Craig Erickson) and Outstanding Supporting Actress (Gabrielle Rose). Other notable productions in the Large Theatre category include Bard on the Beach's Pericles (eight nominations) and Brothel #9 by Touchstone Theatre.

The Small Theatre category saw 21 productions nominated, including six nominations apiece for the frank theatre company's Walt Whitman's Secret, Solo Collective's Green Lake, and Redpatch by Hardline Productions.

The most-nominated production in Theatre for Young Audiences was The Little Onion Puppet Company's Freddie in the Neighbourhood, with five nominations, while Carousel Theatre for Young People was the most-nominated company with seven.

A number of additional awards will be presented at the ceremony, including the Vancouver Now Representation and Inclusion Award, whose nominees include Alliance board member Rohit Chokhani "for his leadership as a founder and executor of numerous initiatives and activities reflecting an expanding vision of cultural diversity."

The 35th annual ceremony will take place June 26 at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $29.50 plus service charges, through Ticketmaster 1.855.985.5000 or online at www.ticketmaster.ca

For more details and the complete list of nominees, visit the Jessies website here.