Huntington Sweeps IRNE Awards!

It was a joy-filled night for the Huntington at the Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) Awards presentation yesterday as our our 2011 productions of Candide, Sons of the Prophet, and Ruined were honored with a combined total of 17 awards!

Huntington dramaturg
Charles Haughland with Stephen Karam
(Sons of the Prophet)

The second award of the night went to recently-named Pulizter Prize finalist Stephen Karam for Best New Play (Large Theatre) for Sons of the Prophet. In his speech, he praised and thanked Boston audiences for coming to a play they'd never heard of by a writer they didn't know. Our production of Sons..., which was directed by Huntington Artistic Director Peter DuBois, transferred to the Roundabout Theatre Company last fall where it was extended through January 1. The accolaides continue: the NYC production has just been nominated for 3 Outer Critic's Circle Awards (Best new Off Broadway Play, Best Actor in a Play - Santino Fontana, and Best Actress in a Play - Joanna Gleason), to be announced on May 14. It was wonderful to have Stephen back in Boston with us for the night to celebrate all of his recent success.

Then the night got busy, as Huntington productions and artists were honored in 17 of the 24 categories recognizing large theatre productions.

Cheryl Stern and Mary Zimmerman

Candide director Mary Zimmerman and cast member Cheryl Stern (Old Lady) were with us to celebrate the success. For Candide:

 

The cast of Candide, photo: T. Charles Erickson

Best Actor – Musical: Geoff Packard

Best Supporting Actress – Musical: Cheryl Stern

Best Choreography: Daniel Pelzig

Best Music Director: Doug Peck

Best Set Design: Daniel Ostling

Best Costume Design: Mara Blumenfeld

Best Lighting Design: T. J. Gerckens

Best Sound Design: Richard Woodbury

 Best Director of a Musical: Mary Zimmerman 

Best Ensemble: Candide

 Best Musical: Candide

The cast of Ruined, photo: Kevin Berne

For Ruined:

Best Supporting Actor – Drama: Oberon K.A. Adjepong

Best Supporting Actress – Drama: Pascale Armand

Best Actress – Drama: Tonye Patano 

Best Director of a Drama: Liesl Tommy

Best Play: Ruined

In addition, a number of members of the Huntington family were honored with IRNE Awards, including the Actors' Shakespeare Project production of Huntington Playwriting Fellow John Kuntz's The Hotel Nepenthe, which we'll present this June as part of the Emerging America festival.

See the full list of winners. Congratulations all!

Our two most honored productions from the year are certainly different in a number of key ways, but each tell a story about characters' experiences with hardship and their resulting world-views, which perhaps suprisingly prove to be more optimistic than their expereinces should inspire.

Which Huntington production from 2011 was your favorite?