Berkshire Theatre Professionals Receive Several Elliot Norton Awards

Receiving Honors are Nicholas Martin, Elizabeth Aspenlieder, Kate Burton

By: Larry Murray - May 13, 2009

Al Pacino (L) remembered the late Paul Benedict (R) at the Norton Award Ceremonies. Both got their start in Boston and returned often afterwards.

WTF regulars Actress Kate Burton and Director Nicholas Martin both received honors in Boston.

Elizabeth Aspenlieder was honored for her funny and touching portrayal of Haley in Bad Dates.

Endgame at American Repertory Theatre took the prize as the Outstanding Production by a large company.

Carrie Fisher starred in the Outstanding Visiting Production, Wishful Drinking at Huntington Theatre Company.

Joyce Van Dyke was honored for the Outstanding New Script, The Oil Thief at the Boston Playwright’s Theatre.

Scott Edmiston is Outstanding Director, Midsized Company and is rising fast.

Elizabeth Aspenlieder

Berkshire Theatre Notes - Special Edition

This week the Elliot Norton Awards - named after the legendary Boston Herald critic and PBS Host -  presented Boston's version of the Tony's at Harvard University's Sanders Theatre. Actor Al Pacino honored the memory of Paul Benedict whose Boston roots go back to David Wheeler's Theatre Company of Boston, and who regularly appeared with both American Repertory Theatre and Huntington Theatre Company.

Many of the shows reviewed in Berkshire Fine Arts received recognition, and several Berkshire regulars were singled out for honors as well. The Outstanding Visiting Production was Wishful Drinking created and performed by Carrie Fisher at Huntington Theatre Company, reviewed here in BFA.

The Outstanding Solo Performance went to local favorite Elizabeth Aspenlieder for Bad Dates, which lit up the dark Berkshire winter at Shakespeare & Company before moving on for a Spring run at the Merrimack Repertory Theatre. We have written about and reviewed her work perhaps more than any other local actor.

Nicholas Martin was named the Outstanding Director of the year for his work on She Loves Me and The Corn is Green, both of which were included in the seasons at the Williamstown Theatre Festival and the Huntington.

The Corn is Green also won WTF regular Kate Burton the Outstanding Actress, Large Company award. Fred Sullivan, Jr. won the Outstanding Actor, Large Company award for his work in As You Like It with Free Shakespeare and Blithe Spirit at the Trinity Repertory Company in Providence.

The Outstanding Production by a large company was Endgame at American Repertory Theatre.

For Outstanding Musical Production, North Shore Music Theatre garnered the award for its production of Show Boat.

Lyric Stage racked up several honors, including their premiere production of Speech and Debate which BFA reviewed not just once, but twice, a show that was recognized as the Outstanding Production by a Midsize Company.

Will Lyman grabbed the honors for Outstanding Actor in a Small or Midsized Company for his work in Exits and Entrances at the New Repertory Theatre, and The Oil Thief at the Boston Playwright's Theatre. The stunning Marianna Bassham won the Outstanding Actress in that category, for her  portrayal of Una in Blackbird at the Speakeasy Stage Company. 

Scott Edmiston won Outstanding Director, Midsized Company for his work on The History Boys and The Light in the Piazza at Speakeasy Stage Company as well as for his brilliant Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at Lyric Stage.

Summer L. Williams snatched the award for Outstanding Director, Small/Fringe Company for Voyeurs de Venus at Company One.

Joyce Van Dyke was honored for the Outstanding New Script,  The Oil Thief at the Boston Playwright's Theatre.

The prestigious Elliot Norton Prize for Sustained Excellence went to Rick Lombardo, outgoing artistic director of New Repertory Theatre.

For a complete list of all the awards,  Stage Source, the Greater Boston Theatre Alliance, has posted the complete roster on their website.

With the reality of the new economy has come an increased desire by regional theatres in the Berkshires, Boston and beyond to collaborate, share and present ever higher quality work while keeping budgets in balance. This has been particularly evident in such productions as She Loves Me and The Corn is Green, where Nicholas Martin was able to bring his work from one venue to another. The sharing of Elizabeth Aspenlieder between Merrimack Rep and Shakespeare & Company was a brilliant idea and her award can only encourage more such ventures.

Julianne Boyd at Barrington Stage collaborated on the return of Putnam County Spelling Bee with North Shore Music Theatre, and was recently seen at Brandeis, in part recruiting for the upcoming production of Carousel. Kate Maguire at Berkshire Theatre Festival and Tina Packer at Shakespeare & Company are constantly on the lookout for promising collaborations that benefit all of us. Both Barrington Stage and BTF share their stages with other companies.

Perhaps in time we will see even more of Boston's best in the Berkshires, and vice versa. Now that's something to look forward to.