The Boston Theater Critics Association celebrated excellence in theater at the 31st Annual Elliot Norton Awards Monday night at the Paramount Theater. Named for eminent theater critic Elliot Norton, the “Norties” honor actors, directors, producers and designers for outstanding work throughout the 2012-13 season.
There were no runaway winners this year as the American Repertory Theater, SpeakEasy Stage Company and Company One each took home four awards. Top honors for productions went to A.R.T.’s “Pippin,” SpeakEasy’s “Motherf**ker with the Hat,” Company One’s “The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity,” and the Huntington Theatre Company’s “Our Town.”
Among the acting awards, Broadway veteran Andrea Martin took home the prize for her high-flying turn in “Pippin.” Fellow actresses Evelyn Howe (“Motherf**ker”), Bianca Amato (“Private Lives”) Georgia Lyman (“Chesapeake”) and Kiki Samko (“Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead”) also garnered top honors in their respective categories.
Not leaving it all to the ladies, the leading actors who went home with awards include LeRoy McClain for his powerful turn in “A Raisin in the Sun,” Ricardo Engermann (“Chad Deity”), Will Lyman (“Long Days Journey Into Night” and “Operation Epsilon”) and Sahr Ngaujah (“Fela!”).
Boston Mayor Thomas Menino received a special Champion of the Performing Arts Award for his continued support of the arts and his vital role in the restoration of the downtown theater district. Accepting via videotape, the mayor humbly thanked the arts community “for all (they) do to continue Boston’s legacy as a cultural hub.”
Broadway legend Chita Rivera was also on hand to accept special honors for her long and distinguished career. Local actor Will Lyman received this year’s Elliot Norton Prize for Sustained Excellence.
For a complete list of the evening’s winners, please visit metro-us.go-vip.net/Boston/Entertaiment.
