BET and Congo Square Dominate Black Theatre Alliance Awards

BY Carrie L. Kaufman

Comprehensive is the byword for the Black Theatre Alliance Awards, which recognizes a sweeping array of African-American talent in music, dance and performance all over the city. This year, there are 147 nominations in 31 categories, representing 35 different theatre and dance companies.

The BTAA nominations are dominated by Chicago’s four main African-American theatres: Black Ensemble, Congo Square, MPAACT and eta Creative Arts Foundation. Those four theatres garnered 59 of the 137 theatre nominations. (10 of the nominations are for emerging actors, and aren’t affiliated with any show or theatre.) If you add the 10 nominations from the Goodman—yes, the Goodman—five theatres have 50 percent of the total nominations.

For individual shows, Black Ensemble Theater’s I Am Who I Am-The Story of Teddy Pendergrass leads all comers with 11 nods. That’s followed closely by BET’s production of Sounds So Good Makes You Wanna Holler, which got 10 nominations (giving BET a total of 21). Congo Square’s The Talented Tenth also got 10 nominations, which constituted most of the theatre’s 17 nods. Congo Square’s other nominated shows are Black Nativity (4 noms) and Elima’s Kitchen (3).

Eta Creative Arts had four shows that garnered nominations: Checkmates (3), Get Ready (2), Good Black (6) and This Far By Faith (1). MPAACT had three shows with nominations: She Calls Up the Sun (4, including best play), Milk (3) and Beneath a Dark Sky (2). Goodman also had three shows with nominations: Ain’t Misbehavin’ (6), The Ballad of Emmett Till (3) and The Cook (1).

The awards will be Monday, Sept. 29 at the Fairmont Chicago, 200 N. Columbus Dr. Tickets for dinner and the awards are $75, $65 for groups of five or more. Call Vincent Williams at 773/624-5729 to make reservations.

The nominations are below:

The Negro Ensemble Company Award
Best Play (Drama or Comedy)

Checkmates- eta Creative Arts Foundation
She Calls Up The Sun- MPAACT
The Talented Tenth – Congo Square Theatre Company

Best Play (Musical or Revue)

I Am Who I Am - The Story of Teddy Pendergrass – Black Ensemble Theater
Nefertiti – A Concert of Music and Dance – Deeply Rooted Productions
Sounds So Good Makes You Wanna Holler – Old School vs. Nu Skool – Black Ensemble Theater

Best Revival of a Play

Get Ready – eta Creative Arts Foundation
Good Black – eta Creative Arts Foundation
MiLK - MPAACT

The Lorraine Hansberry Award
Best Writing of a Play

Ifa Bayeza – The Ballad of Emmett Till – Goodman Theatre
Dawn Bless & Rueben Echoles – Sounds So Good Makes You Wanna Holler…- Black Ensemble
Addae Moon – She Calls Up The Sun - MPAACT
Nilaja Sun – No Child…- Lookingglass
Jackie Taylor – I Am Who I Am – The Story of Teddy Pendergrass – Black Ensemble Theater

Best Ensemble

Gee’s Bend – Northlight Theatre
Get Ready – eta Creative Arts Foundation
Jitney – Pegasus Players
Sounds So Good Makes You Wanna Holler – Old School vs. Nu Skool – Black Ensemble Theater
The Talented Tenth – Congo Square Theatre Company

The Lloyd Richards Award
Best Direction of a Play (Drama or Comedy)

Aaron Todd Douglas – The Talented Tenth – Congo Square Theatre Company
Ron OJ Parson – Bourbon At The Border – eclipse theatre company
Edward D. Richardson – Good Black – eta Creative Arts Foundation
Chuck Smith – Gee’s Bend – Northlight Theatre
Jonathan Wilson – Jitney – Pegasus Players

Best Direction of a Play (Musical or Revue)

Rueben Echoles – Sounds So Good Makes You Wanna Holler… - Black Ensemble Theater
Kevin Iega Jeff – Nefertiti – A Concert of Music and Dance – Deeply Rooted Productions
Jackie Taylor – I Am Who I Am – The Story of Teddy Pendergrass – Black Ensemble Theater

The Duke Ellington Award
Best Musical Direction

Paul Cotton – Creole – Infusion Theater Company
Tory O. Davis – Black Nativity – Congo Square Theatre Company
Jimmy Tillman – I Am Who I Am – The Story of Teddy Pendergrass – Black Ensemble Theater
Jimmy Tillman – Sounds So Good Makes You Wanna Holler – Old School vs. Nu Skool - BET

Most Promising Actor

Phillip James Brannon
Brandon Jackson
Kelvin Rolston, Jr.
Demond Stylz
Austin Talley

Most Promising Actress

Cynthia Chambers
Kristy Johnson
Dawn Pryor
Symphony Sanders
Ebony Wimbs

The Harry Belafonte Award
Best Performance In An Ensemble (Actor)

Ray Baker - Jitney – Pegasus Players
Joseph Anthony Byrd – The Ballad of Emmett Till – Pegasus Players
Ron Conner – The Talented Tenth – Congo Square Theatre Company
John Steven Crowley – Gee’s Bend – Northlight
John Wesley – The Ballad of Emmett Till – Pegasus Players
Alfred H. Wilson- Jitney – Pegasus Players

The Ethel Waters Award
Best Performance In An Ensemble (Actress)

Caren Blackmore – MiLK - MPAACT
Tracey Bonner – The Talented Tenth – Congo Square Theatre Company
Bakesta King – The Talented Tenth – Congo Square Theatre Company
Ericka Ratcliff – The Talented Tenth – Congo Square Theatre Company
Charlette Speigner – Gee’s Bend - Northlight
Jacqueline Williams – Gee’s Bend- Northlight

Best Lighting Design

Shepsu Aakhu – Beneath A Dark Sky- MPAACT
Joseph Giovanetti- She Calls Up The Sun - MPAACT
Benny Gomes – The Talented Tenth – Congo Square Theatre Company
Denise Karczewski – I Am Who I Am – The Story of Teddy Pendergrass – Black Ensemble
Arthur Reese – Good Black – eta Creative Arts Foundation

Best Sound Design

Ray Nardelli – Elmina’s Kitchen – Congo Square Theatre Company
Soul of Black Folk – Beneath a Dark Sky- MPAACT
Rick Sims – The Talented Tenth – Congo Square Theatre Company
Ron White – Sounds So Good Makes You Wanna Holler – Old School vs. Nu Skool - BET

Best Set Design

Shepsu Aakhu – MiLK – MPAACT
Timothy Mann- Black Nativity – Congo Square Theatre Company
Robert Martin – Porgy and Bess: The Opera – Fleetwood Jourdain Theatre
Nick Mozak – Elmina’s Kitchen – Congo Square Theatre Company
Erica Lee Vaughn – Checkmates – eta Creative Arts Foundation

Best Costume Design

Barbara Abernathy & Glendar Howard – I Am Who I Am – The Story of Teddy Pendergrass – BET
Najwa Dance Corps – Rhythm & Passion – Najwa Dance Corps
Christine Pascual – The Talented Tenth- Congo Square Theatre Company
Michael Alan Stein – Nefertiti – A Concert of Music and Dance – Deeply Rooted Productions
Sharlet Webb – Good Black- eta Creative Arts Foundation

Best Solo Performance in a Play

Inda Craig Galvan – Neat– Illinois Theatre Center
Capathia Jenkins – (mis)Understanding Mammy: The Hattie McDaniel Story – Chicago Humanities Festival
Nilaja Sun – No Child… - Lookingglass
Reggie Watts – Disinformation – Museum of Contemporary Art

The Sammy Davis. Jr. Award
Best Leading Actor In a Play (Musical or Revue)

Donald Barnes – This Far By Faith – eta Creative Arts Foundation
Parrish Collier- Ain’t Misbehavin – Goodman Theatre
John Steven Crowley – Ain’t Misbehavin – Goodman Theatre
Kalind Haynes – Black Nativity – Congo Square Theatre Company
Kevin McILvaine- I Am Who I Am – The Story of Teddy Pendergrass – Black Ensemble Theater

The Lena Horne Award
Best Leading Actress In a Play (Musical or Revue)

E. Faye Butler – Ain’t Misbehavin – Goodman Theatre
E. Faye Butler – Ella - Northlight
Lina Kernan – Ain’t Misbehavin - Goodman Theatre
Rhonda Preston – I Am Who I Am – The Story of Teddy Pendergrass – Black Ensemble Theater
Alexis Rogers – Ain’t Misbehavin – Goodman Theatre

The Bill Bojangles Robinson Award
Best Featured Actor in a Play (Musical or Revue)

Michael Jones- The Wiz – Jedlicka Performing Arts Center
David Simmons – Sounds So Good Makes You Wanna Holler – Old School vs. Nu Skool- BET
Rashawn Thompson- I Am Who I Am – The Story of Teddy Pendergrass – Black Ensemble
Erick Michael Townsend – The Wiz – Jedlicka Performing Arts Center
Magellan Watts – Sounds So Good Makes You Wanna Holler – Old School vs. Nu Skool - BET

The Eartha Kitt Award
Best Featured Actress in a Play (Musical or Revue)

Rashada Dawan – Sounds So Good Makes You Wanna Holler – Old School vs. Nu Skool - BET
Monique Desiree – The Wiz – Jedlicka Performing Arts Center
Kristy Johnson – I Am Who I Am – The Story of Teddy Pendergrass – Black Ensemble Theater
Dawn Mitchell – I Am Who I Am – The Story of Teddy Pendergrass – Black Ensemble Theater
Malkia Stampley – Black Nativity – Congo Square Theatre Company

The Sidney Poitier Award
Best Leading Actor In a Play (Drama or Comedy)

Anthony Fleming lll – A Big Blue Nail - Victory Gardens Theater
Anthony Irons – Elmina’s Kitchen – Congo Square Theatre Company
Osiris Khepera – Defiance - Next Theatre Company
James Vincent Meredith – The Crucible - Steppenwolf
Sean Nix – This Is How It Goes – Profiles Theatre
Keir Thirus – Checkmates – eta Creative Arts Foundation

The Ruby Dee Award
Best Leading Actress In A Play (Drama or Comedy)

Karen Aldridge – The Cook– Goodman Theatre
Pat Bowie – The First Breeze of Summer – Court Theatre
Lynette Mance – Bourbon At The Border – eclipse theatre company
Shadana Patterson – Creole – Infusion Theatre Company
Tamberla Perry – She Calls Up The Sun - MPAACT
Regina Whitehead-Mays – Good Black- eta Creative Arts Foundation

The Ossie Davis Award
Best Featured Actor In A Play (Drama or Comedy)

Abu Ansari – Creole – Infusion Theatre Company
K. Todd Freeman – Carter’s Way - Steppenwolf
Jon Michael Hill- Superior Donuts - Steppenwolf
Kenneth Johnson- Good Black – eta Creative Arts Foundation
Taj McCord – The First Breeze of Summer – Court Theatre
J.J. McCormick – Bourbon At The Border – eclipse theatre company

The Hattie McDaniel Award
Best Featured Actress In A Play (Drama or Comedy)

Alana Arenas – The Crucible - Steppenwolf
Joslyn Jones – Bourbon At The Border – eclipse theatre company
Ora Jones – Carter’s Way - Steppenwolf
Cynthia Kaye McWilliams – The First Breeze of Summer – Court Theatre
Samara Smith – A Devil In God’s House – Tiny Production
Frances Wilkerson – Creole – Infusion Theatre Company

Best Performance In A Music/Dance Program (Resident)

Gesel Mason – No Less Black – Link’s Hall and Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago
Poet Ugochi Nwaogwugwu – Death Toll & Scattered Seeds – Najwa Dance Corps
Eugene Peabody – brinkofnada – Dance Chicago 2007
Yhadna – Remote Control – Najwa Dance Corps

Best Performance In A Music/Dance Program (Non-Resident)

Clifton Brown – Firebird- Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Amos J. Machanic, Jr. – Reflections In D – Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Desmond Richardson – Solo – Complexions Contemporary Ballet
Matthew Rushing – I Wanna Be Ready – Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Glenn Allen Sims – Love Stories – Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

Best Performance In A Play (Non-Resident)

Corey Glover – Jesus Christ Superstar – Nicholas Howey for Troikastar, LLC.
Kristen Alexander Griffith – Rent – On Tour, LLC.
Anwar F. Robinson – Rent – On Tour, LLC.
Jennifer Colby Talton – Rent – On Tour, LLC.

Best Choreography In A Play

Gary Abbott & Kevin Iega Jeff – Nefertiti – A Concert of Music and Dance – Deeply Rooted Prod.
Rueben Echoles – Sounds So Good Makes You Wanna Holler – Old School vs. Nu Skool - BET
Kimosa Murphy – Creole – Infusion Theatre Company
Lisa Johnson-Willingham – Ain’t Misbehavin – Goodman Theatre

The Katherine Dunham Award
Best Choreography In A Music/Dance Program (Resident)

Diedre Dawkins & Kwame Opare – Suite Nina – Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago
Tre Dumas – What Time Is It? – Dance Chicago 2007
Christopher McCray – b-sides Act1 – Corpo Dance Company
HHC, Suave, & Karlo Familara – Multiple Dimensions – Dance Chicago 2007
Kyle Vincent Terry – Destructible Daytrip – Chicago Dance Crash

The Alvin Ailey Award
Best Choreography In A Music/Dance Program (Non-Resident)

Camille A. Brown – The Groove To Nobody’s Business – Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Garth Fagan – Prelude – Garth Fagan Dance
Christopher Huggins – Pyrokenesis – Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago
Bill T. Jones & Janet Wong – Chapel/Chapter – Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company
Dwight Rhoden – Pretty Gritty Suite – Complexions Contemporary Ballet