Jitney and 4 Guys Named Jose notwithstanding, New York City commercial theatre still isn’t exactly a multi-cultural melting pot. All the more reason to show appreciation for the performers of non-white backgrounds who do break through. Such is the thinking behind the Audelco Awards, which laud excellence in African-American performers and productions.
Vinie Burrows and Adam Wade hosted the 28th annual Vivian Robinson Audelco Black Theatre (or the 'Viv') Awards which were presented Nov. 20 at the Windows Over Harlem Restaurant in Harlem, NY. This year’s theme was “We Are Rebuilding the Dream.”
Here are the 2000 Audelco Winners (*in bold):
DRAMATIC PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR
The Dance on Widow's Row
James Baldwin: A Soul on Fire
*JITNEY
Romeo and Juliet
PLAYWRIGHT
Laurence Holder Monk
Ron Milner Defending the Light
Joyce Sylvester Grace in the Light
Samm-Art Williams The Dance on Widow's Row
*AUGUST WILSON JITNEY SUPPORTING ACTOR
*ARTHUR FRENCH ROMEO AND JULIET
Lex Monson Defending the Light
James Pringle Killing Me Softly
Count Stovall Grace in the Light
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
*PHYLLIS BASH GRACE IN THE LIGHT
Monifa Fola Brown Romeo and Juliet
Melody Cooper As You Like It
Rashmi With Strings
Olivia Williams Benefits
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL/ FEMALE
Cheryl Alexander The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin
*ROZ DAVIS DAMN YANKEES
Camille McKinnon Tragedy in South Central
LeChanze The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL/ MALE
Monte Arnold Tragedy in South Central
Darius de Haas The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin
Robert Jason Jackson The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin
*ROBERT TURNER DAMN YANKEES
OUTSTANDING MUSICAL DIRECTOR
John W. Bowan Damn Yankees
Robbie Brown Tragedy in South Central
*FRED CARL THE BUBBLY BLACK GIRL SHEDS HER CHAMELEON SKIN
OUTSTANDING MUSICAL CREATOR
*KIRSTEN CHILDS THE BUBBLY BLACK GIRL SHEDS HER CHAMELEON SKIN
Lanny Mitchell Tragedy in South Central
OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE
For Colored Girls
James Baldwin: A Soul on Fire
*JITNEY
The Dance on Widow's Row
SOLO PERFORMANCE
Joseph Edward Manchild in the Promised Land
Leighann S. Lord The Full Swanky
*ROME NEAL MONK
MUSICAL PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR
*DAMN YANKEES
The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin
Tragedy in South Central
LEAD ACTOR
Todd Davis Waiting
*ARTHUR FRENCH CEREMONIES IN DARK OLD MEN
Zaria Griffin Fool's Gold
Nashawn Kearse Grace in the Light
Eddie Robinson Defending the Light
LEAD ACTRESS (Tie)
Yaa Asantewa Fool's Gold
*CHRISTINE CAMPBELL INDIGO BLUES
*WENDI JOY FRANKLIN GRACE IN THE LIGHT
Amina Robinson Romeo and Juliet
Charlayne Woodard In the Blood
LIGHTING DESIGN (Tie)
*DONALD HOLDER JITNEY
Michael Lincoln The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin
*SHIRLEY PRANDERGAST THE DANCE ON WIDOW'S ROW
Antoinette Tynes James Baldwin: A Soul on Fire
SET DESIGN
Felix Cochren The Dance on Widow's Row
David Gallo The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin
*DAVID GALLO JITNEY
Christopher Pierre Indigo Blues
COSTUME DESIGN
Anita Ellis Defending the Light
Kimberly Glannon Romeo and Juliet
*SUSAN HILFERTY JITNEY
David C. Woolard The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin
SOUND DESIGN
Albert Eikerson Romeo and Juliet
Derek Galloway Indigo Blues
*ROB MILBURN JITNEY
Sean O'Halloran James Baldwin: A Soul on Fire
DIRECTOR/ DRAMATIC PRODUCTION
George Faison For Colored Girls
*MARION MCCLINTON JITNEY
Chuck Patterson James Baldwin: A Soul on Fire
Alfred Preisser Romeo and Juliet
Samm-Art Williams The Dance on Widow's Row
DIRECTOR/ MUSICAL PRODUCTION
*RAJENDRA RAMOON MAHARAJ DAMN YANKEES
Wilfredo Medina The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin
Lanny Mitchell Tragedy in South Central
CHOREOGRAPHY
A.C. Ciulla The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin
*GEORGE FAISON FOR COLORED GIRLS
Trisha Jeffrey Romeo and Juliet
Rajandra Ramoon Maharaj Damn Yankees
The Rising Star Award went to Ah-Keisha McCants, the 19 year-old playwright of Cafe Millennium. The Board of Director Award went to Fred and Barbara Powell. And, the Outstanding Pioneer Awardees were singer-actress Voza Rivers, A. Peter Bailey, and actress Micki Grant.
Founded in 1973 by the late Vivian Robinson to generate "more recognition, understanding and awareness of the arts in African-American communities...and to build new audiences for non-profit theaters and dance companies," the Audelco’s are administered by the not-for-profit Audience Development Committee, Inc.
The Trial of One Short-Sighted Black Woman vs. Mammy Louise and Safreeta Mae, a satirical comedy by Marcia L. Leslie, won six Audelco Awards last year, including Best Play, Playwright, Ensemble, Director, Set, Costumes and Dramatic Production of the Year. Andre DeShields (Play On! and currently in The Full Monty) hosted last year’s ceremony.
