2020-2030

         31st Annual Artie Awards: 2021-2022

Date: June 6, 2022
Location: Shea’s 710 Theatre
Hosts: Anthony Chase, Charmagne Chi and Amy Jakiel
Music Direction: Philip Farugia

Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, there was no 2020-2021 Theatre Season. So, the 31st Annual Artie Awards are for the the 2021-2022 Theatre Season.

This year, the awards reverted back to 5 nominees per category with the exceptions of the New Play and Supporting Actor in a Musical categories which only had 4 nominees each.

The Blossom Cohan Awards for Outstanding Debuts was also streamlined.

For the first time in 31 years, Anthony Chase was unable to host the event and Doug Weyand assisted the existing co-hosts.

The 2021-2022 Artie Nominees and winners were: (winners denoted in boldface)

Production of a Play:
American Son, Ujima Theatre Company
Constellations, Second Generation Theatre
Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, All For One Productions
Photograph 51, Jewish Repertory Theatre of WNY
Tribes, Road Less Traveled Productions

Production of a Musical:
All is Calm, MusicalFare Theatre
Beauty and the Beast, Theatre of Youth
From Honky Tonk to Protest, D’Youville’s Kavinoky Theatre
The Other Josh Cohen, MusicalFare Theatre
Songs for a New World, Second Generation Theatre

Direction of a Play:
Josephine Hogan, Waiting for Godot
Robyn Horn, Berserker
Katie Mallinson, Photograph 51
David Oliver, Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Michael Wachowiak, Constellations

Direction of a Musical:
Susan Drozd, All is Calm
Lynne Kurdziel-Formato, From Honky Tonk to Protest
Fran Landis, Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Lisa Ludwig, Beauty and the Beast
Neal Radice, Working

Choreography:
Joey Bucheker, Damn Yankees
Bobby Cooke, Beauty and the Beast
Lynne Kurdziel-Formato, From Honky Tonk to Protest
John Fredo, American Rhapsody
Carlos R.A. Jones, Camelot

Ensemble of a Play:
The Children, New Phoenix Theatre and Red Thread
Little Women…Now, Road Less Traveled Productions
Puffs, O’Connell and Company
Speed of Dark, American Repertory Theatre of WNY
Tribes, Road Less Traveled Productions

Ensemble of a Musical:
All is Calm, MusicalFare Theatre
From Honky Tonk to Protest, D’Youville’s Kavinoky Theatre
Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Lancaster Opera House
The Other Josh Cohen, MusicalFare Theatre
Songs for a New World, Second Generation Theatre

Actor in a Play:
James Cichocki, Looped
Samuel Fesmire, Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Christopher Guilmet, American Son
Nicholas Lama, Puffs
Vincenzo L. McNeill, Speed of Dark

Actress in a Play:
Kristin Bentley, Constellations
Eileen Dugan, The Children
Kristen Tripp Kelley, Photograph 51
Julie Kittsley, Looped
Karen Saxon, Stew

Supporting Actor in a Play:
Kevin Craig, Stage Kiss
Elliot Fox, Looped
Nathanial Higgins, Puffs
David Marciniak, Tribes
Ben Michael Moran, Waiting for Godot

Actor in a Musical:
Brian Brown, Songs for a New World
Steve Copps, Beauty and the Beast
Joseph Donohue III, The Other Josh Cohen
Darryl Semira, Camelot
Zak Ward, The Other Josh Cohen

Actress in a Musical:
Genevieve Ellis, Beauty and the Beast
Gabriella McKinley, Camelot
Loraine O’Donnell, From Honky Tonk to Protest
Michele Marie Roberts, Songs for a New World
Aimee Walker, Damn Yankees

Supporting Actor in a Musical:
Michael Galante, Damn Yankees
Robert Insana, The Other Josh Cohen
Jack Kreuzer, Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Josh Wilde, Beauty and the Beast

Supporting Actress in a Musical:
Anna Fernandez, A Chorus Line
Katy Miner, Damn Yankees
Colleen Pine, Damn Yankees
Annette Daniels Taylor, From Honky Tonk to Protest
Davida Evette Tolbert, American Rhapsody

Performance in a Featured Role:
Heather Fangsrud, Anton in Show Business
David Lundy, Woman in Black
Michael Starzynski, Buffalo Quickies
Michael Wachowiak, Golden Girls
Dave Wysocki, Puffs

Set Design:
Paul Bostaph, Waiting for Godot
Dyan Burlingame, All is Calm
Lynne Koscielniak, Tribes
Collin Ranney, Berserker
Chris Wilson, The Children

Technical Achievement:
Christopher Ash, projection design, Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Eric Burlingame, sound design, Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Chris Cavanagh, lighting and sound, Constellations
Brian Milbrand, video design, From Honky Tonk to Protest
Emma Schimminger, Berserker

Costume Design:
Vivian Del Bello, Stage Kiss
Kari Drozd, All is Calm
Dixon Reynolds, Waiting for Godot
Ken Shaw, Beauty and the Beast
Todd Warfield, Golden Girls

Emanuel Fried Award for New Play:
Donna Hoke, Little Women…Now
Mark Humphrey, Speed of Dark
James Marzo, Something Wicked
Loraine O’Donnell, From Honky Tonk to Protest

Career Achievement:
Tom Loughlin

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        32nd Annual Artie Awards: 2022-2023

Date: June 5, 2023
Location: Shea’s 710 Theatre
Hosts: Anthony Chase, Charmagne Chi, Amy Jakiel and Curtis Lovell
Music Direction: Philip Farugia

The 2022-2023 Artie Nominees and Winners were:

Production of a Play:
Burst, Alleyway Theatre
Guards at the Taj, Road Less Traveled Productions
Murder on the Orient Express, All for One Productions
Mysterious Circumstances, Road Less Traveled Productions
People, Place & Things, D’Youville Kavinoky Theatre
Toni Stone, Ujima Theatre Company

Production of a Musical:
Addams Family, O’Connell and Company
A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder, MusicalFare Theatre
Nice Work if You Can Get It, MusicalFare Theatre
Once on This Island, Shea’s
Rock of Ages, D’Youville Kavinoky Theatre
The Secret Garden, Second Generation Theatre

Direction of a Play:
Robyn Lee Horn, The Aleph Complex
John Hurley, Mysterious Circumstances
Philip Knoerzer & Curtis Lovell, Toni Stone
Kyle LoConti, Murder on the Orient Express
Katie Mallinson, Guards at the Taj
Loraine O’Donnell, Network

Direction of a Musical:
Naila Ansari, Once on This Island
Chris J. Handley, Kragtar – The American Monster Musical
Chris Kelly, Nice Work if You Can Get It
Lynne Kurdziel-Formato, Rock of Ages
Michael Oliver-Walline, The Secret Garden
Doug Weyand, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder

Choreography:
Naila Ansari, Once on This Island
Joey Bucheker, The Rink
Kristy E. Cavanagh, Nice Work if You Can Get It
Lynne Kurdziel-Formato, Rock of Ages
Kevin Leary, Kragtar – The American Monster Musical
Michael Oliver-Walline, The Secret Garden

Ensemble of a Play:
Choir Boy, Ujima Theatre Company
The Chosen, Jewish Repertory Theatre
Mediocre Heterosexual Sex, Buffalo United Artists
People, Place & Things, D’Youville Kavinoky Theatre
Sweat, Road Less Traveled Productions
Toni Stone, Ujima Theatre Company

Ensemble of a Musical:
Disaster!, MusicalFare Theatre
A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder, MusicalFare Theatre
Kragtar – The American Monster Musical, Alleyway Theatre
Nice Work if You Can Get It, MusicalFare Theatre
Rock of Ages, D’Youville Kavinoky Theatre
Wicket, O’Connell and Company

Actor in a Play:
Christian Brandjes, Murder on the Orient Express
Brian Brown, Choir Boy
Kevin Craig, Every Brilliant Thing
Jack Hunter, Tuesdays with Morrie
Stan Klimecko, The Onion Game
Matthew Rittler, Gentleman Caller

Actress in a Play:
Tracie Lane, Burst
Aleks Malejs, People, Place & Things
Gabriella Jean McKinley, Toni Stone
Victoria Pérez, Isleña
Stefanie Warnick, Mediocre Heterosexual Sex
Priscilla Young-Anker, Anne

Supporting Actor in a Play:
Anthony Alcocer, Murder on the Orient Express
Brian Brown, Toni Stone
Christopher Guilmet, Network
Tom Loughlin, Midsummer Night’s Dream
David Mitchell, Sweat
Richard Satterwhite, Magnolia Ballet

Supporting Actress in a Play:
Brooke Goergen, Rust and Redemption
Wendy Hall, Mysterious Circumstances
Rachael Jamison, Church and State
Lisa Ludwig, Murder on the Orient Express
Blaise Mercedes, Mediocre Heterosexual Sex
Christine Turturro, Burst

Actor in a Musical:
Louis Colaiacovo, The Secret Garden
John Kaczorowski, They’re Playing Our Song
Ricky Needham, Rock of Ages
Gerald Ramsey, Spunk
Joe Russi, Cabaret
Marc Sacco, Nice Work if You Can Get It

Actress in a Musical:
Leah Berst, Tell Me on a Sunday
Cassie Cameron, Cabaret
Kelly Copps, Disaster!
Sam Crystal, Wicket
Mary Coppola Gjurich, The Rink
Amy Jakiel, Kragtar – The American Monster Musical

Supporting Actor in a Musical:
Anthony Alcocer, Rock of Ages
John Kaczorowski, Nice Work if You Can Get It
Nicholas Lama, The Rink
Jon May, The Sound of Music
Dan Urtz, Rock of Ages
Brandon Williamson, Spunk

Supporting Actress in a Musical:
Marissa Biondolillo, Wicket
Charmagne Chi, Nice Work if You Can Get It
Arin Lee Dandes, Disaster!
Amanda Funiciello, Kragtar – The American Monster Musical
Latosha Jennings, Once on This Island
Madalyn Teal, Addams Family

Performance in a Featured Role:
Jeremy Kreuzer, Kragtar – The American Monster Musical
Gregory Gjurich, Murder on the Orient Express
Renee Landrigan, Alley of the Dolls
Pamela Rose Mangus, The Mai
Philip Wackerfuss, Midsummer Night’s Dream
Emily Yancey, Disaster!

Set Design:
Dyan Burlingame, Mysterious Circumstances
Chris Cavanagh, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder
David King, Misery
Lynne Koscielniak, Murder on the Orient Express
Lynne Koscielniak, The Aleph Complex
Collin Ranney, Burst

Technical Achievement:
Kris Bartolomeo, Makeup Design – The Addams Family
Brian Cavanagh, Lighting Design – Murder on the Orient Express
Chris Cavanagh, Trick Creation – The Play That Goes Wrong
Michele Costa, Puppet Design – Snowy Day
Brian Milbrand, Video Design – Network
John Rickus, Lighting Design – Mysterious Circumstances

Costume Design:
Jenna Damberger, Midsummer Night’s Dream
Phylicia Dove, Once on This Island
Kari Drozd, Disaster!
Timmy Goodman, Clue!
Jimmy Janowski & Bebe Bulgari, Alley of the Dolls
Andrea Letcher, Rock of Ages

Emanuel Fried Award for New Play:
Brace for Impact, Vincent DeStefano
The Birth of Santa, Justin Karcher
Paradigm Bomb, Matthew LaChiusa
Islena, María Pérez-Gómez & Victoria Pérez
Rust and Redemption, j. Snodgrass

Career Achievement:
Loraine O’Donnell
Michele Ragusa

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33rd Annual Artie Awards: 2023-2024

Date: June 10, 2024
Location: Shea’s 710 Theatre
Hosts: Anthony Chase, Charmagne Chi, Amy Jakiel and Curtis Lovell
Music Direction: Philip Farugia

The 2023-2024 Artie Nominees and Winners were:

Production of a Play:
A Great Wilderness, Buffalo United Artists
Kindertransport, Jewish Repertory Theatre of WNY
The Price, Irish Classical Theatre Company
The Sound Inside, D’Youville Kavinoky Theatre
Wedding Band, Ujima Theater Company

Production of a Musical:
The Color Purple, Second Generation/Ujima/Shea’s
Kinky Boots, MusicalFare Theatre
Little Shop of Horrors, Lancaster Opera House
Merrily We Roll Along, Second Generation Theatre
Sondheim on Sondheim, MusicalFare Theatre

Direction of a Play:
Scott Behrend & John Hurley, The Light Fantastic
Catherine Burkhart & Mariangela Mercurio, London Calling
Chris Kelly, Romeo and Juliet
Kyle LoConti, The Sound Inside
Fortunato Pezzimenti, The Price

Direction of a Musical:
Louis Colaiacovo, Tick, Tick, BOOM!
Susan Drozd, Twelfth Night
Michael Gilbert-Wachowiak, Merrily We Roll Along
Sarah Norat-Phillips, The Color Purple
Michael Oliver-Walline, Kinky Boots

Choreography:
Naila Ansari, The Color Purple
Joey Bucheker, Oklahoma!
Carlos R.A. Jones, Twelfth Night
Michael Oliver-Walline, Kinky Boots
Eric Deeb Weaver, Rocky Horror Show

Ensemble of a Play:
Belfast Girls, Irish Classical Theatre Company
The Bowling Play, Second Generation Theatre
The (Curious Case of the) Watson Intelligence, Road Less Traveled Theater
Death of Streetcar Named Virginia Woolf, Alleyway Theatre
The Price, Irish Classical Theatre Company

Ensemble of a Musical:
Crowns, MusicalFare
Go Dog Go!, Theatre of Youth
Murder Ballad, Road Less Traveled Productions
Reefer Madness, O’Connell & Company
Sondheim on Sondheim, MusicalFare

Leading Actor in a Play:
Alejandro Gómez, Bloom
Jack Hunter, The Homecoming 
Ben Michael Moran, The Price
Michael Starzynski, A Great Wilderness
Paul Todaro, Faith Healer

Leading Actress in a Play:
Kate LoConti Alcocer, The Price
Darleen Pickering Hummert, Crossing Delancey 
Tracie Lane, The Homecoming
Shanntina Moore, Cullud Wattah
Emily Yancey, The (Curious Case of the) Watson Intelligence

Supporting Actor in a Play:
Chris Hatch, Romeo and Juliet
Greg Howze, The Light Fantastic
Stan Klimecko, The Homecoming
Tom Loughlin, The Price
Adam Yellen, The Bowling Play

Supporting Actress in a Play:
Marie Costa, The Melville Boys
Diane DiBernardo, The Light Fantastic
Ellen Horst, Kindertransport
Lanie Shannon, Hamlet
Davida Evette Tolbert, The Light Fantastic

Leading Actor in a Musical:
Steve Copps, Kinky Boots
Kevin Deese, Reefer Madness
Jordan Levin, Merrily We Roll Along
Sean Ryan, Tick, Tick, BOOM!
Josh Wilde, Merrily We Roll Along

Leading Actress in a Musical:
Nicole Cimato, Chicago
Jetaun Louie, The Color Purple
Gabriella Jean McKinley, The Color Purple
Mary Kate O’Connell, Sunset Boulevard
Maria Pedro, Beautiful

Supporting Actor in a Musical:
Louis Colaiacovo, Merrily We Roll Along
Michael J. Galante, Sunset Boulevard
Austin Marshall, Showtune
Dave Spychalski, Kinky Boots
Dan Urtz, Rocky Horror Show

Supporting Actress in a Musical:
Leah Berst, Tick, Tick, BOOM!
Bethany Burrows, Kinky Boots 
Heather Casseri, Sunset Boulevard 
Kelly Copps, Merrily We Roll Along 
Curtis Lovell, The Color Purple

Featured Performance:
Gretchen Didio, Beautiful
Philip Farugia, The Natural Horse
Peter Horn, Death of a Streetcar Named Virginia Woolf
Lindsay Brandon Hunter, Death of a Streetcar Named Virginia Woolf
Stevie Kemp, Twelfth Night

Set Design:
David Butler, Grumpy Old Men
David Dwyer, The Price
Collin Ranney, Death of a Streetcar Named Virginia Woolf
Kristina Siegel, The Homecoming
Sarah Waechter, The AI At Delphi

Technical Element:
Ed Hallborg, Romeo and Juliet, MUSIC AND SOUND
Tom Makar, Betrayal, SOUND
Katie Menke & John Rickus, The Light Fantastic, SPECIAL EFFECTS
Emma Schimminger, Death of a Streetcar Named Virginia Woolf, SOUND
Hannah Wolland, Fauci and Kramer, VIDEOGRAPHY

Costume Design:
Jenna Damberger, The Color Purple
Vivian Del Bello, The Importance of Being Earnest
Vanna Deux, Kinky Boots (the Angels)
Kari Drozd, Guys and Dolls
Lise Harty, The Price

Emanuel Fried Award for New Play:
The AI at Delphi by Bella Poynton
Blue Xmas by Charmagne Chi
The Bowling Play by Kelly Copps
Fauci and Kramer by Drew Fornarola
The White Devil (adaptation of John Webster) by Charles McGregor and Arianna Lasting

Career Achievement:
Doug Weyand

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34th Annual Artie Awards: 2024-20245

Date: June 19, 2025
Location: Babeville
Hosts: Anthony Chase, Amy Jakiel and Curtis Lovell
Music Direction: Philip Farugia

This is the inaugural year of the award for Music Direction.

The 2024-2025 Artie Nominees and Winners are:

Production of a Play:
The African Company Presents Richard III, Ujima Theatre Company
Dorian, Irish Classical Theatre Company
The Hobbit, Theatre of Youth
Our Lady of 121st Street, Road Less Traveled Productions
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, Alleyway Theatre
The Wanderers, Jewish Repertory Theatre of WNY

Production of a Musical:
25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, 2nd Generation Theatre
Hedwig and the Angry Inch, 2nd Generation Theatre
Newsies, D’Youville Kavinoky Theatre
The Producers, Lancaster Opera House
The Prom, MusicalFare Theatre
Waitress, MusicalFare Theatre

Direction of a Play:
Mason Beggs, Dorian
Chris J Handley, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
John Hurley, Burn This
Kyle LoConti, The Loved Ones
Gabriella McKinley, The Niceties
Steve Vaughan, The Wanderers

Direction of a Musical:
Susan Drozd, Waitress
Terri Filips Vaughan, Into the Woods
Michael Gilbert-Wachowiak, Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Robyn Lee, Sweet Charity
Eric Deeb Weaver, Newsies
Doug Weyand, The Prom

Choreography:
Joey Bucheker, Pippin
Kristy E. Cavanagh, Something Rotten
Bobby Cooke, Comedy of Errors
Eric Deeb Weaver, Newsies
Michael Deeb Weaver, Sweet Charity
Tara Kaczorowski, The Wizard of Oz

Music Direction:
Rebecca Kroetsch, Into the Woods
Bridget Moriarty, The Fitzgeralds of Saint Paul
Allan Paglia, Newsies
Theresa Quinn, The Prom
Dominic Vesely, Bonnie and Clyde

Ensemble of a Play:
The Early Girl, Brazen-Faced Varlets
Everybody, Ujima Theatre Company
The Hobbit, Theatre of Youth
The Hung Man, Buffalo United Artists
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, Alleyway Theatre
Our Lady of 121st Street, Road Less Traveled Productions

Ensemble of a Musical:
25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, 2nd Generation Theatre
Into the Woods, O’Connell & Company
Khan!!!, O’Connell & Company
Newsies, D’Youville Kavinoky Theatre
The Prom, MusicalFare Theatre
Sweet Charity, D’Youville Kavinoky Theatre

Leading Actor in a Play:
Kristopher Bartolomeo, Dorian
Brendan Didio, Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors
Trevor Dugan, The Informer
Peter Johnson, Our Lady of 121st Street
David Lundy, Remember This 
Brian Tabak, Shawshank Redemption

Leading Actress in a Play:
Leah Berst, Burn This
Kai Crumley, Early Girl
Eileen Dugan, The Loved Ones
Tracie Lane, Scenes from A Marriage
Anika Pace, The Niceties
Alexandria Watts, The Wanderers 

Supporting Actor in a Play:
Todd Benzin, The Winter’s Tale
Thomas Evans, The Hobbit
Jorge Luna, Dracula: Comedy of Terrors
David Marciniak, Witch
Gerald Ramsey, The African Company Presents Richard III
Adam Yellen, The Wanderers

Supporting Actress in a Play:
Arin Lee Dandes, The Wanderers
Rebecca Elkin, The Loved Ones
Anna Fernandez, Private Lives
Anna Krempholtz, The Hobbit
Sheila McCarthy, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
Ember Tate, The Loved Ones

Leading Actor in a Musical:
Merrick Allen, Chess
Vanna Deux, Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Connor Hesch, Pippin
Quinn Christopher McGillion, Bonnie and Clyde
Ben Michael Moran, Sweet Charity
Ricky Needham, Something Rotten

Leading Actress in a Musical:
Heather Casseri, Into the Woods
Jetaun Louie, Pippin
Maria Pedro, Waitress
Jenn Stafford, The Prom
Aimee Walker, Sweet Charity
Emily Yancey, Chess 

Supporting Actor in a Musical:
Kristopher Bartolomeo, Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Steve Copps, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Joe Greenan, Into the Woods
John Kaczorowski, Waitress
Matt Rittler, Newsies
Aaron Gabriel Saldana, Bonnie and Clyde

Supporting Actress in a Musical:
Brittany Bassett-Baran, Something Rotten
Kelly Copps, The Producers
Sam Crystal, Into the Woods
Amy Jakiel, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Lily Jones, Waitress
Ashleigh Chrisena Ricci, Pippin

Featured Performance:
Caitlin Coleman, The Hung Man
Jeffrey Coyle, Arsenic & Old Lace
Ann DeFazio, The Day I Learned to Fly
Daniel Lendzian, Dracula: Comedy of Terrors
Lisa Ludwig, Pippin
Jeremy Ephraim Meyers, Waitress

Set Design:
Dyan Burlingame, Shipwrecked!
Chris Cavanagh, Waitress
David Dwyer, Arsenic and Old Lace
Steve Harter, Monsters of the American Cinema
Andrew Machovec, The Hobbit
Collin Ranney, Our Lady of 121st Street

Technical Element:
Brian Cavanagh, Lighting, The Wanderers
Chris Cavanagh, Lighting, The Hobbit
Lowden Flower, Lighting, Dorian
Tom Makar, Sound, Remember This
Danielle Rosvally, Fight Direction, Dorian
Emma Schimminger, Lighting, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

Costume Design:
Cassie Cameron, Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors
Kari Drozd, Something Rotten
Ann R. Emo, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
Timmy Goodman, Into the Woods
Devin Prokop, Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Collin Ranney, Dorian

Emanuel Fried Award for New Play:
Lara Haberberger, Shylock
Donna Hoke, Brilliant Works of Art
Mark Humphrey, The Break Song
Matthew LaChiusa, The Informer
Bella Poynton, The Mighty Maisie

Career Achievement:
Eileen Dugan