According to Stats Canada, roughly only one per cent of Vancouverites speak French as their native tongue, so it was a bit of a coup that Théâtre la Seiziéme pulled off at last night’s Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards ceremony held at the Commodore Ballroom. The city’s sole French theatre troupe took home a total of eight awards at Vancouver’s answer to the Tony Awards, including six for À toi, pour toujours, ta Marie-Lou, in the large theatre category. The production of Michel Tremblay’s 1971 tragedy was named outstanding production and won for direction (Craig Holzschuh), lead actor (Joey Lespérance), actress (Julie Trépanier), supporting actress (France Perras) and set design (Drew Facey).
"I'm just a lucky guy in a lucky job,” said Holzschuh in his acceptance speech. “That's all I can say."
This was only the second year Théâtre la Seiziéme was considered in a category historically dominated by the Arts Club Theatre Company and Bard on the Beach after the Jessies revamped their three categories – Large Theatre, Small Theatre and Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) – based on annual operating budgets that also moved up Pacific Theatre, Touchstone, and the Firehall Arts Centre.
Théâtre la Seizième also picked up hardware for outstanding artistic creation (director Rachel Peake) and outstanding performances (Julie Trépanier, Siona Gareau-Brennan and Vincent Leblanc-Beaudoin) in the TYA category for its production of Selfie.
The Arts Club’s production of George Bernard Shaw’s Saint Joan also did well in the large theatre category, with Dean Paul Gibson winning for best supporting actor and Alessandro Juliani for sound design. The Gateway Theatre’s goofy musical Crazy for You won for both costume design (Carmen Alatorre) and significant artistic achievement for Julie Tomaino’s choreography.
In the small theatre category, Ruby Slippers Theatre’s After Me (Après Moi) won both lead acting awards (Scott Bellis and Jennifer Lines), while Pi Theatre’s artistic director Richard Wolfe won best direction for Sarah Kane’s gruesome play Blasted.
Hiro Kanagawa won the Jessie for outstanding original script for Rumble Theatre’s Indian Arm, while the Critics’ Choice Innovation Award went to Theatre Conspiracy’s Foreign Radical.
The complete list of winners is below:
Large Theatre
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Lead Role
Joey Lespérance, À toi, pour toujours, ta Marie-Lou, Théâtre la Seiziéme
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role
France Perras, À toi, pour toujours, ta Marie-Lou, Théâtre la Seiziéme
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Dean Paul Gibson, Saint Joan, Arts Club Theatre Company
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Julie Trépanier, À toi, pour toujours, ta Marie-Lou, Théâtre la Seiziéme
Outstanding Lighting Design
Lauchlin Johnston, The Whipping Man, Pacific Theatre
Outstanding Set Design
Drew Facey, À toi, pour toujours, ta Marie-Lou, Théâtre la Seiziéme
Outstanding Costume Design
Carmen Alatorre, Crazy for You, Gateway Theatre
Outstanding Sound Design or Original Composition
Alessandro Juliani, Saint Joan, Arts Club Theatre Company
Outstanding Direction
Craig Holzschuh, À toi, pour toujours, ta Marie-Lou, Théâtre la Seiziéme
Outstanding Production Play
À toi, pour toujours, ta Marie-Lou, Théâtre la Seiziéme
Significant Artistic Achievement
Julie Tomaino, Crazy for You, Gateway Theatre, Outstanding Choreography
Small Theatre
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Lead Role
Scott Bellis, After Me (Après Moi), Ruby Slippers Theatre
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role
Jennifer Lines , After Me (Après Moi), Ruby Slippers Theatre
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Peter Carlone, Hunter Gatherers, Staircase Theatre
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Lindsey Angell, Iceland, Dirt Road Productions
Outstanding Lighting Design
Jeff Harrison, Blasted, Pi Theatre
Outstanding Set Design
Drew Facey, Blasted, Pi Theatre
Outstanding Costume Design
Mara Gottler, The Duchess a.k.a. Wallis Simpson, Ruby Slippers Theatre
Outstanding Sound Design or Original Composition
Mishelle Cuttler, STATIONARY, Delinquent Theatre
Outstanding Direction
Richard Wolfe, Blasted, Pi Theatre
Outstanding Production Musical
STATIONARY: a recession-era musical, Delinquent Theatre
Outstanding Production
Our Town, Osimous Theatre
Significant Artistic Achievement
Bob Frazer, Craig Erickson, Quelemia Stacey Sparrow, Jessica Ross-Howkins, John Shaw, Dawn Petten, Lauren Jackson Chris Cope, Varya Rubin, Our Town, Osimous Theatre, Outstanding Ensemble Performance
Theatre for Young Audiences
Outstanding Performance: Julie Trépanier, Siona Gareau-Brennan, Vincent Leblanc-Beaudoin, Selfie Théâtre la Seiziéme.
Outstanding Design: Dusty Hagerud and Tara Travis, The Little Prince, Monster Theatre.
Outstanding Artistic Creation: Rachel Peake, Selfie, Théâtre la Seiziéme.
Outstanding Production: Celestial Being, Green Thumb Theatre.
Significant Artistic Achievement: Drew Facey, Outstanding Body of Work.
Special awards
Outstanding Original Script: Hiro Kanagawa, Indian Arm, Rumble Theatre.
Georgia Straight Critics’ Choice Innovation Award: Foreign Radical Theatre Conspiracy
Ray Michal Prize for Most Promising New Director: Cameron Mackenzie
Patron of the Arts Award: Stan Hamilton
Mary Phillips Prize for Behind-the-Scenes Achievement: Scott Ashton Swan
Sam Payne Award for the Most Promising Newcomer: Sarah Mobberly
John Moffat and Larry Lillo Prize: Jill Daum
Career Achievement Award: Jerry Wasserman
Sydney Risk Prize: Christine Quintana
Colin Campbell Award for Excellence in Technical Theatre: Lorraine West
