BREAKING NEWS: Montreal English Critics Announce Finalists

Best actor finalist, Theodore Bikel (r)

(in Lies My Father Told Me, also a finalist for

best costumes, best lighting, best ensemble)

(photo: Andrée Lanthier)

After Dark - December 7, 2010

By Gaëtan L. Charlebois (Editor-in-Chief) I am astounded by the success of The Charlebois Post after a single week online. I am also enormously thankful to be surrounded by collaborators who like theatre and its people so much. The ideas and the writing here have certainly struck a chord with our readers and with me.

Steve Galluccio's piece, for instance, offers an important lesson: to carve out a good career in this business you not only need talent, you have to work your ass off. But Galluccio's piece also reminds that it's also about how you approach the work (a dinner with a producer is not only good business it can also be pleasant) and moreover, you'd better enjoy the work you do. In our business, we can spot lazy, jaded malcontents a mile off: it shows in sloppiness on the stage, it shows in inelegant PR, in aimless texts and it shows in tired (and ultimately tiresome) reporting. As one professor of mine reminded his theatre students over and over again: it's not called "play" for nothing.

CharPo's Picture of the Week; December 3, 2010

The MECCA Party with big winner Andrew Shaver (l) and Holly Gauthier-Frankel (photo: Liesl Barrell)

News: MECCA Winners announced

The Montreal English Critics Circle announced their awards for the 2009 - 2010 season:

(Source: toronto.broadwayworld.com)

2009-10 Winners

Best Production: Haunted Hillbilly (SideMart Theatrical Grocery)

Best Actor: Chip Chuipka for A Line in the Sand

Best Actress: Glenda Braganza for A Line in the Sand

Best Director: Andrew Shaver for Haunted Hillbilly

Best Text (tie): Amy Lee Lavoie for Rabbit, Rabbit; Joanna Nutter for My Pregnant Brother

Best Ensemble: My Christmas in New York (Le Nouveau Théâtre Sainte-Catherine)

Best Visiting Production: Icaro by Daniele Finzi Pasca

Best Set Design: Lara Kaluza for A Line in the Sand

Best Costume Design: Catherine Allan, Holly Gauthier-Frankel, and Paul Van Dyck for Miss Sugarpuss Must Die

Best Lighting: Eric Mongerson for Swan Song of Maria

Best Sound: Benoit Brunet-Poirier for 4.48 Psychosis

Revelation Award: Amy Lee Lavoie

Myron Galloway Award for Distinction: Annabel Soutar & Porte Parole

Congratulations to all the winners!

(Gaëtan L. Charlebois)