ShowBizRadio

The Richmond Theatre Critics Circle (RTCC) celebrated last night at the Sixth Annual RTCC “Artsies” awards for the 2012-13 season, recognizing achievement in the local professional theater community and raising money for a local charitable fund.

The ceremony was held at Virginia Repertory Theatre’s Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre and featured musical performances from the productions nominated for Best Musical. This year’s show was the first to have two hosts, local theater favorites Michael Hawke and Melissa Johnston Price, who were recently seen together in Richmond Triangle Players’ Regrets Only.

All proceeds from ticket sales will support the Richmond Theatre Artists Fund, which was established to help those in the Richmond theater community who have fallen on hard times from illness, injury or extenuating circumstances.

In addition to Griset, the members of the RTCC that voted on the nominations include Rich Griset (Style Weekly), Julinda Lewis (Richmond Times-Dispatch), Jen Maciulewicz (GayRVA.com), John Porter (WCVE-FM) and David Timberline (Style Weekly). This year, the Circle welcomes provisional members Tony Farrell (Richmond Times-Dispatch) and Bruce Levy (Show Biz Radio), joining non-voting members Liz Jewett (Richmond.com), Matt Miller (GayRVA.com) and Joan Tupponce (One Woman’s View).

Here are this year’s winners. Photographs and a report on the evening’s festivities will be published later today.

Best Musical

• bare: a pop opera, Richmond Triangle Players

Best Direction (Musical)

• Justin Amellio, La Cage aux Folles, Richmond Triangle Players

Best Actor (Musical)

• Duke Lafoon, Next to Normal, Cadence Theatre Company in partnership with Virginia Repertory Theatre

Best Actress (Musical)

• Andrea Rivette, Next to Normal, Cadence Theatre Company in partnership with Virginia Repertory Theatre

Best Supporting Actor (Musical)

• Jody Ashworth, The Producers, Virginia Repertory Theatre

Best Supporting Actress (Musical)

• Kelsey Cordrey, La Cage aux Folles, Richmond Triangle Players

Best Musical Direction

• Kim Fox, Next to Normal, Cadence Theatre Company in partnership with Virginia Repertory Theatre

Best Choreography

• Patti D’Beck, The Producers, Virginia Repertory Theatre

Best Play

• The Comedy of Errors, Richmond Shakespeare

Best Direction (Play)

• James Ricks, Julius Caesar, Henley Street Theatre

Best Actor (Play)

• Joe Pabst, Faith Healer, Henley Street Theatre

Best Actress

• Maggie Bavalack, Riding the Bull, TheatreLAB

Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Play)

• Nick Aliff, Any Given Monday, Firehouse Theatre Project

Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Play)

• Molly Hood, The Comedy of Errors, Richmond Shakespeare

Best Ensemble Acting (TIE!)

• Gidion’s Knot, Carol Piersol in partnership with HATTheatre
• The Glass Menagerie, Sycamore Rouge

Outstanding Achievement in Lighting Design

• K. Jenna Ferree, Next to Normal, Cadence Theatre Company in partnership with Virginia Repertory Theatre

Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design

• Thomas Hammond, Whoop-Dee-Doo, Richmond Triangle Players

Outstanding Achievement in Set Design

• Mercedes Shaum, Hay Fever, Virginia Repertory Theatre

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design

• Joey Luck, A Bright New Boise, Firehouse Theatre Project

Liz Marks Memorial Award for Ongoing Contribution to Richmond Area Theater

• Tom McGranahan