Iris Beaumier in “The Dark Star from Harlem”
The Audience Development Committee have announced the nominees for their 48th Annual Vivian Robinson Audelco Recognition Awards (aka the Viv Awards), celebrating the best of Black nonprofit theatre in New York during the 2019-20 season. Among the 26 eligible productions, The Dark Star from Harlem is this year’s most nominated musical with eight, followed by The Wrong Man with six, the choreopoem for colored girls … revival with five, and Broadbend, Arkansas with four. The winners will be revealed at 7 p.m. ET on November 30 in a digital ceremony.
Among the eight nominations for The Dark Star from Harlem (written by Glynn Borders and Mario E. Sprouse) are best musical, lead actress (Iris Beaumier), featured actor (James A. Pierce III), director (Tai Thompson), music director (Mario E. Sprouse), choreographer (Kim Grier-Martinez), costumes (Raymond Pizarro), and sets (Joshua Warner).
Among the six nominations for The Wrong Man (written by Ross Golan) are best musical, lead actor (Joshua Henry), featured actor (Ryan Vasquez), director (Thomas Kail), music director (Alex Lacamoire), and choreographer (Travis Wall).
Among the five nominations for Ntozake Shange’s for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf are best revival, music director (Deah Love Harriott), composer (Martha Redbone), choreographer (Camille A. Brown), and costumes (Toni-Leslie James).
Among the four nominations for Broadbend, Arkansas (written by Ellen Fitzhugh, Harrison David Rivers and Ted Shen) are best musical, lead actor (Justin Cunningham), lead actress (Danyel Fulton), and director (Jack Cummings III).
The musical Scotland, PA (written by Michael Mitnick and Adam Gwon) received one nomination for its lead actress Taylor Iman Jones. The other nominated choreographers are Leslie Dockery (A Photograph/Lovers in Motion) and Candace Taylor (TJ Loves Sally 4 Ever). The other nominated composer is Justin Ellington (Bars and Measures). There were no nominees for featured actress in a musical.