Lawrenceville’s Aurora Theatre Nominated for 22 Suzi Awards

For the second year in a row, Lawrenceville’s Aurora Theatre is one of the leaders in nominations for the Suzi Bass Awards—recognizing the best in local theater in the Atlanta area.

Aurora received a total of 22 nominations, while Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre earned 25.

Of Aurora’s 22 nominations, 15 of them are for Les Miserables. The local theater is competing against itself in several categories.  Three actors from Les Mis received nominations for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical. Two actors from the show were also nominated for best Lead Actor, Actress and Featured Actress in a Musical for the groundbreaking show. Les Mis ran for 43 shows over seven weeks at the Lawrenceville theater.

“Both Anthony Rodriguez (Aurora Theatre Producing Artistic Director) and I are so honored at the outpouring of love from the Suzis and from the over 10,000 people who shared this moment in time,” said Aurora Theatre Associate Producer Ann-Carol Pence in a release. “Les Misérables was a labor of love because everyone seemed ‘called’ to the project. For the actors, they were in pursuit of their dream role. For the designers, it was epic in scale and budget. And for director Justin Anderson and I, it was a chance to leave our individual creative mark on a brilliant piece of theater.”

Les Mis’s 15 nominations ties the Suzi Award record for the most nominations by a single production. A record set last year by the Aurora’s production of Clyde ‘n Bonnie: A Folktale. That show went on to win six Suzis.

“This is a very exciting time,” said Al Stilo of the Aurora Theatre to Patch. “This production has been an amazing experience for all those involved.”

Here are all the categories in which Aurora received a nomination: 

Outstanding Production – Theatre for Young Audiences
Le Petite Rouge produced by Synchronicity and Aurora Theatre
Unnecessary Monsters produced by Aurora Theatre

Outstanding Musical Production
Les Miserables at Aurora Theatre

Outstanding Director of a Musical
Justin Anderson for Les Miserables at Aurora Theatre
Anne Towns for The Drowsy Chaperone at Aurora Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical
Natasha Drena for Les Miserables at Aurora Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical
Kevin Harry for Les Miserables at Aurora Theatre
Bryant Smith for Les Miserables at Aurora Theatre

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical
Leslie Bellair for Les Miserables at Aurora Theatre
Marcie Millard for Les Miserables at Aurora Theatre

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical
Jimi Kocina for Sweet Charity at Aurora Theatre
Anthony P. Rodriguez for Les Miserables at Aurora Theatre
Michael Stiggers for Les Miserables at Aurora Theatre

Outstanding Music Direction
Ann-Carol Pence for Les Miserables at Aurora Theatre

Outstanding Choreography
Sarah Turner Sechelski for Les Miserables at Aurora Theatre

Outstanding Costume Design of a Musical
Alan Yeong for Les Miserables at Aurora Theatre

Outstanding Lighting Design of a Musical
Mike Post for Les Miserables at Aurora Theatre

Outstanding Scenic Design of a Musical
Phillip Male for Les Miserables at Aurora Theatre

Outstanding Sound Design of a Musical
Daniel Terry for Les Miserables at Aurora Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play
Rob Cleveland for Master Harold…and the boys at Aurora Theatre

Outstanding Ensemble of a Play
Lark Eden at Aurora Theatre (With Rachel Garner, Naima Carter Russell and Minka Wiltz)

Outstanding Scenic Design of a Play
Isabel A. Curley-Clay and Moriah Curley-Clay for Betrayal at Aurora Theatre

Click here for the complete list of Suzi Award nominees.

Have you seen any plays at Aurora this year? What was your favorite and why?