freeFall, Stageworks big winners in 2015 Theatre Tampa Bay awards

"This is a play people told me I was crazy to do because it had ‘motherfucker’ in the title," said Karla Hartley, accepting Theatre Tampa Bay's Best Director award Monday night for The Motherfucker with the Hat.

"So," she added as she left the stage at St. Pete's Palladium Theatre, “fuck you.”

A little while later, when Motherfucker picked up the award for Outstanding Production, Play, Tier 2 (more on that distinction later), she said, a bit sheepishly, "I probably shouldn't have said what I said before.”

But no matter. Whoever objected to Hartley choosing Stephen Adly Guirgis's raw, funny 2011 Broadway hit for Stageworks' 2014-15 season will have to eat their motherfuckin' hat now, because the production's eight awards made the company one of the winningest theaters of the night. Their total of nine awards (the ninth was for Ain't Misbehavin') was topped only by freeFall's 13, which included Outstanding Production, Musical, for Eric Davis's reinvention of Into the Woods, and Outstanding Production, Play, Tier 1, for his reinvention of The Tempest.

About those pesky Tiers: They were established this year to even the playing field a bit in the judging for Theatre Tampa Bay's professional theater awards. Companies  with operating budgets over $500,000 compete in Tier 1, and those with budgets under five hundred grand are grouped in Tier 2. Volunteer judges apply for three-year terms and are approved by artistic directors of Theater Tampa Bay member companies. To be eligible for judging, shows must meet agreed-upon standards for actor pay, audience size and length of run. Judges agree to see every show in the season, and fill out secret ballots which are tallied at the end of the year. [Full disclosure: I was a judge from 2012-14 and took this year off; I'm back to being a judge for the 2015-16 season.]

Other companies who brought home awards were American Stage (four), St. Petersburg Opera, (two), Tampa Rep (two) and one each for Ghostlight Theatre and Silver Meteor Gallery. 

With 32 categories to announce, plus musical numbers and a few special awards, TTB President Scott Swenson warned the nominees in advance that short acceptance speeches would be appreciated. He didn't have to bother; only 12 of the winners were present to accept their awards, with rehearsals and other conflicts offered as excuses for the absentees.

Monday used to be an off night for theater folks — wha’ happened? The sparse attendance for the awards show, the lowest in three years, was disappointing, but the spirits of those that did attend was high — particularly if they were from freeFall or Stageworks.

Here's the full list of nominees; asterisks indicate winners.

THEATRE TAMPA BAY AWARDS 2015

Outstanding Featured Actor, Play <$500K
* Cornelio Aguliera, The MF with the Hat, Stageworks Theatre
Richard Coppinger, Superior Donuts, Stageworks Theatre
Giles Davis, Hamlet, New Stage Theatre & Conservatory
Johnny Garde, Birds of a Feather, Stageworks Theatre
Nathan Juliano, Bones, Silver Meteor Gallery

Outstanding Featured Actor, Play >$500K
Anthony Chisholm, Radio Golf, American Stage Theatre Company
Richard Coppinger, Harvey, freeFall Theatre
* ranney, Radio Golf, American Stage Theatre Company
Joseph Parra, The Chosen, American Stage Theatre Company
Kim Sullivan, Radio Golf, American Stage Theatre Company

Outstanding Featured Actor, Musical
* Nick Lerew, Into the Woods, freeFall Theatre
Nick Lerew, Bright Lights, Big City, freeFall Theatre
Nick Lerew, Mame, freeFall Theatre
Anthony Murphy, In the Heights, American Stage Theatre Company
Taylor Simmons, Into the Woods, freeFall Theatre

Outstanding Featured Actress, Play <$500K
* Emily Belvo, A Haunting at the Meteor, Ghostlight Theatre
Molly Leigh Healy, Birds of a Feather, Stageworks Theatre
Dana Kovar, The MF with the Hat, Stageworks Theatre
Dawn Truax, Superior Donuts, Stageworks Theatre

Outstanding Featured Actress, Play >$500K
Crystal Bates, Radio Golf, American Stage Theatre Company
Cassandra Bissell, Harvey, freeFall Theatre
* Donna Donnelly, Harvey, freeFall Theatre
Kelly Pekar, Harvey, freeFall Theatre

Outstanding Featured Actress, Musical
Kaitlyn Costello, Putting It Together, St. Petersburg Opera
Ann Morrison, Into the Woods, freeFall Theatre
Heather Kruger, Bright Lights, Big City, freeFall Theatre
Sarita Amani Nash, Bright Lights, Big City, freeFall Theatre
* Lulu Picart, Mame, freeFall Theatre

Outstanding Sound Design <$500K
Karla Hartley, Birds of a Feather, Stageworks Theatre
Karla Hartley, Handle with Care, Stageworks Theatre
Karla Hartley, The MF with the Hat, Stageworks Theatre
* Lynne Locher, Imagining Madoff, Tampa Repertory Theatre

Outstanding Sound Design >$500K
Eric Davis, The Buffalo Kings, freeFall Theatre
Eric Davis, Harvey, freeFall Theatre
Karla Hartley, Laughter on the 23rd Floor, American Stage Theatre Company
* James Oliver, The Tempest: Esta Isla es Mia, freeFall Theatre
Matt Southers, Radio Golf, American Stage Theatre Company

Outstanding Costume Design <$500K
Frank Chavez, Ain't Misbehavin', Stageworks Theatre
Frank Chavez, Birds of a Feather, Stageworks Theatre
Melinda Kajando, Last of the Red Hot Lovers, Stageworks Theatre
* Melinda Kajando, The MF with the Hat, Stageworks Theatre
Betty-Jane Parks, A Peculiar Crossroads: A Celebration of Flannery O’Conner, Silver Meteor Gallery

Outstanding Costume Design >$500K
Saideh Ben-Judah, Radio Golf, American Stage Theatre Company
* David Covach, Mame, freeFall Theatre
Eric Davis, The Buffalo Kings, freeFall Theatre
Eric Davis, Harvey, freeFall Theatre
Kelly Lynn Stukey, Laughter on the 23rd Floor, American Stage Theatre Company

Outstanding Lighting Design <$500K
Jo Averill-Snell, The MF with the Hat, Stageworks Theatre
* Ryan Finzelber, Imagining Madoff, Tampa Repertory Theatre
Mike Wood, Betrayal, Tampa Repertory Theatre

Outstanding Lighting Design >$500K
Phillip Franck, Red, American Stage Theatre Company
Joseph P. Oshry, Radio Golf, American Stage Theatre Company
Mike Wood, The Buffalo Kings, freeFall Theatre
Mike Wood, Harvey, freeFall Theatre
* Mike Wood,The Tempest: Esta Isla es Mia, freeFall Theatre

Outstanding Set Design <$500K
Alex Amyot, Imagining Madoff, Tampa Repertory Theatre
Frank Chavez, Ain't Misbehavin', Stageworks Theatre
Frank Chavez, Handle with Care, Stageworks Theatre
* Scott Cooper, The MF with the Hat, Stageworks Theatre
Michael Murphy, A Peculiar Crossroads: A Celebration of Flannery O’Conner, Silver Meteor Gallery

Outstanding Set Design >$500K
* Eric Davis,The Tempest: Esta Isla es Mia, freeFall Theatre
Jerid Fox, The Chosen, American Stage Theatre Company
Jerid Fox, Laughter on the 23rd Floor, American Stage Theatre Company
Jerid Fox, Red, American Stage Theatre Company
Steve Mitchell, Radio Golf, American Stage Theatre Company

Outstanding Choreography/Fight Direction
Domenic Bisesti, In the Heights, American Stage Theatre Company
Giles Davis, Hamlet, New Stage Theatre & Conservatory
* Noelle Monroe, The MF with the Hat, Stageworks Theatre
Meagan Morgan, Bright Lights, Big City, freeFall Theatre
Shain Stroff, Mame, freeFall Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actor, Play <$500K
Travis Brown, Superior Donuts, Stageworks Theatre
* Jesse Carolan-Rodriguez,The MF with the Hat, Stageworks Theatre
Scott Daniel, Birds of a Feather, Stageworks Theatre
C. David Frankel, Imagining Madoff, Tampa Repertory Theatre
Josh Goff,The MF with the Hat, Stageworks Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actor, Play >$500K
Larry Alexander, Harvey, freeFall Theatre
Eric Davis, The Tempest: Esta Isla es Mia, freeFall Theatre
David Friedman, The Chosen, American Stage Theatre Company
Joe Lauck, The Buffalo Kings, freeFall Theatre
* Greg Weiner, Red, American Stage Theatre Company

Outstanding Lead Actor, Musical
* Frank Edmondson, Ain't Misbehavin', Stageworks Theatre
Matthew McGee, Gutenberg: The Musical, American Stage Theatre Company
Matthew McGee, Mame, freeFall Theatre
Joey Panek, Gutenberg: The Musical, American Stage Theatre Company
Lucas Wells, Bright Lights, Big City, freeFall Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actress, Play <$500K
Susan Haldeman, Last of the Red Hot Lovers, Stageworks Theatre
Georgina McKee, Handle with Care, Stageworks Theatre
Jessy Quinones, The MF with the Hat, Stageworks Theatre
* Betty-Jane Parks, A Peculiar Crossroads: A Celebration of Flannery O’Conner, Silver Meteor Gallery
Natalie Symons, Last of the Red Hot Lovers, Stageworks Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actress, Play >$500K
Bonnie Agan, Harvey, freeFall Theatre
* Katherine Michelle Tanner, The Buffalo Kings, freeFall Theatre
Lauren Wood, Laughter on the 23rd Floor, American Stage Theatre Company

Outstanding Lead Actress, Musical
Naomy Ambroise, Ain't Misbehavin', Stageworks Theatre
Paula Broadwater, Putting It Together, St. Petersburg Opera
Lee Anne Mathews, Into the Woods, freeFall Theatre
Latoya McCormick, Ain't Misbehavin', Stageworks Theatre
* Christie Pradez, In the Heights, American Stage Theatre Company

Outstanding Musical Director
Michael Raabe, Into the Woods, freeFall Theatre
Michael Raabe, Bright Lights, Big City, freeFall Theatre
Michael Raabe, Mame, freeFall Theatre
Burt Rushing & Nicholas White, The Tempest: Esta Isla es Mia, freeFall Theatre
* Mark Sforzini, Putting It Together, St. Petersburg Opera

Outstanding Live Musical Accompaniment
Bright Lights, Big City, freeFall Theatre
In the Heights, American Stage Theatre Company
Mame, freeFall Theatre
* Putting It Together, St. Petersburg Opera
The Tempest: Esta Isla es Mía, freeFall Theatre

Outstanding Director, Musical
* Eric Davis, Into the Woods, freeFall Theatre
Eric Davis, Bright Lights, Big City, freeFall Theatre
Eric Davis, Mame, freeFall Theatre
Steven Flaa, Gutenberg: The Musical, American Stage Theatre Company
Erica Sutherlin, Ain't Misbehavin', Stageworks Theatre

Outstanding Director, Play <$500K
Landon Green, A Peculiar Crossroads: A Celebration of Flannery O’Conner, Silver Meteor Gallery
* Karla Hartley, The MF with the Hat, Stageworks Theatre
Karla Hartley, Birds of a Feathers, Stageworks Theatre
Steve Mountain, Imagining Madoff, Tampa Repertory Theatre
Jason Vaughan, Bones, Silver Meteor Gallery

Outstanding Director, Play >$500K
Eric Davis, The Buffalo Kings, freeFall Theatre
Karla Hartley, Red, American Stage Theatre Company
James Oliver, The Tempest: Esta Isla es Mía, freeFall Theatre
Mark Clayton Southers, Radio Golf, American Stage Theatre Company
* T. Scott Wooten, The Chosen, American Stage Theatre Company

Outstanding Ensemble, Musical
Putting It Together, St. Petersburg Opera
* Into the Woods, freeFall Theatre
Mame, freeFall Theatre
Bright Lights, Big City,freeFall Theatre
Ain't Misbehavin', Stageworks Theatre

Outstanding Ensemble, Play <$500K
Birds of a Feather, Stageworks Theatre
Bones, Silver Meteor Gallery
Imagining Madoff, Tampa Repertory Theatre
* The MF with the Hat, Stageworks Theatre
Superior Donuts, Stageworks Theatre

Outstanding Ensemble, Play >$500K
* The Buffalo Kings, freeFall Theatre
The Chosen, American Stage Theatre Company
Harvey, freeFall Theatre
Laughter on the 23rd Floor, American Stage Theatre Company
Radio Golf, American Stage Theatre Company

Outstanding Production, Musical
Ain't Misbehavin', Stageworks Theatre
Bright Lights, Big City, freeFall Theatre
In the Heights, American Stage Theatre Company
* Into the Woods, freeFall Theatre
Mame, freeFall Theatre

Outstanding Production, Play <$500K
Birds of a Feather, Stageworks Theatre
Handle with Care, Stageworks Theatre
Imagining Madoff, Tampa Repertory Theatre
* The MF with the Hat, Stageworks Theatre
A Peculiar Crossroads: A Celebration of Flannery O’Conner, Silver Meteor Gallery

Outstanding Production, Play >$500K
The Buffalo Kings, freeFall Theatre
Harvey, freeFall Theatre
The Chosen, American Stage Theatre Company
Radio Golf, American Stage Theatre Company
* The Tempest: Esta Isla es Mía, freeFall Theatre

BY THE NUMBERS:

Awards by show:
8 – The Motherf**ker with the Hat, Stageworks Theatre
• Outstanding Production, Play <$500K
• Outstanding Ensemble, Play <$500K
• Karla Hartley, Outstanding Director, Play <$500K
• Jesse Carolan-Rodriguez, Outstanding Lead Actor, Play <$500K
• Cornelio Aguliera, Outstanding Featured Actor, Play <$500K
• Scott Cooper, Outstanding Set Design <$500K
• Melinda Kajando, Outstanding Costume Design <$500K
• Noelle Monroe, Outstanding Choreography/Fight Direction

4 – Into the Woods, freeFall Theatre
• Outstanding Production, Musical
• Outstanding Ensemble, Musical
• Eric Davis, Outstanding Director, Musical
• Nick Lerew, Outstanding Featured Actor, Musical

4 – The Tempest: Esta Isla es Mia, freeFall Theatre
• Outstanding Production, Play >$500K
• Eric Davis, Outstanding Set Design >$500K
• Mike Wood, Outstanding Lighting Design >$500K
• James Oliver, Outstanding Sound Design >$500K

2 – The Buffalo Kings, freeFall Theatre
• Katherine Michelle Tanner, Outstanding Lead Actress, Play >$500K
• Outstanding Ensemble, Play >$500K

2 – Imagining Madoff, Tampa Repertory Theatre
• Lynne Locher, Outstanding Sound Design <$500K
• Ryan Finzelber, Outstanding Lighting Design <$500K 2 – Mame, freeFall Theatre
• Lulu Picart, Mame, Outstanding Featured Actress, Musical
• David Covach, Mame, Outstanding Costume Design >$500K

2 – Putting It Together, St. Petersburg Opera
• Mark Sforzini, Outstanding Musical Director
• Outstanding Live Musical Accompaniment

1 – Ain't Misbehavin', Stageworks Theatre
• Fred Edmondson, Outstanding Lead Actor, Musical

1 – The Chosen, American Stage Theatre Company
• T. Scott Wooten, Outstanding Director, Play >$500K

1 – Harvey, freeFall Theatre
• Donna Donnelly, Harvey, Outstanding Featured Actress, Play >$500K

1 – In the Heights, American Stage Theatre Company
• Christie Pradez, Outstanding Lead Actress, Musical

1 – A Haunting at the Meteor, Ghostlight Theatre
• Emily Belvo, Outstanding Featured Actress, Play <$500K 1 – A Peculiar Crossroads: A Celebration of Flannery O’Conner, Silver Meteor Gallery
• Betty-Jane Parks, Outstanding Lead Actress, Play <$500K 1 – Radio Golf, American Stage Theatre Company
• ranney, Outstanding Featured Actor, Play >$500K

1 – Red, American Stage Theatre Company
• Greg Weiner, Red, Outstanding Lead Actor, Play >$500K

By theatre (total awards):
13 – freeFall Theatre
• The Tempest: Esta Isla es Mia, Outstanding Production, Play >$500K
• Into the Woods, Outstanding Production, Musical
• Into the Woods, Outstanding Ensemble, Musical
• The Buffalo Kings, Outstanding Ensemble, Play >$500K
• Eric Davis, Into the Woods, Outstanding Director, Musical
• Katherine Michelle Tanner, Outstanding Lead Actress, Play >$500K
• Nick Lerew, Into the Woods, Outstanding Featured Actor, Musical
• Lulu Picart, Mame, Outstanding Featured Actress, Musical
• Donna Donnelly, Harvey, Outstanding Featured Actress, Play >$500K
• Eric Davis, The Tempest: Esta Isla es Mia, Outstanding Set Design >$500K
• David Covach, Mame, Outstanding Costume Design >$500K
• Mike Wood,The Tempest: Esta Isla es Mia, Outstanding Lighting Design >$500K
• James Oliver, The Tempest: Esta Isla es Mia, Outstanding Sound Design >$500K

9 – Stageworks Theatre
• The MF with the Hat, Outstanding Production, Play <$500K
• The MF with the Hat, Outstanding Ensemble, Play <$500K
• Karla Hartley, The MF with the Hat, Outstanding Director, Play <$500K
• Jesse Carolan-Rodriguez, The MF with the Hat, Outstanding Lead Actor, Play <$500K
• Fred Edmondson, Ain't Misbehavin', Outstanding Lead Actor, Musical
• Cornelio Aguliera, The MF with the Hat, Outstanding Featured Actor, Play <$500K
• Noelle Monroe, The MF with the Hat, Outstanding Choreography/Fight Direction
• Scott Cooper, The MF with the Hat, Outstanding Set Design <$500K
• Melinda Kajando, The MF with the Hat, Outstanding Costume Design <$500K 4 – American Stage Theatre Company
• T. Scott Wooten, The Chosen, Outstanding Director, Play >$500K
• Greg Weiner, Red, Outstanding Lead Actor, Play >$500K
• Christie Pradez, In the Heights, Outstanding Lead Actress, Musical
• ranney, Radio Golf, Outstanding Featured Actor, Play >$500K

2 – St. Petersburg Opera
• Mark Sforzini, Putting It Together, Outstanding Musical Director
• Outstanding Live Musical Accompaniment

2 – Tampa Repertory Theatre
• Ryan Finzelber, Imagining Madoff, Outstanding Lighting Design <$500K
• Lynne Locher, Imagining Madoff, Outstanding Sound Design <$500K 1 – Ghostlight Theatre
• Emily Belvo, A Haunting at the Meteor, Outstanding Featured Actress, Play <$500K 1 – Silver Meteor Gallery
• Betty-Jane Parks, A Peculiar Crossroads: A Celebration of Flannery O’Conner, Outstanding Lead Actress, Play <$500K
By theatre (# of productions honored):

5 – freeFall Theatre
• Harvey
• Into the Woods
• Mame
• The Buffalo Kings
• The Tempest: Esta Isla es Mia

4 – American Stage Theatre Company
• In the Heights
• Radio Golf
• Red
• The Chosen

2 – Stageworks Theatre
• Ain’t Misbehavin’
• The Motherf**ker with the Hat

1 – Ghostlight Theatre
• A Haunting at the Meteor

1 – Silver Meteor Gallery
• A Peculiar Crossroads: A Celebration of Flannery O’Conner

1 – St. Petersburg Opera
• Putting It Together

1 – Tampa Repertory Theatre
• Imagining Madoff

This article appears in Oct 1-7, 2015.