The 2010 My Theatre HONORARY AWARD

It's time for the 2010 My Theatre Honorary Award. This distinction, announced separately from the rest of the winners, is awarded each year to celebrate standout achievement in any given category. Winners aren't nominated in the regular My Theatre Awards. Rather, they're honored separately as the best things that happened in theatre all year (whether they be writers, directors, actors, companies, plays, etc...). This year's winner is a theatre actor who escaped our regular nominations because we never saw him perform live. Instead, My Theatre got to enjoy this phenomenal performance from the comfort of the Coolidge Corner Theatre in Boston as it was simulcast from the UK National Theatre in London.

This year's winner is...

Rory Kinnear

As much as I love Shakespeare (which is a lot, I'm not sure if you've been paying attention, but it's a lot), I've always considered Hamlet one of the world's more overrated things. It's hard for it not to be, considering it's often lauded as the single greatest thing written in the English language. But I've never quite gotten the fascination. It's long and I've always felt that it's stronger on the page than the stage, if only because I've never encountered an actor who can speak for 4 hours straight and come out of it on my good side. It's also full of allusions in need of footnotes and its title character is a whiny creature who is never quite engaging enough to justify how much of the text he's given to speak alone.

And then there was Rory Kinnear. I read a review in The Globe and Mail that said "He’s neither the craziest nor sexiest nor angriest Hamlet, but as he speaks the verse with water-clear simplicity, he might be the most believable". Kinnear isn't the "most" anything, and that's what makes him so great. So often, actors confronted with the Everest-like role participate in a Sophie's choice of adjectives: is he a soldier or a scholar? Noble or cowardly? Honorable or shady? When, in reality, all of us are all of these. Hamlet, in truth, is nothing, more or less, than a guy. And for the first time ever, Rory Kinnear had me on his side. He wasn't the anything Hamlet, he was the everything Hamlet. He was just there, living it out as if it were happening to him, no pretty gesticulations, verse hammering or cadence caroling. He said the lines exactly as someone would say whatever it was that Hamlet was saying in that moment. And somehow that little act of rebellion changed Hamlet forever for me.

In an interesting, if shaky, directorial product and supported by a truly underwhelming supporting cast, Rory Kinnear had me on the edge of my seat from his very first soliloquy. My love was incalculable by the time he reached his best scene with "Rogue and peasant slave" and I didn't let go until "the rest is silence". What happened in between was nothing short of mind-changing.

The 2010 My Theatre Award Winners

Any theatrical production that one of our writers saw between Jan 1 and Dec 31 2010 qualified for our first annual My Theatre Awards. Between 4 to 7 nominees were announced in each of our 15 categories. Since the nominations were announced, 24 standout performers and directors from almost every category have participated in the My Theatre Nominee interview series.

Now we honour the best of the best from this exceptional group of 84 nominees.

Thank you so much to all those who participated in our interview series and congratulations to all the winners!

My Theatre Nominees- Q&A with Dion Johnstone

Before we announce the winners of the 2010 My Theatre Awards, we're proud to present the My Theatre Nominee Interview Series.

When I reviewed the Stratford Shakespeare Festival's 2010 production of The Two Gentlemen of Verona, I cited Dion Johnstone and his costar Gareth Potter as "the inarguable top of the young-leading-man pyramid at Stratford". My Tempest review called Dion "one of the greatest talents on stage at the festival in recent years, making his way through many of the most challenging roles ever written". These aren't overstatements. Since his 2007 turn as Edmund in King Lear, Dion Johnstone has been on my radar as a Stratford favourite. His performance as Caliban last summer was extroardinary, earning him a 2010 My Theatre Award nomination for best supporting actor.

One of my favourite performers in Canada, Dion is the 24th and final member of our 2010 My Theatre Nominee interview series. The passionate and candid actor took a good deal of time out of rehearsing for Western Canada Theatre's current production of W;t to talk to me about his greatest roles, his approach to acting and how the 2011 Stratford season is shaping up. 

Read on for my full conversation with Dion:

My Theatre Nominees- Q&A with Matthew Yipchuck

Before we announce the winners of the 2010 My Theatre Awards, we're proud to present the My Theatre Nominee Interview Series.

The summer after he graduated high school, Matthew Yipchuck and his friend Catherine Bernardi founded their own theatre company. This past summer he directed their first full length production by an established playwright: Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie. Now he's nominated for a 2010 My Theatre Award for Best Director in the independent/local division. The Glass Menagerie is also up for Best Production.

Read on for Matthew's thoughts

My Theatre Nominees- Q&A with Adam Lauver

Before we announce the winners of the 2010 My Theatre Awards, we're proud to present the My Theatre Nominee Interview Series.

The Independent Drama Society's production of Romeo and Juliet is nominated in every category in the Local/Independent division of the 2010 My Theatre Awards: Best Production, Best Director (Sarah Gazdowicz), Best Actress (Megan Cooper) and Best Actor (Adam Lauver). Of the many award nominations the production has racked up since their September run, the vast majority of them have been for Adam, whose hilarious and touching portrayal of the nurse won't soon be forgotten.

Read on for my conversation with the charming and self-effacing actor.

My Theatre Nominees- Q&A with Eve Wylden

Before we announce the winners of the 2010 My Theatre Awards, we're proud to present the My Theatre Nominee Interview Series.

   

Eve Wylden is the best actress in one of my favourite Toronto theatre companies, The Red Light District. The chameleonic actress was a highlight of the RLD's innovative production of The Witch of Edmonton in the Summerworks festival, but it was her off-kilter performance as the doctor in Ted Witzel's circus-themed production of Woyzeck that earned her a Best Actress nomination in the Local/Independent division of the 2010 My Theatre Awards.

Read on for my full conversation with Eve:  

 

My Theatre Nominees- Q&A with Agatha Babbitt and Chris Hamilton

Before we announce the winners of the 2010 My Theatre Awards, we're proud to present the My Theatre Nominee Interview Series.

One of the best student productions of 2010 was BU Stage Troupe's Rabbit Hole. The remarkably mature and thoughtful production is nominated for 4 My Theatre Awards in the student division including Best Actor (Dan Stevens), Best Actress (Madeleine DiBiasi) and Best Production. The Best Director nominees Chris Hamilton and Agatha Babbitt took some time out to talk about their collaboration. 

Read on for Agatha and Chris' thoughts

My Theatre Nominees- Q&A with Keir Cutler

Before we announce the winners of the 2010 My Theatre Awards, we're proud to present the My Theatre Nominee Interview Series.

Keir Cutler is a fixture on the Canadian Fringe Festival circuit. His one man show Teaching Shakespeare was a highlight of the summer theatre season and earned him a My Theatre Award nominated for Best Actor in the Local/Independent Division

Read on for our full interview with Keir

My Theatre Nominees- Q&A with Jewelle Blackman

Before we announce the winners of the 2010 My Theatre Awards, we're proud to present the My Theatre Nominee Interview Series.

Jaques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris was the surprise hit of the the 2010 Stratford season. Of the 4 phenomenally talented performers who held down the show, Jewelle Blackman stood out for her beautiful voice and palpable emotion, earning her a My Theatre Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Read on for my full conversation with Jewelle:  

My Theatre Nominess- Q&A with Trish Lindstrom

Before we announce the winners of the 2010 My Theatre Awards, we're proud to present the My Theatre Nominee Interview Series.

Trish Lindstrom created a truly memorable Miranda last season at Stratford opposite Christopher Plummer, a role she's now nominated for as Best Supporting Actress in the My Theatre Awards. The flagship production is also nominated for Best Actor (Plummer) and Best Supporting Actor (Dion Johnstone/ Geraint Wyn Davies) in the national/professional division.

Read on for my full conversation with Trish: 

My Theatre Nominees- Q&A with Sochi Fried

Before we announce the winners of the 2010 My Theatre Awards, we're proud to present the My Theatre Nominee Interview Series.

This fall, Sochi Fried captivated audiences as the title character in Ibsen's complex tragedy Hedda Gabler with Toronto's Alumnae Theatre Company. Her layered performance earned her a Best Actress nomination in the local/independent division of the 2010 My Theatre Awards. The production's director Jane Carnwath also earned a nomination. 

Read on for Sochi's thoughts on the role.

My Theatre Nominees- Q&A with Sophia Walker

Before we announce the winners of the 2010 My Theatre Awards, we're proud to present the My Theatre Nominee Interview Series.

I've been following Sophia Walker's Stratford career since 2008 when she first caught my eye as Lady Capulet. Since then, she has lent her classical charm to wonderful portrayals of Lady Macduff (Macbeth), Hermia (Midsummer Night's Dream) and Juno (The Tempest) among others. In 2010, her winning performance as Julia in Dean Gabourie's excellent Two Gentlemen of Verona earned her a My Theatre Award nomination as Best Supporting Actress.

Read on for my full conversation with Sophia:

My Theatre Nominees- Q&A with Michael-David Blostein

Before we announce the winners of the 2010 My Theatre Awards, we're proud to present the My Theatre Nominee Interview Series.

Toronto actor Michael-David Blostein is one of My Theatre's favourite young performers. His pitch-perfect portrayal of Sweeney Todd in Love is A Poverty You Can Sell this summer at the Toronto Fringe Festival won him a My Theatre Award nomination for Best Actor in an independent production. 

Read on for our full interview with Michael-David

My Theatre Nominees- Q&A with Dean Gabourie

Before we announce the winners of the 2010 My Theatre Awards, we're proud to present the My Theatre Nominee Interview Series.

Dean Gabourie, the Assistant Artistic Director of The Stratford Shakespeare Festival, directed my favourite Shakespeare production of their 2010 season: Two Gentlemen of Verona. The studio theatre production is nominated for Best Actor (Gareth Potter), Best Supporting Actress (Sophia Walker), Best Director (Dean Gabourie) and Best Production in the National/Professional category. In a lengthy and candid conversation, Dean shared his history with classical theatre, the process behind casting and rehearsing Two Gents and some inside scoop on the festival.

Read on for my full interview with Dean

My Theatre Nominees- Q&A with Scott Moyle

Before we announce the winners of the 2010 My Theatre Awards, we're proud to present the My Theatre Nominee Interview Series.

This summer I dubbed Urban Bard "Toronto's Coolest Classical Company". Now their artistic director, Scott Moyle, joins our interview series to talk about the company, his innovative approach to found-space Shakespeare and his My Theatre Award nominated production of Two Noble Kinsmen (Best Independent/Local Production, Best Director-Scott Moyle and Best Actress- Adrianna Prosser)

Read on for Scott's full interview

My Theatre Nominees- Q&A with Emily Kassie

Before we announce the winners of the 2010 My Theatre Awards, we're proud to present the My Theatre Nominee Interview Series.

Before graduating highschool, Emily Kassie directed one of the most challenging pieces in the modern musical theatre canon- Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years. Her professional-caliber production is nominated for Best Student Production and Best Actress (Kate Ryan). Emily herself is nominated for Best Director.

Read on for Emily's thoughts

My Theatre Nominees- Q&A with Adrianna Prosser

Before we announce the winners of the 2010 My Theatre Awards, we're proud to present the My Theatre Nominee Interview Series.

Toronto actress Adrianna Prosser gave one of the summer's most memorable performances in Urban Bard's production of Shakespeare's obscure but fascinating Two Noble Kinsmen. As the tragically starry-eyed Jailer's Daughter, Prosser was easily the highlight of the clever and innovative production, which is also nominated for Best Director (Scott Moyle) and Best Local/Independent Production.

Read on for the full interview

My Theatre Nominees- Q&A with Ted Witzel

Before we announce the winners of the 2010 My Theatre Awards, we're proud to present the My Theatre Nominee Interview Series.

One of Toronto's most innovative young talents, Ted Witzel joins our interview series today. The Red Light District artistic director is nominated in the independent theatre category for Best Actor in The Witch of Edmonton and Best Director for Woyzeck.

Read on for Ted's thoughts

My Theatre Nominees- Q&A with Kate Ryan

Before we announce the winners of the 2010 My Theatre Awards, we're proud to present the My Theatre Nominee Interview Series.

Today's interview is with Kate Ryan. The Best Actress in a Student Production nominee took on the complex role Cathy in Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years with Vetoed Productions last summer. The production is also nominated for Best Student Director (Emily Kassie) and Best Student Production

Read on for the full Q&A

My Theatre Nominees- Q&A with Sarah Gazdowicz

Before we announce the winners of the 2010 My Theatre Awards, we're proud to present the My Theatre Nominee Interview Series.

Sarah Gazdowicz is the brains behind The Independent Drama Society's Romeo and Juliet, nominated for 2010 My Theatre Awards for Best Actress (Megan Cooper), Best Actor (Adam Lauver) and Best Production. Sarah herself is up for Best Director of an independent/local production.

Read on for Sarah's thoughts