New York Theatre Workshop’s production of Will Power’s Fetch Clay, Make Man, which takes place during the days leading up to one of Cassius Clay’s most anticipated fights, where the heavyweight boxing champion forms an unlikely friendship with the controversial Hollywood star Stepin Fetchit, has been nominated for 11 AUDELCO Awards for Excellence in Black Theatre.
Nikki M. James, K. Todd Freeman, Ray Fisher and John Earl Jelks in Will Power’s Fetch Clay, Make Man, directed by Des McAnuff at NYTW in New York. Photo by Joan Marcus
The production was nominated for Dramatic Production of the Year, Best Playwright (Will Power), Best Lead Actor (K. Todd Freeman), Best Lead Actor (Ray Fisher), Best Lead Actress (Nikki M. James), Best Director of a Dramatic Production (Des McAnuff), Best Supporting Actor (John Earl Jelks), Best Lighting Design (Howard Binkley), Best Set Design (Riccardo Hernandez), Best Costume Design (Paul Tazewell), and Best Sound Design (Darron L. West).
Harvey Gardner Moore, DeWanda Wise and John Earl Jelks. Photo by Lia Chang
John Earl Jelks, who received an Obie Award for his performances in Fetch Clay, Make Man and in Labyrinth Theater Company’s multiple extended production of Dominique Morriseau’s Sunset Baby, is a double AUDELCO nominee this year with his nod in the category of Outstanding Ensemble Performance with fellow cast members Harvey Gardner Moore and DeWanda Wise. Sunset Baby, a powerful and honest story of one woman’s journey from a brutal existence to her own liberation, is also nominated for Best Playwright (Dominique Morriseau), Best Director of a Dramatic Production (Kamilah Forbes), Best Costume Design (Esosa), Best Sound Design (Amatus-sami Karim Ali), and Best Dramatic Production of the Year.
Harvey Gardner Moore and DeWanda Wise. Photo by Monique Carboni.
Remember, Reflect, Celebrate! is the theme of the 42nd Annual Vivian Robinson/AUDELCO Recognition Awards for Excellence in Black Theatre which will be held at the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at 95th St. in New York on Monday, Nov 17, 2014 at 7:00pm.
Classical Theatre of Harlem’s Romeo n Juliet garnered 9 nods including Best Revival, Best Lead Actor (Sheldon Best), Best Lead Actress (Natalie Paul), Best Supporting Actress ( Zainab Jah), Best Supporting Actor (Ty Jones), Best Lighting Design (Paul Hudson), Best Set Design (Anka Lupes), Best Costume Design (Rachel Dozier-Ezell) and Best Sound Design (Eric Sluter).
New Federal Theatre’s revival of Ed Bullins’ The Fabulous Miss Marie starring Tonya Pinkins and Roscoe Orman received Best Lead Actress and Best Lead Actor nominations, and is competing for Best Revival, Best Set Design (Ademola Olugebefola), Best Costume Design (Ali Turns) and Best Sound Design (Bill Toles).
Tonya Pinkins and Roscoe Orman in New Federal Theatre’s revival of Ed Bullins’ The Fabulous Miss Marie at Castillo Theatre. Photo by Lia Chang
This year’s awards ceremony honors those who dedicate their lives and talent to entertaining through Black Theatre. The evening will captivate you with majestic music and rich history as AUDELCO pays homage to those who have paved the road as well as rising stars who are blazing their own trails.
The Alive! cast in performance at Dempsey Theater, 2013. Photo credit: Carol Rosegg.
Mama Foundation for the Arts’ ALIVE! 55+ and Kickin’ garnered five AUDELCO nominations including Outstanding Performance in a Musical/Female (Deborah Bingham), Outstanding Performance in a Musical/Female (Renee Walker), Outstanding Performance in a Musical/Male (Matthew Brown), Outstanding Performance in a Musical/Male (Matthew Burke) and Best Choreographer (A.R. Kadeem).
Ruben Santiago-Hudson, who took home a Best Director for a Dramatic Production AUDELCO for Signature Theatre’s revival of The Piano Lesson, is nominated for Signature Theatre’s production of August Wilson’s How I Learned What I Learned in the category of Solo Performance. The production is also nominated for Best Lighting Design (Thom Weaver). Other contenders for Solo Performance include Stefhen Bryan in Soho Playhouse’s Doodu Boy, Helena D. Lewis in Nuyorican Poets Cafe’s Call Me Crazy, and John Douglas Thompson in Westside Theatre’s Satchmo at the Waldorf.
Ruben Santiago-Hudson in Signature Theatre’s production of August Wilson’s How I Learned What I Learned. Photo by Joan Marcus
“The VIV” Awards, the annual Vivian Robinson/AUDELCO Recognition, are the only formally established awards presented to the black theatre community. AUDELCO (Audience Development Committee, Inc.) was established and incorporated in 1973 by the late Vivian Robinson, to stimulate interest in, and support of performing arts in black communities.
Group of 15 or more: $100
Rush $50
Tickets may be purchased in person or by calling the Symphony Space Box Office at 212-864-5400.
Click here to purchased tickets online. Call AUDELCO at 1-212-368-6906 for further information.
Below is a full list of the 2014 “The VIV” Nominees for the 2013-2014 Theatre season. Good luck to all of the nominees.
Best Lighting Design
Howard Binkley (Fetch Clay, Make Man) New York Theatre Workshop
Alan C. Edwards (Dutchman) National Black Theatre/Classical Theatre of Harlem
Marika Kent (The Last Saint on Sugar Hill) National Black Theatre
Paul Hudson (Romeo n Juliet) Classical Theatre of Harlem
Thom Weaver (August Wilson’s How I learned What I Learned) Signature Theatre Company
Best Set Design
Patrice Andrew Davidson (Maid’s Door) Billie Holiday Theatre
Riccardo Hernandez (Fetch Clay, Make Man) New York Theatre Workshop
Anka Lupes (Romeo n Juliet) Classical Theatre of Harlem
Ademola Olugebefola (The Fabulous Miss Marie) New Federal Theatre
Harlan Penn (The Last Saint on Sugar Hill) National Black Theatre
Scottie Mills and Nicola d’Alessandro in “Maid’s Door,” at The Billie Holiday Theatre. Photo: Helen L. Collen
Best Costume Design
Esosa (Sunset Baby) Labyrinth Theater Company
Harriet Rosebud (Coriolanus: The African Warrior) Take Wing and Soar/New Heritage Theatre Group
Paul Tazewell (Fetch Clay, Make Man) New York Theatre Workshop
Ali Turns (The Fabulous Miss Marie) New Federal Theatre
Rachel Dozier-Ezell (Romeo n Juliet) Classical Theatre of Harlem
Best Sound Design
Amatus-sami Karim Ali (Sunset Baby) Labyrinth Theater Company
Jacqui Anscombe (Ugly is a Hard Pill) Theater for the New City
Eric Sluter (Romeo n Juliet) Classical Theatre of Harlem
Bill Toles (The Fabulous Miss Marie) New Federal Theatre
Darron L. West (Fetch Clay, Make Man) New York Theatre Workshop
David D. Wright (Coriolanus: The African Warrior) Take Wing and Soar/New Heritage Theatre Group
Rutina Wesley and Grantham Coleman in ONE NIGHT… a co-production of Cherry Lane and Rattlestick Playwrights Theater. Photo © Sandra Coudert
Best Director/Dramatic Production
Jackie Alexander (Maid’s Door) Billie Holiday Theatre
Carl Cofield (Dutchman) National Black Theatre/Classical Theatre of Harlem
Clinton Turner Davis (One Night…) Cherry Lane Theatre/Rattlestick Playwrights Theater
Kamilah Forbes (Sunset Baby) Labyrinth Theater Company
Des McAnuff (Fetch Clay, Make Man) New York Theatre Workshop
Seret Scott (The Last Saint on Sugar Hill) National Black Theatre
Ajene Washington (The Old Settler) Morningside Players
National Black Theatre’s production of Keith Josef Adkins The Last Saint on Sugar Hill.
Best Playwright
Keith Josef Adkins (The Last Saint on Sugar Hill) National Black Theatre
Cheryl L. Davis (Maid’s Door) Billie Holiday Theatre
Charles Fuller (One Night…) Cherry Lane Theatre/Rattlestick Playwrights Theater
Andrea J. Fulton Anscombe (Ugly is a Hard Pill) Theater for the New City
Dominique Morriseau (Sunset Baby) Labyrinth Theater Company
Will Power (Fetch Clay, Make Man) New York Theatre Workshop
Best Supporting Actor
Nate James (aka Nathan James) (Maid’s Door) Billie Holiday Theatre
John Earl Jelks (Fetch Clay, Make Man) New York Theatre Workshop
Ty Jones (Romeo n Juliet) Classical Theatre of Harlem
Cortez Nance (One Night…) Cherry Lane Theatre/Rattlestick Playwrights Theater
Ray Anthony Thomas (Between Riverside and Crazy) Atlantic Theatre Company
Victor Williams (Tough Titty) Warrior’s Journey Productions
Ami Brabson and Victor Williams in Oni Faida Lampley’s Tough Titty. Photo by Hunter Canning
Danny Wolohan, Marsha Stephanie Blake, Jocelyn Bioh (L-R) in An Octoroon at Soho Rep. Photo: Pavel Antonov
Best Supporting Actress
Jocelyn Bioh (An Octoroon) Soho Rep
Marsha Stephanie Blake (An Octoroon) Soho Rep
Zainab Jah (Romeo n Juliet) Classical Theatre of Harlem
Melissa Joyner (Maid’s Door) Billie Holiday Theatre
Kimberlee Monroe (The Kitchen) HADLEY Players
Jacquelyn Joyce Revere (IYOM) Workshop Theater Company
Outstanding Performance in a Musical/Female
De’ Adre Aziza (Piece of My Heart) Signature Theatre Company
Deborah Bingham (ALIVE! 55+ and Kickin’) Mama Foundation for the Arts
Dee Dee Bridgewater (Lady Day) Little Shubert Theatre
Deja Nelfiria (Salome: Da Voodoo Princess of Nawlins) Rebel Theatre Company/Nuyorican Poets Cafe
Renee Walker (ALIVE! 55+ and Kickin’) Mama Foundation for the Arts
Outstanding Performance in a Musical/Male
Derrick Baskin (Piece of My Heart) Signature Theatre Company
Christian Lee Branch (Salome: Da Voodoo Princess of Nawlins) Rebel Theatre
Matthew Brown (ALIVE! 55+ and Kickin’) Mama Foundation for the Arts
Matthew Burke (ALIVE! 55+ and Kickin’) Mama Foundation for the Arts
Best Choreographer
Leslie Dockery (Ugly is a Hard Pill) Theater for the New City
A.R. Kadeem (ALIVE! 55+ and Kickin’) Mama Foundation for the Arts
Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj/David Norwood (Salome: Da Voodoo Princess of Nawlins) Rebel Theatre
Outstanding Ensemble Performance
Dutchman (National Black Theatre/Classical Theatre of Harlem)
Sharif Atkins
Ambien Mitchell
Sassy Mamas (HADLEY PLAYERS)
Richarda Abrams
Donald Dash
Nicholas Miles Newton
DeSean Stokes
M. Drue Williams
Cooki Winborn
Sunset Baby (Labyrinth Theater Company)
John Earl Jelks
Harvery Gardner Moore
DeWanda Wise
The Last Saint on Sugar Hill (National Black Theatre)
Danny Johnson
Jaime Lincoln Smith
Yaegel T. Welch
Chinaza Uche
Terrell Wheeler
The Opponent (Red Orchid Theatre/Bisno Productions
Kamal Angelo Bolden
Guy Van Swearingen
Andrea J. Fulton’s UGLY IS A HARD PILL at Theater for the New City
Ugly is a Hard Pill (Theater for the New City)
J’rome Andre
Ken Bolander
Kymbali Craig
Illona S. Dixon
Denise Fair-Grant
Allen Craig Harris
Virgous “Vee” Lunceford
Mark Lang
Gareth E. Lawson
Donnell E. Smith
Helena D. Lewis is nominated for her solo performance in Call Me Crazy at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe.
Solo Performance
Stefhen Bryan (Doodu Boy) Soho Playhouse
Helena D. Lewis (Call Me Crazy) Nuyorican Poets Cafe
Ruben Santiago-Hudson (August Wilson’s How I Learned What I Learned) Signature Theatre Company
John Douglas Thompson (Satchmo at the Waldorf) Westside Theatre
John Douglas Thompson as Louis Armstrong in “Satchmo at the Waldorf”. Photo by T. Charles Erickson
Best Lead Actor
Sheldon Best (Romeo n Juliet) Classical Theatre of Harlem
Grantham Coleman (One Night…) Cherry Lane Theatre/Rattlestick Playwrights Theater
Ray Fisher (Fetch Clay, Make Man) New York Theatre Workshop
K. Todd Freeman (Fetch Clay, Make Man) New York Theatre Workshop
Stephen McKinley Henderson (Between Riverside and Crazy) Atlantic Theater Company
Chris Meyers (An Octoroon) Soho Rep
Roscoe Orman (The Fabulous Miss Marie) New Federal Theatre
Stephen McKinley Henderson, Ray Anthony Thomas, and Victor Almanzar in “Between Riverside and Crazy,” written by Stephen Adly Guirgis, directed by Austin Pendleton, at the Atlantic Theater Company. ((c) Kevin Thomas Garcia/Atlantic Theater Company)
Best Lead Actress
Ami Brabson (Tough Titty) Warrior’s Journey Productions
Nikki M. James (Fetch Clay, Make Man) New York Theatre Workshop
Scottie Mills (aka Sandra Mills Scott) (Maid’s Door) Billie Holiday Theatre
Petronia Paley (Coriolanus: The African Warrior) Take Wing and Soar/New Heritage Theatre Group
Natalie Paul (Romeo n Juliet) Classical Theatre of Harlem
Tonya Pinkins (The Fabulous Miss Marie) New Federal Theatre
Rutina Wesley (One Night…) Cherry Lane Theatre/Rattlestick Playwrights Theater
Best Revival
Coriolanus: The African Warrior (Take Wing and Soar/New Heritage Theatre Group)
Dutchman (National Black Theatre/Classical Theatre of Harlem)
In the Wine Time (New Federal Theatre)
Romeo n Juliet (Classical Theatre of Harlem)
The Fabulous Miss Marie (New Federal Theatre)
The Old Settler (Morningside Players)
Dramatic Production of the Year
Fetch Clay, Make Man (New York Theatre Workshop)
Maid’s Door (Billie Holiday Theatre)
One Night… (Cherry Lane Theatre/Rattlestick Playwrights Theater)
Sunset Baby (Labyrinth Theater Company)
The Last Saint on Sugar Hill (National Black Theatre)
Other articles on the Audelcos:
Signature’s Revival of The Piano Lesson Sweeps AUDELCO’s with 8 Wins including Best Revival, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Roslyn Ruff, Chuck Cooper and Brandon J. Dirden; Also Among 2013 “VIV” Winners – Wild with Happy’s Colman Domingo and Sharon Washington, and Storyville’s Mercedes Ellington
Knock Me a Kiss Sweeps Audelcos with 9 Wins Including Best Dramatic Play, André De Shields, Marie Thomas, Charles Smith and Chuck Smith
Photos: André De Shields, Erin Cherry, Gillian Glasco, Marie Thomas, Sean Phillips, Morocco Omari, Charles Smith and Chuck Smith Among 13 Audelco Nods for Knock Me a Kiss
Costume Designer Karen Perry Receives Audelco Nod for The Public’s Brother/Sister Trilogy by Tarell Alvin McCraney
Classical Theatre of Harlem’s Archbishop Supreme Tartuffe, MTC’s Ruined, De Shields and Nottage Among 2009 Audelco Winners
AUDELCO 2009 “The VIV” Nominees for the 2008-2009 Theatre Season
Other articles by Lia Chang
Oct. 12: Rome Neal Tribute and Fund Raiser @ The Five Spot
Saul Williams, Christopher Jackson, Saycon Sengbloh, Ben Thompson, John Earl Jelks, Joshua Boone, Dyllon Burnside and Tonya Pinkins star in HOLLER IF YA HEAR ME, Opens June 19
Branden Jacob-Jenkins’ Appropriate, Lisa Kron’s Fun Home, Sonya Tayeh, Emmanuel Brown, Mia Katigbak, K. Todd Freeman, John Earl Jelks Among 2014 OBIE Award Winners
LAByrinth Extends New York Times Critic’s Pick Sunset Baby, Starring John Earl Jelks, DeWanda Wise and Harvey Gardner Moore, to December 15
Photos: LAByrinth’s Opening Night of Dominique Morisseau’s Sunset Baby with John Earl Jelks, DeWanda Wise, Harvey Gardner Moore, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Tracie Thoms, Alano Miller and More
Photos: John Earl Jelks, DeWanda Wise, Harvey Gardner Moore, André De Shields at Dominique Morisseau’s Sunset Baby
Nov. 6 – Dec. 8: Tony Nominee John Earl Jelks, Dewanda Wise and Harvey Gardner Moore Star in Labyrinth’s American Premiere of Sunset Baby by Dominique Morisseau at Bank Street Theater
Photos: Opening Night of Will Power’s Fetch Clay, Make Man with John Earl Jelks, Richard Masur, Nikki M. James, K. Todd Freeman, Ray Fisher
NYTW Production Photos of Fetch Clay, Make Man: Ray Fisher, Nikki M. James, John Earl Jelks, K. Todd Freeman
Photos: André Braugher, Ami Brabson, Christine Toy Johnson, Antoinette LaVecchia, Richard Topol, Victor Williams, Nikkole Salter, Elizabeth Van Dyke at Oni Faida Lampley’s Tough Titty at the Paradise Factory
Broadway to Dim Lights for Geoffrey Holder on October 10, 2014
Geoffrey Holder, Artist, Actor, Dancer, Choreographer, Two-Time Tony Award-winning Director and Costume Designer for The Wiz, Dies at 84; Son Pens Intimate Account of Last Days
Two-Time Tony Award-winning Actress Marian Seldes, Dies at 86
Photos & Video: The Wiz’s André De Shields Sang “So You Wanted to Meet the Wizard” in The Black Stars of The Great White Way Broadway Reunion: Live The Dream at Carnegie Hall
Photos and Video: Ben Vereen Performs at Carnegie Hall in The Black Stars of The Great White Way Broadway Reunion: Live The Dream
Photos and Video: Obba Babatunde and cast members from the original cast of Dreamgirls perform at Carnegie Hall in The Black Stars of The Great White Way Broadway Reunion: Live The Dream
Oct. 15: An Evening with Hollywood Legend Nancy Kwan at the New-York Historical Society
Cori Thomas’s When January Feels Like Summer with Debargo Sanyal, Dion Graham, Mahira Kakkar, Maurice Williams, Carter Redwood, Returns to Ensemble Studio Theatre through October 26, 2014
Reg E. Cathey, Ching Valdes-Aran, Joseph Harrington, Tony Torn and More in La MaMa’s The Tempest through November 2, 2014
Celebrating my Mom – AN ACTIVE VISION: BEVERLY UMEHARA…LABOR ACTIVIST…1945-1999
Oct. 10: Baayork Lee to Receive 2014 Paul Robeson Citation Award presented by the Actors’ Equity Foundation
The Fortress of Solitude starring André de Shields, Adam Chanler-Berat, Kevin Mambo, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Kyle Beltran & More Begins Performances at The Public
Photos: Chinese American: Exclusion/Inclusion on View through April 19, 2015 at New York Historical Society
Coming to America through The Angel Island Immigration Station
Rome Neal Seriously Injured in Fall; Fundraisers Set at The Five Spot on October 12 and the Nuyorican Poets Cafe on November 6
Joe Mantegna to Helm ‘Criminal Minds’ Season 10 Episode to Honor the late Meshach Taylor
Joe Mantegna, Delta Burke, Gerald McRaney, President Bill Clinton and More Remember Meshach Taylor
Crafting a Career
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.
Lia Chang Photo by GK
Lia Chang is an actor, a performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. Lia starred as Carole Barbara in Lorey Hayes’ Power Play at the 2013 National Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, N.C., with Pauletta Pearson Washington, Roscoe Orman, and made her jazz vocalist debut in Rome Neal’s Banana Puddin’ Jazz “LADY” at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe in New York. She is profiled in Jade Magazine.
All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2014 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at liachangpr@gmail.com
The awards promote and celebrate African-American involvement in American Theatre. Samuel L. Jackson and his wife, LaTanya Richardson Jackson are serving as Honorary Co-Chairpersons for this year’s event. NY-1 Anchor Cheryl Wills and Def Poetry Jam co-founder Danny Simmons will be the co-hosts for the ceremony.
The Awards presentation kicks off at 6:30pm, followed by a gala reception from 10pm-11pm. Tickets are on sale now ($150 orchestra, $75 mezzanine and $35 balcony). For tickets, call (212) 368-6906.
