Terminus (photo credit: Ryan Parker)
Though the 2012 edition of SummerWorks was, in itself, successful with an attendance of 20,000, there were also winners among the presenting companies. One of the biggest was FreeStanding Room in Montreal, a collective whose members had two entries in the Festival: Big Plans and My Pregnant Brother. The director of the former, Tanner Harvey, took the Canadian Stage Award for best direction and the writer of the former and director of the latter, Jeremy Taylor (who wrote about his work on this site), won the Theatre Centre Emerging Artist Award.
The biggest award - outstanding production - was awarded to Terminus. Now's Audience Choice Prize was awarded to Iceland.
The press release (links are to CharPo-Toronto reviews of the plays):
SUMMERWORKS
PERFORMANCE
FESTIVAL WRAPS
Award-winners Celebrated & 20,000 Attend
Toronto, ON --- SummerWorks Performance Festival concluded its 22nd year with a wrap party at the Great Hall on Queen St. West on August 19th where artists, theatre patrons, volunteers, and musical guests gathered to toast this years artistic achievements. SummerWorks saw another year of outstanding attendance with over 20,000 patrons attending the 11 days and nights of theatre, music and performance art. The closing night party awarded some of Canada’s top theatre talent a variety of awards.
“SummerWorks is one of the most if not the single most relevant theatre festival in the country. This notion has been echoed by many in the community and that’s why I proudly declare it,” says Artistic Producer of SummerWorks Performance Festival, Michael Rubenfeld.
Rubenfeld adds, “I am beyond proud of the accomplishment of the artists, the community and the state of artistic expression and work in Canada. It has been a watershed year and choosing the award winners was extremely challenging amongst such an amazing crop of works.”
All awards are adjudicated by a jury of three theatre professionals with the exception of the NOW Audience Choice Award, which is determined by ballot.
The award winners are as follows:
SummerWorks Prize for Outstanding Production
SummerWorks Prize for Outstanding Production
The prize is a free trip back to the festival next year. All companies presenting work were eligible.
Terminus by Outside the March, Directed by Mitchell Cushman
Contra Guys Award for Outstanding New Performance Text
Generously supported by two SummerWorks founders, Benj Gallander and Ben Stadelmann, the $1000 cash award is presented to a theatre-maker for an outstanding new work (script or performance text).
Generously supported by two SummerWorks founders, Benj Gallander and Ben Stadelmann, the $1000 cash award is presented to a theatre-maker for an outstanding new work (script or performance text).
Nicolas Billon for Iceland
National Theatre School Award for Set or Costume Design
This award offers a $750 cash prize to a designer for an outstanding set or costume design.
When It Rains by 2b Theatre Company.
Buddies in Bad Times Vanguard Award for Risk and Innovation
This $500 cash prize is awarded to an individual or company in recognition of an artistic choice or choices exemplifying innovation and/or artistic risk.
This $500 cash prize is awarded to an individual or company in recognition of an artistic choice or choices exemplifying innovation and/or artistic risk.
Cliff Cardinal for Huff
Honourable mention: Petrichor
Canadian Stage Award for Direction
Sponsored by The Canadian Stage Company, this $500 cash prize is awarded for an outstanding piece of direction at the Festival.
Tanner Harvey for Big Plans
The Spotlight Award
Awarded to a featured performer in a SummerWorks show. The winner receives a VIP pass to the festival next year.
Awarded to a featured performer in a SummerWorks show. The winner receives a VIP pass to the festival next year.
Ron Pederson for Extinction Song, Tamsin Kelsey for Pietá and Terrence Bryant for Terre Haute
The Theatre Centre Emerging Artist Award
A $500 cash prize awarded to an artist early in their career who made an artistic impression during the festival.
Jeremy Taylor, writer of Big Plans and director of My Pregnant Brother.
RBC Arts Professional Award
This $1000 cash prize recognizes the work, craft and dedication of an emerging arts professional. This award is made possible with the support of RBC.
This $1000 cash prize recognizes the work, craft and dedication of an emerging arts professional. This award is made possible with the support of RBC.
MotionLive in association with cric crac collective for Aneemah’s Spot
Honourable Mention: Aislinn Rose for Fierce Monsters and France, or the Niqab and Renna Reddie for Iceland
The NOW Magazine Audience Choice Award
Audience members voted by placing their ticket stub in the NOW Audience Choice box before leaving the theatre. The Winner receives $3000 in free advertising with NOW magazine. All shows were eligible for this prize.
Audience members voted by placing their ticket stub in the NOW Audience Choice box before leaving the theatre. The Winner receives $3000 in free advertising with NOW magazine. All shows were eligible for this prize.
Iceland by The Iceland Collective, directed by Ravi Jain
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