The Essential Theatre has done pretty well with the Metropolitan Atlanta Theatre Awards over the past few years — getting lots of nominations and some wins, including two for Best Direction of a Play (Dina Shadwell for FIX ME SO I CAN STAND and Ellen McQueen for AFTER ASHLEY), Best Actor in a Play (Spencer Stephens for FIX ME SO I CAN STAND) and Best Supporting Actor in a Play (Bobby Labartino for MRS. BOB CRATCHIT’S WILD CHRISTMAS BINGE). This year we’re proud to say we’ve got nine nominations all told — for two of the productions in last summer’s Essential Theatre Play Festival, ICE GLEN and JIM CROW AND THE RHYTHM DARLINGS:

Major Supporting Actor
Jim Sarbh – “Denby” – ICE GLEN
Daniel Burnley – “Policeman” – JIM CROW AND THE RHYTHM DARLINGS

Major Supporting Actress
Ann Wilson – “Dulce Bainbridge” – ICE GLEN

Costume Design
Jane Kroessig – ICE GLEN

Set Design
Rob Hadaway – ICE GLEN

Lighting Design
Trish Harris – ICE GLEN

Sound Design
Thom Jenkins – JIM CROW AND THE RHYTHM DARLINGS

Moira Thornett Director’s Award
Ellen McQueen – ICE GLEN

Best Overall Performance of a Play
ICE GLEN

Best Original Work
Vynnie Meli for JIM CROW AND THE RHYTHM DARLINGS

Congratulations and thanks to all our nominees! And come see this year’s Essential Theatre Play Festival, running July 8 – August 8 at Actor’s Express! The lineup:

• THE DARKER FACE OF THE EARTH by Rita Dove, Directed by Betty Hart
• SALLY AND GLEN AT THE PALACE by Peter Hardy, Directed by Ellen McQueen
• QUALITIES OF STARLIGHT by Gabriel Jason Dean, Directed by Peter Hardy