Drowsy Chaperone, No Exit lead nominations for Vancouver theatre awards

Canadian musical The Drowsy Chaperone has woken up to a leading nine nominations for the Jessie Richardson Awards.

The annual awards for the best in Vancouver theatre, announced Tuesday,also recognized No Exit by Virtual Stage and the Electric Company Theatre with eight nominations andthe Bard on the Beach production of Titus Andronicus with seven nominations.

The Drowsy Chaperone is the musical created in Toronto that went onto be a hit in New York and L.A. Max Reimer, the new artistic director ofPlayhouse Theatre made his directorial debut with the show, earning a nomination for best director at a large theatre. Lloyd Nicholson also earned a nomination for best musical direction.

Jay Brazeau in the lead role of the Man in Chair, who leads the audience through a pastiche of his favourite 1920smusicals, is among the nominees for best actor and Thom Allison for best supporting actor. The production also was named for costumes, lighting, set and best overall large theatre production.

In the best production category, The Drowsy Chaperone is competing against Playhouse Theatre's Where the Blood Mixes,two Bard on the Beach plays, The Tempest and Titus Andronicus and The History Boys, produced by Arts Club Theatre.

The History Boys earned four nominations and Where the Blood Mixes both five, including a nomination for outstanding original script for Where the Blood Mixes writer Kevin Loring.

Simon Bradbury and Jennifer Lines are nominated as best actor and actress, respectively, for their roles in Titus Andronicus.

Among smaller theatre productions, Life Savers by Ruby Slippers Theatre had seven nominations and Blackbird by Rumble Productionsand Theatre Conspiracyhad four nominations, including outstanding small production.

Other nominees for best small productin were Glengarry Glen Ross by Main Street Theatre Equity Co-Op, Lentement la beautby Thtre la Seizime and L'Unithtre and No Exit.

Winners will be announced June 15 in Vancouver.