Arts Spotlight: Performing Arts 2011 Year in Review

"The Pride." Photo by Michal Daniel.

Performing Arts Events of the Year
The Opening of the Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts & The Center of the Margins Festival of Plays About Disability, Mixed Blood Theatre

Best Theatrical Productions
1. Leave, Urban Samurai
2. The Ravagers, Savage Umbrella
3. August: Osage County, Park Square
4. The Pride, Pillsbury House
5. Ajax in Iraq, Frank Theatre
6. The Winter’s Tale, Guthrie Theater
7. Uncle Vanya, Gremlin Theatre
8. Street Scene, Girl Friday Productions
9. Cabaret, Frank Theatre
10. (tie) Beyond Therapy, Theatre in the Round Players
Opus, Park Square
The Secret Language of Wishes, Mixed Blood

Best Revival of a Queer Classic
The Maids, Gonzo Group

Best Show from Out of Town (tie)
Cavalia, The Big Top at West End
La Cage Aux Folles, State Theatre

Theater Artist of the Year
Craig Johnson, title role actor and script adapter, Uncle Vanya; director, Beyond Therapy & Street Scene

Performance of the Year & Best Actress (Non-musical)
Barbara Kingsley, August: Osage County

"True West." Photo by Thomas Sandelands.

Best Actor (Non-Musical)
Peter Christian Hansen, True West, Torch Theatre

Best Actor (Musical) tie
Dan Lundin, bare, Minneapolis Musical Theatre
Dennis Spears, I Wish You Love, Penumbra Theatre

Best Actress (Musical)
Jevetta Steele, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Penumbra Theatre

Best Supporting Actor (Musical)
Sam Landman, The Sexy Librarian, Joking Envelope

Best Supporting Actress (Musical) tie
Melissa Hart, Cabaret
Kim Kivens, Dirty Rotten Scoudrels, Minneapolis Musical Theatre

Best Suipporting Actor (Non-musical)
Bradley Greenwald, Hamlet, Jungle Theater

Best Supporting Actress (Non-musical)
Helen Carey, The Winter’s Tale

Best Crossgender Performance
Luke Weber, The Maids

Best Solo Performance
Ali Rose Dachis, The Edge of Our Bodies, Guthrie

Best Classical Lead Performance
Stephen Yoakam, The Burial at Thebes, Guthrie

Best Revival Performance
Bradley Greenwald, I Am My Own Wife, Jungle

Funniest Performance
Wendy Lehr, Mercy Watson to the Rescue, Children’s Theatre Company

Best Performances From Out of Town
Christopher Sieber, Leading Role, La Cage Aux Folles, State Theatre
John Fugelsang, Solo Role, The Sexy Liberal Show, State Theatre
Meghann Fahy & Curt Hansen, Supporting Actor & Actress, Next to Normal, Ordway

Best Director
Wendy Knox, Ajax in Iraq & Cabaret

Best Theater Composer
Mike Hallenbeck, I Like You, Red Eye Collaboration & The Sexy Librarian

Patrick Bailey as Herr Schultz and Melissa Hart as Fraulein Schneider in "Cabaret." Photo by Tony Nelson.

Best Musical Direction
Michael Croswell, Cabaret

Best Choreographer
David Bolger, H.M.S. Pinafore, Guthrie

Best Set Design
Large House: John Coyne, Charley’s Aunt, Guthrie
Small House: Vicki Smith, Two Trains Running, Penumbra

Best Costume Design
Large House: Linda Cho, The Winter’s Tale
Small House: (tie) Kathy Kohl, Street Scene & A. Emily Heaney, Uncle Vanya

Best Lighting Design
Christopher Akerlind, The Burial at Thebes

Best Sound Design
Elliot Durko Lynch, The Ravagers

Video Design
Martin Gwinup, I Wish You Love

Outstanding Achievement in Theater for Youth
MEAN, Youth Performance Company
bloodymerryjammyparty, Blank Slate Theatre

Craig Johnson, Stephanie Cousins, and Mo Perry in "Uncle Vanya." Photo by Tamatha Miller.

Outstanding Achievement in Performance Art
Peligro, Patrick’s Cabaret

Outstanding Featured Dancer
Myron Johnson, Songs for a Swan, Ballet of the Dolls

Outstanding New Dance Work
Storm, Zenon Dance Company

Outstanding Dance Revivals
Deluxe Edition, Zenon
Rumblings, Minnesota Dance Theatre
Social Movements, James Sewell Ballet

Outstanding Achievement in Stage Movement
7-Shot Symphony, Live Action Set

Outstanding Achievement in Opera
Silent Night, Minnesota Opera