CONNECTICUT CRITICS CIRCLE ANNOUNCES BEST OF YEAR

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             CINDERELLA AND LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD "INTO THE WOODS"

A play about an Iraq war veteran who uses an online chatroom to find his way back into civilization, a river boat that travels up anddown the mighty Mississippi entertaining folks along its banks and a musicalabout how fairy tales don’t always end happily ever after were the trio ofwinners who will take home awards from the Connecticut Critics Circle for bestproductions of the year this Sunday, June 24 at 2 p.m. at a ceremony to be heldat the Mark Twain House and Museum in Hartford.
Hartford Stage’s production of the PulitzerPrize-winning  drama “Water by the Spoonful,” Goodspeed Musicals revival of “ShowBoat” and the Westport Country Playhouse’s delightful version of “Into theWoods” all will garner kudos as outstanding productions.
The directors of each production also will earn credit:  David McCallum for “Water by theSpoonful,” Rob Ruggiero for “Show Boat” and Mark Lamos for “Into theWoods.”  Also honored will be SamGold for “The Realistic Joneses” at Yale Repertory Theatre and ChristopherBayes for “A Doctor in Spite of Himself” at Yale Rep.
To recognize actors and actresses for their outstanding workin either a play or a musical three actors in Long Wharf Theatre’s “FebruaryHouse” will be cited:  ErickLochtefeld, Stanley Bahorek and Ken Barnett.  Other kudos will go to Stephen Epp for “A Doctor in Spite ofHimself,” Brenda Thomas for “Sty of the Blind Pig” at TheaterWorks of Hartford,Annalee Jeffries for “Suddenly Last Summer” at Westport Country Playhouse,Jacqueline Petroccia for “Always, Patsy Cline” at Ivoryton Playhouse, SaraUriarte Berry for “Show Boat,” Dana Steingold for “Into the Woods,” SamTsoutsouvas for “The Crucible “ at Hartford Stage, John Horton for “The Circle”at Westport Country Playhouse, Kirsten Wyatt for “Mame” at Goodspeed Musicalsand Claire Brownell for Boeing, Boeing” at Hartford Stage.
For outstanding ensemble, the casts of “Into the Woods,”“Water by the Spoonful” and “The Realistic Joneses” will be recognized.  Alexander Dodge, scenic designer, andFabio Toblini, costume designer, will be singled out for their work on both“The Tempest” and “Bell, Book and Candle” at Hartford Stage, the latter acollaborative effort with Long Wharf Theatre. Mr. Dodge will also beacknowledged for his work on the set of “The Circle.” The designer John Lasiterwill be recognized for his lighting in Goodspeed Musicals’ “City of Angels” andJohn Gromada for his sound design in Westport Country Playhouse’s “LipsTogether, Teeth Apart.”
For outstanding choreography the winner is Noah Racey for“Show Boat” while the Debut Awards will be shared by Carey Cannata for his rolein “Over the Tavern” at Seven Angels Theatre and to Ben Cole for “The Tempest.”  The special Tom Killen Award will bepresented to Jacqueline Hubbard, Artistic Director of the IvorytonPlayhouse.  A “Special Recognition”will be given to playwright Mike Reiss for his premiere of “I’m Connecticut” atConnecticut Repertory Theatre.
Since 1990, the Connecticut Critics Circle has beendedicated to applauding the best of the state’s theatrical productions.  The organization is composed toreviewers, columnists and broadcasters across the state.  This year, the twenty-second AwardsCeremony, will take place this Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Mark Twain House andMuseum.