Artvoice will present Buffalo’s local theater awards, the ARTIES, at the Town Ballroom on Monday, evening, May 22, 2006. The event will be a benefit for Benedict House, which provides residential and support services for individuals living with AIDS. To be eligible for an Artie, an artist must live and work in the Buffalo area; a theater must produce work locally, primarily with local artists. In addition, awards are given to visiting artists for work of distinction. Nominees are determined by a committee of fifteen who vote on the 19 categories and make recommendations for the Katharine Cornell awards.

The nominees were previously announced at the Blossom Cohan Party at Studio Arena Theatre on Monday, May 8. Artie co-host Lisa Ludwig was on hand to read the list of nominees.

In addition to the categories listed below, the Arties include the Katharine Cornell Awards, given to visiting artists for outstanding contributions to the theater season. This year, Katharine Cornell Awards will go to actor Richard Howe for Juno and the Paycock at the Irish Classical Theatre; choreographer Lynne Kurdziel-Formato for Urinetown at MusicalFare; Chris Lee for lighting design on Sammy & Me at MusicalFare; actress Michele Ragusa for Bad Dates at Studio Arena Theatre; actress/playwright Ann Randolph for Squeeze Box, at the Alleyway Theatre; actor/playwright Eric Jordan Young, for Sammy & Me; and actor John Warren for Accidental Death of an Anarchist with the Irish Classical Theatre. With no further ado…

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION

OF A PLAY

Amadeus, Irish Classical Theatre

The Cocktail Hour, Kavinoky Theatre

Good, Jewish Repertory Theatre/

Irish Classical Theatre

No Niggers, No Dogs, No Jews,

Paul Robeson Theatre

Quills, Torn Space

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION

OF A MUSICAL

Always… Patsy Cline, Kavinoky Theatre

Jacques Brel is Alive and Well…,

Irish Classical Theatre

Naked Boys Singing!, Buffalo United Artists

Sammy & Me, MusicalFare

Urinetown, MusicalFare

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A PLAY

Jimmy Janowski, I Am My Own Wife

Jim Mohr, The Cocktail Hour

David Oliver, Quills

Peter Palmisano, Amadeus

Brian Riggs, The Good Thief

OUTSTANDING DIRECTION

OF A PLAY

Derek Campbell, Juno and the Paycock

David Lamb, The Cocktail Hour

Fortunato Pezzimenti, Amadeus

Dan Shanahan, ‘Night Mother

Christopher Standart, Quills

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE

OF A PLAY

Amadeus, Irish Classical Theatre

Glengarry Glen Ross,

Ujima Theater Company

No Niggers, No Dogs, No Jews,

Paul Robeson Theatre

Quills, Torn Space

Valhalla, Buffalo United Artists

OUTSTANDING DIRECTION

OF A MUSICAL

Kelli Bocock-Natale,

Jacques Brel is Alive and Well…

Randall Kramer, Urinetown

Paul Todaro, Man of La Mancha

Michael Walline, Naked Boys Singing!

Todd Warfield, Buffalo Zings!

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE

OF A MUSICAL

Buffalo Zings!, O’Connell & Company

Jacques Brel is Alive and Well…,

Irish Classical Theatre

Man of La Mancha, Kavinoky Theatre

Naked Boys Singing!, Buffalo United Artists

Urinetown, MusicalFare

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING

ACTOR IN A PLAY

Joe Demerly, Salome

Gerry Maher, Juno and the Paycock

Paul Todaro, Romeo and Juliet

Dan Walker, Glengarry Glen Ross

Richard Wesp, Celadine

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS

IN A PLAY

Kerrykate Abel, Salome

Anne Gayley, The Cocktail Hour

Leah Russo, Number the Stars

Renita Shadwick,

No Niggers No Dogs, No Jews

Joyce Stilson, Book of Liz

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING

ACTRESS IN A PLAY

Arlene Clement, Good

Caitlin Coleman, Valhalla

Kristin Tripp Kelly, Loot

Lisa Vitrano, Good

Katie White, Valhalla

OUTSTANDING ACTOR

IN A MUSICAL

Lou Colaiacovo, The Last Five Years

Bobby Cooke,

Jacques Brel is Alive and Well…

Chris Critelli, Urinetown

John Fredo, Urinetown

Brian Riggs, Jacques Brel is Alive and Well...

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS

IN A MUSICAL

Stephanie Bax, Desperate Measures

Kelly Ann Krupski, Always… Patsy Cline

Bethany Moore, Urinetown

Kathy Weese, The Last Five Years

Maggie Zindle, Man of La Mancha

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING

ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

David Butler, Buffalo Zings!

Tom Owen, Urinetown

Marc Sacco, Naked Boys Singing

Ron Swick, Desperate Measures

Tom Zindle, Man of La Mancha

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING

ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

Lisa Ludwig, Always… Patsy Cline

Mary Kate O’Connell, Buffalo Zings!

Loraine O’Donnell-Gray, Urinetown

Kim Piazza, Columbus

Michele Roberts, Urinetown

OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY

Kelli Bocock-Natale/Kathy Weese,

Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well…

Michele Gigante, Man of La Mancha

Michael Walline, Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Michael Walline,

Masque of Beauty and the Beast

Michaael Walline, Naked Boys Singing!

OUTSTANDING NEW PLAY

Buffalo Zings! by David Butler, Neil Garvey, Amy Barlow Liberatore, Mary Kate O’Connell, Loraine O’Donnell Gray, Reed Rankin, Ron Swick, Todd Warfield & Deep Throat

Casual Sex Diaries by

Matthew Crehan Higgin

Peddler’s Bones by Jon Elston

Salome by Chris Kelly and Jimmy Janowski

What Good Ole Days by Mary Craig, June L. Saunders Duell, Paulette Harris

OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN

David King, Celadine

David King, The Cocktail Hour

Neal Radice, Columbus

Chris Schenk, Urinetown

Ken Shaw, Number the Stars

OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN

Chris Cavanagh, Urinetown

Brian Cavanagh,

Masque of Beauty and the Beast

Michael Lodick, The Devils

John Malinowski,

No Niggers, No Dogs, No Jews

Keith Wharton, Deathtrap

OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN

Geraldine Duskin, Amadeus

Olivia Ebsary, Urinetown

Jenipher Gurney, Celadine

Tess Lew, Quills

Kenneth Shaw,

Masque of Beauty and the Beast