Artie Award hosts: Norm Sham, Anthony Chase and Lisa Ludwig

(photo: Rose Mattrey)

Chris Critelli leads a song selection from Musical Fare's "Urinetown," winner of Outstanding Production of a Musical

(photo: Rose Mattrey)

Kelly Ann Krupski, winner of the Outstanding Actress in a Musical award, sings a selection from "Always... Patsy Cline"

(photo: Rose Mattrey)

Winners of the Outstanding Debut awards from left to right: Bethany Moore, David Autovino, Hallie Clark, Chris Prado, Chris Critelli, Kelly Ann Krupski

(photo: Rose Mattrey)

Eric Jordan Young of "Sammy & Me"

(photo: Rose Mattrey)

Outstanding Ensemble of a Musical director Kelli Bocock-Natale applauds her cast of "Jacques Brel is Alive and Well..." from left to right: Leah Russo, Brian Riggs, Kathy Weese, Bobby Cooke.

(photo: Rose Mattrey)

This year, the Artie Award ceremony, Buffalo’s celebration of excellence in our theater community, were hosted by actors Lisa Ludwig and Norm Sham and Artvoice theater editor Anthony Chase at the Town Ballroom on Monday, May 22. Winners were announced in 19 categories as well as winners of Outstanding Debuts.

The event raised nearly $10,000 for Benedict House. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees!

The Winners

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF A PLAY

Amadeus, Irish Classical Theatre Company

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL

Urinetown, MusicalFare Theatre

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A PLAY

Peter Palmisano, Amadeus, Irish Classical Theatre

OUTSTANDING DIRECTION OF A PLAY

David Lamb, The Cocktail Hour, Kavinoky Theatre

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE OF A PLAY

No Niggers, No Dogs, No Jews; Paul Robeson Theatre

OUTSTANDING DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL

Kelli Bocock-Natale, Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well…,

Irish Classical Theatre

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE OF A MUSICAL

Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well…, Irish Classical Theatre

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A PLAY

Gerry Maher, Juno and the Paycock, Irish Classical Theatre

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A PLAY

Anne Gayley, The Cocktail Hour, Kavinoky Theatre

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A PLAY

Caitlin Coleman, Valhalla, Buffalo United Artists

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

John Fredo, Urinetown, MusicalFare

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

Kelly Ann Krupski, Always…Patsy Cline, Kavinoky Theatre

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

Tom Owen, Urinetown, MusicalFare

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

Mary Kate O’Connell, Buffalo Zings!,

O’Connell & Company

OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY

Michaael Walline, Naked Boys Singing,

Buffalo United Artists

OUTSTANDING NEW PLAY

Salome, Chris Kelly & Jimmy Janowski,

Buffalo United Artists

OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN

Chris Schenk, Urinetown, MusicalFare

OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN

Chris Cavanagh, Urinetown, MusicalFare

OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN

Geraldine Duskin, Amadeus, Irish Classical Theatre

Oh, What a Dress!

The best of Arties fashion

The Arties are the gauge of what is happening in women’s fashion. This year marked the return of color. Artie co-host Lisa Ludwig, whose five gowns were generously loaned by TT New York, looked remarkable in every frock, including a smashing before-and-after party gown of scarlet with a plunging neckline. The ever glamorous actress Eileen Dugan, who traditionally presents the first award of the evening, continued the colorful tone with green satin. Maggie Runfola, a nominee for Man of La Mancha, redefined décolletage in a black gown.

Jimmy Janowski, nominated as a leading actor in a play for his performance in I Am My Own Wife, was officially in charge of selecting the 10 “Best Dressed,” which he reports to have been an impossible task with so many exquisitely dressed women. Out of journalistic necessity, he narrowed the list down to the following.

1) Jamie from Roxie’s, in a red satin gown Jimmy dubbed “Memoirs of a Geisha.”

2) Loraine O’Donnell-Gray in a gauzy chiffon gown with embroidery reminiscent of “Babra Streisand in ’69.” “A Happening in Central Park” says it all, reports Jimmy.

3) Susan Drozd—The young actress impressed Jimmy in a “gorgeous aquamarine pleated satin gown” that Jimmy calls “Little Mermaid.”

4) Katie White—The former Artie winner reminded the judge of the Marilyn Monroe over-the-air-vent dress in The Seven Year Itch in a beige halter. This version also sported polka dots.

5) Debbie Pappas—The glamorous actress and former Artie winner presented the Costume Design award looking “Marvelous in Mackie,” and for the record, “Yes, that was a real Bob Mackie gown!”

6) Kari Drozd—The sister of actress Susan Drozd was a “Vintage Dream,” in a beautiful cream-colored chiffon gown straight from the late 1950s or early 1960s.

7) Leah Russo—Very simply the actress “Defined the Little Black Dress.”

8) Lisa Ludwig—The co-host of the show and multiple Artie winner looked fantastic in all her TT New York gowns—especially, says Jimmy, in her opening number, a full-shirted homage to Evita in black.

9) Kelly Ann Krupski—The evening’s winning Actress in a Musical for her performance in Always…Patsy Cline was “Always…Lovely” looking very 1950s Christian Dior in a fully skirted strapless pink gown.

10) Keri Kate Abel—The star of Jimmy Janwoski’s own Artie winning play, Salome and the Dance of the Seven Veils, looked lovely in a strapless black chiffon gown “encrusted with jewels.” “Salome, Salome, Pretty Pretty Salome,” says Jimmy, quoting his own script, co-written with Chris Kelly.