Miami Theatres Dominate Carbonell Award Nominations
GableStage Aces Dramatic Categories

By Mary Damiano

	The cast of Frozen: Lisa Morgan, Gordon McConnell and Brigit Connors. Each were nominated for a Carbonell Award for their performances in the play, a GableStage production. Photo by George Schiavone

When the nominations for the Carbonell Awards, which honor South Florida Theatre, were announced last week, one thing was clear: Miami made out like a bandit.

Miami-Dade County theatres received a whopping 63 Nominations; Palm Beach received 36 while Broward theatres received 21.

Does this mean that theatre in Miami is better?

“It seems to me that it swings back and forth over the years…there is some strong theatre happening north as well,” says Lisa Morgan, who received three nomination for Best Actress, all for work at Coral Gables’ GableStage Theatre. “I think these things are like a pendulum.”

“I think there's a reason why people refer to Coral Gables not just as ‘The City Beautiful’—but also as ‘The City for Theatre’,” says GableStage Artistic Director Joe Adler, who received two nominations for Best Director of a Play. “There are three companies doing plays year-round—and we all have a distinctly different style of theatre.”

While the Actor’s Playhouse in Coral Gables received 32 nominations, the most nominations of any theatre, GableStage received 23. The two theatres each have a specialty—Actor’s Playhouse has a lock on musicals, while GableStage presents more dramatic work. New Theatre, also in Coral Gables, which specializes in new work and also does a summer Shakespeare festival, received five nominations. Miami’s City Theatre, The Promethean Theatre and the Mad Cat Theatre each received one nomination.

	Lisa Morgan

Three of Actor’s Playhouse’s productions are in the running for Best Musical, Aida, Beauty and the Beast and Songs for a New World. GableStage’s Frozen and The Retreat from Moscow are both in the running for Best Play.

Out of 24 nominations in the dramatic performance categories, GableStage productions received 12. In fact, in the Best Actress category, only one nomination did not go to an actress in a GableStage production.

Morgan was surprised by her three nominations, for her roles in Frozen, Misery and The Retreat from Moscow.

“I guess that honestly I thought that maybe Frozen would be nominated but the other two were shock. I was certainly not expecting three,” says Morgan. “It is a good feeling though. It's always nice when your work is recognized. When I'm actually doing the work it's the last thing I think about—I am so focused on what I'm doing—but it's very nice to look up and be nominated.”

Morgan’s costar in The Retreat from Moscow, David Kwiat, was nominated for Best Actor for his role in that play.

“It is always an honor to be recognized by the theatrical community,” Kwiat says. “I like to think we all ‘won’ since we were nominated.”

Beth McIntosh

Beth McIntosh, co-founder and artistic producer for The Promethean Theatre, was hoping her fledgling company would receive some recognition. While Promethean received a nomination for Best New Work, for their production of Juan C. Sanchez’s Buck Fever, McIntosh was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the GableStage’s Brooklyn Boy.

“To put it lightly I was stunned, she says. “All of my 'fingers crossed' moments about the Carbonells were about The Promethean Theatre. I never thought about anything for me, especially for a show like Brooklyn Boy, which is such an ensemble piece. It was a total shock, completely unexpected, but as a struggling actor anytime you get recognized for your work is flattering and pretty exciting.”

Adler attributes the GableStage’s recognition to the choice of material.

“We produce recent plays that offer challenging and exciting roles, and our mission is to utilize South Florida talent exclusively performers,” Adler says.

The performers Adler employs have a different take on why GableStage excels.

“Joe Adler, the artistic director, of course, is GableStage,” says Kwiat. “His track record is the result of a tremendous dose of common sense and artistry whipped to a frenzy. His casting choices are impeccable and his attention to detail gives his work a sense of precision and professionalism which is consistent throughout his body of work.”

	David Kwiat

McIntosh echos that sentiment.

“Honestly, my one goal last year was just to get the chance to audition
for Joe,” she says. “His talent as a director and his ability to choose and get access to strong and interesting material that not only excites the audience but the actors who get the chance to sink their teeth into the amazing roles. Frozen was one of the first shows I saw in South Florida and I was so blown away on all levels by that production that I knew my goal was just to get the opportunity to work there.”

The Carbonell Awards ceremony will be held Monday, April 10, at Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale. For a complete list of nominees and more info about the awards ceremony, visit www.CarbonellAwards.org.