Sheridan alumni vie for Critics' Pick Awards

Several Sheridan alumni have received Critics’ Pick nominations for their work on popular theatre productions including Mary Poppins, Grand Hotel, and Rumspringa Break!

The Critics’ Pick Awards were established by My Entertainment World — an online hub devoted to entertainment coverage. The annual awards are split into three divisions: cinema, television and Toronto-based theatre.

Six Sheridan alumni were recognized for their theatre work in Toronto. Three Theatre and Drama Studies grads are up for Outstanding Solo Performance for the theatre awards, while two Music Theatre Performance alumni have been nominated for Outstanding Performance in a Musical. One alumnus has been nominated for Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Musical.

Rumpspringa Break! will be vying for Outstanding New Musical. The production was originally developed as part of Sheridan’s renowned Canadian Music Theatre Project (pictured) — an incubator for new musicals. The program has produced successes such as The Theory of Relativity, Prom Queen, and the Tony Award-winning Come From Away.

The winners of the 2018 Critics’ Pick Awards will be announced in April.

Sheridan alumni were nominated in the following categories:

Outstanding solo performance

• Lauren Wolanski (Theatre and Drama Studies ‘17) was nominated for her role in Vitals (Theatre Born Between)
• Owen Fawcett (Theatre & Drama Studies ‘13) was recognized for his role in Thom Pain (based on nothing) (Theatre by Committee)
• Clare Blackwood (Theatre & Drama Studies ‘10) was nominated for her portrayal of Natalie Frijia in BikeFace (Trailblazing Ladies/Toronto Fringe)

Outstanding new musical

• Rumspringa Break! by Colleen Dauncey, Akiva Romer-Segal & Matt Murray (Marigon Productions/Next Stage Theatre Festival)

Outstanding supporting performance in a musical

• Michael Therriault (Music Theatre Performance ‘95) excelled in the role of Otto Kringelein in Grand Hotel (Shaw Festival)

Outstanding leading performance in a musical

• Georgia Bennett (Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance ‘17) was nominated for her performance as Ruth in Rumspringa Break! (Marigon Productions/Next Stage Theatre Festival)
• Practically perfect in every way, Vanessa Sears’ (Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance ‘15) portrayal of Mary Poppins received a nomination (Young People’s Theatre)

Read the full list of Critics’ Pick Award nominations.