You are here
Historical Opera 1865 Racks Up 15 Actor Boy Nominations

Come April 4, when the curtains open on the 2015 Actor Boy Awards, the air will be full of anticipation, as some 20 productions contend for coveted prizes in 21 categories. 2015 was a reasonably full season, which saw some 25 productions being mounted, from which nominees were chosen and announced Monday, February 29, at the New Kingston Conference Centre.
Frank Haliburton's 1865 is this year's heavyweight with 15 nominations, the most for a single production. The production, which has been celebrated as an important work on and off the awards circuit is said to be the island’s first full length opera, drawing on the Morant Bay Rebellion of that year. The production was unveiled aptly in the year of the 150th anniversary of the rebellion that cultivated heroes, challenged the status quo and still stands as a pivotal time in the island’s history. The production scored big in technical nominations, as well as earned 2 nods each for Original Song (Halliburton) and Actor in a Supporting Role (Roy Thompson & Sean Moncrieffe). Nominations for Best Original Score, Choreography (Michael Holgate and Kevin Moore), Best Drama, Best Musical, Best Tragedy, Best New Jamaican Play, Best Production (University Singers) and Director (Brian Heap) complete its haul.
While 1865 saw major nods, it was not alone in this nor in tackling timely matters. Michael Holgate’s Riot Act, which also deals with race, history, and heritage, copped 8 nominations, including Best Original Score, Best Director, Best Musical, and Best Ensemble Cast.
Jambiz International Productions saw a total of 17 nominations across two productions. Duppy Whisperer racked up 11 nods, making its presence felt in most major categories. The Patrick Brown play is up for Best Director (Brown and Trevor Nairne), Best Production, Best Special Effects and Soundscape (Patrick Brown, Trevor Nairne), Best Actor in a Lead Role (Glen Campbell) and Best Actress in A Lead Role (Camille Davis). The production house’s earlier output, The Baby Scam, also earned noteworthy credit with 6 nominations including for Best Production, and saw another nod for Glen Campbell for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. Both plays also up for Best New Jamaican Play.
Dahlia Harris’ Ol’ Fyah Stick had another outstanding set of nominations, gaining nine nods. With four nominations for acting, the play has copped the most in this area. Deon Silvera is nominated for Best Actress in a Lead Role while Harris is up for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Christopher Daley and Desmond Dennis are both nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. The play is also up for Best Production (DMH Productions) and Best Comedy.
Basil Dawkins’ Guilt Trip also boasts 9 nominations including 3 for acting going to Oliver Samuels (Best Actor in a Lead Role), Ruth Hoshing (Best Actress in a Lead Role) and Dennis Titus for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. The play is up for Best Production, Best New Jamaican Play, Best Comedy and Best Drama.
With 5 nods each, other noteworthy nominees include, the riotous Samson & di Liar, with two nods for Best Actor in a Lead Role (Ricky Rowe and Tony Hendriks) and the musicals Nesta’s Rock, and At the Barricade. Both plays are up up for Best Musical and Best Choreography.
Actor Boy Awards committee members and co-hosts of the announcement event, Maurice Bryan and Michael Daley, also announced plans to begin documenting and archiving the output of Jamaica's theatre community, and introduced the Actor Boy Awards Scholarship Programme which is set to benefit tertiary level theatre arts students.
The Actor Boy Awards will be hosted on April 4, 2016 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston under the theme, Celebrating the Musical, hosted by renowned Jamaican actress Teisha Duncan.
Complete Nominee List:
Best Set Design
At the Barricade - Robin Baston
1865 - Michael Lorde
Ol' Fyah Stick - Robin Baston
Duppy Whisperer - Trevor Nairne & Patrick Brown
Guilt Trip - Michael Lorde
Best Special Effects
At the Barricade - Robin Baston
Duppy Whisperer - Soundscape, Trevor Nairne & Patrick Brown
Best Lighting Design
At the Barricade - Robin Baston
1865 - Nadia Roxburgh
Nesta's Rock - Max Earle
Ol' Fyah Stick - Robin Baston
Duppy Whisperer - Patrick Brown
Ded Lef - Nadia Roxburgh & Conroy Wilson
Best Costume Design
The Baby Scam - Patrick Brown
1865 - Quindell Ferguson
Nesta's Rock - Carolyn Chin Yee
Duppy Whisperer - Trevor Nairne & Sakina Deer
Guilt Trip - Quindell Ferguson
Best Choreography
At the Barricade - Neisha- yen Jones
Riot Act - Michael Holgate
Ded Lef - Michael Holgate
1865 - Michael Holgate & Kevin Moore
Nesta's Rock - Tony Wilson
Best Original Song
Riot Act - I Want to be Free- Michael Holgate
Riot Act - Slaves Death Lament- Michael Holgate
Samson & di Liar - The Verdict - Tony Hendricks & Jon Williams
1865 - The Macka Stick - Franklin Halliburton
1865 - Burn - Franklin Halliburton
Best Original Score
Riot Act - Michael Holgate
Samson & di Liar - Tony Hendricks & Jon Williams
1865 - Franklin Halliburton
Best Tragedy
1865 - University Singers
Oedipus The King - EMCVPA- School of Drama
Best Musical
At The Barricade - Jamaica Musical Theatre Company (JMTC)
Riot Act - Michael Holgate
Ded Lef - Ashe
1865 - University Singers
Nesta's Rock - Jamaica Musical Theatre Company (JMTC)
Best Drama
1865 - University Singers
God of Carnage - University Players
Guilt Trip - Basil Dawkins Productions
Concubine? - Sydney Reid
The Baby Scam - JAMBIZ Productions
Best Revue
The Black That I Am - Raw Talent WINNER
Best Childrens Theatre
Anancy Chaptaz: Fyah Staam - Damion Radcliffe and Independent Actors Movement
Force Ripe - Barracks Entertainment
Nesta's Rock - Jamaica Musical Theatre Company (JMTC)
Furry Tales - Eugene Williams
Best Comedy
Samson & di Liar - Scarlette Beharie
The Baby Scam - JAMBIZ Productions
Ol' Fyah Stick - DMH Productions
Duppy Whisperer - JAMBIZ Productions
Border Patrol - Big Stage Entertainment
God of Carnage - University Players
Guilt Trip - Basil Dawkins Productions
Best Ensemble Cast
Anancy Chaptaz - Fyah Staam - Damion Radcliffe and Independent Actors Movement
The Lion & The Jewel - Univerity Dramatic Arts Society (UDAS)
Riot Act - Michael Holgate
Best New Jamaican Play
Riot Act - Michael Holgate
1865 - Franklin Halliburton
Ol' Fyah Stick - Dahlia Harris
Duppy Whisperer - Patrick Brown
Guilt Trip - Basil Dawkins
The Baby Scam - Patrick Brown
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
The Baby Scam - Glen Campbell
1865 - Roy Thompson
1865 - Sean Moncrieffe
Ol' Fyah Stick - Christopher Daley
Ol' Fyah Stick - Desmond Dennis
Guilt Trip - Dennis Titus
Actress in a Supporting Role
Ol' Fyah Stick - Dahlia Harris
Duppy Whisperer - Sakina Deer
Bangarang - Terri Salmon
The Black That I am - Julene Robinson
The Black That I am - Shanique Brown
Best Actor in a Lead Role
Samson & di Liar - Tony Hendricks
Samson & di Liar - Ricky Rowe
God of Carnage - Alwyn Scott
Duppy Whisperer - Glen Campbell
Guilt Trip - Oliver Samuels
Actress in Lead Role
Border Patrol - Andrea Wright
Ol' Fyah Stick - Deon Silvera
Duppy Whisperer - Camille Davis
Guilt Trip - Ruth Ho Shing
Concubine? - Kerisha Nelson
Best Directing
Riot Act - Michael Holgate
1865 - Brian Heap
God of Carnage - Brian Heap
Duppy Whisperer - Trevor Nairne & Patrick Brown
Concubine? - Nadean Rawlins
Best Production
The Baby Scam - JAMBIZ Productions
1865 - University Singers
Ol'Fyah Stick - DMH Productions
Duppy Whisperer - JAMBIZ Productions
Guilt Trip - Basil Dawkins Productions