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 150^th 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