Emersonians honored for excellence in theater

Several Emersonians were recently honored at the 30th Anniversary Elliot Norton Awards held at Emerson’s own Paramount Center. Presented by the Boston Theater Critics Association, the awards recognize excellence in Boston-area theater.

Among the winners were:

• ArtsEmerson’s Mabou Mines DollHouse for Outstanding Visiting Production and for Outstanding Performance by an Actress (large theater)
• ArtsEmerson’s The Andersen Project for Outstanding Design (large theater) and for Outstanding Solo Performance
• Actors’ Shakespeare Project’s Twelfth Night, directed by Emerson Performing Arts Chair Melia Bensussen, for Outstanding Production (small theater) and Outstanding Design (small/medium theater)

A play directed by Associate Professor Melia Bensussen won two Norton Awards.

Additionally, alumni Justin Paice ’10 and Darren Evans, MA ’02, were nominated for Outstanding Design (lighting) for The Rocky Horror Show, and for Outstanding Director (small theater) for Mojo (Theatre on Fire), respectively.

Following the ceremony, nominees, winners, patrons, and fans gathered in the Jackie Liebergott Black Box Theatre for a community-wide celebration.

The Norton Awards are named for the eminent Boston theater critic Elliot Norton, who remained an active supporter of both local and national drama until his death in 2003 at the age of 100. For 48 years, Norton was a drama critic for Boston newspapers; concurrently, from 1958 to 1982, he was moderator of Elliot Norton Reviews on WGBH television.