Faculty, Alumni Get Nods from Boston Theater Critics

The Boston Theater Critics Association just released this year’s 43rd Elliot Norton Awards nominees, and you may see some familiar names from Emerson’s Performing Arts Department. 

The awards themselves are named for the Boston theater critic Elliot Norton. Recipients of these nominations are recognized and honored for their outstanding work from this past theater season in Greater Boston.

Josephine Moshiri Elwood ’15 was nominated in three different categories — Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play, Midsize; Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Midsize; and Outstanding Ensemble — spanning over two performances, Job, directed by Marianna Basham, and Our Town, directed by Courtney O’Connor. Following both shows, Elwood has returned to Central Square Theater to perform in Breaking the Code, running through May 3.

Associate Professor Nathaniel Justiniano was nominated for Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play, Small, in the beautiful land I seek (la linda tierra que busco yo), directed by Elliot Norton Award Winner Armando Rivera.

Affiliated faculty member Rachel Bertone was nominated for Outstanding Choreography in Evita. With multiple awards for outstanding choreography under her belt, including an Elliot Norton Award, Bertone hopes to add another to the collection.

Nominated for Outstanding Scenic Design, Midsize or Small, is former senior affiliated faculty member, Janie E. Howland, for her work in Jaja’s African Hair Braiding. The show also was nominated for Outstanding Ensemble, which included recent graduate Kwezi Shongwe ’24 earning her first nomination for the Elliot Norton Awards.

And Ari Conte ’15 is a producer of the Broadway musical Suffs, which was awarded Outstanding Visiting Musical for its March Broadway in Boston run.

The awards ceremony will be held Monday, June 1, 7:00 p.m., at the Huntington Theatre in Boston.