On Monday, June 5, Fringe was pleased to host the nominations announcement for the 35th annual Sterling Awards.

Folks gathered ‘round Fringe Grounds Cafe with a fresh cup of coffee and watched in antici –  

(Wait for it)  

-pation for the award nomination announcements opened by April Banigan. Our hosts with the most, Andrés Moreno and Megan Dart gleefully read through the list, and we’re absolutely thrilled to see how many Fringe-related shows were featured! Tickets are on sale now for the gala event on June 26. Affectionately referred to by some as ‘Theatre Prom,’ this year’s shindig will be presented in Fringe’s Westbury Theatre in the Arts Barns.  

One thing remains true above all – Edmonton is a rockin’ theatre community, y’all. From the big shows in the big houses to the staggering number of indie productions to Fringe shows, our heart is full.  

Now, awards aren’t everything. We recognize that with so many amazing, talented, and wonderful Artists in our thriving community, it would be impossible to recognize them all. So, we say to the Artists reading this – nominated or not – a full–hearted CONGRATULATIONS! This year, we felt the theatre scene bounce back in more ways than one, and you ALL were an INTEGRAL part of that.  

Here’s to the future and our thriving Edmonton theatre scene!  

We also wanted to send special congratulations to those Fringe Family members who received nominations. In total, 26 Fringe shows were recognized, 5 Fringe Staff members received noms, 10 productions nominated were presented in our Arts Barns, 2 of our Fringe Season Shows received nods, and 2 shows were honoured as part of Common Ground Theatre’s RISER Edmonton. Phew! That’s a lot of nominations.  

Here’s a list of all the Artists nominated for the 35th Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Awards.  

Outstanding Production of a Play:  

The Royale (Citadel Theatre) 

Network (Citadel Theatre and Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre) 

All the Little Animals I Have Eaten (Shadow Theatre) 

A Hundred Words for Snow (Northern Light Theatre) 

Pride and Prejudice (Citadel Theatre) 

Timothy Ryan Award for Outstanding Production of a Musical 

Prison Dancer (Citadel Theatre and Prison Dancer Inc.) 

Sweeney Todd (Plain Jane Theatre Company) 

Jason Kenney’s Hot Boy Summer (Grindstone Theatre) 

Jersey Boys (Citadel Theatre) 

Joni Mitchell’s Songs of a Prairie Girl (Theatre Network/Wildside Productions) 

Outstanding Independent Production of a Play 

Smoke (Tiny Bear Jaws) 

Re:Construct (Common Ground Arts Society) 

Anahita’s Republic (AuTash Productions) 

In My Own Little Corner (Common Ground Arts Society) 

Boy Trouble (Amoris Projects) 

Outstanding New Play (Award to Playwright): 

Carly Neis, In My Own Little Corner (Common Ground Arts Society) 

Byron Martin and Simon Abbott, Jason Kenney’s Hot Boy Summer (Grindstone Theatre) 

 Even Gilchrist, Re:Construct (Common Ground Arts Society) 

Darrin Hagen, 10 Funerals (Shadow Theatre) 

Lianna Makuch, Alina (Pyretic Productions) 

Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role – Play:  

Davina Stewart, Squeamish (Northern Light Theatre) 

Austin Eckert, The Royale (Citadel Theatre) 

Dayna Lea Hoffmann, A Hundred Words for Snow (Northern Light Theatre) 

Roya Yazdanmehr, Anahita’s Republic (AuTash Productions) 

Kristin Johnston, Enough (Northern Light Theatre) 

Maralyn Ryan, The Innocence of Trees (Theatre Network) 

Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role – Musical:  

Julio Fuentes, Prison Dancer (Citadel Theatre and Prison Dancer Inc.) 

 Sheldon Elter, Sweeney Todd (Plain Jane Theatre Company) 

Donovan Workun, Jason Kenney’s Hot Boy Summer (Grindstone Theatre) 

Farren Timoteo, Jersey Boys (Citadel Theatre) 

Kristi Hansen, Sweeney Todd (Plain Jane Theatre Company) 

Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role – Play:  

Jameela McNeil, The Royale (Citadel Theatre) 

Ben Elliott, Pride and Prejudice (Citadel Theatre) 

Nadien Chu, Pride and Prejudice (Citadel Theatre) 

Mohamed Ahmed, The Royale (Citadel Theatre) 

Andrea House, The Wrong People Have Money (Shadow Theatre) 

Dayna Lea Hoffmann, All the Little Animals I Have Eaten (Shadow Theatre) 

Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role – Musical:  

Etta Fung, Orphée+ (Edmonton Opera) 

Diana Del Rosario, Prison Dancer (Citadel Theatre and Prison Dancer Inc.) 

Malachi Wilkins, Jason Kenney’s Hot Boy Summer (Grindstone Theatre) 

Abby Vandenberghe, Jason Kenney’s Hot Boy Summer (Grindstone Theatre) 

Vance Avery, Sweeney Todd (Plain Jane Theatre Company) 

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Play or Musical:  

Prison Dancer (Citadel Theatre and Prison Dancer Inc.) 

Jason Kenney’s Hot Boy Summer (Grindstone Theatre) 

All the Little Animals I Have Eaten (Shadow Theatre) 

Pride and Prejudice (Citadel Theatre)  

Sweeney Todd (Plain Jane Theatre Company) 

Outstanding Director:  

André Sills, The Royale (Citadel Theatre) 

Trevor Schmidt, A Hundred Words for Snow (Northern Light Theatre) 

Alexandra Dawkins, All the Little Animals I Have Eaten (Shadow Theatre) 

Kate Ryan, Sweeney Todd (Plain Jane Theatre Company)  

Mieko Ouchi, Pride and Prejudice (Citadel Theatre) 

Outstanding Set Design: 

 Stephanie Bahniuk, Alina (Pyretic Productions) 

Lorenzo Savoini, Network (Citadel Theatre and Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre) 

Beyata Hackborn, Freaky Green Eyes (Screaming Mantis in Association with Punctuate! Theatre and Fringe Theatre)  

Scott Reid, Clue (Citadel Theatre) 

Alison Yanota, A Hundred Words for Snow (Northern Light Theatre) 

Outstanding Costume Design:  

Joyce Padua, Prison Dancer (Citadel Theatre and Prison Dancer Inc.) 

Leona Brausen, Jersey Boys (Citadel Theatre) 

Deanna Finnman, Pride and Prejudice (Citadel Theatre) 

Rachel Forbes, The Royale (Citadel Theatre) 

Sarah Uwadiae, Trouble in Mind (Citadel Theatre and Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre) 

Outstanding Lighting Design:  

Steve Lucas, The Royale (Citadel Theatre) 

Narda McCarroll, Listen, Listen (Teatro Live!) 

Kat Evans, Freaky Green Eyes (Screaming Mantis in Association with Punctuate! Theatre and Fringe Theatre) 

Roy Jackson, Enough (Northern Light Theatre) 

Alison Yanota, A Hundred Words for Snow (Northern Light Theatre) 

Outstanding Multi-Media Design:  

Hugh Conacher, Network (Citadel Theatre and Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre) 

S Katy Tucker, Orphée+ (Edmonton Opera) 

Matt Schuurman, A Hundred Words for Snow (Northern Light Theatre)

Erin Gruber with Rebecca Cypher, The Space Between Stars (Small Matters Productions and SkirtsAfire)

Ian Jackson, Subscribe or Like (Workshop West Playwrights’ Theatre) 

Outstanding Score of a Play or Musical:  

Romeo Candido, Prison Dancer (Citadel Theatre and Prison Dancer Inc.) 

Hawksley Workman, Almost a Full Moon (Citadel Theatre) 

Simon Abbott and Byron Martin, Jason Kenney’s Hot Boy Summer (Grindstone Theatre) 

Farhad Khosravi, Anahita’s Republic (AuTash Productions) 

Darrin Hagen, Unsung: Tales From the Front Line (Workshop West Playwrights’ Theatre) 

Outstanding Sound Design:  

Aaron Macri, Alina (Pyretic Productions) 

Dave Clarke, The Royale (Citadel Theatre)  

Daniela Fernandez, A Hundred Words for Snow (Northern Light Theatre)  

Darrin Hagen, Subscribe or Like (Workshop West Playwrights’ Theatre) 

Darrin Hagen and Morag Northey, The Innocence of Trees (Theatre Network) 

Outstanding Musical Director:  

Shannon Hiebert, Sweeney Todd (Plain Jane Theatre)

Chloe Meyers, Stabat Mater (Edmonton Opera) 

Simon Abbott, Jason Kenney’s Hot Boy Summer (Grindstone Theatre) 

Steven Greenfield, Jersey Boys (Citadel Theatre) 

Kierscey Rand, Prison Dancer (Citadel Theatre and Prison Dancer Inc.) 

Outstanding Choreography or Fight Direction:  

Shakeil Rollock, The Royale (Citadel Theatre) 

Ainsley Hillyard, All the Little Animals I Have Eaten (Shadow Theatre) 

Amber Borotsik, Alina (Pyretic Productions) 

Morgan Yamada, Death Trap (Teatro Live!) 

Julio Fuentes, Prison Dancer (Citadel Theatre and Prison Dancer Inc.) 

Outstanding Individual Achievement in Production: 

 Even Gilchrist (production Designer and Builder) 

Kat Evans (Production Manager) 

Andrea Handal Rivera (Stage Manager) 

Tristan Fair (House Technician) 

Nancy Yuen (Stage Manager) 

Outstanding Production for Young Audiences: 

 CTRL-ALT-DEL (Concrete Theatre) 

Jack and the Beanstalk (Alberta Musical Theatre Company) 

Outstanding Artistic Achievement for Young Audiences:  

Jana O’Connor, Playwright, CTRL-ALT-DEL (Concrete Theatre) 

Shrina Patel, Choreographer, Jack and the Beanstalk (Alberta Musical Theatre Company) 

David Anderson, Performer, Jack and the Beanstalk (Alberta Musical Theatre Company) 

Corben Kushneryk, Director, CTRL-ALT-DEL (Concrete Theatre);  

c.m. zuby, Set and Prop Design, CTRL-ALT-DEL (Concrete Theatre) 

Outstanding Fringe Production:  

Ride the Cyclone (Uniform Theatre and Scona Alumni Theatre Co) 

Jesus Teaches Us Things (Dammitammy Productions) 

Crack in the Mirror (Guys in Disguise) 

Fags in Space (Low Hanging Fruits) 

Conjoined (Straight Edge Theatre) 

Outstanding Fringe New Work (Award to Playwright):  

Ellie Heath, Fake n’ Bake (Oh Hello! Productions) 

Rebecca Merkley, Jesus Teaches Us Things (Dammitammy Productions) 

Jake Tkaczyk, White Guy on Stage Talking (Innocent Operations) 

Liam Salmon, Fags in Space (Low Hanging Fruits) 

Seth Gilfillan and Stephen Allred, Conjoined (Straight Edge Theatre) 

Outstanding Fringe Performance by an Individual:  

Rebecca Merkley, Jesus Teaches Us Things (Dammitammy Productions) 

Zachary Parsons-Lozinski/Lilith Fair, Pansy Cabaret (Guys in Disguise) 

Ellie Heath, Fake n’ Bake (Oh Hello! Productions) 

Andrea House, Salsa Lesson (Stardust Players) 

Josh Travnik, Conjoined (Straight Edge Theatre) 

Outstanding Fringe Performance by an Ensemble:  

Ride the Cyclone (Uniform Theatre and Scona Alumni Theatre Co) 

Walter (Pansy Craze Productions) 

The Erlking (Scona Alumni Theatre Co) 

Destination Vegas (Whizgiggling Productions) 

Crack in the Mirror (Guys in Disguise) 

Fags in Space (Low Hanging Fruits) 

Outstanding Fringe Director:  

Linette J. Smith, Ride the Cyclone (Uniform Theatre and Scona Alumni Theatre Co) 

Brennan Doucet, Walter (Pansy Craze Productions) 

Trevor Schmidt, Crack in the Mirror (Guys in Disguise) 

 Kristi Hansen, Fake n’ Bake (Oh Hello! Productions) 

Carmen Osahor and Jessy Ardern, The Big Sad (The Fox Den Collective) 

The Margaret Mooney Award for Outstanding Achievement in Administration:  

Coralie Cairns 

The Ross Hill Award for Outstanding Achievement in Production:  

Mel Geary 

Outstanding Contribution to Theatre in Edmonton:  

Judy Unwin 

So we send a special congratulations to all the nominees! We’re looking forward to hosting you later this month.  

Tickets to the Awards Gala are Available Here: https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:4648/