Boston, MA, April 24^th – The Huntington Theatre Company’s production of “Merrily We Roll Along” took home seven awards, including Best Musical in the Large Stage category, and SpeakEasy Stage’s “Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night” earned five Small Stage (including Best Play) honors at the 22^nd Annual IRNE Awards held last night. Speakeasy’s “Bridges of Madison County” copped four wins in the Small Stage – Musical category, and Merrimack Rep’s “The Royale” also won three awards for Large Stage, including Best Play.

In addition to Best Musical, “Merrily” took home honors for Best Director (Maria Friedman), Actress (Eden Espinosa), Supporting Actress (Aimee Doherty), Ensemble, Lighting Design (David Lander) and Costume Design (Soutra Gilmour). Megan Sandberg-Zakian followed up last year’s win as Best Director in the Small Stage category with a win in Large Stage as the director of “Royale”, Paul Daigneault was named Best Director – Small Stage for “Curious Incident”, and David Miller of Zeitgeist Stage won for his direction of “Faceless”, which also won Best Play in the Fringe category.

There was also a pair of double winners at the awards ceremony, as Greater Boston Stage Company’s Ilyse Robbins took home the honors as Small Stage Director (“She Loves Me”) and chorographer (“Dames at Sea”), while Matthew Stern earned kudos as Best Musical Director for Large (“Merrily We Roll Along”) and Small Musical (The Bridges of Madison County).

THE WINNERS!!!!!!!

IRNE Winners – Small Stage

Best New Play

Paradise – Laura Maria Censabella – Underground Railway Theater

Best Set Design

Christopher and Justin Swader – Curious Incident – SpeakEasy Stage

Best Costume Design

Marian Bertone–Barnum – Moonbox Productions

Best Lighting Design

Jeff Adelberg–Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night–SpeakEasy Stage

Best Projection Design

Seaghan McKay–Golda’s Balcony–New Rep

Best Sound Design

David Remedios– Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night – SpeakEasy Stage

Choreography

Ilyse Robbins – Dames at Sea – Greater Boston Stage Company

Best Solo Performance

Bobbie Steinbach – Golda’s Balcony – New Rep

Ensemble

39 Steps – Moonbox Productions

Best Supporting Actress–Play–Fringe

Juliet Bowler–Silent Sky–Flat Earth Theatre

Best Supporting Actor–Play–Fringe

Matthew Zahnzinger and Bob Mussett – 39 Steps – Moonbox Productions

Best Actress–Play–Fringe

Lindsay Eagle–Fat Pig–Flat Earth Theatre

Best Actor–Play–Fringe

Cameron Gosselin–Coyote on a Fence–Hub Theatre Company of Boston

Supporting Actress–Play–Midsize

Nancy Carroll – Precious Little – The Nora Theatre Company

Best Supporting Actor–Play–Midsize

Dan Whelton – Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf? – Lyric

Best Actress–Play–Midsize

Olivia D’Ambrosio – Mrs. Packard – Bridge Rep/Playhouse Creatures

Best Actor–Play–Midsize

Thomas Derrah – Gabriel – Greater Boston Stage

Best Supporting Actress–Musical

Kerry Dowling – Bridge of Madison County – SpeakEasy Stage

Best Supporting Actor–Musical

Jared Troilo–She Loves Me–Greater Boston Stage

Best Actress–Musical

Jennifer Ellis – The Bridges of Madison County – SpeakEasy Stage

Best Actor – Musical

Christiaan Smith–The Bridges of Madison County–SpeakEasy Stage 

Music Director

Matthew Stern–The Bridges of Madison County–SpeakEasy Stage

Best Director–Play–Fringe

David Miller–Faceless–Zeitgeist Stage

Best Director–Play–Midsize

Paul Daigneault – Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night– SpeakEasy Stage

Visiting Production

American Moor–O.W.I. (Bureau of Theatre) and Phoenix Theatre Ensemble 

Visiting Performer

Keith Hamilton Cobb–American Moor–O.W.I. (Bureau of Theatre) and Phoenix Theatre

Best Director–Musical

Ilyse Robbins – She Loves Me – Greater Boston Stage

Best Musical

In the Heights – Wheelock Family Theatre

Play–Fringe

Faceless–Zeitgeist Stage

Play–Midsize

Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night – SpeakEasy Stage

Promising Young Performer

Marissa Simeqi–Gabriel–Greater Boston Stage

 

IRNE Winners – Large Stage

Best New Play

A Guide for the Homesick–Ken Urban–Huntington Theatre Company

Best Set Design

Derek McLane – The Night of the Iguana – ART

Best Costume Design

Soutra Gilmour–Merrily We Roll Along–Huntington Theatre Company

Best Lighting Design

David Lander –The Night of the Iguana – ART

Best Sound Design

Kevin Heard–Ragtime–Ogunquit Playhouse

Best Projection Design

Lucy Mackinnon–Ripcord–Huntington Theatre Company

Best Choreography

Eileen Grace & Susan M. Chebookjian – 42nd Street – Reagle Music Theatre

Best Solo Performance

Charissa Bertels–My 80–Year– Old Boyfriend – Merrimack Repertory Theatre

 Best Ensemble

Merrily We Roll Along – Huntington Theatre Company

Best Supporting Actress–Musical

Aimee Doherty – Merrily We Roll Along – Huntington Theatre Company

Best Supporting Actor–Musical

Michel Bell–Show Boat–Reagle Music Theatre

Best Actress–Musical

Eden Espinosa Merrily We Roll Along – Huntington Theatre Company

Best Actor–Musical

Josh Young–Ragtime–Ogunquit Playhouse 

Best Supporting Actress–Play

Phyllis Kay–Death of a Salesman–Trinity Repertory Company

Best Supporting Actor–Play

Mark W. Soucy The Royale – Merrimack Repertory Theatre

Best Actress–Play

Amanda Plummer – The Night of the Iguana – ART

Best Actor–Play

McKinley Belcher III–A Guide for the Homesick–Huntington Theatre Company

Best Music Director

Matthew Stern–Merrily We Roll Along–Huntington Theatre Company

Best Visiting Play

The Beauty Queen of Leenane – ArtsEmerson

Best Visiting Actress

Marie Mullen – The Beauty Queen of Leenane – ArtsEmerson

Best Visiting Actor

Randy Harrison – Cabaret – Broadway in Boston

Best Director–Musical

Maria Friedman–Merrily We Roll Along–Huntington Theatre Company

Best Director–Play

Megan Sandberg-Zakian – The Royale – Merrimack Repertory Theatre

Best Musical

Merrily We Roll Along – Huntington Theatre Company

Best Play

The Royale – Merrimack Repertory Theatre

Most Promising Young Performer

Carly Gold/Jadyn Schwartz – Fun Home – Broadway in Boston