Actor Boy Awards Announces Nominations for 2008 Productions

Monday March 9; Kingston, Jamaica: The International Theatre Institute Jamaica Centre hosted is annual Actor Boy Awards Press Launch and Nomination Announcements on Monday, March 9th at the Jamaica Trade and Invest (JTI) meeting room.

In attendance were theatre industry members inclusive of producers, writers, actors and designers as well as sponsors representatives, the press and friends of the community. Actress and President of Jamaica Association of Dramatic Actors (JADA) Dorothy Cunningham, brought greetings; she was later nominated in the category actress in a lead role for her performance in Adrian Nelson’s Moon River.

Key note address was brought by Mr. Peter Couch of www.whatsonjamaica.com. He encouraged the entertainment industry to exploit the benefits of technology, especially the internet to its advantage. He further advised that theatre can be further broadened to being part of the tourism product offered in Jamaica and sees the role of government as integral in putting the infrastructure in place for that development to take place. Nicole Brown, the Chair of the Actor Boy Committee brought the audience up to date on the entire awards process and announced that this year’s recipient of the major achievement award for contribution to excellence in theatre is Mr. Wycliffe Bennett C.D. Mr. Bennett, now retired, is former chairman of the Ward Theatre Foundation and Life Member of the Little Theatre Movement.

The Nominations were announced by Mistress of ceremonies for the event Kerie –Ann ‘kiki” Lewis and Charles Hyatt Jr. Of the 22 productions that qualified for nominations 18 received. Jamaica to Rahtid – Pupalick, Kwanzaa Production and A Tempest by The University Players earned the highest numbers with 11 nominations each. They were closely followed by Yes (Father Holung and Friends) with 10 and Basil Dawkins’Which way is Out? with 9 nominations respectively. Runner Boy of the LTM Movement, Art by The University Players and Cats Jamaica from Junior Theatre all pulled in 6 nominations. Fallen Angel and di Devil’s Concubine- A Sankofa Production received 5 with Mobay’s Fair Field Theatre received 4 for Bay Vibes, a Musical Revue. Pablo Hoilett had 2 plays Caught in the Net and The Perfect Set Up received a total of 5 nominations. Hart Beat Production’s Shhhh…. Secrets! Was the only production with 2 nominations. Below the Waist and Di Driver, both Stages Productions received 1 each with Jambiz’s Sheep in wolf’s Clothing, Adrian Nelson’s Moon River, Jamaica Youth Theatre’s Mansong and MADKOW’s Season Rice received 1 each.

The evening wrapped up with an impressive musical rendition from Michael Sean Harris and cocktails. The Actor Boy Awards gala event will be held March 31st at The Courtleigh Auditorium.