CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CAST AND CREW OF RUINED, RECIPIENTS OF FIVE BLACK THEATER ALLIANCE AWARD NOMINATIONS!
We are thrilled to announce that our Company has been honored with FIVE nominations for The Black Theater Alliance Awards, including:
Best Ensemble
Best Direction of an Ensemble (Ebby Offord)
Best Featured Actor in a Play (Stanley King)
Best Leading Actress in a Play (Tekeisha Yelton-Hunter)
Best Featured Actress in a Play (Jenise Sheppard)
Invictus was also one of the most recognized storefront theater companies in this year’s consideration.
We are beyond grateful for the collective hard work and dedication of the entire cast and crew, who brought this vibrant story to life. And are humbled by the company we are privileged to keep with our fellow nominees.
L-R: Stanley King and Tekeisha Yelton-Hunter in Invictus’s 2022 production of Ruined by Lynn Nottage. Photo credit: Todd H. Faulstich
L-R: Tekeisha Yelton-Hunter and Jenise Sheppard in Invictus’s 2022 production of Ruined by Lynn Nottage. Photo credit: Brian McConkey
You can read the entire, official press release below:
The 28th Annual Black Theater Alliance/Ira Aldridge Awards Nominations
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, August 3, 2022
Contact: Vincent Williams, Founder and President
Chicago, IL. --- The Black Theater Alliance Awards, Inc. (BTAA) announces nominations for The 28th Annual Black Theater Alliance/Ira Aldridge Awards. Theater and Dance productions produced and presented on the Chicagoland stages between August 1, 2021 and July 31, 2022 were eligible for this season's nomination consideration.
BTAA's 2021-2022 performing arts season in the Chicagoland area totaled 57 produced and presented that have been reviewed by The Black Theater Alliance Awards, Inc. productions from that became 31 BTAA nominated categories, and 148 BTAA nominees. The recipients in all categories will be announced at The 28th Annual Black Theater Alliance/Ira Aldridge Awards on Tuesday, October 4, 2022 at Columbia College Chicago in The Conaway Center, located at 1104 South Wabash Avenue in Chicago, IL.
The BTA Awards is a business attire event. There will be a reception at 7pm followed by The 28th Annual Black Theater Alliance/Ira Aldridge Awards from 8p to 10p.
Ticket(s) to attend the event are priced at $30 for BTAA nominees, and $50 for guest. The deadline to purchase ticket(s) is Monday, September 26th, 2022. BTAA ticket(s) or donations can only be purchased by Check or Money Order, and mailed to: Vincent Williams; The Black Theater Alliance Awards, Inc. 412 East 43rd Street, #305; Chicago, IL. 60653. Make Check or Money Order payable to The Black Theater Alliance Awards, Inc. Notify BTAA that you have mailed a ticket payment or donation, and BTAA will contact you when received.
The Black Theater Alliance/Ira Aldridge Awards, Inc. was founded and incorporated by Vincent Williams in 1995. BTAA was founded to honor African Americans who achieve excellence in theater, dance, and all areas of the performing arts in the Chicagoland area.
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The 28th Annual Black Theater Alliance/Ira Aldridge Awards Nominations
The Negro Ensemble Company Award
Best Production
Grandma's Jukebox - Black Ensemble Theater
Living All Alone Phyllis Hyman Musical - Theater 47
Pulled Punches - MPAACT
What To Send Up When It Goes Down - Congo Square Theatre Company
White - Definition Theatre Company
The Target Community Relations Award
Best Ensemble
Choir Boy - Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Relentless - TimeLine Theater Company
Ruined - Invictus Theatre Company
School Girls; or, The African Mean Girls Play - Goodman Theatre
What To Send Up When It Goes Down - Congo Square Theatre Company
The Lorraine Hansberry Award
Best Writing Of A Play
Tyla Abercrumbie - Relentless - TimeLine Theatre Company
Joshua Allen - The Last Pair Of Earlies - Raven Theatre Company
J. Nicole Brooks - Her Honor Jane Byrne - Lookingglass Theatre Company
Ericka Dickerson-Despenza - Cullud Wattah - Victory Gardens Theater
Terry Guest - The Magnolia Ballet - About Face Theatre
James Ijames - White - Definition Theatre Company
The August Wilson Award
Best Writing Of A Musical
Michelle Bester - Grandma's Jukebox - Black Ensemble Theater
John Ruffin - Living All Alone Phyllis Hyman Musical - Theater 47
Jackie Taylor - It's Just Like Coming To Church (Welcome To The Church Of You) - Black Ensemble Theater
The Joel Hall Award
Best Choreography in a Dance/Music Production
Homer Hans Bryant - React - Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project
Bril Barrett and Starinah Dixon - I Can't Breathe and In The Beginning - Dance Africa Chicago
Amansu Eason - Mino Tale - Dance Africa Chicago
Kevin Iega Jeff - Aisatnaf - Deeply Rooted Dance Theater
Regina Perry Carr and Asiel Hardison - Summer Breeze at Casa de Abuela - Dance Africa Chicago
The Lloyd Richards Award
Best Direction Of A Play
J. Nicole Brooks - Her Honor Jane Byrne - Lookingglass Theatre Company
Lili-Anne Brown - Cullud Wattah - Victory Gardens Theater
Andrea Dymond - Sweat - The Copley Theatre
Monty Cole - Fences - American Blues Theater
Tasia A. Jones - Intimate Apparel - Northlight Theatre Company
Ron OJ Parson - Relentless - TimeLine Theatre Company
The Oscar Brown, Jr. Award
Best Direction Of A Musical
Christopher Carter - Priscilla Queen Of The Desert - Mercury Theater Chicago
Reneisha Jenkins - Sister Act - Mercury Theater Chicago
Kenny Ingram - Blues In The Night - Porchlight Music Theatre
John Ruffin - Living All Alone Phyllis Hyman Musical - Theater 47
Jackie Taylor - It's Just Like Coming To Church (Welcome To The Church Of You) - Black Ensemble Theater
The Douglas Alan Mann Award
Best Direction Of An Ensemble
Mikael Burke - Fireflies - Northlight Theatre Company
Lauren Wells-Mann - Pulled Punches - MPAACT
Ebby Offord - Ruined - Invictus Theatre Company
Daniel Bryant and Ericka Ratcliff - What To Send Up When It Goes Down - Congo Square Theatre Company
Ericka Ratcliff - White - Definition Theatre Company
The Sidney Poitier Award
Best Leading Actor In A Play
Kamal Angelo Bolden - Fences - American Blues Theater
Terry Guest - The Magnolia Ballet - About Face Theatre
Tyler Hardwick - Choir Boy - Steppenwolf Theatre Company
William Anthony Sebastian Rose ll - The Tragedy Of King Christophe - The House Theatre Of Chicago
A. C. Smith - Two Trains Running - Court Theatre
The Ossie Davis Award
Best Featured Actor In A Play
Sharif Atkins - Gem Of The Ocean - Goodman Theatre
La Shawn Banks - Choir Boy - Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Robert Cornelius - Her Honor Jane Byrne - Lookingglass Theatre Company
Yao Dogbe - Intimate Apparel - Northlight Theatre Company
Joshua L. Green - Sweat - The Copley Theatre
Stanley King - Ruined - Invictus Theatre Company
Alfred H. Wilson - Two Trains Running - Court Theatre
The Sammy Davis, Jr. Award
Best Leading Actor In A Musical
Curtis Bannister - Ragtime - Music Theater Works
Vincent Jordan - Grandma's Jukebox - Black Ensemble Theater
KC Lee - Takin' Back My Name (The Ike Turner Story) - Theater 47
Nolan Robinson - Passing Strange - Porchlight Music Theatre
Michael Wordly - KInky Boots - Paramount Theatre
The Bill Bojangles Robinson Award
Best Featured Actor In A Musical
Terrell Armstrong - Blues In The Night - Porchlight Music Theatre
Randle Michael - Living All Alone Phyllis Hyman Musical - Theater 47
Evan Tyrone Martin - Blues In The Night - Porchlight Music Theatre
Blake Reasoner - Grandma's Jukebox - Black Ensemble Theater
Eustace J. Williams - Songs For A Bew World - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
The Ruby Dee Award
Best Leading Actress In A Play
Ayanna Bria Bakari - Relentless - TimeLine Theatre Company
Brianna Buckley - Cullud Wattah - Victory Gardens Theater
Deanna Reed-Foster - Rasheeda Speaking - Shattered Globe
Tekeisha Yelton-Hunter - Ruined - Invictus Theatre Company
Mildred Marie Langford - Intimate Apparel - Northlight Theater Company
Shadana Patterson - The Last Pair Of Earlies - Raven Theatre Company
The Hattie McDaniel Award
Best Featured Actress In A Play
Shanesia Davis - Fences - American Blues Theater
Demetra Dee - The Last Pair Of Earlies - Raven Theatre Company
Sydney Charles - Her Honor Jane Byrne - Lookingglass Theatre Company
Nicole Michelle Haskins - Her Honor Jane Byrne - Lookingglass Theatre Company
Shariba Rivers - Sweat - Copley Theatre
Jenise Sheppard - Ruined - Invictus Theatre Company
The Lena Horne Award
Best Leading Actress In A Musical
Liberty Clay - Living All Alone Phyllis Hyman Musical - Theater 47
Robin K. DaSilva - Women Of Soul With A Special Tribute To Aretha - Mercury Theater Chicago
Felicia Fields - Blues In The Night - Porchlight Music Theater
Jennifer Johnson - Takin' Back My Name (The Ike Turner Story) - Theater 47
Alexis J. Roston - Sister Act - Mercury Theater Chicago
The Eartha Kitt Award
Best Featured Actress In A Musical
Cynthia Carter - The Feel Good Musical Revue - Black Ensemble Theater
Shantel Cribbs - Pump Boys and Dinettes - Porchlight Music Theatre
Noelle Klyce - It's Just Like Coming To Church (Welcome To The Church Of You) - Black Ensemble Theater
Melanie Loren - Pump Boys and Dinettes - Porchlight Music Theatre
MJ Rawls - It's Just Like Coming To Church (Welcome To The Church Of You) - Black Ensemble Theater
The Harry Belafonte Award
Best Actor In An Ensemble
Ron Conner - What To Send Up When It's Goes Down - Congo Square Theatre Company
Lewon Johnson - Home - Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre
Keith Illidge - The Meeting - Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre
Al' Jaleel McGhee - Fireflies - Northlight Theatre Company
Victor Musoni - What To Send Up When It Goes Down - Congo Square Theatre Company
The Ethel Waters Award
Best Actress In An Ensemble
Chanell Bell - Fireflies - Northlight Theatre Company
Kierra Bunch - White - Definition Theatre Company
Melanie McCullough - Pulled Punches - MPAACT
Penelope Walker - What To Send Up When It Goes Down - Congo Square Theatre Company
Amber Washington - Marie Antoinette and the Magical Negroes - The Story Theatre
The Bert Williams Award
Best Solo Performance In A Play
E. Faye Butler - Fannie (The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer) - Goodman Theatre
Jazzma Pryor - Twilight: Los Angeles 1992 - Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre
Bethany Thomas - Songs For Nobodies - Northlight Theatre Company
The Denzel Washington Award
Most Promising Actor
Christian Bufford - (The Tragedy Of King Christophe) - The House Theatre Of Chicago
Ajax Dontavius - (Fences) - American Blues Theater
Matthew Lolar - (The Meeting) - Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre
Jonny Morrison - (The Last Pair Of Earlies) - Raven Theatre Company
Willie Round - (Her Honor Jane Byrne) - Lookingglass Theatre Company
The Phylicia Rashad Award
Most Promising Actress
Rachel Blakes - (Home) - Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre
Ciera Dawn - (School Girls; or, The African Mean Girls Play) - Goodman Theatre
Danyelle Monson - (Marie Antoinette and the Magical Negroes) - The Story Theatre
Tuesdai B. Perry - (Home) - Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre
The Duke Ellington Award
Best Musical Direction
David Fiorello and Maulty Jewell IV - Blues In The Night - Porchlight Music Theatre
Felton Offard - Fannie (The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer) - Goodman Theatre
Robert Reddrick - Pump Boys and Dinettes - Porchlight Music Theatre
The Ruth E. Carter Award
Best Costume Design
Evelyn Danner - Gem Of The Ocean - The Goodman Theatre
Izumi Indaba - The Tragedy Of King Christophe - The House Theatre Of Chicago
Marquecia Jordan - Sister Act - Mercury Theater Chicago
Alexia Rutherford - The Last Pair Of Earlies - Raven Theatre Company
Michael Alan Stein - Fannie (The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer) - Goodman Theatre
The Ed Burbridge Award
Best Set Design
Bek Lambrecht - Grandma's Jukebox - Black Ensemble Theater
Sydney Lynne - Cullud Wattah - Victory Gardens Theater
Sydney Lynne - Pump Boys and Dinettes - Porchlight Music Theatre
Yu Shibagaki - Her Honor Jane Byrne - Lookingglass Theatre Company
Tim Rhoze and Evan Sposato - Twilight: Los Angeles 1992 - Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre
The Shirley Prendergast Award
Best Lighting Award
Simean Carpenter - The Last Pair Of Earlies - Raven Theatre Company
Casey Diers - Pulled Punches - MPAACT
Denise Karcewski - Pump Boys and Dinettes - Porchlight Music Theatre
Jason Lynch - Cullud Wattah - Victory Gardens Theater
The Mike Sargent Award
Best Sound Design
Desta Sound - Pulled Punches - MPAACT
DJ Douglass - Grandma's Jukebox - Black Ensemble Theater
Justin Ellington - School Girls; or, The African Mean Girls Play - Goodman Theatre
Willow James - Cullud Wattah - Victory Gardens Theater
Christopher M. Laporte - Her Honor Jane Byrne - Lookingglass Theatre Company
BTAA Special Recognition
Projection Design
Rasean Davonte Johnson - Fannie (The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer) - Goodman Theatre
BTAA Special Recognition
Creatively Designed Presentation
Adrian Dunn - Emancipation - Harris Theater for Music and Dance
The Katherine Dunham Award
Best Choreography In A Play
Cheretta Hill-Botchwey and Lili-Anne Brown - School Girls; or, The African Mean Girls Play - Goodman Theatre
Christopher Chase Carter - Priscilla Queen Of The Desert - Mercury Theater Chicago
Rueben D. Echoles - Pump Boys and Dinettes - Porchlight Music Theatre
Kenny Ingram - Blues In The Night - Porchlight Music Theatre
Andre McCaskey - Living All Alone Phyllis Hyman Musical - Theater 47
The Alvin Ailey Award
Best Choreography (Non-Resident)
Robert Battle - Mass - Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Bill T. Jones - Paradise Square - Broadway In Chicago
Camille A. Brown and Jay Staten - Fire Shut Up In My Bones - Lyric Opera House
The Andre' DeShields Award
Best Performance In A Play (Non-Resident)
Sidney DuPont - Paradise Square - Broadway In Chicago
Marcus Paul James - Ain't Too Proud The Life And Times Of The Temptations - Broadway In Chicago
Joaquina Kalukango - Paradise Square - Broadway In Chicago
James T. Lane - Ain't Too Proud The Life And Times Of The Temptations - Broadway In Chicago
Elijah Ahmad Lewis - Ain't Too Proud The Life And Times Of The Temptations - Broadway In Chicago