A Year's Cheers
The nominees for the 2010 Austin Critics Table Awards
By Robert Faires, Fri., May 14, 2010

For the 18th year, an informal affiliation of local arts critics has recognized the year's most exceptional achievements in dance, classical music, the visual arts, and theatre. The nominations for the 2010 Austin Critics Table Awards, covering the period from May 3, 2009, to May 2, 2010, were assembled by the Austin American-Statesman's Michael Barnes (arts), Claire Canavan (theatre), Clare Croft (dance), and Jeanne Claire van Ryzin (arts); ... might be good's Claire Ruud (visual arts); and the Chronicle's Elizabeth Cobbe (theatre), Michael Kellerman (music), Jonelle Seitz (dance), Avimaan Syam (theatre), and Robert Faires (arts). They will present the awards and induct the latest class of local legends into the Austin Arts Hall of Fame during an informal ceremony on Monday, June 7, 7pm, at Cap City Comedy Club, 8120 Research. The public is welcome. Admission is free.
THEATRE
Production, Drama
The Cherry Orchard, Breaking String Theater
Dionysus in 69, Rude Mechanicals
The Jungle, Trouble Puppet Theater Company
Long Day's Journey Into Night, Ar Rud
Rabbit Hole, City Theatre Company
Three Days of Rain, Penfold Theatre Company
Production, Comedy
Black Snow, Tutto Theatre Company
bobrauschenbergamerica, Mary Moody Northen Theatre
Body Awareness, Hyde Park Theatre
House of Several Stories, Imagine That Productions
Killer Joe, Capital T Theatre
The Taming of the Shrew, The Hidden Room Theatre
Production, Musical
Bat Boy: The Musical, Texas State University
Evil Dead: The Musical, Doctuh Mistah Productions
John & Jen, Penfold Theatre Company
Murder Ballad Murder Mystery, Tutto Theatre
Company/Vortex Repertory Company
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,
Zach Theatre
David Mark Cohen New Play Award
American Volunteers, John Meyer
House of Several Stories, A. John Boulanger
Keeping Track, Erica Saenz
Murder Ballad Murder Mystery, Elizabeth Doss
Direction
Beth Burns, The Taming of the Shrew
Madge Darlington/Shawn Sides, Dionysus in 69
David Long, bobrauschenbergamerica
Michael McKelvey, John & Jen
Mark Pickell, Killer Joe
Graham Schmidt, The Cherry Orchard
Ken Webster, The Collection/The Atheist
Dustin Wills, Murder Ballad Murder Mystery/Black Snow
Acting in a Supporting Role
Michael Amendola, Our Town (Zach)
Smaranda Ciceu, Black Snow
Shelby Davenport, Measure for Measure
Jude Hickey, Leave It to Beverly
Julia Lorenz, Sleeping Beauty
Sean Martin, Mary Stuart/Three Days of Rain
Jordan McRae, Our Town (Zach)
Josh Meyer, Dionysus in 69
Nigel O'Hearn, Long Day's Journey Into Night/
The Cherry Orchard
Corley Pillsbury, Evil Dead: The Musical
Sofia Ruiz, Our Town (UT)
Erica Saenz, Keeping Track
Jose Villarreal, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Acting in a Leading Role
Martin Burke, House of Several Stories
Pamela Christian, Mary Stuart
Ryan Crowder, The Taming of the Shrew
Robert Faires, Henry V
Babs George, The Cherry Orchard
Thomas Graves, Dionysus in 69
Joey Hood, The Atheist
Joni L. Jones/Omi Osun Olomo, delta dandi
Lauren Lane, House of Several Stories
Gabriel Luna, Black Snow/Orestes/Endgame
Meredith McCall, House of Several Stories
Helen Merino, Mary Stuart
Matt Radford, Measure for Measure/The Cherry Orchard
Michael Stuart, Frost/Nixon
Nicole Swahn, Eurydice
Jacob Trussell, Peer Gynt
Ensemble Performance
Arrhythmia, UpRise! Productions/Vortex Repertory
Black Snow, Tutto Theatre Company
bobrauschenbergamerica, Mary Moody Northen Theatre
Dionysus in 69, Rude Mechanicals
Murder Ballad Murder Mystery, Tutto Theatre
Company/Vortex Repertory Company
Our Town, Zach Theatre
The Taming of the Shrew, The Hidden Room Theatre
The Trojan Women, UT Dept. of Theatre & Dance
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,
Zach Theatre
Music Direction
Lyn Koenning, The Difficulty of Crossing a Field
Todd Lindamood, Bat Boy: The Musical
Michael McKelvey, John & Jen/City of Angels/
Evil Dead: The Musical
Mark Stewart and Andy Tindall,
Murder Ballad Murder Mystery
Movement
Madge Darlington/Shawn Sides, Dionysus in 69
Lisa del Rosario, Leave It to Beverly
Danny Herman/Rocker Verastique,
bobrauschenbergamerica
Robin Lewis, I'll Be Seeing You/Bat Boy: The Musical
Dustin Wills, Murder Ballad Murder Mystery
Touring Show, Theatre
The Color Purple, Texas Performing Arts
The Doyle and Debbie Show, Long Center for the Performing Arts
Dreaming of a Song: The Music of Hoagy Carmichael, Austin Cabaret Theatre
In the Heights, Texas Performing Arts
Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin, Long Center for the Performing Arts
Paved Paradise Redux, Fusebox Festival
Spring Awakening, Texas Performing Arts
A Western, Fusebox Festival
DESIGN
Scenic Design
Connor Hopkins, The Jungle/A Brief Narrative of an Extraordinary Birth of Rabbits
Lisa Laratta, Murder Ballad Murder Mystery/Black Snow
Anne McMeeking, Three Days of Rain
Michael Raiford, Rockin' Christmas Party
Sonja Rainey, The Difficulty of Crossing a Field
Robert N. Schmidt, Peer Gynt
Leilah Stewart, bobrauschenbergamerica/City of Angels
Costume Design
Sachi DeCou, Impermanence
Pamela Fletcher-Friday/Griffon Ramsey, Sleeping Beauty
Alison Heryer, The Trojan Women/The Difficulty of
Crossing a Field
Jennifer J. Madison, Mary Stuart/City of Angels
Kim H. Ngo, Murder Ballad Murder Mystery/
Black Snow/Peer Gynt
Susan Branch Towne, The Life of Galileo
Ariana Schwartz, Pride and Prejudice
Lighting Design
Jason Amato, Impermanence/Henry V/Mary Stuart/
Sleeping Beauty/Our Town (Zach)
William Meadows, Ellen Fullman &
the Long String Instrument
Megan M. Reilly, Murder Ballad Murder Mystery/ Black Snow
Stephen Pruitt, bobrauschenbergamerica/
The Trash Project/Ears Wide Open
Cheng-Wei Teng, The Trojan Women
Tony Tucci, Voice Dance Company/Truth & Beauty:
The Bach Project/City of Angels
Lih-Hwa Yu, The Difficulty of Crossing a Field
Sound Design
Craig Brock, City of Angels/Our Town (Zach)
Billy Henry, The Difficulty of Crossing a Field
Taylor Kirk, Our Town (UT)
Content Love Knowles, Eurydice
William Meadows, Impermanence/The Trash Project
Buzz Moran, Peer Gynt
DANCE
Dance Concert
Ears Wide Open, Tapestry Dance Company
Impermanence, Blue Lapis Light
Move, Ballet Afrique
No Time to Fly, Deborah Hay Dance Company
The Trash Project, Forklift Danceworks
Truth & Beauty: The Bach Project, Ballet Austin
Short Work
"Angel of My Nature," Truth & Beauty: The Bach Project
"Balkan Chicks," Voice Dance Company
"Fanfarnèta," New American Talent/Dance
"For You Lucia," IN under & Through
"Lest," IN under & Through
"Nina Remixed," Move
Choreographer
Thang Dao, "Quiet Imprint"
Acia Gray, Ears Wide Open
Deborah Hay, No Time to Fly
Sharon Marroquin, "For You Lucia"
Stephen Mills, Truth & Beauty: The Bach Project
Allison Orr, The Trash Project
Leah Smiley Tubbs, Move
Nelly van Bommel, "Farfarnèta"
Dancer
Don Anderson, "The Crane Dance"
Katelyn Harris, Ears Wide Open
Deborah Hay, No Time to Fly
Masa Kolar, "Your Provision"
Aara Krumpe, The Firebird
Sharon Marroquin, "For You Lucia"
Anuradha Naimpally, Parampara: Traditional Dance of India
Rosalyn Nasky, "Temple"
Frank Shott, Truth & Beauty: The Bach Project
Jaime Lynn Witts, Truth & Beauty: The Bach Project
Ensemble
Alone, Alone, Kathy Dunn Hamrick Dance Company
Ears Wide Open, Tapestry Dance Company
Impermanence, Blue Lapis Light
Quiet Imprint, Ballet Austin II
The Trash Project, employees of the city of Austin Solid Waste Services Department
Truth & Beauty: The Bach Project, Ballet Austin
Touring Show, Dance
Black Grace, Texas Performing Arts
Comme Toujours Here I Stand, Big Dance Theater, Fusebox Festival
Grupo de Rua, Texas Performing Arts
more., Headlong Dance Theatre, Dance Umbrella
P.I. (Pays) or Presentation Intimes, Julie Dossavi,
Dance Umbrella
CLASSICAL MUSIC
Symphonic Performance
Mozart: Concerto in F Major, Austin Symphony with
Leon Fleisher & Katherine Jacobson Fleisher
Ode to Common Things, Austin Symphony with
Conspirare Symphonic Choir
Bolcom: Spring Concerto for Oboe and Small Orchestra, Barber: Piano Concerto, Op. 38, Prokofiev: Suite From Romeo & Juliet, UT Symphony Orchestra
Symphony VI, Golden Hornet Project
Chamber Performance
Anne Akiko Meyers & Anton Nel, Jessen Series of Distinguished Faculty Artists
Complete Brahms Violin Sonatas, Austin Chamber Music Center
Ellen Fullman & the Long String Instrument, New Music Co-op
Jorge Caballero, Austin Classical Guitar Society
Tango on the Terrace, Austin Chamber Music Center
An Evening of Works by Robert Schumann, Texas Piano Quartet
Choral Performance
Ellington: Sacred Concert, Austin Chamber Music
Center/Huston-Tillotson University Concert Choir
A New Year's Conspirare Classic, Conspirare
Ode to Common Things, Conspirare Symphonic Choir with Austin Symphony
A Time for Life, Conspirare
Vaughan Williams: Dona Nobis Pacem, UT Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Singers, Concert Chorale, and Choral Arts Society
Opera
Albert Herring, UT Butler Opera Center
La Bohème, Austin Lyric Opera
The Difficulty of Crossing a Field,
UT Department of Theatre & Dance
The Star, Austin Lyric Opera
A View From the Bridge, UT Butler Opera Center
Singer
Jennifer Adams, The Difficulty of Crossing a Field
Cristina Caldas, A View From the Bridge
Rubin Casas, A View From the Bridge
Liz Cass, The Star/ Hansel & Gretel
David Farwig, A Time for Life
Jean-Paul Fouchécourt, The Star
Haley Hussey, The Difficulty of Crossing a Field
Abigail Lennox, A Time for Life
Gitanjali Mathur, La Serva Padrona
Brad Raymond, Albert Herring
Original Composition/Score
"Bounce: Suite in A Minor," Graham Reynolds
"Princess Songs," Russell Reed
Conversatio Morum, Stephen Barber
Symphony VI: Rough Night With Happy Ending,
Peter Stopschinski
The Trash Project, Graham Reynolds
"Toward and Away From the Point of Balance,"
Travis Weller
"Two Cautionary Tales," Steve Snowden
Instrumentalist
Elaine Barber, harp, Symphony VI: Rough Night With Happy Ending
Douglas Harvey, cello, Don Quixote
Nick Hennies & Travis Weller, box bow,
Ellen Fullman & the Long String Instrument
Anne Akiko Meyers, violin, Anne Akiko Meyers & Anton Nel
Michelle Schumann, piano, Sonatas and Interludes
VISUAL ARTS
Museum Exhibition
"David Bates Since 1982: From the Everyday to the Epic," Austin Museum of Art, curator: Dana Friis-Hansen
"Desire," Blanton Museum of Art, curator: Annette DiMeo Carlozzi
"From Out That Shadow: The Life and Legacy of Edgar Allan Poe," Ransom Center, curator: Richard Oram
Solo Gallery Exhibition
"Beili Liu: Bound," D Berman Gallery
"Colby Bird: Cold End," Okay Mountain
"Erin Curtis: Perspective Threshold," Women & Their Work
"Noriko Ambe: Artist Books, Linear-Actions Cutting Project," Lora Reynolds Gallery
"Off the Edge: The Experimental Prints of Cynthia Brants," Flatbed Press
"Texas Instruments: New Paintings by Esther Pearl Watson," Domy Books
Group Gallery Exhibition
"I Am Not So Different," Art Palace, curator: Rachel Cook
"Ideas of Mountains," Creative Research Laboratory, curator: Xochi Solis
"Mark-Making: Dots, Lines and Curves," Lora Reynolds Gallery, curator: Lora Reynolds
"Over & Under," Yard Dog Gallery, curator: Jenny Hart
"Polymict," Okay Mountain, curator: Nathan Green
"Practice, Practice, Practice," Lora Reynolds Gallery, curators: Michael Smith and Jay Sanders
Work of Art: Independent or Public Project
East Austin Sunset at 15 mph, Rachel Stewart, Co-Lab
Eclipses for Austin, Pablo Vargas Lugo, Blanton Museum of Art
July Transplants, Nick Falduto, Elliot Gaylord Lehnen, Cole Lundstrom, Mariel Mentink, Jessica Payne, Bridget Quinn, Mali Margaret Voglund, and Eric Wicks, East Austin Studio Tour
One Hundred Black Women, One Hundred Actions, Wura-Natasha Ogunji, Fusebox Festival
The 24 Hour Roman Reconstruction Project, Liz Glynn, Arthouse
Traveling Video Show #1, Jill Pangallo & Circulatory System
Work of Art: One of A Kind
Halliburton Archiving Solutions (II), 1987, Adam Schreiber, "ONE on ONE on ONE," Art Palace
2nd Street District Window Project: How the West Was Won, I Am Immortal I Have Inside Me Blood of Kings, and Sunset #1, Carlos Rosales-Silva, "One Swallow Doesn't Make a Summer"
I Want to Live in America, Santiago Forero, "Young Latino Artists 14," Mexic-Arte Museum
Merged Mirage, Jonathan Faber, "Broken Gold," AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center Courtyard Gallery
Slurb, Marina Zurkow, Women & Their Work
Spectator Sport, Jade Walker, Austin Museum of Art
Work of Art: Installation
Camp Base Camp: Everest Friends, Peter Reichardt, Mary Rothlisberger, and Kristyn Weaver, "Ideas of Mountains," Creative Research Laboratory
Dust Storm (Night), Jeff Williams, Art City Austin
Epic, Teresita Fernández, "Teresita Fernández: Blind Landscape," Blanton Museum of Art
Plastic Mountains, Paper Trees, Christa Mares and Teruko Nimura, "Ideas of Mountains," Creative Research Laboratory
(Re)Kirk, Leslie Mutchler, Barry Stone, Michelle Marchessault, and Virginia Yount, Art City Austin
Touring Show, Art
"Chuck Close, A Couple of Ways of Doing Something," Austin Museum of Art
"Francisco Matto: The Modern and the Mythic," Blanton Museum of Art
"The Lining of Forgetting: Internal and External Memory in Art," Austin Museum of Art
"Teresita Fernández: Blind Landscape," Blanton Museum of Art