The AWARESIE AWARDS honor excellence on Broadway, Broadway Internet, and more specifically: Sh*t the Tonys Leave Out
IT’S THE 2ND ANNUAL AWARESIE AWARDS!
An ‘awaresie’ is an “intelligent follower of Annoying Actor Friend who is aware of the negative implications of social media masturbation.”
The AWARESIE AWARDS were created to spread awareness of lesser celebrated creative people within the industry, as well as highlight important (and maybe some not-so important) entities that contribute greatly to the community.
All nominees were handpicked by Annoying Actor Friend after a happy hour. Winners were voted on by the Awaresie Academy, which is a group of 60+ industry professionals (actors, writers, producers, media) and complete randos (friends) chosen by Annoying Actor Friend. We can not confirm that the entire Awaresie Academy saw every play or musical on Broadway this season, but Annoying Actor Friend trusts them, so you should trust their opinion. WE AREN’T THE DRAMA DESKS, OUTER CRITICS CIRCLE, ETC.
The 2nd AWARESIE AWARDS were held at an elaborate ceremony on YouTube with appearances from Cameron Adams, Iain Armitage, Laura Benanti, Mo Brady, Andrew Briedis, Craig Burns, Mike Carlsen, Gavin Creel, Max Crumm, Frank DiLella, Tina Fey, Brian Gallagher, Kathryn Gallagher, Michael Gioia, Megan Hilty, Rachel Hoffman, Sarah Marie Jenkins, Nikka Graff Lanzarone, Ashlee Latimer, Zachary Levi, Lesli Margherita, Ellyn Marie Marsh, Chris McCarrell, Chelsea Nachman, Keala Settle, Jeff Richmond, Matthew Rodin, Krysta Rodriguez, Jennifer Ashley Tepper, Roma Torre, Jennifer Simard, and Alex Wyse.
AND THE AWARESIES GO TO…
Best Sound Design of a Play
WINNER! Christopher Cronin, Noises Off
Fitz Patton, The Humans
Tom Gibbons, The Crucible
Broken Chord, Eclipsed
Darron L. West, Fully Committed
Best Sound Design of a Musical
WINNER! Nevin Steinberg, Hamilton
Mick Potter, School of Rock
Scott Lehrer, Shuffle Along
Nevin Steinberg, Bright Star
Gareth Owen, Spring Awakening
Best Casting of a Play
Fool for Love, Calleri Casting, Nancy Piccione (additional)
WINNER! The Humans, Carrie Gardner, C.S.A.
Eclipsed, Jordan Thaler, C.S.A., Heidi Griffiths, C.S.A. and Laura Schutzel, C.S.A.
A View From the Bridge, Julia Horan CDG, Heidi Griffiths, C.S.A.
The Crucible, Bill Berloni for “The Wolf”
Best Casting of a Musical
School of Rock, Tara Rubin Casting
WINNER! Hamilton, Telsey + Company and Bethany Knox, C.S.A.
The Color Purple, Telsey + Company and Justin Huff, C.S.A.
She Loves Me, Jim Carnahan, C.S.A. and Stephen Kopel C.S.A.
Disaster!, Seth Rudetsky’s Phone
Play or Musical that Best Passes the BECHDEL Test
Waitress
Eclipsed
The Humans
Hamilton
WINNER! The Twitter Conversations Between Laura Benanti and Chelsea Nachman
Most Random Concert at 54 Below
DEX! A Killer Musical: The Unauthorized Parody of DEXTER
Christmas Carols with Chris McCarrell
WINNER! The Melody Lingers On: A “Benefit” for Victims of Earworm
TOO DARN HOT: Hot Pepper Theater LIVE!
Broadway Sings A*Teens
Best at Keeping SMASH Relevant
Debra Messing
Louis Peitzman and Matt Piwowarczyk (After Smash podcast)
Theresa Rebeck’s Book Tour
WINNER! Gay Twitter
Hamilton
Best Performance by Jennifer Simard
WINNER! Jennifer Simard in Disaster! (Sister Mary Downy – Broadway)
Jennifer Simard and Brian d’Arcy James announce the Outer Critics Circle Nominees
Jennifer Simard hosts part of the 30th Annual Easter Bonnet Competition
Jennifer Simard in Sisters (Pet Activist at Party – Universal)
Best Broadway Bound Musical We Know Nothing About
WINNER! Mean Girls – Book by Tina Fey, Music by Jeff Richmond, Lyrics by Nell Benjamin
A League of Their Own – Music and Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown, Book by… Penny Marshall? Maybe? Aaron Sorkin?
Bombshell – Music and Lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, Book by WHO DA FUCK KNOWS
Hamil2 – East of Broadway Company
Best Performance by an Actor Who Appeared on the Audiobook of #SOBLESSED
Lesli Margherita, Dames at Sea
Megan Hilty, Noises Off
Keala Settle, Waitress
Krysta Rodriguez, Spring Awakening
Andrew Keenan-Bolger, Tuck Everlasting
Will Swenson, That One Week in Disaster!
WINNER! Tituss Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Best Performance by a Hashtag
WINNER! #KanyeDescribesAMusical
#NotMyService
#Stand4Ham
#ImWithHer
#FeelTheBern
Best Ensemble in a Musical
WINNER! Hamilton
Bright Star
Fiddler on the Roof
Shuffle Along
Best Use of American Sign Language in a Play or Musical
WINNER! Spring Awakening
Hamilton
Outstanding Performance By A Midtown Hangout That You Actually Love But Hate Going To
WINNER! Glass House Tavern
Schmackary’s
World Wide Plaza
Olive Garden in Times Square
The Elaine Stritch Unemployment Avoidance Award
Aaron Albano
WINNER! Cameron Adams*
James Brown III
Lisa Gajda
Audra McDonald
*runner-up to Lisa Gajda who was disqualified due to unemployment at the time of the 2016 Awaresie Awards ceremony.
Best Performance By Something That Makes You Want to Kill Yourself
WINNER! Daily Hamilton News That Was Not Issued By Their Press Department
Caring About a Viral Equity Movement for Approximately Six Minutes
Broadway Chat Boards
Bitching About Broadway Chat Boards
Everything And Your Mom Being a New York Times Critic’s Pick
Best Lin-Manuel Tweet
I wonder if Lin-Manuel's mom introduces herself as, "the womb where it happened."
— Annoying Actor Friend (@Actor_Friend) November 4, 2015
WINNER! Luz (@ltmphd)
No, but I may start! https://t.co/mi0IaQxErT
— Luz, (@ltmphd) December 9, 2015
@Actor_Friend @mikewachowiak and I am impressed she figured out how to quote a tweet!
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) December 9, 2015
Outstanding Broadway On Camera Hosting
NY1’s “On Stage” with Roma Torre, Donna Karger, and Frank DiLella
“Playbill’s Red Carpet Challenge” with Matthew Rodin
Broadway Style Guide
WINNER! Lesli Margherita on Anything She Does for Broadway.com
Best Broadway Internet Brand/Organization
Broadway Black
The Interval: Smart Girls’ Guide to Theatricality
WINNER! Justin “Squigs” Robertson
Hamilfans/Faniltons/Hamiltrash
Best Self Created and Produced Internet Thing
Theater People Podcast – podcast – created and hosted by Patrick Hinds/produced by Mike Jenson
Turning the Tables – web series – created by Ellyn Marie Marsh/produced by Katherine Paige
WINNER! The Ensemblist – podcast – created and hosted by Mo Brady & Nikka Graff Lanzarone
#MakingMondays – live broadcast – hosted by Jordan Roth/created by Jordan Roth and Robbie Roth/produced via Periscope and fueled with wine
Best Marketing/Advertising Department for a Play or Musical
Hamilton, SPOTCo Inc.
Hamilton, Tumblr
Hamilton, The Grammys
WINNER! Hamilton, That Cross Town Bus
Best Press Department for a Play or Musical
Hamilton, Sam Rudy Media Relations
Hamilton, Playbill
Hamilton, The New York Times
WINNER! Hamilton, Rich People/Celebrities
Best Musical if Hamilton Didn’t Come Out This Season
(Voting for this award was OPEN TO THE PUBLIC via a Twitter poll on @Actor_Friend’s feed between May 2nd – May 9th, 2016.)
THE 2016 AWARESIE AWARDS OPEN CATEGORY:
Best Musical if Hamilton Didn't Come Out This Season
— Annoying Actor Friend (@Actor_Friend) May 2, 2016
Outstanding Production of a Musical Named Hamilton
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WINNER! Hamilton
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Thérèse Raquin
2016 AWARESIE of the Year
Annoying Actor Friend – “Wow! I can’t believe I won! This is such a surprise! When I created the Awaresie Awards with the sole intention of awarding myself the top prize, I never imagined that dream would actually become a reality. I’m so incredibly humbled. I’d like to thank Twitter, Broadway, my fans, the Awaresie Academy, and most of all, Me, for without whom, none of this would have been possible. Goodnight, and see you all next year.”
Thank you for joining us for the 2nd Annual Awaresie Awards. We look forward to **maybe** doing this again next year!
Some of you might be wondering why a group of somewhat anonymous people with questionable knowledge about the theatre are allowed to choose whom takes home the coveted and respected Awaresie Award, which is why I must point out that despite the lack of expertise among Awaresie voters in assessing elements such as sound design, it is better to potentially celebrate the art incorrectly, than to ignore the art altogether.