The Robert Merritt Awards, commonly known as The Merritt Awards, were started in 2002 and are administered by Theatre Nova Scotia. The Merritts honour excellence in theatre throughout the province of Nova Scotia. They are named for Robert Merritt, who was well known to the Halifax community both as a teacher of playwriting in the Theatre Department at Dalhousie University, and as the film critic for CBC's Information Morning.
Awards are given for Acting, Direction, Lighting, Set Design, Costume Design, Sound Design, Music, and Outstanding New Play by a Nova Scotian Playwright. Special awards are given for Technician, Stage Manager, Volunteerism, and Career Legacy.
List of Robert Merritt Award nominees and winners by year 2020 See references
Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role Production Company Jacob Sampson* The Bridge 2b theatre and Neptune Theatre in association with Obsidian Theatre Ronica Sajnani A Brimful of Asha Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre Mauralea Austin The Children Keep Good (Theatre) Company Martha Irving The Children Keep Good (Theatre) Company Tara Jackson* The Colour Purple Neptune Theatre Burgandy CodeHamlet Below the Salt Jackie Torrens Hamlet Below the Salt Burgandy Code In This Light Two Planks and a Passion Theatre Taylor Olson Monster That's Us Collective Kelly Holiff Peter Pan Neptune Theatre Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role Production Company Jim Codrington The Bridge 2b theatre and Neptune Theatre in association with Obsidian Theatre Daniel Ellis The Bridge 2b theatre and Neptune Theatre in association with Obsidian Theatre Sophia Walker The Bridge 2b theatre and Neptune Theatre in association with Obsidian Theatre Karen Burthwright* The Colour Purple Neptune Theatre Janelle Cooper* The Colour Purple Neptune Theatre Samantha Walkes The Colour Purple Neptune Theatre Breton Lalama Pleasureville Neptune Theatre Sherry Smith Pleasureville Neptune Theatre Gil Anderson The Realistic Joneses KAZAN CO-OP Matthew Lumley The Realistic Joneses KAZAN CO-OP Outstanding Choreography Production Company Veronique Mackenzie Ben Hur Festival Antigonish Summer Festival Veronique Mackenzie The Children Keep Good (Theatre) Company Tracy Fanous* Miss ‘N Me Eastern Front Theatre Stephanie Graham Peter Pan Neptune Theatre Sarain Fox Rings Through Water Xara Choral Theatre Outstanding Direction Production Company Pamela Halstead Bed and Breakfast Ship's Company Theatre Anthony Black The Bridge 2b theatre and Neptune Theatre in association with Obsidian Theatre Laura Vingoe-Cram The Children Keep Good (Theatre) Company Kimberley Rampersad* The Colour Purple Neptune Theatre Heidi Malazdrewich He'd Be Your Mother's Father's Cousin Theatre Baddeck Outstanding Scenic Design Production Company Rachel Forbes* The Bridge 2b theatre and Neptune Theatre in association with Obsidian Theatre Stephen Osler (assisted by Patricia Vinluan) The Children Keep Good (Theatre) Company Tamara Marie Kucheran The Colour Purple Neptune Theatre John Dinning Noises Off Neptune Theatre Jess Lewis and Anna Shepard (video) tiny Zuppa Theatre, presented by Eastern Front Theatre Outstanding Lighting Design Production Company Leigh Ann Vardy* The Bridge 2b theatre and Neptune Theatre in association with Obsidian Theatre Vicky Williams The Children Keep Good (Theatre) Company Leigh Ann Vardy The Colour Purple Neptune Theatre Ingrid Risk The Last Wife Neptune Theatre Vicky Williams Peter Pan Neptune Theatre Outstanding Costume Design Production Company Rachel Forbes The Bridge 2b theatre and Neptune Theatre in association with Obsidian Theatre Tamara Marie Kucheran* The Colour Purple Neptune Theatre Kaelen MacDonald Fox The Villain's Theatre Janet MacLellan The Last Wife Neptune Theatre Emlyn Murray Miss ‘N Me Eastern Front Theatre Outstanding Sound Design Production Company Aaron Collier Bed and Breakfast Ship's Company Theatre Tori Morrison The Children Keep Good (Theatre) Company Miquelon Rodriguez The Colour Purple Neptune Theatre Aaron Collier Lo (or Dear Mr. Wells) Neptune TheatreAaron CollierMiss ‘N MeEastern Front Theatre Outstanding Original Score Production Company Aaron Collier Bed and Breakfast Ship's Company Theatre Carolyn Curry Firebird: The Musical Terra Novella Theatre Allen Cole and Ken Schwartz* Frankenstein by Fire Eastern Front Theatre & Neptune Theatre Keke Beatz Miss ‘N Me Eastern Front Theatre Jenny Trites and Deantha Edmunds Rings Through Water Xara Choral Theatre Outstanding Musical Direction Production Company Murleta Williams The Bridge 2b theatre and Neptune Theatre in association with Obsidian Theatre Eszter Horvath Brundibár Halifax Theatre for Young People Sean Mayes* The Color Purple Neptune Theatre Lisa St. Clair Peter Pan Neptune Theatre Christina Murray Rings Through Water Xara Choral Theatre Outstanding Play by a Nova Scotian Playwright Production Company Shauntay Grant* The Bridge 2b theatre and Neptune Theatre in association with Obsidian Theatre Catherine Banks (based on Enemy of the People by Henrik Ibsen) In This Light Eastern Front Theatre & Neptune Theatre Daniel MacIvor An Ordinary Afternoon in 1974 Mulgrave Road Theatre Gillian Clark The Ruins Two Planks and a Passion TheatreDan BrayZombletVillains Theatre and Terra Novella Theatre Outstanding Production by a New or Emerging Company Company Bunny Highland Arts Theatre The Children* Keep Good (Theatre) Company Every Brilliant Thing Kick at the Dark Theatre Co-Operative He'd Be Your Mother's Father's Cousin Theatre BaddeckRings Through WaterXara Choral Theatre Award for Outstanding Production Company The Bridge 2b theatre and Neptune Theatre in association with Obsidian Theatre A Brimful of Asha Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre The Children Keep Good (Theatre) Company The Color Purple* Neptune Theatre In This Light Eastern Front Theatre & Neptune Theatre
2020 Outstanding Theatre Technician: Thomas Brookes, The Last Wife, Neptune Theatre
2020 Outstanding Stage Manager: Robin Munro, Frankenstein by Fire, Two Planks and a Passion Theatre
2020 Outstanding Volunteer: Alex Mills
2020 Theatre Nova Scotia Legacy Award: Joan Craig
2020 Theatre Nova Scotia Scholarship: Logan Robins and Ursula Calder
2020 Wes Daniels Design Award: Wesley Babcock with Matchstick Theatre
2020 Neptune Theatre Chrysalis Emerging Artist Award: Anna Shepard
2019 See references
Outstanding Actor Production Company Wally MacKinnon Any Given Moment Ship's Company Theatre Josh Doig Kamp Eastern Front Theatre & Neptune Theatre Lee J Campbell* Shylock No Holds Bard Hugh Thompson Some Blow Flutes HomeFirst Productions Stewart Legere Tom at the Farm WorkShirt Opera Outstanding Actress Production Company Burgandy Code Animal Farm Two Planks and a Passion Theatre Samantha Walkes Cinderella Neptune Theatre Mauralea Austin* Dancing on the Elephant Theatre Baddeck Sharleen Kalayil Half-Cracked: The Legend of Sugar Mary Eastern Front Theatre & Neptune Theatre Francine Deschepper Some Blow Flutes HomeFirst Theatre Outstanding Supporting Actor Production Company Jeff Schwager Animal Farm Two Planks and a Passion Theatre Ryan Rogerson Animal Farm Two Planks and a Passion Theatre Andrew Prashad* Cinderella Neptune Theatre Tim Funnell Mamma Mia! Neptune Theatre Sebastien Labelle Tom at the Farm WorkShirt Opera Outstanding Supporting Actress Production Company Kathryn McCormack Alice in Wonderland Shakespeare by the Sea Genevieve Steele Animal Farm Two Planks and a Passions Theatre Burgandy Code* North Mountain Vanya Two Planks and a Passions Theatre Kathrine Tufts Othello Shakespeare by the Sea Susan Stackhouse Shakespeare in Love Neptune Theatre Outstanding Choreography Production Company Jade Douris Alice in Wonderland Shakespeare by the Sea Stephanie Graham Cinderella Neptune Theatre Veronique Mackenzie* Kamp Eastern Front Theatre & Neptune Theatre Ray Hogg Mamma Mia! Neptune Theatre Mary Lou Martin (movement) & Karen Bassett (fight) Shakespeare in Love Neptune Theatre Outstanding Direction Production Company Ken Schwartz* Animal Farm Two Planks and a Passions Theatre Martha Irving Half-Cracked: The Legend of Sugar Mary Eastern Front Theatre & Neptune Theatre Sam Rosenthal Kamp Eastern Front Theatre & Neptune Theatre Ann-Marie Kerr & Anthony Black, assisted by Anna Shepard One Discordant Violin 2b Theatre Company Heidi Malazdrewich The Ladies Foursome Theatre Baddeck Outstanding Scenic Design Production Company Holly Carr* Half-Cracked: The Legend of Sugar Mary Eastern Front Theatre & Neptune Theatre Sean Mulcahy Kamp Eastern Front Theatre & Neptune Theatre Joanna Yu Shakespeare in Love Neptune Theatre Sue LePage Some Blow Flutes HomeFirst Theatre Wes Babcock The Woodcutter Matchstick Theatre Outstanding Lighting Design Production Company Ingrid Risk Half-Cracked: The Legend of Sugar Mary Eastern Front Theatre & Neptune Theatre Leigh Ann Vardy* Kamp Eastern Front Theatre & Neptune Theatre Leigh Ann Vardy Mamma Mia! Neptune Theatre Nick Bottomley & Anna Shepard One Discordant Violin 2b Theatre Company Jessica Lewis Shakespeare in Love Neptune Theatre Outstanding Costume Design Production Company Emlyn Murray Big Sister Little Brother Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre Helena Marriott* Cinderella Neptune Theatre Bonnie Deakin Mamma Mia! Neptune Theatre Jennifer Goodman North Mountain Vanya Two Planks and a Passions Theatre Joanna Yu Shakespeare in Love Ship's Company Theatre Outstanding Sound Design Production Company Deanna Choi Cinderella Neptune Theatre June Zinck* Half-Cracked: The Legend of Sugar Mary Eastern Front Theatre & Neptune Theatre Michael Doherty Kamp Eastern Front Theatre & Neptune Theatre Emily C Porter Mamma Mia! Neptune TheatreAaron CollierOne Discordant Violin2b Theatre Company Outstanding Original Score Production Company Jeremy Hutton Alice in Wonderland Shakespeare by the Sea Allen Cole & Ken Schwartz Animal Farm Two Planks and a Passions Theatre GaRRy Williams* Kamp Eastern Front Theatre & Neptune Theatre Aaron Collier & Jacques Mindreau One Discordant Violin 2b Theatre Company GaRRy Williams Twelfth Night Shakespeare by the Sea Outstanding Musical Direction Production Company Allen Cole Animal Farm Two Planks and a Passions Theatre Lisa St. Clair Cinderella Neptune Theatre Tara Scott* Kamp Eastern Front Theatre & Neptune Theatre Paul De Gurse Mamma Mia! Neptune Theatre Aaron Collier & Jacques Mindreau One Discordant Violin 2b theatre company Outstanding Play by a Nova Scotian Playwright Production Company Allen Cole & Ken Schwartz* (adapted from the novel by George Orwell) Animal Farm Two Planks and a Passions Theatre Mary Colin Chisholm Half-Cracked: The Legend of Sugar Mary Eastern Front Theatre & Neptune Theatre Book by Jamie Bradley, Music & lyrics by GaRRy Williams Kamp Eastern Front Theatre & Neptune Theatre Anthony Black (adapted from a short story by Yann Martel) One Discordant Violin 2b TheatreMary VingoeSome Blow FlutesHomeFirst Theatre Outstanding Production by a New or Emerging Company Company Shylock No Holds Bard The Ladies Foursome* Theatre Baddeck The Woodcutter Matchstick Theatre Tom at the Farm Workshirt Opera Award for Outstanding Production Company Animal Farm Two Planks and a Passion Theatre Cinderella Neptune Theatre Half-Cracked: The Legend of Sugar Mary Eastern Front Theatre & Neptune Theatre Kamp* Eastern Front Theatre & Neptune Theatre One Discordant Violin 2b Theatre
2019 Outstanding Theatre Technician: Andrew Cull
2019 Outstanding Stage Manager: Jessica Lewis
2019 Outstanding Volunteer: Alex Mills
2019 Theatre Nova Scotia Legacy Award: Susan Stackhouse
2019 Theatre Nova Scotia Scholarship: Anna Shepard
2019 Wes Daniels Design Award: Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre with Elizabeth Perry
2019 Neptune Theatre Chrysalis Emerging Artist Award: Chelsea Dickie
2019 Outstanding Presentation: Mouthpiece (presented by 2b theatre company)
2018 See references