Ask any fan of Austin theatre, and they'll tell you it's been an absolutely stellar year for comedy in Austin. This leaves this critic, however, with a tough task, as many of the best productions of the year are sitting in the same category. On top of having the best plays, 2011's comedy category also featured the widest variety, leading to some very difficult decisions. In the end, I was able to pare each category down to five nominees, but know, dear readers, that there were at some points half a dozen others that just barely missed the cut. With that, let's begin.
Best Featured Actress – Comedy
Jenny Gravenstein – The Page - Spirits to Enforce
Ava Johns – Nugget - Heddatron
Kelsey Kling – Louise - Marion Bridge
Rachel McGinnis - Meg – The Dudleys!
Breanna Stogner – Women - Down the Drain
Best Featured Actor – Comedy
Robert Deike – Tom - The Dudleys! - Tutto Theatre
Jason Hays – The Men - Guest by Courtesy - Salvage Vanguard
Garry Peters – Kid - Men of Tortuga - Street Corner Arts
Mical Trejo – Mervyn - A Behanding in Spokane - Hyde Park Theatre
Kenneth Wayne Bradley – Taggart - Men of Tortuga - Street Corner Arts
Best Lead Actress – Comedy
Rebecca Robinson – Agnes - Marion Bridge - Hyde Park Theatre
Shannon Grounds – Lydia - Big Love - Shrewd Productions
Hannah Kenah – Cousin - Guest By Courtesy - Salvage Vanguard
Jenny Larson – Cousin - Guest by Courtesy - Salvage Vanguard
Lauren Lane – Veronica Novak - God of Carnage - Zach Scott Theatre
Best Lead Actor – Comedy
Martin Burke - Teddy - Down the Drain - Image That Productions
Judd Farris – Ryan Peterson - You Wouldn't Know Him, He Lives in Texas - Hidden Room Theatre
Joe Penrod – Avery - Men of Tortuga - Street Corner Arts
Robert Pierson – Henrik Ibsen - Heddatron - Salvage Vanguard
Charles Stites – Kerr - Chesapeake - Paladin Theatre Company
Best Ensemble in a Comedy
The Dudleys! - Alex Cogburn, Katie Dahm, Robert Deike, Spencer Driggers, Braden Hunt, Jenny Keto, Rachel McGinnis, Blake Smith, David Meissner, and Erin Treadway - Tutto Theatre Company
God of Carnage – Lauren Lane, Eugene Lee, Angela Rawna, and Thomas Ward - Zach Scott Theatre
Heddatron – Amy Downing, Robert Pierson, Jennymarie Jemison, Cyndi Williams, Kyle Lagunas, Scott Daigle, Jude Hickey, Jarret King, Matt Hislope and Ava Johns - Salvage Vanguard
Men of Tortuga – Kenneth Wayne Bradley, Garry Peters, Joe Penrod, Rommel Sulit and Benjamin Summers - Street Corner Arts
Spirits to Enforce – Karen Alvarado, Travis Bedard, Jay Frayley, Jenny Gravenstein, Allison Gregory, Braden Hunt, Tyler Jones, Stephen Mercantel, Toby Minor, Antoinette Robinson, Blake Smith, and LaTasha Stephens - Capital T Theatre
Best Director – Comedy
Robert Faires – Big Love - Shrewd Productions
Gary Jaffe – Spirits to Enforce - Capital T Theatre
Jenny Larson – Guest by Courtesy - Salvage Vanguard
Ken Webster – Marion Bridge - Hyde Park Theatre
Dustin Wills – Heddatron - Salvage Vanguard
It was a difficult task, but there we have it, the Comedy nominees. What's next? Well, tomorrow you'll find no only the special nominations, but also the chance for you to vote for your favorites this year with the Audience Awards. Stay tuned for more, and post your thoughts on all the winners in the comments below.
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