Huntington Theatre and SpeakEasy Stage Win Big at 2018 IRNE Awards
(© T. Charles Erickson)
The 22nd annual Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) Awards were held on Monday, April 23, in the ballroom of the Holiday Inn Brookline-Boston. The IRNE Awards honor the spectrum of talent in the Boston theater community, from small companies to large visiting productions.
Huntington Theatre Company took home the majority of awards in the Large Stage category. The company's production of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's Merrily We Roll Along received seven awards, including Best Ensemble, Best Supporting Actress – Musical (Aimee Doherty), Best Actress – Musical (Broadway favorite Eden Espinosa), Best Director (Maria Friedman), and Best Musical. Merrimack Repertory Theatre's production of The Royale took Best Play (along with Best Supporting Actor – Play and Best Director – Play), while the Huntington Theatre Company production of Ken Urban's A Guide for the Homesick won Best New Play.
The Small Stage category largely went to SpeakEasy Stage. SpeakEasy's production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time won Best Play – Midsize, Best Director – Play – Midsize (Paul Daigneault) and a bevy of design awards. SpeakEasy's The Bridges of Madison County walked away with Best Actor – Musical (Christiaan Smith) and Best Actress – Musical (Jennifer Ellis). Wheelock Family Theatre won Best Musical for In the Heights and Best Play – Fringe went to Zeitgeist Stage's Faceless.
