The Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) Awards are held every spring to honor outstanding artistry and accomplishments in theatres all across the region. This year, members of the Northeastern theatre community received a total of thirteen nominations for their creative work.

Theatre department chair Scott Edmiston was nominated for Best Director of a Musical for his acclaimed production of My Fair Lady at the Lyric Stage Company, which received a total of five nominations including Best Musical. Edmiston’s production of Casa Valentina at SpeakEasy Stage received three nominations including Best Acting Ensemble, and his Lyric Stage production of Light Up the Sky also received three nominations including Best Actor for NU alumnus Alejandro Simoes ’02.

Theatre Operations Specialist Darren Evans was nominated for Best Director for the world premiere of The Misadventures of Spy Matthias at Theatre on Fire, the company he founded and leads as Artistic Director. Bridget Kathleen O’Leary, who teaches Boston Theatre Experience and directed NU’s recent production of The Heidi Chronicles, received a nomination for her direction of The Flick at the Gloucester Stage Company.

Northeastern is represented at the IRNEs this year with the following nominations:

Best Director of a Musical (Mid-sized): Scott Edmiston, My Fair Lady, Lyric Stage Company
Best Director (Fringe): Darren Evans, The Misadventures of Spy Matthias, Theatre on Fire
Best Director (Fringe): Part-time Faculty Bridget Kathleen O’Leary, The Flick, Gloucester Stage Company
Best Actor (Mid-sized): Alejandro Simoes ’02, Light Up the Sky, Lyric Stage
Best Actor (Fringe): Michael Underhill ’10, Dying City, Happy Medium Theatre
Best Actor in a Musical (Mid-sized): Christopher Chew CPS ’13, Shrek, Wheelock Family Theatre
Best Supporting Actor (Fringe): Matthew Zahnzinger ’09, The Polish Joke, Titanic Theatre Company
Best Supporting Actress (Fringe): Cassandra Meyer ’05, A Winter’s Tale, Maiden Phoenix
Best Supporting Actress (Fringe): Christine Power/Gillian Mackay-Smith ’04, Greenland, Apollinaire Theatre
Best Music Director (Mid-sized): NU Guest Artist Matthew Stern, Shrek, Wheelock Family Theatre
Best Set Design (Small Stage): NU Guest Artist Janie E. Howland, Light Up the Sky, Lyric Stage
Best Projection Design (Small Stage): NU Guest Artist Kathryn Lieber, Colossal, Company One
Best Lighting Design (Small Stage): NU Guest Artist Jeff Adelberg, God’s Ear, Actors Shakespeare Project

The winners will be announced at a ceremony on April 11 at the 1200 Hotel Ballroom in Brookline.