Watertown-based New Repertory Theatre closed its doors in 2023, but the company’s final season earned accolades at the recent Elliot Norton Awards in Boston. The following announcement was provided by Maria Hendricks, one of the former Resident Artists/Co-Artistic Directors at New Rep.
New Repertory Theatre’s final season went out with a bang as its productions were celebrated at the esteemed 41st Annual Elliot Norton Awards, held at The Huntington Theater on May 20. As one of the Greater Boston area’s premiere mid-sized regional theater companies for 40 years, it was especially gratifying for the company to receive such meaningful recognition as it ended its run.
New Rep received 7 Nominations:
• Outstanding Production, Small Theater – A Raisin in the Sun
• Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play, Small Theater – Damon Singletary – A Raisin in the Sun
• Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Small Theater – Valyn Lyric Turner – A Raisin in the Sun
• Outstanding Director, Small Theater – Lois Roach – A Raisin in the Sun
• Outstanding Director, Small Theater – Pascale Florestal – Diaspora!
• Outstanding New Script – Phaedra Michelle Scott – DIASPORA!
• Outstanding Ensemble – A Raisin in the Sun
And won:
• For Outstanding New Script – Phaedra Michelle Scott – DIASPORA!
• Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Small in memory of Jaime Carrillo* – Valyn Lyric Turner – A Raisin in the Sun
(*Jaime Carrillo was Resident Artist/Co-Artistic Director at New Rep 2022/2023. )
Also, the Prize for Sustained Excellence was awarded to Janie E. Howland who had been New Rep’s “Go-To” Scenic Designer 2022-2024.
Said New Rep’s Artistic Leadership Team Michael Hisamoto, Lois Roach and Maria Hendricks: “We are humbled and overjoyed with the BTCA Elliot Norton Awards honoring the outstanding talents of our cast and crew.”
“Congrats and thanks to the entire New Rep team for their contribution to artistic excellence.”
– Board Member Stanley K.
“It was great to see NRT get its due recognition (…) and were able to celebrate in style! Congratulations to Lois and the team!”
– Board Member Shannon P.
Meanwhile, the legacy of New Rep, including its Renewal Vision of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion and a collaborative process centered on new work, new voices, and deep roots in the community, lives on within the greater Boston area and most fervently within Watertown as former New Rep collaborators such as Pigsgusset Initiative form new ties with the city’s Public Library & Historical Society as they forge onward in the path created by New Rep’s site specific play Listen to Sipu in the work of decolonizing the local history.
Also, most recently, former Resident Artist/Co-Artistic Director Maria Hendricks was nominated and elected by Watertown community leaders to be the Chair of the Watertown Square Cultural District. Resident Artists/Co-Artistic Directors Lois Roach & Michael Hisamoto are doing exceptional work in writing, directing and arts administration; continuing to embody the work and ideals they displayed at New Rep. Also, Angelica Potter, former Director of Organizational Transition at New Rep, serves the performing arts community as a mental performance consultant working to provide performance psychology support, guidance and knowledge to performing artists at all levels so they can perform their best.
“What New Rep has meant and continues to mean to our community is impossible to quantify; from the many inspired performances including during Covid, to all the ways the fabulous staff and actors have shown up in Watertown’s various cultural spaces, we are all enriched by this creative force.”
–Mishy & Chris – residents of Watertown in the homeland of the Massachusett Tribe
