Israel Theatre Prize Candidates Announced

The Israel Theatre Prize enters a new era in 2010. Many of the changes introduced are intended to shift the spotlight from the organization to the artist. Unlike previous years, there will no longer be a prize for “Best Play of the Year” awarded to the theatre, but rather two separate prizes – one for Best Original Play and one for Best Play in Translation/Adaptation – with the prizes going to the directors, writers and translators/adaptors.

Final candidates, selected by a nine member committee headed by retired judge Shelly Tyman, were announced yesterday in a press meeting. A second round of viewing and voting will be held in the coming month, with representatives from the different theatre artists unions contributing their perspective to the decision process.  Winners will be announced in May.

The candidates are:

Best Original Israeli Play

Johnnie Walked by Jonathan Geffen, directed by Eldad Ziv, Cameri Theatre
Havdalah by Shmuel Hasfari, directed by Shmuel Hasfari, Cameri Theatre
The Banality of Love, by Savion Liebricht, Beit Lessin Theatre
Gaza 17 by Shai Lahav and Yoni Zicholtz, directed by Noam Shmuel, Cameri Theatre

Best Play in Translation/Adaptation

The Nose by Nikolai Gogol, adapted by Raphael Milo Amar, directed by Shai Pitovsky, Habima Theatre
La Grande Magia by Eduardo de Fillipo, translated by Dori Parnes, directed by Udi Ben Moshe, Khan Theatre
The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas, translated and directed by Ido Riklin, Beer Sheva Theatre
Tuesdays with Morrie, by Jeff Hatcher and Mitch Albom, translated by Rivka Meshulah, directed by Moshe Naor, Cameri Theatre and Haifa Theatre

Best Revival Production

The American Princess, Khan Theatre
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Cameri Theatre
A View from the Bridge, Beit Lessin Theatre
Piaf, Beer Sheva Theatre

Best Comedy

Enchanted April, Beer Sheva Theatre
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Beit Lessin Theatre
A Warm Family, Cameri Theatre
Les Fourberies de Scapin, Khan Theatre
Best Entertainment

The Kettle and the Broom, Habima Theatre
Hanoch Rosen “Speaks for Himself”, Tamir Productions
Jaffa Pictures, Beit Lessin Theatre

Best Musical

Yentl, Cameri Theatre and Haifa Theatre
Ofra, Miriam Etzioni and Hazafon Theatre

Best Actress in Leading Role

Ola Schur-Selektar as Yentl in Yentl, Cameri Theatre and Haifa Theatre
Yonit Tubi as Edith Piaf in Piaf, Beer Sheva Theatre
Leora Rivlin as Hannah Arendt in The Banality of Love, Beit Lessin Theatre
Anat Waxman as Martha in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Cameri Theatre

Best Actor in Leading Role

Arye Cherner as King Bonifacius Victor Felix in The American Princess, Khan Theatre
Vitaly Friedland as Scapin in Les Fourberies de Scapin, Khan Theatre
Yossi Gerber as Morrie Schwartz in Tuesdays with Morrie, Cameri Theatre and Haifa Theatre
Sasson Gabai as Vanya in Uncle Vanya, Beit Lessin Theatre

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Lucy Dubinchek as Sarah Regan in Harper Regan, Gesher Theatre
Maya Dagan as Sonya in Uncle Vanya, Beit Lessin Theatre
Michal Shtamler as the young Hannah Arendt in The Banality of Love, Beit Lessin Theatre
Neta Gerty as Honey in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Cameri Theatre

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Alon Ofir in his varied roles in The Count of Monte Cristo, Beer Sheva Theatre
Ensemble actors in The Kettle and the Broom, Habima Theatre
Arye Cherner as Argent in Les Fourberies de Scapin, Khan Theatre
Dvir Bendak as Joey in The Old Neighborhood, Haifa Theatre

Check them out (if you haven’t already done so) and see how your opinion compares with the judges!

AYELET DEKEL