2016 Robert Merritt Award nominations announced

The 2016 Robert Merritt Award nominations — which recognize excellence in live theatre in Nova Scotia — have been released.

CBC Radio's Mainstreet got a sneak peek of the list. 

Jeremy Webb, producer of the awards show, and the host, Marty Burt, spoke with Preston Mulligan about the nominations.

Here's a full list of the actors and shows nominated for the awards which will be held March 21 at 7 p.m. at Casino Nova Scotia's Schooner Room.

Outstanding choreographer 

• Jim Morrow (The Tempest)
• Kathryn MacLellan (Stacey and Liz — Two Women,Two True Stories)
• Mary Lou Martin (The Highest Tides)
• Stephanie Graham (The Addams Family)

Outstanding costume design

• Helena Marriott (Great Expectations)
• Jennifer Goodman (The Tempest)
• Leesa Hamilton (Hardboiled — A Sal Dali Crime Tale)
• Sarah Haydon Roy (Macbeth)
• Sean Mulcahy (The Addams Family) 

Outstanding direction

• Christian Barry (Lungs)
• Dayna Tekatch (The 39 Steps)
• Emmy Alcorn (Watching Glory Die)
• Ken Schwartz (The Tempest)
• Theo Pitsiavas, Christopher Little (Hardboiled — A Sal Dali Crime Tale)

Outstanding lighting design

• Ingrid Risk (Watching Glory Die)
• Jessica Lewis (Broadway on Argyle St.)
• Johnny Cann (Hardboiled — A Sal Dali Crime Tale)
• Leigh Ann Vardy (The 39 Steps)
• Susann Hudson (Macbeth)

Outstanding musical direction

• Allen Cole (The Highest Tides)
• Lisa St. Clair (Broadway On Argyle St.)
• Scott Christian (The Addams Family)
• Tim Brady (GHOST TANGO)

Outstanding new play by a Nova Scotian

• Dan Bray (Arden)
• Ken Schwartz (The Turn of the Screw)
• MG McIntyre (Spirits)
• Theo Pitsiavas (Hardboiled — A Sal Dali Crime Tale)
• Wendy Lill (Messenger)

Outstanding original score

• Allen Cole (The Tempest)
• Benjamin Marmen (Macbeth)
• Michael Robson (The Duchess of Malfi)
• Stewart Legere, David Christensen (Pop-Up Love Party)
• Tim Brady (GHOST TANGO) 

Outstanding performance by a female in a leading role

• Burgandy Code (The Governess in The Turn of the Screw)
• Francine Deschepper (Rosemary in Outside Mullingar)
• Jamie Konchak (Ariel in The Tempest)
• Jenny Munday (Dianne in The Cave Painter)
• Stephanie MacDonald (Gail/Glory/Rosellen in Watching Glory Die)

Outstanding performance by a female actor in a supporting role

• Andrea Lee Norwood (Flora in The Turn of the Screw)
• Burgandy Cole (Antonia in The Tempest)
• Margaret Legere (Various roles in Macbeth)
• Mauralea Austin (Aoife in Outside Mullingar)
• Shelley Thompson (Doctor in A Good Death)

Outstanding performance by a male actor in a leading role

• Graham Percy (Prospero in The Tempest)
• Hugh Thompson (Thomas Stockman in Messenger)
• Marty Burt (Caliban in The Tempest)
• Stewart Legere (Charlotte Von Mahlsdorf in I Am My Own Wife)
• Theo Pitsiavas (Salvador Dali in Hardboiled — A Sal Dali Crime Tale)

Outstanding performance by a male actor in a supporting role

• Christian Murray (Clown 2 in The 39 Steps)
• Christopher Little (Various roles in Hardboiled — A Sal Dali Crime Tale)
• Marty Burt (Joe/Matthew Pocket/Ensemble in Great Expectations)
• Matthew Lumley (Michal in The Pillowman)
• Rhys Bevan-John (Clown 1 in The 39 Steps)

Outstanding production by an established company

• Hardboiled - A Sal Dali Crime Tale (LoHiFi Productions)
• Outside Mullingar (Festival Antigonish)
• Pop-Up Love Party (Zuppa Theatre Co.)
• The 39 Steps (Neptune Theatre)
• The Tempest (Two Planks and a Passion Theatre)
• The Turn of a Screw (Two Planks and a Passion Theatre)

Outstanding production by a new or emerging company

• Spirits (Up The Hill Theatre Productions)
• The Duchess of Malfi (The Villain's Theatre)
• The Story of a Sinking Man (Kick at the Dark Theatre Company)

Outstanding set and projection design

• D'Arcy Morris-Poultney (The Cave Painter)
• Garrett Barker (The Romeo Initiative)
• Ian Pygott (Outside Mullingar)
• Katherine Ryan (I'll Be Back Before Midnight)
• Theo Pitsiavas, Christopher Little, Tony Owen (Hardboiled — A Sal Dali Crime Tale)

Outstanding sound design

• Brian Riley (Pop-Up Love Party)
• Daniel Oulton (Messenger)
• Dustin Harvey, Shawn Bisson (Landline)
• Johnny Cann (Hardboiled — A Sal Dali Crime Tale)
• Rob Greene (I'll Be Back Before Midnight)