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Merritt Awards

The Merritt Awards were started in 2002 and are administered by Theatre Nova Scotia. The Merritts honour excellence in theatre throughout the province of Nova Scotia. They are named for Robert Merritt, who was well known to the Halifax community both as the teacher of playwriting in the Theatre Department at Dalhousie University, and as the film critic for CBC’s Information Morning.

Awards are given for Acting, Direction, Lighting, Set Design, Costume Design, Sound Design, Music, and Outstanding New Play by a Nova Scotian Playwright.

Previous award winners include many artists of national repute, such as John Dunsworth, Nicola Lipman, Linda Moore, RH Thomson, Joan Orenstein, Mary Colin Chisolm, Richard Donat, and Mary Vingoe.

Winners of the Merritt Award for Best Production are Trip by Jest in Time Theatre (2002), Mary's Wedding by Ship's Company Theatre (2003), Jacob’s Wake by Ship’s Company Theatre (2004), The Rocky Horror Show by Neptune Theatre (2005), The Diary of Anne Frank by Neptune Theatre (2006), God’s Middle Name by In Good Company (2007), The Odyssey by Two Planks and a Passion Theatre (2008), Our Town by Two Planks and a Passion Theatre (2009), Rockbound by Two Planks and a Passion Theatre (2010), and 5 Easy Steps to the End of the World by Zuppa Theatre Company (2011).

Winners of the Merritt Award for Best Play by a Nova Scotian Playwright include Christopher Shore for Liar (2002), Lance Wollaver for World Without Shadows (2003), Sheldon Currie for Lauchie, Liza and Rory (2004), Scott Burke for Parrsboro Boxing Club (2005), Michael Best for Gay White Trash (2006), Jennifer Overton for God’s Middle Name (2007), Shahin Sayadi for The Veil (2008), Chris Little for Grandma Noda’s Tigers (2009), Allan Cole for Rockbound (2010), Thom Fitzgerald for Cloudburst (2011), and Daniel MacIvor for Bingo! (Mulgrave Road Theatre).

Website: www.merrittawards.ca

Last updated 2013-08-02