Pictured: Chanell Bell and Debo Balogun in Definition’s “Moon Man Walk” | Photo by Joe Mazza, Brave Lux

The 24th Annual Black Theater Alliance/Ira Aldridge Awards were presented on Monday, October 15, at Columbia College Chicago in The Hokin Lecture Hall. Included in the event was the documentary Black Theater: The Making Of A Movement, produced by Woodie King, Jr. of The New Federal Theater.

The Black Theater Alliance Awards were founded in 1995 by Vincent Williams, who serves as president of the organization. BTAA was founded to honor African Americans who achieve excellence in theater, dance and other areas of the performing and technical arts in the Chicagoland area.

The 2018 recipients are:

The Negro Ensemble Company Award – Outstanding Stage Production

“Juneteenth Street” – eta Creative Arts Foundation

The Lorraine Hansberry Award – Best Writing of a Play

Reginald Edmund – “Juneteenth Street” – eta Creative Arts Foundation

Michael Allen Harris – “Kingdom” – Broken Nose Theatre

Suzan-Lori Parks – “Father Comes Home From The Wars (Parts 1, 2, and 3)” – Goodman Theatre

The Target Community Relations Award – Best Ensemble

“Shakin’ The Mess Outta Misery” – Pegasus Theatre Chicago

The Douglas Alan Mann Award – Best Direction of an Ensemble

Chris Jackson – “Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf” – Pulse Theatre Company

The Oscar Brown, Jr. Award – Best Direction of a Musical

Darryl D. Brooks – “Memphis” – Porchlight Music Theatre

The Lloyd Richards Award – Best Direction of a Play

Niegel Smith – “Father Comes Home From The Wars (Parts 1, 2, and 3)” – Goodman Theatre

The Sidney Poitier Award – Best Leading Actor in a Play

Geno Walker – “To Catch A Fish” – TimeLine Theatre Company

The Ossie Davis Award – Best Featured Actor in a Play

Jaime Lincoln Smith – “Father Comes Home From The Wars (Parts 1, 2, and 3)” – Goodman Theatre

The Ruby Dee Award – Best Leading Actress in a Play

Tiffany Oglesby – “The Light” – The New Colony

The Hattie McDaniel Award – Best Featured Actress in a Play

Aime Donna Kelly – “Father Comes Home From The Wars (Parts 1, 2, and 3)” – Goodman Theatre

RJW Mays – “Kingdom” – Broken Nose Theatre

The Sammy Davis, Jr. Award – Best Leading Actor in a Play

Donald Fitzdarryl – “Eye Of The Storm” – eta Creative Arts Foundation

The Bill Bojangles Robinson Award – Best Featured Actor in a Play

Lorenzo Rush, Jr. – “Memphis” – Porchlight Music Theatre

The Lena Horne Award – Best Leading Actress in a Musical

Aeriel Williams – “Memphis” – Porchlight Music Theatre

The Eartha Kitt Award – Best Featured Actress in a Musical

Cynthia F. Carter – “Rick Stone The Blues Man” – Black Ensemble Theater

The Harry Belafonte Award – Best Actor in an Ensemble

Jelani Pitcher – “TopDog/UnderDog” – Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre

The Ethel Waters Award – Best Actress in an Ensemble

Melanie Loren – “Shakin’ The Mess Outta Misery” – Pegasus Theatre Chicago

The Denzel Washington Award – Most Promising Actor

Debo Balogun – “Moon Man Walk” – Definition Theatre Company

The Phylicia Rashad Award – Most Promising Actress

Chanell Bell – “Moon Man Walk” – Definition Theatre Company

The Duke Ellington Award – Best Musical Direction

Jermaine Hill – “Memphis” – Porchlight Music Theatre

The Katherine Dunham Award – Best Choreography in a Play or Music/Dance Program

Christopher Carter – “Memphis” – Porchlight Music Theatre

The Shirley Prendergast Award – Best Lighting Design

Slick Jorgensen – “Moon Man Walk” – Definition Theatre Company

The Ruth E. Carter Award – Best Costume Design

Alexia Rutherford – “Hail Hail Chuck A Tribute To Chuck Berry” – Black Ensemble Theater

The Mike Sargent Award – Best Sound Design 

Matt Test – “Moon Man Walk” – Definition Theatre Company

The Ed Burbridge Award – Best Set Design

Eleanor Khan – “Moon Man Walk” – Definition Theatre Company