Since 1998, Venice Theatre has been the most-awarded community theatre in Florida and in the Southeastern United States. Look for this list to be updated soon with new nominations and awards including 13 nominations this year from Sarasota Magazine! Awards won include:

2008 Sarasota Herald-Tribune Curtain Call Awards: Best Play (Pillowman); Best Actor in a Play (Jeremy Heideman for Pillowman); Best Director of a play (Murray Chase for Pillowman).

2008 Best of Venice Award from The Venice Gondolier for Best Live Performance Venue

2007 National Award for Best Costume Design – Nicholas Hartman for School for Wives

Best of the Best Award from Sarasota Magazine for 2003-04 Season

Best Local Live Theatre in Sarasota County from west Florida publication, Watermark, for 2003-04 Season

Best Production:

Assassins, Sarasota Herald-Tribune Handy Awards, Best Musical, 2003-2004

Boom Town, Sarasota Herald-Tribune Handy Awards, Best Play, 2003-2004

Assassins, Sarasota Magazine Annual Theatre Awards, Best Musical, 2003-2004

Boom Town, Sarasota Magazine Annual Theatre Awards, Best Play, 2003-2004

The Good Woman of Setzuan, Southeastern Theatre Conference (co-winner), 2003

The Good Woman of Setzuan, Florida Theatre Conference, 2002

Tartuffe, Southeastern Theatre Conference, 2002

Tartuffe, Florida Theatre Conference, 2001

Fool For Love, Southeastern Theatre Conference, 2001

Fool For Love, Florida Theatre Conference, 2000

Terra Nova, Florida Theatre Conference, 1999

Best Actor:

Larry Golden, Fiddler on the Roof, Herald-Tribune Handy Awards, 2004-2005

Steve Dawson, Assassins, Sarasota Herald-Tribune Handy Awards, 2003-2004

Steve Dawson, Assassins, Sarasota Magazine Awards, 2003-2004

David Covach, Assassins, Sarasota Magazine Awards, 2003-2004

Murray Chase, Boom Town, Sarasota Magazine Awards, 2003-2004

Steven O’Dea, The Vast Difference, Florida Theatre Conference, 2003

Allen Kretschmar, Jekyll & Hyde, Sarasota Magazine Annual Awards, 2001-2002

Ronald Krine Myroup, Tartuffe, Florida Theatre Conference, 2001

Allan Kollar, Fool For Love, Southeastern Theatre Conference, 2001

Allan Kollar, Fool For Love, Florida Theatre Conference, 2000

Best Actress:

MaryBeth Antoinette, Extremities, Sarasota Magazine Annual Awards, 2004-2005

Leanne Hanson, The Vast Difference, Florida Theatre Conference, 2003

Cemantha Crain, The Good Woman of Setzuan, Florida Theatre Conference, 2002

MaryBeth Antoinette, Jekyll & Hyde, Sarasota Magazine Annual Awards, 2001-2002

Brenda Gibbs, Tartuffe, Florida Theatre Conference, 2001

Best Supporting Actor:

Rodd Dyer, Assassins, Sarasota Magazine Annual Awards, 2003-2004

Peter Barcia, Denial, Sarasota Magazine Annual Awards, 2002-2003

Joe Simmons, Fool For Love, Southeastern Theatre Conference, 2001

Brian Rudolph, Terra Nova, Florida Theatre Conference, 1999

Best Supporting Actress:

Monia Joblin, Vagina Monologues, Florida Theatre Conference, 2006

Judith Thompson, Assassins, Sarasota Herald-Tribune Handy Awards, 2003-2004

Judith Thompson, Assassins, Sarasota Magazine Annual Awards, 2003-2004

Jackie LaBarro, Tartuffe, Southeastern Theatre Conference, 2002

Leanne Hanson, Talk Radio, Florida Theatre Conference, 1998

Jackie LaBarro, Sylvia, Herald-Tribune Handy Awards, 1998-1999

All-Star Cast/Special Recognition for Acting

Cara Herman, Vagina Monologues, Florida Theatre Conference, 2006

Cemantha Crain, The Good Woman of Setzuan, AACT National Festival, 2003

The Ensemble, The Good Woman of Setzuan, AACT National Festival, 2003

“Acting Is Child’s Play” Award, Ally Tufenkjian, The Miracle Worker, Sarasota Magazine Awards, 2002-2003

“Imitation is Sincerest Form of Flattery Award,” Tom Hudson, Rodd Dyer, and Robert Williams as The Marx Brothers, Animal Crackers, Sarasota Magazine Annual Awards, 2002-03

Best Ensemble, The Good Woman of Setzuan, Southeastern Theatre Conference, 2003

Best Ensemble, The Good Woman of Setzuan, Florida Theatre Conference, 2002

Amity Dertouzos, Tartuffe, Florida Theatre Conference, 2002

Joe Simmons, Fool For Love, AACT National Festival, 2001

Daniel Greene, Fool For Love, Southeastern Theatre Conference, 2001

Angela Stanley, Fool For Love, Florida Theatre Conference, 2000

Brian Rudolph, Terra Nova, Southeastern Theatre Conference, 2000

Matt Erickson, Terra Nova, Southeastern Theatre Conference, 2000

Mona Maclean, Terra Nova, Southeastern Theatre Conference, 2000

Direction/Design Awards

Best Musical Direction - David Nelson, I Do, I Do, Sarasota Magazine Awards, 2004-2005

Best Director, Sandy Davisson, Boom Town, Sarasota Herald-Tribune Handy Awards 2003-2004

Best Director, Scott Keys, Assassins, Sarasota Herald-Tribune Handy Awards, 2003-2004

Best Director, Scott Keys, Assassins, Sarasota Magazine Annual Awards, 2003-2004

Best Music Direction, Rick Bogner, Assassins, Sarasota Herald-Tribune Handy Awards 2003-2004

Best Music Direction, Rick Bogner, The Taffetas, Herald-Tribune Handy Awards, 2002-2003

Best Costume/Props Design, Carrie Riley O’Donnell, The Good Woman of Setzuan, AACT National Festival, 2003

Best Lighting Design - Tim O’Donnell, The Wizard of Oz, Sarasota Magazine Annual Awards, 2002-2003

Best Costume Design - Amity Dertouzos, The Wizard of Oz, Sarasota Magazine Annual Awards, 2002-2003

Best Director, Murray Chase, The Good Woman of Setzuan, Southeastern Theatre Conference, 2003

Best Costume/Props Design - Carrie Riley O’Donnell, The Good Woman of Setzuan, Southeastern Theatre Conference, 2003

Best Music Direction, Rick Bogner, Jekyll & Hyde, Sarasota Magazine Annual Awards, 2001-2002

Best Lighting Design, Tim O’Donnell, Jekyll & Hyde, Sarasota Magazine Annual Awards, 2001-2002

Best Director, Murray Chase, Tartuffe, Southeastern Theatre Conference, 2002

Best Director, Murray Chase, Fool For Love, Southeastern Theatre Conference, 2001

Overall Technical Excellence, Tim O’Donnell, Terra Nova, Southeastern Theatre Conference, 2000

Additional Awards

Special Award for Original Music, Cathy Baudrit/Rhonda McCarte, The Good Woman of Setzuan, AACT National Festival, 2003

Best Stage Management, Leanne Hanson, Fool For Love, Southeastern Theatre Conference, 2001