140 West Tampa Ave. Venice, Florida 34285
Box Office: 941-488-1115

Awards

Since 1998, Venice Theatre is proud to have been the most-awarded community theatre in Florida and the Southeastern United States. 

Best Productions

  • Ragtime, Sarasota Magazine Critic's Choice Award for Best Epic All-American Musical, 2010
  • Pillowman, Sarasota Herald-Tribune Curtain Call Awards, Best Play, 2008
  • 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 Actors

  • Jeremy Heidemann (Guererro), I Am My Own Wife, Florida Theatre Conference, 2010
  • Jeremy Heideman, Pillowman, Sarasota Herald-Tribune Curtain Call Awards, 2008
  • 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 Actresses

  • 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 Actors

  • 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 Actresses

  • 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 Casts/Special Recognitions 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
  • Ally Tufenkjian, The Miracle Worker, “Acting Is Child’s Play” Award, Sarasota Magazine, 2002-2003
  • Tom Hudson, Rodd Dyer, and Robert Williams as The Marx Brothers in Animal Crackers, “Imitation is Sincerest Form of Flattery Award,” Sarasota Magazine, 2002-2003
  • 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 Crafsmanship, AACTFest 11 Design Competition- Nicholas Hartman for The King and I costumes.
  •  Murray Chase, Best Director of a play for Pillowman, Sarasota Herald-Tribune Curtain Call Awards, 2008
  • 2007 National Award for Best Costume Design – Nicholas Hartman for School for Wives
  • 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

  • Geri Becker received the Robert E. Gard Superior Volunteer Award at AACTFest 11 for her nearly 50 years of volunteer service to Venice Theatre.
  • The Drowsy Chaperone, Sarasota Magazine Critic's Choice Award for Best Double Dose of Nostalgic Fun, 2010
  • 2008 - 2011: Best of Venice Award from The Venice Gondolier for Best Live Performance Venue
  • 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
  • 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