Upon formation as a professional theatre in 1989, Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte produced HOLY GHOSTS by North Carolina native Romulus Linney at the Afro-American Cultural Center in Charlotte, NC. The company began with one full-time employee and one part-time employee. The following year, Actor’s Theatre began producing at the newly renovated Spirit Square complex in the 70-seat Acting Studio.

Following 4 successful years in the Acting Studio, Actor’s Theatre was named a Resident Company of Spirit Square. By 1999, Actor’s Theatre moved in to the 195-seat Duke Energy Theatre and added another part-time employee, totaling two full-time employees and one part-time employee.

The company continued producing in Spirit Square until 2004, when our new home at 650 East Stonewall Street was completed, which houses our 199-seat main stage theatre and administrative and production offices.

Actor’s Theatre has received numerous awards and accolades over its 20-year history. We have been the recipient of “Theatre of the Year” honors from Creative Loafing six of the last seven years, as well as “Theatre Company of the Year” honors from the Metrolina Theatre Association three of the last four years. We have also received two George A. Parides Professional Theatre Award (2001 and 2004) from the North Carolina Theatre Conference. These honors have cemented Actor’s Theatre’s place as the region’s most award-winning theatre company.

We are proud to be members of Theatre Communications Group (the service organization of the American Professional Theatre), the North Carolina Theatre Conference, the Metrolina Theatre Association, and the Charlotte Regional Visitors Association.

Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte is also pleased to be funded through the generous support of the Arts & Science Council of Charlotte/Mecklenburg, Inc. and the North Carolina Arts Council.

Notable Awards

2009
Metrolina Theatre Association Awards

Outstanding Production (Comedy), Southern Rapture
Outstanding Lead Actress (Comedy), Laura Depta – Southern Rapture
Outstanding Supporting Actress (Comedy), Sheila Snow Proctor – Southern Rapture
Outstanding Supporting Actress (Drama), Polly Adkins – Rabbit Hole
Outstanding Lead Actor (Musical), Jon Parker Douglas – Bat Boy: The Musical
Outstanding Lighting Design (Comedy), Hallie Gray – Southern Rapture
Outstanding Lighting Design (Musical), Hallie Gray – Bat Boy: The Musical
Outstanding Technical Effect (Comedy), Chip Decker – The Lieutenant of Inishmore (Blood Effects)
Outstanding Technical Effect (Musical), Chip Decker – Evil Dead: The Musical (Blood Effects)

Creative Loafing “Best of Charlotte” Awards
Best Theater Company, Critics Pick
Best Theater Company, Reader’s Pick

Elevate Lifestyle Awards
Best Theatre Troupe

2008
Metrolina Theatre Association Awards
Theatre Company of the Year
Outstanding Production (Drama), The Pillowman
Outstanding Production (Comedy), The Scene
Outstanding Direction (Drama), Dennis Delamar – The Pillowman
Outstanding Direction (Comedy), Ann Marie Costa – The Scene
Outstanding Lead Actor (Drama), Billy Ensley – The Pillowman
Outstanding Lead Actor (Comedy), Brian Robinson – The Scene
Outstanding Lead Actress (Drama), Karen Abercrombie – Gem of the Ocean
Outstanding Supporting Actor (Drama), Chip Decker – The Pillowman
Outstanding Supporting Actor (Comedy), Dave Blamy – The Scene
Outstanding Supporting Actress (Drama), Kim Watson Brooks – Gem of the Ocean
Outstanding Supporting Actress (Comedy), Jorja Ursin – The Clean House
Outstanding Set Design (Drama), Stan Peal – The Pillowman
Outstanding Lighting Design (Drama), Hallie Gray – The Pillowman
Outstanding Lighting Design (Comedy), Hallie Gray – The Scene
Outstanding Costume Design (Drama), Myk Chambers – The Pillowman
Outstanding Sound Design (Drama), Chip Decker – Gem of the Ocean

Creative Loafing “Best of Charlotte” Awards
Best Theater Company, Critics Pick
Best Theater Company, Reader’s Pick

Charlotte Magazine “Best of the Best” Awards
Best Theatrical Production, Gem of the Ocean

2007
Creative Loafing Awards
Show of the Year, I Am My Own Wife
Best One Person Show, I Am My Own Wife
Best Drama, The Goat, or Who is Sylvia
Best Actor, Jerry Colbert The Goat, or Who is Sylvia
Best Actress, Kim Cozort The Goat, or Who is Sylvia
Director of the Year, Dennis Delamar I Am My Own Wife
Theater Person of the Year, Scott Ripley I Am My Own Wife
Theater Company of the Year

2006
Creative Loafing Awards
Best Musical, tick…tick…BOOM
Best Actor Musical, Jerry Colbert Johnny Guitar
Best Supporting Actress (Musical), Polly Adkins Johnny Guitar
Best Supporting Actor, Joe Klosek tick…tick…Boom and Johnny Guitar
Director of the Year, Craig Spradley tick…tick…BOOM and Johnny Guitar
Theater Company of the Year

Metrolina Theatre Association Awards
Best Drama, The Goat, or Who is Sylvia
Best Actor (Drama), Jerry Colbert The Goat, or Who is Sylvia
Best Actress (Drama), Kim Cozort The Goat, or Who is Sylvia
Best Director (Musical), Sidney Horton Crowns
Best Sound Design, Chip Decker Johnny Guitar: The Musical
Best Supporting Actress (Musical), Polly Adkins Johnny Guitar: The Musical
Best Supporting Actor (Comedy), Jorja Ursin Polish Joke

2005
Creative Loafing Awards
Show of the Year, Take Me Out
Best Drama, Take Me Out
Best Director (Drama), Lon Bumgarner Take Me Out
Best Actor, Brian Robinson Take Me Out
Best Musical, Bat Boy: The Musical
Best Director, Billy Ensley Bat Boy: The Musical
Best Choreography, Billy Ensley Bat Boy: The Musical
Best Supporting Actor (Musical), Patrick Ratchford Bat Boy: The Musical
Best Cameo Appearance (Musical), Corey Mitchell Bat Boy: The Musical
Best Comedy, Wonder of the World
Best Actress (Comedy), Cat Zeggert Wonder of the World
Best Actor (Comedy), Lee Thomas Wonder of the World
Best Director (Comedy), Chip Decker Wonder of the World
Best Supporting Actress (Comedy), Donna Scott Bright Ideas
Best Supporting Actor (Comedy), Michael Nester Wonder of the World
Best Set Design, Chip Decker Take Me Out
Newcomer of the Year, Brett Gentile Bright Ideas
Theater Persons of the Year, Chip Decker, Artistic Director and Lon Bumgarner
Theater Company of the Year

2004
Creative Loafing Awards
Entertainer of the Year, Billy Ensley Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Theater Company of the Year (Reader’s & Critics Choice)

Charlotte Magazine Awards
Best of the Best Award, Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte

Metrolina Theatre Association Awards
Best Musical, Bat Boy: The Musical
Best Director, Billy Ensley Bat Boy: The Musical
Best Supporting Actor (Drama), Brett Gentile Lobby Hero
Best Supporting Actor (Musical), Corey Mitchell Bat Boy: The Musical
Best Supporting Actress (Comedy), Tanya McClellan Wonder of the World
Best Actor (Comedy), Mark Scarboro The Santaland Diaries
Best Theatre Company

North Carolina Theatre Conference Awards
George A. Parides NC Professional Theatre Award of Excellence

2003
Creative Loafing Awards
Show of the Year, Flaming Guns of the Purple Sage
Best Comedy, Flaming Guns of the Purple Sage
Best Actress, Pam Hunt-Spradley Flaming Guns of the Purple Sage
Best Supporting Actress Beth Pierce Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Best One Person Show, The Santaland Diaries
Theater Company of the Year

2002
Creative Loafing Awards
Best Drama, The Laramie Project
Best Director, April Jones Fuddy Meers
Best Actor, Mark Scarboro Fuddy Meers and The Laramie Project

2001
Creative Loafing Awards
Show of the Year, Anton in Show Business
Director of the Year (Comedy), Dennis Delamar Anton in Show Business
Best Comedy, Anton in Show Business
Best Comedy (Reader’s Choice), Anton in Show Business
Best Actress (Comedy/Reader’s Choice), Leslie Beckham Anton in Show Business
Best Supporting Actor (Musical), Bobby Tyson Violet
Best Cameo Appearance, Mike Farmer Violet
Theater Company of the Year

2000
Creative Loafing Awards
Best Actor (Comedy), George Gray Visiting Mr. Green
Best Supporting Actress (Comedy), Lorraine Larocque The Cripple of Inishmaan

North Carolina Theatre Conference Awards
George A. Parides Award of Excellence

1999
Creative Loafing Awards
Best Drama, Molly Sweeney
Best Actress (Drama), Pam Galle Molly Sweeney
Best Actor (Comedy), Jerry Colbert The Chemistry of Change
Theater Company of the Year

1998
Creative Loafing Awards
Best Actress (Comedy), Polly Adkins Zara Spook and Other Lures

1996
Creative Loafing Awards
Best Actor (Comedy), Billy Ensley You Should Be So Lucky
Best Supporting Actress (Musical), Kathleen Seymour The Devil’s Dream
Best Drama, The Night of the Iguana
Best Actor (Drama), Richard Riner The Night of the Iguana

1995
Creative Loafing Awards
Best Comedy, Beyond Therapy
Best Director (Comedy), Janet Isenhart Beyond Therapy
Best Actress (Comedy), Susan Meadows Beyond Therapy

1994
Creative Loafing Awards
Theater Persons of the Year, Dan Shoemaker, Executive Director, and Janet Isenhart, Artistic Director