Skip to content
Author
PUBLISHED:

Merrrimack Repertory Theatre in Lowell was represented at the 42nd Elliot Norton Awards, held on Monday night at Boston’s Huntington Theatre.

This year’s recipient of the 2025 Elliot Norton Prize for Sustained Excellence is Kathy St. George, an acclaimed actress based in Boston, whose work has been seen in Boston, New York, nationally, and throughout New England, including several productions at the MRT two decades ago.

Acting professionally since 1981, she made her Broadway debut in “Fiddler on the Roof” at Lincoln Center. She later played two roles in the Tony-Award winning 1990 revival of “Fiddler” at the Gershwin Theatre directed by the legendary Jerome Robbins. St. George made her Off-Broadway debut in “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” at the Westside Theatre.

A veteran of five national tours, she has performed across the US, Canada, Russia, and Japan. But she was born in a trunk in Stoneham, and is a Boston girl at heart, so she returned to New England to make it her artistic home. Last season alone she appeared in “A Man of No Importance” at SpeakEasy Stage, “A Christmas Carol” at the Majestic Theatre with Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, “Urinetown” at Lyric Stage Boston, “Fiddler on the Roof ” (again, oy vey!) at North Shore Music Theatre, and in concert with the Firebird Pops at Greater Boston Stage Company.

St. George has also performed at the Charles Playhouse, Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Ogunquit Playhouse, Long Wharf Theatre, Wilbur Theatre, Shubert Theatre, Gloucester Stage Company, New Repertory Theatre, Hanover Theatre, Publick Theatre, Reagle Music Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Barter Theatre, Actors’ Playhouse, Riverside Theatre, Rochester Opera House, and the late great Stuart Street Playhouse and Copley Theatres.

She has performed in over a dozen musicals and cabaret shows at her favorite winter destination, the Riverside Theatre in Vero Beach, Fla. Her many cherished performing memories include “Peter Pan,” “Pippin,” “Once,” “Follies,” “The Full Monty,” “Ruthless!,” “Showboat,” “Violet,” “Gypsy,” and her own one-person show “Dear Miss Garland.”

She received an Elliot Norton Award for her performance in “The Divine Sister,” and IRNE Awards for “Das Barbecu,” “Holidaze” and “And Now Ladies and Gentlemen, Miss Judy Garland.” She is a member of AEA and SAG-AFTRA. A former second-grade teacher, she holds a B.S. and M.Ed. in Education from Salem State University and is proud and grateful to be a member of this extraordinary theatre community.

Also winning an award for Outstanding Visiting Solo Performance was Gordon Clapp for “Robert Frost: This Verse Business.” Clapp performed that play and played Robert Frost 12 or 13 years ago at the MRT.  He also has a special friendship with Lowell-born playwright Jack Neary, who wrote “Trick or Treat” for Clapp.

Jenece Upton won the award for Outstanding Solo Performance for her “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill ” at the MRT.

Special Citations were awarded to the historic Boch Center Wang Theatre in honor of its 100th Anniversary, Apollinaire Theatre Company  in honor of its 30th Anniversary, Greater Boston Stage Company in honor of its 25th Anniversary, and Shit-Faced Shakespeare in honor of its 10th Anniversary.

The 2025 Elliot Norton Arts Education Award was presented to Rehearsal for Life — and their flagship programs Urban Improv and the Freelance Players — which supports students’ social-emotional growth through transformative performing arts programming that sparks joy, emphasizes community, and encourages creative expression.

oyce Kulhawik, president of the Boston Theater Critics Association, stated, “Tonight is a night to stick together, raise our voices, and recommit ourselves to making theater that shakes us up, helps us dream a bigger dream, expands our humanity, and connects us to the world! Tonight, we celebrate what is currently under attack: ART and HEART—that’s what this theater community and tonight is all about!”

For a full list of awardees and nominees, visit ElliotNortonawards.com

In the wings

TIX ON SALE FOR CANNON 10 MINUTE PLAY FEST: Ten plays by 10 playwrights and directed by 10 directors. That’s Cannon Theatre’s 5th Annual 10 Minute Play Festival, being held June 13-15 at Cannon’s Andrews Parkway, Devens home. Tickets are now on sale for this evening of drama and comedy at https://onthestage.tickets/show/the-cannon-theatre/682f5afdf7c4cb0f4739170b/tickets#/productions-view.

Nancye Tuttle’s email is nancyedt@verizon.net

RevContent Feed