Lowell, MA—Yesterday nominations were announced for the Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) Awards. Merrimack Repertory Theatre is honored to be nominated in four large theatre categories: New Play (Tunney/Shakespeare in Six Rounds), Lighting Design (Dan Kotlowitz, Secret Order), Lead Actress (Laiona Michelle, Dinah Was) and Supporting Actress (Nadiyah S. Dorsey, Dinah Was). Founded in 1997 and working with over sixteen well respected local reviewers, the IRNE Awards recognize the extraordinary wealth of talent in the Boston area theatre community. This year, that recognition extends all the way to Lowell.  The Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) Awards for 2007 will take place on Monday, April 14, 2008, at 8:00 PM at the Boston Center for the Arts (BCA) in the CYCLORAMA.

MRT Artistic Director Charles Towers comments, "All of us at MRT congratulate all the IRNE nominees and are quite pleased that four of our artists have been included."        

An introduction to the talented four nominated artists:

David E. Lane (playwright): Best New Play, large theatre : Tunney/Shakespeare in Six Rounds.

Merrimack Repertory Theatre: Mr. Lane’s MRT debut is the world premiere of his first play.  His second play (title to be announced) about the imagist poet, H.D., in analysis with Freud, based on actual events, will workshop in ‘08.  Off-Broadway: At the age of 15, David had 4 small roles in John Van Brugh’s The Relapse with the Meat and Potatoes Theatre Company at the Alvina Kraus Theater.  That was the end of his acting career.  Education: BA in Philosophy; BFA in documentary filmmaking from SUNY Purchase College of the Arts in New York; and a GED.  Other: Mr. Lane’s film, Manifest Content, screened at the NYC Film Festival at Anthology Film Archives.  He has been a general contractor, salesman at a dating service, waiter, roofer, painter, screenplay doctor, substitute philosophy lecturer, custom furniture designer, dishwasher, replacement window installer, baker’s asst., paralegal, vinyl-siding salesman; he also owned & operated a landscaping business, ran an acting/directing workshop in NYC, taught Stanley Kaplan SAT prepcourses, taught English in Paris, was a street vendor of self-made toys and jewelry in Mexico City, and worked on a fishing trawler. 

Dan Kotlowitz (lighting designer) Best Lighting, large theatre: Secret Order.

Merrimack Repertory Theatre: The Homecoming, The Kreutzer Sonata, Something in the Air, An Infinite Ache, Boy Gets Girl, Fallen, The Weir, Later Life.  Off-Broadway: Turn of the Screw, Scotland Road, Sabina, The Wash, Yankee Dawg You Die, The Perfect Party, Money Talks, Mysteries and What's So Funny, Ladies and Gentlemen Jerome Kern, Once Removed.  New York: New York Shakespeare Festival, Manhattan Theatre Club, Playwrights Horizons, Astor Place, The Promenade, Primary Stages, The Clurman Theatre, Cathedral of St. John the Divine.  Regional: Center Stage, Hartford Stage, La Jolla Playhouse, Long Wharf Theatre, Trinity Rep, George Street, Cincinnati Playhouse, Milwaukee Rep, Berkeley Rep, Huntington Theatre, American Rep, Portland Stage, Stagewest, Studio Arena, Northlight Theatre.  Education: Mr. Kotlowitz is a professor at Dartmouth College.  Other: Collaborated with singer/performance artist Diamanda Galas in the U.S. and Europe on her productions of Plague Mass, Vena Cava, Judgement Day, Insekta, The Sporting Life.

Nadiyah S. Dorsey (actress): Supporting Actress, Drama, large theatre: Dinah Was.

(Maye, Mama Jones, Violet) Merrimack Repertory Theatre: debut.  Off-Broadway/New York: Espresso Trasho (Johnny), International Fringe Festival 2003.  Regional: Tazewell Thompson’s Constant Star (Ida B. Wells), Florida Stage (she received the Carbonell Award), Delaware Theatre Company (received the Barrymore Award), Laguna Playhouse (received the NAACP Hollywood Image Award), all for best ensemble cast; Crumbs from the Table of Joy (Ernestine Crump), Theatre of Virginia; The Oedipus Plays (starring Avery Brooks, directed by Michael Kahn), The Shakespeare Theatre, Washington, DC.  Other theatre highlights include: She Loves Me (Amalia Balash), The Piano Lesson (Bernice), The Workroom (Gisele).  Television: Temptations Forever, Marvelette, NBC.  Education: BFA in Drama, North Carolina School of the Arts.  Other: After a two-year hiatus from the theatre to star in her most important role - mommy to her 18 month old daughter, Ailanni - Nadiyah was elated to return to the stage alongside her dear friend, Laiona Michelle, in MRT’s production of Dinah Was. 

Laiona Michelle (actress) Best Actress, Drama, large theatre: Dinah Was.

(Dinah Washington) Merrimack Repertory Theatre: Constant Star (Recipient of the 2005 NAACP Hollywood Award and 2004 Barrymore Award).  Regional: Yellowman, Arena Stage (Nominated – Best Leading Actress for the 2005 Helen Hayes Award); Stonewall Jackson’s House, New Repertory Theatre (Nominated, Best Supporting Actress by the IRNE Awards); Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, The Westin Playhouse, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Westport Country Playhouse, Delaware Theatre Company, Laguna Playhouse, Syracuse Theatre Company, Florida Stage Theatre, Virginia Stage Company, among others.  International: Celebrate the Possibilities, for the Winter Olympics in Seoul, Korea.  Television/Film: Law & Order, All My Children, and LIFT (an award winning independent film starring Kerry Washington).  Education: MFA, Brandeis University, 2000.  Other: Laiona is the director and creator of Shakers Performing Arts, which teaches inner city teens various aspects of creative arts in her hometown of Springfield, MA. 

FOR TICKETS TO SEE OTHER AWARD-WORTHY PRODUCTIONS AT MRT: Prices: single tickets $26-$56; student/senior/group discounts available.  Season Subscriptions run $65-$275; and include an extensive package of benefits, including the lowest prices available; the best seats; free ticket exchange privileges; discounts on individual tickets; discounts at area restaurants and retailers; and free parking.  Tickets can be purchased at MRT’s box office, 50 E. Merrimack St. in Lowell or by calling (978) 654-4MRT (4678) or online at www.merrimackrep.org.  Groups of 6 or more can purchase tickets at a discounted rate. 

For show times, tickets, season information, directions, or to request a brochure, please visit us www.merrimackrep.org - or call the box office at (978) 654-4MRT (4678).

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