Enjoying roles from a very enthused instructor to a genteel widow, listed here are the 2024 Orlando Sentinel honorees for greatest featured actor in a drama, as chosen by theater critic Matthew J. Palm.
Though it’s unimaginable for one individual to see each native manufacturing, because the Orlando Sentinel’s theater critic, annually I see a broad array of dramas, comedies and musicals. The people chosen for this 2024 theatrical honor roll, offered right here alphabetically, elevated Central Florida’s theatrical arts. Go to OrlandoSentinel.com/leisure to see the honorees in different classes, and verify again on Dec. 17 to be taught the Critic’s Decide on this class.
Nick Bazo
‘Milk’
Renaissance Theatre Firm
Director Nick Bazo dealt with the a number of types of comedy employed within the Renaissance Theatre Firm’s March manufacturing of “Milk” with aplomb, making the satire, bodily comedy, meta humor and intercourse jokes pop. Bazo saved the present’s vitality excessive and the tempo galloping, essential on this type of in-your-face comedy, and upped the outrageous issue much more by letting his actors gleefully lean into the verbal shocks of their phrases. He was beforehand honored for steering the Backyard Theatre’s 2022 manufacturing of “On Your Ft.”

Chloë Rae Edmonson
‘Rhinoceros’
Theatre UCF
Chloë Rae Edmonson bought to the pointed coronary heart of the matter in Theatre UCF’s November manufacturing of “Rhinoceros” in a method that saved the laughs coming on this theater-of-the-absurd work however left you with a scary knot within the pit of your abdomen. And she or he brilliantly created unease by efficient use of movement, from a wierd sequence of dance-like twitches towards conformity to the relentless marching of the rhinos.

Gabriel Garcia
‘Within the Subsequent Room (or The Vibrator Play)’
The Ensemble Firm
Gabriel Garcia niftily balanced the generally bawdy humor of The Ensemble Firm’s March manufacturing of “Within the Subsequent Room (or The Vibrator Play)” with deeper truths about human connection, drawing performances from his actors that have been each humorous and transformative. A multi-talent, Garcia has been honored 4 occasions beforehand — for steering, appearing, sound design and light-weight design.

Laurel Hatfield
‘Metal Magnolias’
Theater West Finish
Laurel Hatfield approached Theater West Finish’s February manufacturing of “Metal Magnolias” with clear eyes and positive footing. She averted all of the comedy’s pitfalls, equivalent to making it too schmaltzy or letting the characters be one-note jokes, and in a present about enduring friendships created a bond between her actors that blazed from the stage. Hatfield was beforehand honored for her dramatic appearing, in Orlando Shakes’ 2021 manufacturing of “Intimate Attire.”

Brandon Roberts
‘The Play That Goes Flawed’
Osceola Arts
Brandon Roberts held issues collectively actually and figuratively in Osceola Arts’ June manufacturing of “The Play That Goes Flawed” by assembling a crackerjack forged that threw themselves into this bodily comedy physique and soul. Roberts guided his actors to stroll that positive line between letting the laughs play out and shamelessly milking the viewers for extra to create a fantastically fizzy farce. In 2022, Roberts was honored for his comedic appearing in Orlando Shakes’ “Noises Off.”

Monica Lengthy Tamborello
‘Venus in Fur’
Orlando Shakes
Directed with a positive hand by Monica Lengthy Tamborello, Orlando Shakes’ February manufacturing of “Venus in Fur” was very humorous, and Tamborello discovered all of the chew and sizzle and made positive every second counted on this sexual tug-of-war. Critically, she made positive the viewers fell slightly bit in love with every of the play’s characters, elevating the stakes of their erotically charged energy battle. Tamborello can also be honored this yr for steering a drama, Orlando Shakes’ “What the Structure Means to Me.”
Comply with me at fb.com/matthew.j.palm or e-mail me at mpalm@orlandosentinel.com. Discover leisure information and critiques at orlandosentinel.com/leisure.