Nominations are in for Atlanta’s 2023 Suzi Bass Awards honoring excellence in theatre — and Oglethorpe sophomore Tatum McBride and Oglethorpe Theatre are among those recognized.
Oglethorpe student Tatum McBride ’26 played Little Sally in “Urinetown”. Photo: Casey Gardner Ford
“Urinetown,” a co-production of Actor’s Express and Oglethorpe Theatre staged in February 2023, garnered a total of 10 nominations, including Outstanding Musical alongside the Alliance Theatre’s “Water for Elephants” and Atlanta Lyric Theatre’s “Guys and Dolls.”
The comedy musical featured Oglethorpe students both on stage and behind the scenes working alongside Actor’s Express actors and theatre professionals.
Then-freshman theatre major Tatum McBride ’26 (“Little Sally”) is also nominated in the category of Featured Performer in a Musical, for which there are 10 nominations and two awards will be given. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and ArtsATL specifically called out McBride’s performance as “wonderful” and “talented,” and “masterful” in their respective reviews.
McBride is the first Oglethorpe student to be nominated for a Suzi Bass Award.
“Being nominated is a huge honor that I was not expecting, but I’m beyond grateful to have been considered,” said McBride, who is from Sanford, Florida. “‘Urinetown’ was a wonderful experience that I’m incredibly thankful for. I learned so much from everyone around me and formed some great friendships. I loved playing Little Sally, and getting to explore her character was a journey that I will always cherish.”
The Suzi Bass Award nominees were announced in 29 categories and represent 17 professional companies and 34 productions. Oglethorpe Theatre and Actor’s Express are also nominated for Choreography, Costume Design, Direction, Lighting Design, Music Direction, Principal Performer, and Scenic Design.
The collaboration between Actor’s Express and OU started in 2021 with the hit “Heathers: The Musical” and will continue with the “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie” in February 2024.
The Suzi Bass Awards were founded in 2003 to celebrate outstanding work in live theatre in Atlanta and the artists who produce it. Award winners for the 2022-2023 Atlanta professional theatre season will be revealed on Monday evening, November 13, 2023 at the DeKalb History Center in Decatur, GA.
Oglethorpe Theatre’s upcoming season at the Conant Performing Arts Center includes “Fairycakes” starting Oct. 20, “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie” in February 2024, and “Grapes of Wrath” in April 2024. Currently, McBride is part of “She Kills Monsters,” an Oglethorpe student-directed and produced show, on the Conant stage Nov. 16-19.
Photos: Casey Gardner Ford
