Richmond Triangle Players and Firehouse Theatre dominated the 17th annual Richmond Theatre Community Circle Awards, or Artsies, with Firehouse taking home 13 awards and the Triangle/ Firehouse co-production of “A Strange Loop” earning six honors, including Best Musical and Best Direction of a Musical. 

The ceremony, held Sunday at Virginia Repertory Theatre’s Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre, celebrated excellence in Richmond-area theater and highlighted the theme “At This Performance,” honoring standbys, swings and understudies who keep productions running smoothly. 

“A Strange Loop” also won awards for Best Musical Direction, Best Lead Performance in a Musical, and achievements in costume and lighting design. Richmond Triangle Players received an additional award for Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design for “5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche.” 

Firehouse Theatre’s “Detroit ’67” won Best Play, with Katrinah Carol Lewis and Jeremy V. Morris receiving awards for lead and supporting performances, respectively. Firehouse also earned honors for “Peter and the Starcatcher,” “Water by the Spoonful” and Andrew Gall’s “Burial Tax.” 

Virginia Repertory Theatre captured six awards, including three for “Waitress,” which took Best Supporting Performance in a Musical and Outstanding Achievement in Set Design. Its productions of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and “Misery” also received design honors. 

Richmond Shakespeare earned three awards, including the Ernie McClintock Best Ensemble Acting Award for “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare” (abridged). James Murphy won Best Lead Performance in a Play for  “Cyrano de Bergerac,” and Paisley LoBue earned Best Supporting Performance for “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” 

Other winners included Lindsey Zelli for Best Lead Performance in a Musical for “The Spitfire Grill,” Marcus Antonio for “A Strange Loop,” Ayla Hanna-Elizabeth Clinton for Breakout Performance in “The Diary of Anne Frank” and 5th Wall Theatre for “H*tler’s Tasters.” 

The Legacy Award honored the founders of Richmond Triangle Players for establishing a lasting LGBTQ+ theater presence in Richmond and contributing to the city’s arts community. 

The Artsies also serve as the primary fundraiser for the Theatre Artist Fund of Greater Richmond, which provides emergency financial support to local theater artists in need.