Each year since 1971, I have given the Philadelphia Theater Critic’s Award. Please notice that “critic” and its possessive are singular. I am the lone judge, and alas, only shows I’ve seen qualify. So a brilliant performance I missed can be overlooked. By tradition, the Philadelphia Theater Critic’s Award in given annually at the end of December, which is mid-season. (The Zoren Award, which encompasses any show I see anywhere in the world, is bestowed in July.)

      I do this because I like awards, and I like to remember and pay tribute to the performances that reminded of why I love the theater. This year’s lists are based om 92 plays, seen throughout 2013 in the Philadelphia area.

       Today, I present the nominees.  On January 1, I will announce the recipients of the Philadelphia Theater Critic’s Award and the Top20. I will tell you now, 15 places did not always cover the excellence I saw during this past year.

        (And yes, of course I realize this is a bit much, but I enjoy it. So……)

THE NOMINEES:

For BEST PRODUCTION

THE CONVERT — Wilma Theatre

EVERYMAN — Villanova Theatre

GOOD PEOPLE — Walnut Street Theatre

INTO THE WOODS — McCarter Theatre

PARADE — Arden Theatre

For BEST ACTOR

STANLEY BAHOREK — Nerds, Philadelphia Theatre Company

CHARLIE DelMARCELLE, I Am My Own Wife, Theatre Horizon

CHRISTOPHER PETERSON, La Cage Aux Folles, Clear Stage

CHRISTOPHER SUTTON, Elf, Walnut Street Theatre

STUART WARD, Once, National Tour, Academy of Music

For BEST ACTRESS

KRISTEN BUSH, Proof, McCarter Theatre

JULIE CZARNECKI, Good People, Walnut Street Theatre

MARSHA MASON, The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife, Bucks County Playhouse

NANCY MORICETTE, The Convert, Wilma Theatre

JENNI PUTNEY, Venus in Fur, Philadelphia Theatre Company

For BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

JEFFREY COON, Parade, Arden Theatre (and two others)

PATRICK DUNN, The Pirates of Penzance, Bristol Riverside Theatre

CHRISTOPHER PATRICK MULLEN, Cinderella: A Musical Panto, People’s Light & Theatre Company

U.R., Stick Fly, Arden Theatre

BEN STEINFELD, Into the Woods, McCarter Theatre

For BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

JESSIE AUSTRIAN, Into the Woods, McCarter Theatre

MARILU HENNER, The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife, Bucks County Playhouse

ZAINAB JAH, The Convert, Wilma Theatre

EMILY JON MITCHELL, The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife, Bucks County Playhouse

KIM ZIMMER, Wicked, National Tour, Academy of Music

For BEST DIRECTOR

NOAH BRODY and BEN STEINFELD, Into the Woods, McCarter Theatre

REV. DAVID CREGAN, Everyman, Villanova Theatre

BERNARD HAVARD, Good People, Walnut Street Theatre

EMILY MANN, Proof, McCarter Theatre

TERRENCE J. NOLEN, Parade, Arden Theatre