2023
B. Iden Payne Awards 2022-2023
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Drama - Alaithia Velez, Edit Annie
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Drama - Jacqui Calloway, Edit Annie
Outstanding Small Cast - Edit Annie
Outstanding Set Design - Alex Casillas, Edit Annie
Special Citation for Claymation - Sofia Canestaro, Edit Annie
Outstanding Young Performer - Sharky Meehan, The Memo
Outstanding Hair and Makeup Design - Mary Robin Fletcher, The Dragonfly Princess
Outstanding Lighting Design - Jason Amato, The Dragonfly Princess
Rentals at The VORTEX:
Outstanding Featured Performer in a Comedy - Bernadette Nason, The Art of Martyrdom (Different Stages)
Outstanding Lead Performer in a Comedy - Adam Rodriguez, Disco Dracula (La Fenice)
Additional Awards
Texas Commission on the Arts Cultural District Grant - i see you. you’re seen.
City of Austin Thrive Cultural Contract
United Solo Theatre Festival: Best NY Premiere - Tales of a Blerd Ballerina, by Valoneecia Tolbert
2022
B. Iden Payne Awards 2021-2022
Outstanding Production, Comedy - Tales of a Blerd Ballerina
Outstanding Direction, Comedy - Florinda Bryant, Tales of a Blerd Ballerina
Outstanding Lead Performer, Comedy - Valoneecia Tolbert, Tales of a Blerd Ballerina
Dramaturgy - Florinda Bryant, Tales of a Blerd Ballerina
Media Design - Johann Solo, Tales of a Blerd Ballerina
Outstanding Production, Theatre for Young Audiences - Rap Unzel
Wig Design - Mary Fletcher, Rap Unzel
Outstanding Lead Performance, Drama - Charles P. Sites, Straitjacket: Variations on a Theme of Horror
Additional Awards
City of Austin Platinum Green Business
Texas Commission on the Arts - Arts Create Grant
City of Austin Cultural Contract
Texas Commission on the Arts Cultural District Grant - Tales of a Blerd Ballerina
2021
B. Iden Payne Awards 2020-2021
Digital Short, Edited - “Medusa Problems,” The VORTEX Odyssey: Underworld
Direction, Digital Theatre, Edited - Melissa Vogt and Rudy Ramirez, The VORTEX Odyssey: Underworld
Original Script, Short - Eva Suter, “Ariadne,” The VORTEX Odyssey: Underworld
Media Design - Melissa Vogt, The VORTEX Odyssey: Underworld
Hair and Makeup Design - the cast, The VORTEX Odyssey
Live Theatre Production - Annie Jump and the Library of Heaven
Small Cast - Annie Jump and the Library of Heaven
Lead Performer, Live Theatre - Oktavea LaToi, Annie Jump and the Library of Heaven
Featured Performer, Live Theatre - Jeremy Rashad Brown and Eva McQuade, Annie Jump and the Library of Heaven
Dramaturgy - Indiia Wilmott, Annie Jump and the Library of Heaven
Lighting Design - Patrick Anthony, Annie Jump and the Library of Heaven
Lead Performer, Digital Theatre, Edited - Marina DeYoe-Pedrasa, Our Lady of the Sacred Part: Vulva Pope
Puppetry - Our Lady of the Sacred Part: Vulva Pope
Featured Performer, Digital Theatre, Live - Luis Ordaz Gutiérrez, La Raza Cósmica
Cast of an Improvised Production, Digital Theatre, Improvised - ¡Ándale, échale ganas! with coach Ben [Come on, give it a try!], VORTEX Repertory Company and Starr Community Theatre
Featured Music Performance - Jessica B. Cohen, Another Great Depression
Additional Awards
City of Austin Platinum Green Business
Texas Commission on the Arts - Arts Create Grant
City of Austin Cultural Contract
SVOG (Shuttered Venue Operator Grant)
Texas Commission on the Arts Cultural District Grant - Annie Jump and the Library of Heaven
2020
B. Iden Payne Awards 2019-2020
Outstanding Digital Performer (Edited) - Valoneecia Tolbert, The CoviDecameron, "Life Reloaded"
Outstanding Mask/Headdress Design - Aaron Kubacak, Más Cara
Additional Awards
City of Austin Platinum Green Business
Texas Commission on the Arts - Arts Create Grant
City of Austin Cultural Contract
2019
B. Iden Payne Awards 2018-2019
Featured Actor in Musical Theatre - Zac Crofford, American Blood Song
Special Certificate: Historical Reenactment - American Bloodsong, Trouble Puppet Theatre Company
Lead Actor in a Drama - Kareem Badr, Heartland
Original Script - Gabriel Jason Dean, Heartland
Austin Critic’s Table Awards 2018-2019
Direction - Rudy Ramirez, (Un)Documents, Heartland, Last: An Extinction Comedy
David Marc Cohen New Play Award - Gabriel Jason Dean, Heartland
Additional Awards
Austin Chronicle Best of Austin 2019, Readers Poll, Best Actor - Jesús I. Valles [starred in (Un)Documents at The VORTEX]
City of Austin Platinum Green Business
Texas Commission on the Arts - Arts Create Grant
City of Austin Cultural Contract
2018
B. Iden Payne Awards 2017-2018
Outstanding Direction, Drama - Rudy Ramirez, (Un)Documents
Lead Actor, Drama - Jesus I. Valles, (Un)Documents
Original Script - Jesus I. Valles, (Un)Documents
Lead Actress, Drama - Jennifer Jennings, Wild Horses
Properties Design - Indigo Rael, Storm Still
Small Cast Performance in Scripted Theatre - Jennifer Jennings, Andreá Rebecca Smith, Amelia Turner, Storm Still
Set Design - Ann Marie Gordon and Griffon Ramsey, Performance Park
Ensemble Performance - Gricelda Silva, Marina De Yoe-Pedraza, Karina Dominguez, Kelly Hasandras, and Sarah Danko, Polly Mermaid: Apocalypse Wow!
Austin Critic’s Table 2017-2018
David Marc Cohen New Play Award - Wild Horses: Allison Gregory
Performance by an Individual - Jennifer Coy Jennings, Wild Horses
Lighting - Rachel Atkinson, Scheherazade, TWENTYEIGHT, et. al.
Special Citations:
Future of Theatre Award - Bonnie Cullum and The VORTEX family for Performance Park
Dream Come True Award - Bonnie Cullum for conceiving Performance Park
Mt. Everest Award - VORTEX Repertory Company for realizing Performance Park
Good Enough to Eat Award - Melissa Vogt for her portrayal of Baba Yaga in Performance Park
Additional Awards
Austin Chronicle Best of Austin 2018, Critics’ Picks, Best Power Forward in the Arts - Florinda Bryant, Until the Flood, et. al.
Austin-American Statesman: My Favorite 10 Austin Theater Productions of 2018 (Andrew J. Friedenthal) - Performance Park
Austin Chronicle: Robert Faires’ Top 10 Treasures in Theatre of 2018
#1: Performance Park, The VORTEX Repertory Company
#2: (Tie) The Way She Spoke, A Docu-Mythologia & (Un)Documents
City of Austin Platinum Green Business
Texas Commission on the Arts - Arts Create Grant
City of Austin Cultural Contract
2017
B. Iden Payne Awards 2016-2017
Outstanding Lead Actor, Drama - Jeffery Da’Shade Johnson, Underground
Outstanding Lead Actress, Drama - Ebony Stewart, Ocean
Outstanding Original Script - Ebony Stewart, Ocean
Outstanding Featured Actor, Drama - Joey Hood, A Perfect Robot
Outstanding Featured Actress, Drama - Taji Senior, TWENTYEIGHT
Austin Critic’s Table Awards 2016-2017
David Marc Cohen New Play Award - Lisa B. Thompson, Underground
Lighting - Jason Amato, Atlantis: A Puppet Opera, and Patrick Anthony, A Perfect Robot, et. al.
Additional Awards
Austin Chronicle Best of Austin 2017, Readers Poll, Best Theatre Director - Rudy Ramirez
Austin Chronicle Best of Austin 2017, Readers Poll, Best Actor/Actress - Ebony Stewart
Austin Chronicle Best of Austin 2017, Critics’ Picks, Smallest Square Footage for a Night on the Town - The VORTEX Compound
City of Austin Platinum Green Business
Texas Commission on the Arts - Arts Create Grant
City of Austin Cultural Contract
National Endowment for the Arts Grant - Performance Park
National Endowment for the Arts Grant - Atlantis: A Puppet Opera
2016
B. Iden Payne Awards 2015-2016
Outstanding Production, Drama - Terminus
Outstanding Direction, Drama - Rudy Ramirez, Terminus
Outstanding Lead Actor, Drama - Jacques Colimon, Terminus
Outstanding Lead Actress, Drama - Jennifer Underwood, Terminus
Outstanding Set Design - Anne Marie Gordon, Terminus
Outstanding Lighting Design - Patrick Anthony, Terminus
Outstanding Sound Design - David DeMaris, Terminus
Outstanding Original Script - Gabriel Jason Dean, Terminus
Outstanding Scripted Cast Performance - Terminus
Outstanding Young Actress - Cara Canary, Terminus
Outstanding Properties Design - Helen Parish, Terminus
Outstanding Dance Choreography - Sadé Jones and Jesse Martinez, Hands Up Hoodies Down
Outstanding Theatrical Event - Hands Up Hoodies Down
Outstanding Featured Actor, Musical Theatre - Johnathan Itchon, The Mikado: Reclaimed
Austin Critic’s Table Awards 2015-2016
Production, Drama - Terminus
Acting in a Leading Role - Jennifer Underwood, Terminus
Lighting Design - Patrick Anthony, Hunger, Terminus, et. al.
David Marc Cohen New Play Award - Ebony Stewart, Hunger
Additional Awards
Austin Chronicle Best of Austin 2016, Critics’ Picks, Best Word Warrior - Ebony Stewart, Hunger
City of Austin Platinum Green Business
Texas Commission on the Arts - Arts Create Grant
City of Austin Cultural Contract
2015
B. Iden Payne Awards 2014-2015
Outstanding Lead Actress, Comedy - Gricelda Silva, Changelings
Outstanding Featured Actor, Comedy - Travis Bedard, Changelings
Outstanding Lead Actress, Drama - Ebony Stewart, Hunger
Austin Critic’s Table Awards 2014-2015
Acting in a Lead Role - Gricelda Silva, Changelings, et. al.
Additional Awards
Austin Chronicle Best of Austin 2015, Readers Poll, Best Actress - Gricelda Silva, Changelings, et. al.
City of Austin Platinum Green Business
Texas Commission on the Arts - Arts Create Grant
City of Austin Cultural Contract
2014
City of Austin Platinum Green Business
Texas Commission on the Arts - Arts Create Grant
City of Austin Cultural Contract
National Endowment for the Arts Grant - Spirit
2013
B. Iden Payne Awards 2012-2013
Outstanding Production, Comedy - Qualities of Starlight
Outstanding Direction, Comedy - Rudy Ramirez, Qualities of Starlight
Outstanding Lead Actor, Comedy - Toby Minor, Qualities of Starlight
Outstanding Set Design - Anne Marie Gordon, Qualities of Starlight
Outstanding Original Script - Gabriel Jason Dean, Qualities of Starlight
Outstanding Ensemble Performance - Jennifer Underwood and Dennis Bailey, Qualities of Starlight
Special Certificate: Props - Helen Parish, Qualities of Starlight
Outstanding Direction, Music Theatre - Rudy Ramirez, Sing Muse
Outstanding Original Score - Chelsea Manasseri, Rudy Ramirez, Melissa Vogt-Patterson, Michelle Alexander, Hayley Armstrong, Jennifer Coy, and Kyle Zamcheck, Sing Muse
Outstanding Cast Performance - Sing Muse
Outstanding Lighting Design - Jason Amato, WATER
Outstanding Dance Choreography - Toni Bravo, Earth
2012
B. Iden Payne Awards 2011-2012
Oustanding Production, Theatre for Young Audiences - The Commedia of Errors
Outstanding Direction, Theatre for Young Audiences - Matthew Patterson, The Commedia of Errors
Outstanding Direction, Music Theatre - Bonnie Cullum, Sarah Silver Hands
Outstanding Set Design - Ann Marie Gordon, Sarah Silver Hands
Outstanding Original Score - Chad Salvata, :Humpty
Austin Critics Table Awards 2011-2012
Lighting Design - Jason Amato, Sarah Silver Hands, et. al.
2011
B. Iden Payne Awards 2010-2011
Outstanding Directon, Play for Youth - Rudy Ramirez, The Physicists
Outstanding Music Direction - Chris Humphrey, The Elementals: AIR
Special Award: Outstanding Young Performer - Joshua Michael Braun, The Physicists
2010
B. Iden Payne Awards 2009-2010
Outstanding Original Score - Content Love Knowles, Sleeping Beauty
Outstanding Set Design - Ann Marie Gordon, Sleeping Beauty
Outstanding Lighting Design - Megan Reilly, Murder Ballad Murder Mystery
Featured Actress in Music Theater - Content Love Knowles, Murder Ballad Murder Mystery, et. al.
Featured Actor in Music Theatre - Robert Pierson, Murder Ballad Murder Mystery
Austin Critic’s Table Awards 2009-2010
Scenic Design - Lisa Laratta, Murder Ballad Murder Mystery (and Black Snow)
2009
B. Iden Paye Awards 2008-2009
Special Award: Outstanding Youth Performer - Angela Loftus, Good Things, et. al.
Sound Design - Roy Taylor, Oceana
Austin Critic’s Table Awards 2008-2009
Acting in a Lead Role - Jennifer Underwood, The Beauty Queen of Leenane
Additional Awards
Austin Chronicle Best of Austin 2009, Reader’s Poll - Best Theatre Director, Bonnie Cullum
Bonnie Cullum - Director, Artistic Director, Company Co-Founder of The VORTEX Repertory Company Austin Arts Hall of Fame
2008
B. Iden Payne Awards 2007-2008
Production of Music Theatre - Troades: The Legend of the Women of Troy
Director, Music Theatre - Bonnie Cullum, Troades
Lighting Design - Jason Amato, Troades
Ensemble Performance - Content Love Knowles, Betsy McCann, Kira Parra, Emerald Mystiek, Ashley Edwards, Leigh Shaw, and Elizabeth Rast, Troades
Cast Performance - The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Renaissance Austin Theatre and VORTEX Repertory Company
Austic Critic’s Table Awards 2007-2008
Direction - Carlos Treviño, Matt Hislope, and Josh Meyer, A Thought in Three Parts
2007
B. Iden Payne Awards 2006-2007
Featured Actress, Drama - Michelle Flanagan, Hamlet
Lighting Design - Jason Amato, Trickster
Original Score - Chad Salvata, The Dragonfly Princess
Special Theatrical Event - Bell(e): The Museum of Suicide Machinery, ethos (and The VORTEX)
2006
B. Iden Payne Awards 2005-2006
Outstanding Lead Actress in Music Theater - Melissa Vogt, Vampyress
Outstanding Featured Actress in Music Theater - Betsy McCann, Vampyress
Outstanding Orignal Score - Chad Salvata, Vampyress
Outstanding Youth Performer - Taylor Flanagan, The Visit
Outstanding Ensemble Performance - Michelle Flanagan, Miriam Robinson Gould, and Katrina Ellsworth, Dark Goddess 2006
Austin Critic’s Table Awards 2005-2006
Director, Musical - Matt Hislope and Josh Meyers, Holes Before Bedtime
Supporting Actor, Musical - Cole Wimpee, Holes Before Bedtime
Lighting Design - Jason Amato, Vampyress, Dark Goddess 2006, et. al.
2005
B. Iden Payne Awards 2004-2005
Outstanding Production of a Drama - Wake for the Dark Poet
Standing Ovations, Ensemble Performance - Betsy McCann and Melissa Vogt, Wake for the Dark Poet
Standing Ovations, Puppetry - Anne Marie Gordon, Wake for the Dark Poet
Featured Actress - Jo Beth Henderson, hOle
Youth Performer - Kathleen Fletcher, Vitriol and Violets
Scenic Design - Ann Marie Gordon, Saint Enid and the Black Hand
Austin Critic’s Table Awards 2004-2005
Lighting Design - Jason Amato, for work including VORTEX productions Saint Enid and the Black Hand, Sleeping Beauty, and Ghost from a Perfect Place
2004
Austin Critic’s Table Awards 2003-2004
Original Score - Chad Salvata, Pythia Dust
2003
B. Iden Payne Awards 2002-2003
Outstanding Ensemble Performance - Paula Gilbert, Wendy Goodwin, Regina Yunker, Betsy McCann, Medea
Sound Design - Edmund Pantuliano & Blaine Indemaio, Medea
Additional Awards
Austin Chronicle Best of Austin 2003, Critics’ Picks, Best Theatre for Kids That Treats Kids Like Grownups - VORTEX Summer Youth Theatre
2002
B. Iden Payne Awards 2001-2002
Director, Play for Youth - Bonnie Cullum, Moby Dick
Actress, Play for Youth - Elizabeth Doss, Moby Dick
Actor, Play for Youth - Stewart Johnson, Moby Dick
Original Score - Kirk Smith, The Deluge: On the Shoulder of Night
Lighting Design - Jason Amato, The Deluge: On the Shoulder of Night
Set Design - Anne Marie Gordon, The Deluge: On the Shoulder of Night
Actor, Comedy - Rob Nash, Rob Nash Does Romeo and Juliet With the Cast of Holy Cross
Costume Design - Kari Perkins, Dark Goddess 2002
Austin Critic’s Table Awards 2001-2002
Supporting Actor, Drama - Clay Towery, Shopping and Fucking
Actress, Drama - Stephanie Swanson, Shopping and Fucking
Unique Theatrical Experiences - HyperZoo, ethos (with The VORTEX)
Additional Awards
Austin Chronicle Best of Austin 2002, Critics’ Picks, Best Shaper of New Worlds - Bonnie Cullum
Austin Chronicle Best of Austin 2002, Critics’ Picks, Best Dazzler - Jason Amato
Austin Chronicle Best of Austin 2002, Critics’ Picks, Best Summer Youth Theatre
Texas Triangle Round Up Awards 2002, Best Avant Garde Theater
2001
Austin Chronicle Top 10 (That's Really 14) Wonders of the Stage in 2001 - Honorable Mention: Hyper Zoo, ethos
Austin Chronicle Top 10 Performing Arts Moments That Linger in the Memory [2001] - The Production Work for The Deluge (Vortex Repertory Company)
2000
B. Iden Payne Awards 1999-2000
Direction, Play for Children - Clay Towery, The Frogs
Director, Musical - Bonnie Cullum, Despair's Book of Dreams and the Sometimes Radio
Actor, Musical - Kirk Smith, Despair's Book of Dreams and the Sometimes Radio
Lighting Design - Jason Amato, Despair's Book of Dreams and the Sometimes Radio
Set Design - Anne Marie Gordon, Despair's Book of Dreams and the Sometimes Radio
Sound Design - Kirk Smith & Ken Burchenal, Despair's Book of Dreams and the Sometimes Radio
Austin Critics Table Awards 1999-2000
Special Citation: Valedictorian - Rob Nash, The Holy Cross Quadrilogy
Additional Awards
Austin Chronicle Best of Austin 2000, Reader’s Poll, Best Theatre Director - Bonnie Cullum
Austin Chronicle Top 10 Performing Arts Triumphs (by Robi Polgar) - #4 (tie) Dan Bisbee in Fractured Greeks
Austin Chronicle My Favorite 10 Shows of 2000 (by Ada Calhoun) – #8 Heaving Shadows at the Skin Show
1999
B. Iden Payne Awards 1998-1999
Outstanding Production of a Play for Children - Machinal
Sound Design, Theatre for Young Audiences - Chad Salvata, Machinal
Outstanding Production of a Play - Twelfth Night
Oustanding Featured Actor in a Play - Martin Burke, Twelfth Night
Outstanding Original Script - Rob Nash, Sophomore Slump
Sound Design - The X&Y Trilogy: Chad Salvata and Sergio R. Samayoa
Nominating Committee Special Award: Alpha Omega Award to VORTEX Repertory Company, for its support of The X & Y Trilogy, an epic series of cynbernetic operas, from their first productions to a staging of all three at the Paramount Theatre
Austin Critic’s Table Awards 1998-1999
Comedy - Twelfth Night, Sneck Up! Productions, in association with The VORTEX Repertory Company
Director, Comedy - Robert Faires, Twelfth Night
Sound - Sergio R. Samayoa & ethos, The X & Y Trilogy
1998
B. Iden Payne Awards 1997-1998
Featured Actress, Musical - Rembert Block, Triskelion
Lighting Design - Jason Amato, Triskelion
Technical Assistance - Zach Murphy, VORTEX Repertory Company
Austin Critic’s Table Awards 1997-1998
New Script, Adapted - Kirk Smith, Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities
Lights - Jason Amato, Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities, Fur, Triskelion
Costumes - Andrea Lauer and Chad Salvata, Triskelion
Special Citation:
Outstanding Artistic Commitment - The VORTEX Repertory Company for producing The X & Y Trilogy
1997
B. Iden Payne Awards 1996-1997
Lighting Design - Jason Amato, Panoptikon
Austin Critic’s Table Awards 1996-1997
Road Show - The Heather Woodbury Report, or Whatever, VORTEX Repertory Company
Additional Awards
Austin Chronicle Best of Austin 1997, Critics Poll, Best Arts Venue That’s Way Out There and Close to Home - Planet Theatre (The VORTEX Repertory Company)
Austin Chronicle Top Ten Theatrical Experiences of 1997:
#8 - Fur, VORTEX Repertory Company
Honorable Mention - Freshman Year Sucks!, VORTEX Repertory Company
Honorable Mention - The end of the first act of Julius Ceasar, VORTEX Repertory Company
1996
Austin Chronicle Best of Austin 1996, Reader’s Poll, Best Stage Director - Bonnie Cullum
Austin Chronicle “Top Ten (Okay, 11) Transporting Experiences in the Theatre in 1995” (by Robert Faires):
#7 - Ameerah Tatum in Blue Orpheus (GullyLove Productions/VORTEX Repertory Co.) and Dreamgirls (Zachary Scott Theatre Center)
#10 - The design coordination in Faustus (VORTEX Repertory Company)
1994
B. Iden Payne Awards 1993-1994
Outstanding Featured Actor - Eric Porter, Steel Kiss
1993
B. Iden Payne Awards 1992-1993
Lead Actress, Drama - Patricia Wappner, The Baltimore Waltz
Featured Actor, Drama - Matthew Patterson, The Baltimore Waltz
Additional Awards
Austin Chronicle Best of Austin 1993, Critics’ Picks, Best Right of Way Delay
Austin Chronicle Best of Austin 1993, Critics’ Picks, Best Place to Find Theatrical Edge
1992
B. Iden Payne Awards 1991-1992
Directing, 1st Choice Award - Bonnie Cullum, King Lear
1991
Texas Commission on the Arts - Grant for Metamorpheus