Is it just me, or are Montreal theatre artists riding a new wave of excellence? The Montreal English Critics Circle Awards (MECCA) seems to indicate as much, with plays by Montreal writers Bruce M. Smith (at Infinitheatre) and Bryden MacDonald (Centaur) sweeping the awards announced on Monday.

Here’s a full list of nominees with WINNERS & DISTINCTIONS IN CAPS.

2008-2009 MECCA Nominations

Best Actor
ANDREAS ASPERGIS (BLESSED ARE THEY, INFINITHÉÂTRE)
Patrick Costello (Oooo!, SideMart Theatrical Grocery)
Barry Flatman (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Segal Centre for Performing Arts)
Dan Jeannotte (Cherry Docs, Persephone Productions)
Neil Napier (Hellavator, Hellavator Productions)

Best Actress
Stéphanie Breton (Trout Stanley, foundWave Theatre Co-operative)
NICOLA CAVENDISH (SHIRLEY VALENTINE, CENTAUR THEATRE)
Clare Coulter (Age of Arousal, Centaur Theatre)
Leni Parker (Age of Arousal, Centaur Theatre)
Brenda Robins (Doubt, Centaur Theatre)

Best Director
Frances Balenzano (Dracula, Fallen Angel Productions)
GREG KRAMER (CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, SEGAL CENTRE FOR PERFORMING ARTS)
Andrew Shaver (Oooo!, SideMart Theatrical Grocery)
Guy Sprung (Blessed Are They, Infinithéâtre)
Roy Surette and Bryden MacDonald (With Bated Breath, Centaur Theatre)

Best Text
Age of Arousal (Linda Griffiths)
WITH BATED BREATH (BRYDEN MACDONALD)
Blessed Are They (Bruce M. Smith)
Paradise Lost (Paul Van Dyck)
Truth and Treason (Rahul Varma)

Best Ensemble
Age of Arousal (Centaur Theatre)
Dracula (Fallen Angel Productions)
Life is a Dream (Scapegoat Carnivale)
Lion in the Streets (Tableau D’Hôte Theatre)
WITH BATED BREATH (CENTAUR THEATRE)

Best Visiting Production
Molora (Farber Foundry)
Reverie: Simply Unspeakable (Dexter Bullard/The Second City Theatricals, Just For Laughs)
Scorched (Tarragon Theatre)
This is What Happens Next (Necessary Angel)
TSHEPANG (ADAPTED AND DIRECTED BY LARA FOOT NEWTON, THÉÂTRE LA CHAPELLE)

Best Set Design
Perrine Biette (John and Béatrice, Infinithéâtre)
Michael Egan (Age of Arousal, Centaur Theatre)
JAMES LAVOIE (WITH BATED BREATH, CENTAUR THEATRE)
Eo Sharp (Buried Child, Segal Centre for Performing Arts/National Arts Centre)
Sarah Yaffe (Life is a Dream, Scapegoat Carnivale)

Best Costume Design
Michael Eagan (Age of Arousal, Centaur Theatre)
Astrid Janson and Sherri Catt (Tryst, Segal Centre for Performing Arts)
Amy Keith (Alice Through the Looking Glass, Geordie Productions)
MARIE-GENEVIÈVE MORIN (LE CODE NOIR, BLACK THEATRE WORKSHOP)
Jenna Wright (Life is a Dream, Scapegoat Carnivale)

Best Lighting
Jody Burkholder (Dracula, Fallen Angel Productions)
Jody Burkholder (Paradise Lost, Rabbit in a Hat Productions)
Jody Burkholder (Penumbra, Just for Laughs Zoofest and Rabbit in a Hat Productions)
SPIKE LYNE (WITH BATED BREATH, CENTAUR THEATRE)
Luc Prairie (Tryst, Segal Centre for Performing Arts)

Best Sound
Jesse Ash (Oooo!, SideMart Theatrical Grocery)
PETER CERONE (WITH BATED BREATH, CENTAUR THEATRE)
Lucie Monsarrat (Lion in the Streets, Tableau d’Hote Theatre)
Troy Slocum (Alice Through the Looking Glass, Geordie Productions)
Kevin Tighe (Dracula, Fallen Angel Productions)

Best Production
BLESSED ARE THEY (INFINITHÉÂTRE)
Doubt (Centaur Theatre)
Dracula (Fallen Angel Productions)
Factory Project (Studio 303 & Out Productions)
Tryst (Segal Centre for Performing Arts)

REVELATION PAUL VAN DYCK

DISTINCTION JEREMY HECHTMAN & PATRICK GODDARD (MAINLINE THEATRE)