As promised last week (with serious caveats), here are my nominees for the Carvy Olympia Theater Awards for 2010. I was obliged to pick a winner; my gut choices are printed in bold. This was a busy year for local theater, so if you didn't win, think of it as an honor to be nominated. And if you aren't on the list at all, assume you were brilliant the night after I saw your show. I can tell you in all sincerity there's not a category on this list that wasn't a tough call.

Actor

Chris Cantrell, Shakespeare (Abridged)
Jason Haws, Rabbit Hole
Ryan Holmberg, Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol
Brian Claudio Smith, Six Hotels
Lazlo Steele, Bug

Actress

Ann Flannigan, End Days
Caitlin Frances, Six Hotels
Megan Kappler, Rabbit Hole
Christie Murphy, Little Women @ Capital Playhouse
Aurora Strauss-Reeves, Little Women @ Olympia Family Theater

Director

Mark Alford, Bug
Pug Bujeaud, Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol
Brian Tyrrell, Rabbit Hole
Linda Whitney, End Days
Scot Whitney, Taming of the Shrew

Supporting Cast

Christina Collins, Othello
Antonia Darlene, Sixties Kicks
Kathy Dorgan, Rabbit Hole
Christine Goode, Dixie Swim Club
Rochelle Morris, Crazy and a Half
Aaron Bredlau, Crazy and a Half
Trick Danneker, Taming of the Shrew
Bruce Jay Fogg, Jungalbook
Robert McConkey, End Days
Juan Torres-Falcón, Rent

Show

Bug
End Days
Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol
Little Women @ Capital Playhouse
Rabbit Hole

Tech

End Days
Grease
Jungalbook
Othello
Rabbit Hole

Thanks for an absolutely amazing year of live performance. I look forward to more incredible entertainment in 2011!