Gloucester Stage, Teatro Chelsea Take Home Two Elliot Norton Awards

The Gloucester Stage Company and its partner theater, Teatro Chelsea, earned top regional honors at the Elliot Norton Awards earlier this month for their joint production of The Hombres by Tony Meneses.  The September 2024 production—which ran simultaneously on Cape Ann and in Chelsea—won Outstanding Play (Midsize Theatre Company), while director Armando Rivera took home Outstanding Director.

A co-production that premiered in Gloucester before extending to Chelsea Theatre Works, The Hombres offers a fresh and heartfelt look at male friendship, machismo, and vulnerability. Set in suburban New Jersey, the play follows a group of Latino construction workers whose routine is disrupted when their supervisor, Héctor (Arthur Gomez), seeks out clandestine yoga classes from instructor Julián (Ricardo “Ricky” Holguin). Interactions with other characters, including studio member Miles (Patrick O’Konis), explore emotional connection across cultural and linguistic boundaries.

The production received four nominations in total, including:

• Outstanding Lead Performance (Ricardo Holguin)
• Outstanding Featured Performance (Arthur Gomez)
• Outstanding Director (Armando Rivera)
• Outstanding Play

“This is not only a celebration of the production, but a testament to the importance of bilingual theater,” said Rivera. “Stories told in any language—English, Spanish, or both—can connect with audiences. At the heart of every good story, the message is universal.”

Producing Artistic Director Rebecca Bradshaw expressed her gratitude: “It is a true honor for our collaboration with Teatro Chelsea to be recognized at this level. This daring and beautiful play about men unpacking their vulnerabilities was met with such acceptance and warmth. We are thrilled that it resonated with audiences and critics alike.”

Critics praised the production’s thoughtful combination of humor and emotion. WBUR noted its “thoughtful examination of male friendships,” while METR Magazine described it as “exquisitely written and extraordinarily human” 

This recognition highlights the growing importance of inclusive storytelling in Greater Boston theater, underlining the creative successes that can result from collaboration across cultural and community boundaries.