If the 19th annual L.A. WeeklyTheater Awards are any indication, 1997 was the year the newpaper’s theater critics couldn’t make up their minds, awarding a record-setting three ties (for Play Writing, Com edy Ensemble and Set Design). In a ceremony held at the Los Angeles Theater Center last Monday, co-host Robert A. Prior and the Fabulous Monsters set a surreal, ritualistic and whimsical tone with an opening parade through the theater featuring tribally painted actors and incense. Performance artist Rachel Rosenthal was carried onto the stage by a quintet of bald-headed tribesmen to receive her Career Achievement Award, introduced by Disney veep Thomas Schumacher. Rosenthal noted the Weekly’s good taste in selecting her as the Award recipient. The other co-host, Linda Purl, a model of good sportsmanship, played along with the Monsters while helping to introduce a docket of presenters that included Swoosie Kurtz, Laurie Metcalf, playwright José Rivera and the Taper’s Robert Egan. John Fleck and Tony Abate marco performed an excerpt from the quick-change extravaganza The Mystery of Irma Vep, exposing the backstage dres sers, and Margot’s Bush put on a bawdy sketch parodying Glamour Shots.
—Steven Leigh Morris 1997 Awards Recipients
Production of the Year:
The Arabian Nights,
Lookingglass Theater Company at Actors’ Gang Theater Revival Production of the Year (of a 20th-Century Work):
The House of Blue Leaves, West Coast Ensemble Musical of the Year:
Bat Boy: The Musical, Actors’ Gang Leading Female Performance: Robin Johnson,
An Unhappy Woman, Moving Arts Leading Male Performance:
Armando Durán,
Dictator, Theater of NOTE Supporting Female Performance:
Lisa Forté,
The Lesson,
Stages Theater Center Supporting Male Performance:
Chris Wells,
The Importance of Being Earnest, Fabulous Monsters at Glaxa Studios Play Writing:
Pamela Forrest,
Valsetz, Celebration Theater
Murray Mednick,
Dictator, Theater of NOTE Direction: Leo Geter/Dan Bonnell,
Morphic Resonance,
Eclectic Company Theater/ Matrix Theater Comedy Direction: Florinel Fatulescu,
The Lesson, Stages Theater Center Ensemble:
Morphic Resonance, Eclectic Company Theater/Matrix Theater: James DuMont, Lea Floden, Christopher Grove,
John C. McLaughlin and
Francesca Rollins Comedy Ensemble:
Cheatin’, Theatre/Theater:
Keana Hall,
Debra D. Holt,
Rif Hutton,
Greg Poland,
David Roberson,
Stuart K. Robinson and
Angela Teek Fighting Over Beverley, Fountain Theater:
Priscilla Pointer,
Jacqueline Schultz,
Robert Symonds and
Malachi Throne Solo Performance:
Alec Mapa,
I Remember Mapa, Taper Too/East West Players Sketch Comedy/Improvisation: Margot’s Bush, Pedro’s Grill:
Eliza Coyle,
Loretta Fox,
Melanie Hutsell,
Joe Liss,
Brett Paesel,
Sam Pancake,
Patrick Towne and
Benjamin Zook Production Design:
The Vakhos,
Open Fist Theater Company at Los Angeles Playhouse
Costume Design:
Sherri L. Grider,
A Midsummer Night’s Dream,
Stella Adler Theater Lighting Design: Kathi O’Donohue,
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Stella Adler Theater
Set Design:
Lisa Hashimoto,
The Taste of Kona Coffee, East West Players Robert A. Prior,
The Importance of Being Earnest, Fabulous Monsters at Glaxa Studios Original Music: The company of
The Arabian Nights, Lookingglass Theater Company at Actors’ Gang Theater
