Stage Raw: LADCC Winners

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THE 41ST ANNUAL LOS ANGELES DRAMA CRITICS CIRCLE AWARDS were held Monday night before a packed house at the Colony Theatre. It was marked by minimal production values — a piano and a podium — compensated for by tech director Robert Kyle, who I'm guessing rigged the very serviceable lighting design, and sound designer Cricket S. Meyers' ability to sustain audibility and balance. Even so, Joel Hirschhorn Award-winner Jason Robert Brown quipped as he crossed the stage, “If I'd have known, I'd have brought something to cover that scrim.” 

Co-hosted by the irrepressible and droll Wenzel Jones and the simply irrepressible Jason Graae, the evening clipped along with a remarkable lightness that was impeded only by the weight of multiple award winners in a number of categories. (The leading performance category had 12 nominees, six of whom received awards.) It's a concept that scored extra credit for inclusiveness at the cost of low marks for pacing. Graae was nonetheless heroic in keeping  the energy aloft, often with wry quips. After one of his own numbers near the top, he remarked, “Now we're in for four hours of a great time!” Though the show included intermission, he was close on the time (three and a half hours) and, his sarcasm aside, on target about the great time.

Jason Robert Brown offered a delightful speech about having been in L.A. for a number of years and wanting to be part of the theater community (even with, or because of its pathological and infectious insecurity complex) but he finds it hard to get out to see a play. He did, however, announce his email address with the offer for anyone to write him, and let him know what they're up to. His offer teetered on a line between the earnest and the sardonic  — a tone that pretty much defined the entire smart, kind celebration.

For a list of recipients press the More button directly below
 

LOS ANGELES DRAMA CRITICS CIRCLE 2009 AWARD WINNERS

Production

Life Could Be a Dream, David Elzer, Peter Schneider & Roger Bean, Hudson Mainstage

Parade, Center Theatre Group and the Donmar Warehouse, Mark Taper Forum

Stick Fly, The Matrix Theatre Company, Matrix Theatre

McCulloh Award for Revival

(For Shows between 1920 and 1980)

Equus, The Production Company

Direction

Shirley Jo Finney, Stick Fly, The Matrix Theatre

Marilyn Fox, The Browning Version, Pacific Resident Theatre

Writing

Brian Christopher Williams, Anita Bryant Died for Your Sins,
West Coast Ensemble at the El Centro Theatre

Writing (Adaptation)

Kitty Felde, Gogol Project, Rogue Artists Ensemble in association

with Bootleg Theater at Bootleg Theater

Music Direction

David O, The Wasps, The Lost Studio

Michael Paternostro, Life Could Be a Dream, Hudson Mainstage

Phil Reno, Minsky's, Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson Theatre

Choreography

Matthew Bourne, Stephen Mear, and Geoffrey Garratt, Mary Poppins, Disney and Cameron Mackintosh at the Ahmanson Theatre

Musical Score

Susan Birkenhead and Charles Strouse, Minsky's, Center Theatre Group

at the Ahmanson Theatre

Lead Performance

Sam Anderson, The Bird and Mr. Banks, The Road Theatre Company

at the Lankershim Arts Center

Bruce French, The Browning Version, Pacific Resident Theatre

Jim Hanna, Equus, The Production Company at The Chandler Studio Theatre Deidrie Henry,

Coming Home, The Fountain Theatre

Laurie Metcalf, Voice Lessons, Zephyr Theater

Samantha Sloyan, Munched, Buzzworks Theater Company

at the El Centro Theatre

Featured Performance

Hugo Armstrong, Land of the Tigers, The Sacred Fools Theater Company

& Burglars of Hamm in association with Frantic Redhead Productions

at Sacred Fools Theater

P.J. Griffith, Setup & Punch, The Blank Theatre Company

at the 2nd Stage Theatre

Andrea Hutchman, Munched, Buzzworks Theater Company

at the El Centro Theatre

Sally Smythe, The Browning Version, Pacific Resident Theatre

Ensemble Performance

Hunter Gatherers, Furious Theatre Company at the Carrie Hamilton Theatre

Life Could Be a Dream, Hudson Mainstage

Stick Fly, The Matrix Theatre

Set Design

Jeff McLaughlin, A Skull in Connemara, Theatre Tribe

Lighting Design

Haylee Freeman, Gogol Project, Rogue Artists Ensemble in association

with Bootleg Theater at Bootleg Theater

David Lander, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, Center Theatre Group

at the Kirk Douglas Theatre

Costume Design

Gregg Barnes, Minsky's, Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson Theatre

Sound Design

Ron Klier, Blackbird, VS. Theatre Company at the Elephant Studio Space

Solo Performance

Danny Hoch, Taking Over, Center Theatre Group at the Kirk Douglas Theatre

CGI/Video

Brian White, Gogol Project, Rogue Artists Ensemble in association

with Bootleg Theater at Bootleg Theater

Puppet and Mask Design

Wes Crain, Lena Garcia, Lynn Jeffries, Elizabeth Luce, and Brian White,

Gogol Project, Rogue Artists Ensemble in association with Bootleg Theater

at Bootleg Theater

Makeup Design

Ann Closs-Farley, Land of the Tigers, The Sacred Fools Theater Company

& Burglars of Hamm in association with Frantic Redhead Productions

at Sacred Fools Theater

Fight Choreography

Victor Warren, Stranger, Bootleg Theater

Special Awards

The Ted Schmitt Award for the world premiere of an outstanding new play was awarded to Julie Marie Myatt for The Happy Ones. The award was accompanied by an offer to publish and a $1000 check funded by Samuel French, Inc.

The Polly Warfield Award for an excellent season in a small to mid-size theater was awarded to Celebration Theatre. The award was accompanied by a $500 check, funded by the Nederlander Organization.

The Bob Z award for career achievement in set design was awarded to Sibyl Wickersheimer. The award was accompanied by a $500 check, funded by contributions from the theatrical community.

The Angstrom Award for career achievement in lighting design was awarded to Luke Moyer. The award was accompanied by a $1000 check, funded by Angstrom Lighting.

The Margaret Harford Award for sustained excellence in theater was awarded to the Rubicon Theatre Company. The award was accompanied by a $500 check, funded by Disney Theatricals.

The Joel Hirschhorn Award for outstanding achievement in musical theatre was awarded to Jason Robert Brown. The award was accompanied by a $500 check, funded by David Elzer/Demand PR.

The Milton Katselas Award for career or special achievement in direction was awarded to Richard Israel. The award was accompanied by a $1000 check, funded by Katselas Theatre Company.

A special award for lifetime contribution to Los Angeles Theatre was awarded to Kirk Douglas.

The members of the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle include: F. Kathleen Foley (L. A. TIMES), Shirle Gottlieb (GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS, STAGEHAPPENINGS.COM), Hoyt Hilsman (BACK STAGE), Wenzel Jones (FRONTIERS, SHOWMAG.COM), Mayank Keshaviah (LA WEEKLY), Amy Lyons (SANTA MONICA MIRROR, PARK LA BREA NEWS/BEVERLY PRESS, NOHOARTSDISTRICT.COM), Dany Margolies (BACK STAGE), Terry Morgan (VARIETY), Steven Leigh Morris (LA WEEKLY), David C. Nichols (L.A. TIMES), Amy Nicholson (LA WEEKLY), Sharon Perlmutter (TALKINBROADWAY.COM), Melinda Schupmann (BACK STAGE, SHOWMAG.COM), Madeleine Shaner (PARK LA BREA NEWS/BEVERLY PRESS, BACK STAGE), Les Spindle (BACK STAGE, THEATERMANIA.COM, FRONTIERS, IN LA), Bob Verini (VARIETY), Neal Weaver (LA WEEKLY, BACK STAGE, THE PINK SHEET).

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