NewsRose, Sweeney, Miss Saigon, Paris Letter Among L.A. Ovation Award WinnersCaroline, or Change Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose and Julia Sweeney were among the winners at the 2005 annual Los Angeles Ovation Awards presented Nov. 14 at the Orpheum Theatre.
By
Ernio Hernandez
November 15, 2005
Anika Noni Rose
Photo by Aubrey Reuben
West Coast productions of Miss Saigon, The Paris Letter, Killer Joe, Big River, Yellowman, The Merchant of Venice and Songs for a New World received honors at this year's annual event.
Ann Magnuson hosted with presenters including Doug Savant, Sally Kellerman, Jerry Herman, Rain Pryor, Michael Ritchie, Ben Cameron, Rose Portillo, Carole Cook, Camille Saviola, James Reynolds, Julian Sands, Tom Troupe, Steven Leigh Morris, Sandra Tsing Loh and more.
The honors were presented in the downtown Los Angeles historic theatre district, Nov. 14 at 7:30 PM. The peer-judged Ovation Awards, established in 1989, honor "artistic excellence of L.A.’s theatres and theatre artists, and their continuing contribution to the vibrant cultural scene."
Playwright Luis Alfaro will receive a special James A. Doolittle Award for Leadership in the Theatre. The Career Achievment Award will go to director David Galligan. The Shakespeare Festival / LA will be honored with the Community Outreach Award.
The complete list of nominees (* with winners in bold) are as follows: (some categories had multiple winners) WORLD PREMIERE PLAY
The Eyes of Babylon by Jeff Key - The Tamarind Theatre
The Gary Plays: Girl on a Bed by Murray Mednick - Padua Playwrights Productions
The Gary Plays: Tirade for Three & Gary's Walk by Murray Mednick - Padua Playwrights Productions
Me, My Guitar & Don Henley by Krista Vernoff - Ace of Wands, Inc.
*The Paris Letter by Jon Robin Baitz - Center Theatre Group: Kirk Douglas Theatre
The Prince of L.A. by Dakin Matthews - Andak Stage Company
Sojourner (The Story of Sojourner Truth) by Les Wieder - Treadwell Entertainment WORLD PREMIERE MUSICAL
Atalanta by Karen Hardcastle and David O - Powerhouse Theatre
*Blake...da Musical! by Rick Batalla and Henry Phillips - Grove Theater Center
The Ghost & Mrs. Muir by James Mellon, Scott DeTurk and Bill Francoeur - Open at the Top Productions
Hey! I’m the Mama by Angela Teek and Howlett Smith - The Tamarind Theatre
Rosenstrasse by Terry Lawrence and Max Kinberg - The Company Rep LEAD ACTOR IN A PLAY
Beau Billingslea, Driving Miss Daisy - Theatre Forty
*Chris Butler, Yellowman - Fountain Theatre
Hector Elizondo, Wrong Turn at Lungfish - Falcon Theatre
Brian Kerwin, The Goat or, Who Is Sylvia? - Center Theatre Group: Mark Taper Forum
Marty Maguire, A Night In November - The Sarah Fulton Group
*Robert Mandan, The Caretaker - Zephyr Theatre
Adrian Sparks, Papa - Open Fist Theatre Company LEAD ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Alice Ensor, Light Sensitive - The Theatre District
Beth Grant, A Gift From Heaven - Camelot Artists Productions
*Deidrie Henry, Yellowman - Fountain Theatre
Cynthia Mace, The Goat or, Who Is Sylvia? - Center Theatre Group: Mark Taper Forum
Ana Ortiz, Wrong Turn at Lungfish - Falcon Theatre
Robin Riker, Les Liaisons Dangereuses - The Blank Theatre Company
Lisa Wolpe, The Merchant of Venice - L. A. Women's Shakespeare Company LEAD ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Eric Anderson, Ragtime - Musical Theatre West
James Barbour, The Ghost & Mrs. Muir - Open at the Top Productions
Rick Batalla, Blake...da Musical! - Grove Theater Center
Jim Brochu, The Big Voice - Blue Sphere Alliance
*Frank Harwart, Miss Saigon - Fullerton Civic Light Opera
Bryce Ryness, Floyd Collins - West Coast Ensemble
Steve Schalchlin, The Big Voice - Blue Sphere Alliance LEAD ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Brooks Almy, The Ghost & Mrs. Muir - Open at the Top Productions
Bets Malone, Guys and Dolls - Musical Theatre West
Katharine McPhee, Annie Get Your Gun - Cabrillo Music Theatre
*Kristine Remigio, Miss Saigon - Fullerton Civic Light Opera
Cathy Rigby, Peter Pan - La Mirada Theatre/ McCoy Rigby Entertainment
Victoria Strong, Ragtime - Musical Theatre West
Lynne Wintersteller, The Ghost & Mrs. Muir - Open at the Top Productions FEATURED ACTOR IN A PLAY
Anthony Chisholm, Radio Golf - Center Theatre Group: Mark Taper Forum
Louis Lotorto, A Flea In Her Ear - A Noise Within
Michael Petted, Lone Star - Camelot Artists Productions
Michael Redfield, When They Speak of Rita - Pacific Resident Theatre
*Don Robb, The Habitation of Dragons - Actors Co-op/Crossley Theatre
Jeremy Sisto, Take Me Out - Geffen Playhouse
*Marcelo Tubert, San Fran Scapin - Andak Stage CompanyFEATURED ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Kimberleigh Aarn, The Merchant of Venice - L. A. Women's Shakespeare Company
*Fran Bennett, The Merchant of Venice - L. A. Women's Shakespeare Company
Tara Buck, A Gift From Heaven - Camelot Artists Productions
Naomi DeLucco, How I Learned to Drive - Vox Humana Theatre Company
Karen McClain, The Colored Museum - Company of Angels
Patrice Pitman Quinn, Doubt - Pasadena Playhouse
C.B. Spencer, Two Gentlemen Of Corona - West Coast Ensemble FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Gary Franco, Grand Hotel, The Musical - The Colony Theatre Company
Damon Kirsche, My Fair Lady - La Mirada Theatre/ McCoy Rigby Entertainment
John Massey, Jr., Guys and Dolls - Musical Theatre West
Maceo Oliver, Miss Saigon - Fullerton Civic Light Opera
Matthew Rocheleau, Ragtime - Musical Theatre West
Joseph R. Sicari, My Fair Lady - La Mirada Theatre/ McCoy Rigby Entertainment
*Harrison White, Purlie - Pasadena PlayhouseFEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
E. Faye Butler, Purlie - Pasadena Playhouse
Cate Caplin, Grand Hotel, The Musical - The Colony Theatre Company
Veanne Cox, Caroline, or Change - Center Theatre Group: Ahmanson Theatre
Kelly Lamont, Miss Saigon - Fullerton Civic Light Opera
Armelia McQueen, Dorian - Open at the Top Productions
Paula Newsome, Caroline, or Change - Center Theatre Group: Ahmanson Theatre
*Anika Noni Rose, Caroline, or Change - Center Theatre Group: Ahmanson TheatreRAY STRICKLYN MEMORIAL AWARD FOR SOLO PERFORMANCE
Emilie Miller, Cinghiale! - emi productions
Justine Moore, Ecstasy and the Ice Queen - Taos Girl Productions
Trey Nichols, A Lesson in Proper Bow-Fluffing Technique - Moving Arts
*Julia Sweeney, Letting Go of God - Indefatigable Productions
Leslie Jordan, Like a Dog on Linoleum - Elephant Stageworks ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE
Happy End - Pacific Resident Theatre
*Killer Joe - Lost Angels Theatre Company
Mother Courage and Her Children - The Antaeus Company
The Paris Letter - Center Theatre Group: Kirk Douglas Theatre
Pera Palas - The Theatre @ Boston Court and The Antaeus Company
Songs For a New World - Rubicon Theatre Company
Stuff Happens - Center Theatre Group: Mark Taper Forum DIRECTION OF A PLAY
Walter Asmus, Waiting for Godot - Rubicon Theatre Company
*Scott Cummins, Killer Joe - Lost Angels Theatre Company
Shirley Jo Finney, Yellowman - Fountain Theatre
Matt Gottlieb, The Caretaker - Zephyr Theatre
Garry Marshall, Wrong Turn at Lungfish - Falcon Theatre
Michael Michetti, Pera Palas - The Theatre @ Boston Court and The Antaeus Company
Jon Lawrence Rivera, Dogeaters - SIPA and TDRZ Prods., Inc./ Playwrights' Arena DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL
Anthony Barnao, The Big Voice - Blue Sphere Alliance
Kevin Cochran and Rick Batalla, Blake...da Musical! - Grove Theater Center
Nick DeGruccio, Guys and Dolls - Musical Theatre West
*Jan Duncan, Miss Saigon - Fullerton Civic Light Opera
Charles Herman-Wurmfeld, The Possession Of Mrs. Jones - Back It Up Productions
Jon Lawrence Rivera, Songs For a New World - Rubicon Theatre Company
George C. Wolfe, Caroline, or Change - Center Theatre Group: Ahmanson Theatre CHOREOGRAPHY
Cate Caplin, Grand Hotel, The Musical - The Colony Theatre Company
Patti Colombo, Peter Pan - La Mirada Theatre/ McCoy Rigby Entertainment
Lee Martino, Grease - Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities
*Lee Martino, Guys And Dolls - Musical Theatre West
Ray Rochelle, Miss Saigon - Fullerton Civic Light Opera MUSICAL DIRECTION
Darryl Archibald, Ragtime - Musical Theatre West
Craig Barna, Peter Pan - La Mirada Theatre/ McCoy Rigby Entertainment
Brent Canyon, Songs For a New World - Rubicon Theatre Company
Todd Helm, Miss Saigon - Fullerton Civic Light Opera
*Charles Love, Hey! Im the Mama - The Tamarind Theatre
Gerald Sternbach, Applause - Reprise! Broadway's Best
Gerald Sternbach, Pippin - Reprise! Broadway's Best TOURING PRODUCTION
As You Like It - Center Theatre Group: Ahmanson Theatre
*Deaf West Theatre's Big River: the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Center Theatre Group: Ahmanson TheatrePLAY (INTIMATE THEATRE)
*Killer Joe - Lost Angels Theatre Company
Light Sensitive - The Theatre District
Mother Courage and Her Children - The Antaeus Company
A Night In November - The Sarah Fulton Group
Papa - Open Fist Theatre Company
Pera Palas - The Theatre @ Boston Court and The Antaeus Company
Yellowman - Fountain Theatre PLAY (LARGE THEATRE)
*The Goat or, Who Is Sylvia? - Center Theatre Group: Mark Taper Forum
The Paris Letter - Center Theatre Group: Kirk Douglas Theatre
The School for Scandal - Center Theatre Group: Mark Taper Forum
Waiting for Godot - Rubicon Theatre Company
Wrong Turn at Lungfish - Falcon Theatre FRANKLIN R. LEVY MEMORIAL AWARD FOR MUSICAL (INTIMATE THEATRE)
*The Big Voice - Blue Sphere Alliance
Blake...da Musical! - Grove Theater Center
The Ghost & Mrs. Muir - Open at the Top Productions
Happy End - Pacific Resident Theatre
The Possession of Mrs. Jones - Back It Up Productions MUSICAL (LARGE THEATRE)
Caroline, or Change - Center Theatre Group: Ahmanson Theatre
*Miss Saigon - Fullerton Civic Light Opera
Peter Pan - La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment
Ragtime - Musical Theatre West
Songs For a New World - Rubicon Theatre Company SET DESIGN (INTIMATE THEATRE)
Jason Adams and Alicia Hoge, Echo's Hammer - The Theatre @ Boston Court
Ben Ainlay, The Caretaker - Zephyr Theatre
*Tom Buderwitz, Pera Palas - The Theatre @ Boston Court and The Antaeus Company
*Tim Farmer, Two Gentlemen of Corona - West Coast Ensemble
*Jeff G. Rack, Papa - Open Fist Theatre Company
Robert G. Smith and Elias Sanchez, Killer Joe - Lost Angels Theatre Company
Sibyl Wickersheimer, Waving Goodbye - The Syzygy Theatre Group SET DESIGN (LARGE THEATRE)
Tom Buderwitz, Sleuth - Falcon Theatre
Lucky Cardwell, Miss Saigon - Fullerton Civic Light Opera
David Gallo, Radio Golf - Center Theatre Group: Mark Taper Forum
John Iacovelli, Peter Pan - La Mirada Theatre/ McCoy Rigby Entertainment
Michael Olich, The Goat or, Who Is Sylvia? - Center Theatre Group: Mark Taper Forum
David Potts, Sherlock's Last Case - The Colony Theatre Company
*Trefoni Michael Rizzi, Songs For a New World - Rubicon Theatre CompanyLIGHTING DESIGN (INTIMATE THEATRE)
Chris Akerlind, Dry Cleaning - 24th Street Theatre
Leigh Allen, Killer Joe - Lost Angels Theatre Company
*Brian J. Lilienthal, Echo'S Hammer - The Theatre @ Boston Court
Kathy O'Donohue, Yellowman - Fountain Theatre
Jeremy Pivnick, Cinghiale! - emi productions
Jeremy Pivnick, Light - The Theatre @ Boston Court
Dan Reed, Papa - Open Fist Theatre Company LIGHTING DESIGN (LARGE THEATRE)
Benoit Beauchamp, Macbeth (A Modern Ecstasy) - Center for New Theater
Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer, Caroline, or Change - Center Theatre Group: Ahmanson Theatre
Jeremy Pivnick, Sleuth - Falcon Theatre
Donna Ruzika, Miss Saigon - Fullerton Civic Light Opera
Tom Ruzika, Peter Pan - La Mirada Theatre/ McCoy Rigby Entertainment
Justin Townsend, Apollo - Part 1: Lebensraum - Center Theatre Group: Kirk Douglas Theatre
*Steven Young, Songs For a New World - Rubicon Theatre CompanySOUND DESIGN (INTIMATE THEATRE)
John Ballinger, Echo's Hammer - The Theatre @ Boston Court
Drew Dalzell, Spec - Alliance Repertory Company
Bill Hutson, The Ghost & Mrs. Muir - Open at the Top Productions
*Lindsay Jones, Killer Joe - Lost Angels Theatre Company
Tim Labor, Papa - Open Fist Theatre Company
Jeff Webster, Dry Cleaning - 24th Street Theatre
John Zalewski, Light - The Theatre @ Boston Court SOUND DESIGN (LARGE THEATRE)
*Drew Dalzell, Songs For a New World - Rubicon Theatre Company
Julie Ferrin, Peter Pan - La Mirada Theatre/ McCoy Rigby Entertainment
A J Gonzalez, Miss Saigon - Fullerton Civic Light Opera
Kenneth Hobbs, Fools - Rubicon Theatre Company
Adam Howarth, Macbeth (A Modern Ecstasy) - Center for New Theater
Paul James Prendergast, Electricidad - Center Theatre Group: Mark Taper Forum
Randy Tico, Apollo - Part 1: Lebensraum - Center Theatre Group: Kirk Douglas Theatre COSTUME DESIGN (INTIMATE THEATRE)
Susan Chan, The Caretaker - Zephyr Theatre
Ivy Chou, Pera Palas - The Theatre @ Boston Court/ The Antaeus Company
Ann Closs-Farley, Echo's Hammer - The Theatre @ Boston Court
Audrey Eisner, Happy End - Pacific Resident Theatre
*Alison Leach, The Merchant of Venice - L. A. Women's Shakespeare Company
Shon LeBlanc, The Ghost & Mrs. Muir - Open at the Top Productions
Shauna Leone, The Possession of Mrs. Jones - Back It Up Productions COSTUME DESIGN (LARGE THEATRE)
*Josh Agle and Joel Berlin, Shag with a Twist - LA Theatre Center
Garry D. Lennon, Grand Hotel, The Musical - The Colony Theatre Company
Mela Hoyt-Heyden, Miss Saigon - Fullerton Civic Light Opera
Sharell Martin, My Fair Lady - La Mirada Theatre/ McCoy Rigby Entertainment
Christal Weatherly, A Perfect Wedding - Center Theatre Group: Kirk Douglas Theatre
Shigeru Yaji, Peter Pan - La Mirada Theatre/ McCoy Rigby Entertainment
Catherine Zuber, The School for Scandal - Center Theatre Group: Mark Taper Forum
