LADCC Annual Awards event celebrates excellence in Los Angeles theater

The 45th annual Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards event was held last Monday, March 17, 2014. The event took place at the Colony Theater in Burbank, and was hosted by actress, comedienne and songbird Nicole Parker, who kept the show rolling along at a lively pace.

Recipients of the various prestigious awards included the ‘Production’ award for The Scottsboro Boys (Center Theatre Group, Ahmanson Theatre); Our Class (Son of Semele Ensemble) and One Night In Miami (Rogue Machine). DOMA Theatre Company took home three awards for Dreamgirls, including for Constance Jewell Lopez’s lead performance as well as sharing the ‘Production’ award.

Recipients of the various special awards included Bart DeLorenzo, who received the Milton Katselas Award for career or special achievement in direction, and first-time playwright of One Night In Miami, Kemp Powers, who was awarded the Ted Schmitt Award for the world premiere of an outstanding new play.

Here follows a full listing of the winners, per the LADCC official website:

Production

• One Night in Miami…, John Perrin Flynn and Roxanne Hart, Rogue Machine Theatre
• Our Class, Son of Semele Ensemble, Atwater Village Theatre
• The Scottsboro Boys, Center Theatre Group, Ahmanson Theatre
• Walking the Tightrope, Debbie Devine and Jay McAdams, 24th Street Theatre

McCulloh Award for Revival

• Dreamgirls, Mike Abramson and Dolf Ramos, DOMA Theatre Co. at The MET Theatre
• The Normal Heart, Deborah Lawlor and Stephen Sachs, The Fountain Theatre

Direction

• Jessica Kubzansky, R II, The Theatre @ Boston Court
• Matthew McCray, Our Class, Son of Semele Ensemble at Atwater Village Theatre

Writing

• Jennifer Haley, The Nether, Kirk Douglas Theatre

Writing (Adaptation)

• Richard Alger, Track 3, Theatre Movement Bazaar and Bootleg Theater at Bootleg Theater
• Nancy Keystone, Alcestis, The Theatre @ Boston Court and Critical Mass Performance Group at The Theatre @ Boston Court

Musical Score

• John Kander and Fred Ebb, The Scottsboro Boys, Ahmanson Theatre

Music Direction

• Corey Hirsch, A Man of No Importance, Good People Theater Company at Lillian Theatre
• Ross Seligman, One Night With Janis Joplin, Pasadena Playhouse

Choreography

• Matthew Bourne, Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty, Ahmanson Theatre

Lead Performance

• Tim Cummings, The Normal Heart, The Fountain Theatre
• Mary Bridget Davies, One Night With Janis Joplin, Pasadena Playhouse
• Constance Jewell Lopez, Dreamgirls, DOMA Theatre Co. at The MET Theatre
• Paige Lindsey White, Walking the Tightrope, 24th Street Theatre

Featured Performance

• Sabrina Elayne Carten, One Night With Janis Joplin, Pasadena Playhouse,
• Michael Nehring, Our Class, Son of Semele Ensemble at Atwater Village Theatre
• Patrick Stafford, Red, International City Theatre

Ensemble Performance

• One Night in Miami…, Rogue Machine Theatre
• Our Class, Son of Semele Ensemble at Atwater Village Theatre
• We Are Proud to Present a Presentation About the Herero of Namibia, Formerly Known as Southwest Africa, From the German Sudwestafrika, Between the Years 1884–1915, Matrix Theatre

Solo Performance

• Lorenzo Pisoni, Humor Abuse, Mark Taper Forum

Set Design

• Adrian W. Jones, The Nether, Kirk Douglas Theatre

Lighting Design

• Paule Constable, Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty, Ahmanson Theatre
• Jeremy Pivnick, R II, The Theatre @ Boston Court

Costume Design

• Lez Brotherston, Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty, Ahmanson Theatre
• Michael Mullen, Dreamgirls, DOMA Theatre Co. at The MET Theatre

Sound Design

• John Zalewski, Walking the Tightrope, 24th Street Theatre

Video Design

• Adam Flemming, The Normal Heart, The Fountain Theatre
• Kaitlyn Pietras (Projection Design), R II, The Theatre @ Boston Court

Movement/Fight Choreography

• Ned Mochel, Cops and Friends of Cops, VS. Theatre

Illusions/Magic Design

• Johnny Thompson, Play Dead, Geffen Playhouse

Special Awards

• The Ted Schmitt Award for the world premiere of an outstanding new play was awarded to Kemp Powers for One Night in Miami … The award was accompanied by an offer to publish by Samuel French, Inc.
• The Polly Warfield Award for an excellent season in a small to mid-size theatre was awarded to Actors Co-op. The award was accompanied by an honorarium, funded by the Nederlander Organization.
• The Margaret Harford Award for sustained excellence in theatre was awarded to L.A. Theatre Works. The award was accompanied by an honorarium, funded by The Knitting Factory Entertainment Company.
• The Joel Hirschhorn Award for outstanding achievement in musical theatre was awarded to David Elzer. The award was accompanied by an honorarium, funded by an anonymous donor.
• The Milton Katselas Award for career or special achievement in direction was awarded to Bart DeLorenzo. The award was accompanied by an honorarium, funded by The Beverly Hills Playhouse.
• The Kinetic Lighting Award for outstanding achievement in theatrical design was awarded Angela Balogh Calin, for her sustained achievement in costume design. The award was accompanied by an honorarium, funded by Kinetic Lighting.