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Castmates Robert Foxworth, Kelly McAndrew and Carla Harting accept the award for Outstanding Ensemble for The Old Globe's "August: Osage County." Photos by Ion Moe

2011 Craig Noel Award winners announced

Globe's 'August: Osage County' tops honorees

Ion Theatre earns first Braunagel small theater award

Ion Theatre executive artistic director Claudio Raygoza holds his phone to the microphone so actor Brian Mackey, home sick with the flu, can gave his acceptance speech by speakerphone for the 2011 Actor of the Year Award.

Karson St. John accepts an award for her lead role as a female Master of Ceremonies in Cygnet Theatre's "Cabaret."

Grammy-winner B. Slade heads to the stage to accept his award for his title role in San Diego REPertory Theatre's "The Who's Tommy."

Douglas Davis and Randall Hickman re-create their nominated performances as Wilbur and Edna Turnblad in Moonlight Stage Productions' "Hairspray." Hickman won the award earlier in the evening.

Ion Theatre co-founders Glenn Paris and Claudio Raygoza received the inaugural Don Braunagel Award for Outstanding Work at a Small Theater for their production of Tony Kushner's "Angels in America."

Michael Rosenberg, managing director of the La Jolla Playhouse, accepts the Touring Production award for Des McAnuff's Stratford Shakespeare Festival production of "Jesus Christ Superstar." The Playhouse also won in the categories of Outstanding New Play for "Milk Like Sugar," Special Event for "Susurrus" and

Lucia Vecchio, 13, was honored as Outstanding Young Artist for her performance in OnStage Playhouse's "The Diary of Anne Frank."

Old Globe interim managing director Michael Murphy accepts the musical prize for Paul Gordon's "Jane Austen's Emma."

SAN DIEGO (Feb. 6, 2012) ---- The Old Globe’s 2011 production of Tracy Letts’ drama “August: Osage County” was the leading honoree at the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle’s 10th annual Craig Noel Awards ceremony, held Monday at the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, in La Jolla before an audience of more than 450.

“August: Osage County” won the evening’s top award for Outstanding Dramatic Production, as well as for Lois Markle’s lead performance, Sam Gold’s direction and the Ensemble award for its 13-member cast.

La Jolla Playhouse was also honored in three top categories. It won top touring show honors for the Des McAnuff-directed, Broadway-bound production of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” which originated at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival last summer. Kirsten Greenidge’s “Milk Like Sugar” was honored as Outstanding New Play. And the Playhouse-produced audio drama “Susurrus,” presented last fall at the San Diego Botanic Garden, was named Outstanding Special Event.

Cygnet Theatre’s production of “Cabaret” picked up three awards, for director Sean Murray, choreographer David Brannen and leading lady Karson St. John, who starred in the musical as a female Master of Ceremonies.

Tied with “Cabaret” for three awards in the musical category was the Old Globe’s production of Paul Gordon’s “Jane Austen’s Emma,” which won Outstanding Resident Musical, and honors for set designer Tobin Ost and lighting designer Michael Gilliam.

San Diego’s ion theatre was the inaugural recipient of the Don Braunagel Award for Outstanding Work at a Small Theater for its production of Tony Kushner’s two-part “Angels in America.” The award was launched to honor Don Braunagel, a founding member of the Critics Circle, who passed away in June 2011 at the age of 72. Braunagel covered theater in San Diego for more than 30 years and was a passionate supporter of work at small theaters. The annual cash prize will be reserved for theaters with fewer than 200 seats.

The award was presented by, and is underwritten by, Braunagel’s wife, Yolanda, who told the audience: "He was extremely proud of San Diego theater. He admired your acting, directing, your light, sound, set and costume design. He appreciated good PR work. He respected the courage it takes to put on a play you believe in, not knowing how audiences or critics will respond to your hard work. And he particularly admired small theaters who ---- with tiny budgets, difficult venues, sometimes difficult to find venues, sometimes drafty venues with hard seats ---- still manage sometimes to put on unforgettable productions, sometimes the best theater in town. And on those nights, Don and I would drive home in awe."

Brian Mackey was named Actor of the Year for a body of work that included ion theatre’s “The Woolgatherer” and “Bash: Latter Day Plays,” San Diego Repertory Theatre’s “In the Next Room (or the vibrator play)” and Cygnet Theatre’s “The Glass Menagerie.” Mackey was sick in bed with the flu Monday evening, but spoke to the audience via telephone held to the microphone by Ion Theatre's Claudio Raygoza.

Lucia Vecchio, 13, was named Outstanding Young Artist for her lead performance in the Onstage Playhouse production of “The Diary of Anne Frank.” Vecchio also received the Sandra Ellis-Troy Memorial Scholarship to assist her further development as a theater artist.

In the musical acting categories, the outstanding female leading performance in a musical was presented to both Linda Libby, who played Mama Rose in ion theatre’s “Gypsy: A Musical Fable,” and Karson St. John in “Cabaret.” The outstanding male leading performance in a musical was presented to B.Slade for his title role in San Diego REPertory Theatre’s production of “The Who’s Tommy.”

Featured performance in a musical nods went to Katie Whalley for her portrayal of Louise, later Gypsy Rose Lee, in ion’s “Gypsy: A Musical Fable.” and to Randall Hickman for his drag portrayal of Edna Turnblad in Moonlight Stage Production’s “Hairspray." Hickman and his "Hairspray" co-star Douglas Davis, who was also nominated in the category as Edna's husband, Wilbur, surprised and delighted the audience with a live performance of their show number "You're Timeless to Me."

In the dramatic acting categories, the outstanding female leading performance in a play award went to two towering performances as a family matriarch: Lois Markle in “August: Osage County,” and Rosina Reynolds in Cygnet Theatre’s “The Glass Menagerie.”

The outstanding male leading performance in a play was presented to Manny Fernandes for his portrayal of a developmentally disabled man in New Village Arts Theatre’s “Of Mice and Men,” and to Robert Foxworth for his portrayal of a burned-out ex-hippie doughnut shop owner in Tracy Letts’ “Superior Donuts,” produced by San Diego REPertory Theatre.

The featured actor in a play awards were presented to David Ellenstein for North Coast Repertory Theatre’s production of “My Name is Asher Lev,” to Catalina Maynard for “Angels in America,” and to Diona Reasonover for Mo’olelo Performing Arts’ production of “Stick Fly.”

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Recipients of the 2011 Craig Noel Awards:

Outstanding Dramatic Production
“August: Osage County,” The Old Globe

Outstanding Direction of a Play
Sam Gold, “August: Osage County,” The Old Globe

Outstanding Ensemble
“August: Osage County,” The Old Globe

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play, Male
Manny Fernandes, “Of Mice and Men,” New Village Arts Theatre
Robert Foxworth, “Superior Donuts,” San Diego REPertory Theatre

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play, Female
Lois Markle, “August: Osage County,” The Old Globe
Rosina Reynolds, “The Glass Menagerie,” Cygnet Theatre

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Female
Catalina Maynard, “Angels in America,” ion theatre
Diona Reasonover, “Stick Fly,” Mo'olelo Performing Arts Company

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Male
David Ellenstein, “My Name is Asher Lev,” North Coast Repertory Theatre

Outstanding Touring Production
“Jesus Christ Superstar,” La Jolla Playhouse

Outstanding New Play
Kirsten Greenidge, “Milk Like Sugar,” La Jolla Playhouse

Actor of the Year
Brian Mackey

Outstanding Young Artist/Sandra Ellis-Troy Scholarship
Lucia Vecchio, “The Diary of Anne Frank,” Onstage Playhouse

Don Braunagel Award for Outstanding Work at a Small Theater
ion theatre for “Angels in America”

Outstanding Resident Musical
“Jane Austen's Emma,” The Old Globe

Outstanding Direction of a Musical
Sean Murray, “Cabaret,” Cygnet Theatre

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical, Female
Linda Libby, “Gypsy: A Musical Fable,” ion Theatre
Karson St. John, “Cabaret,” Cygnet Theatre

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical, Male
B. Slade, “The Who’s Tommy,” San Diego REPertory Theatre

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical, Male
Randall Hickman, “Hairspray,” Moonlight Stage Productions

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical, Female
Katie Whalley, “Gypsy: A Musical Fable,” ion Theatre

Outstanding Musical Direction
Steve Gunderson, “The Who’s Tommy,” San Diego REPertory Theatre

Outstanding Choreography
David Brannen, “Cabaret,” Cygnet Theatre

Outstanding Music for a Play
Shaun Davey, “The Tempest,” The Old Globe

Outstanding Sound Design
Melanie Chen, “Angels in America,” ion theatre
Deborah Gilmour Smyth, “The Book of the Dun Cow,” Lamb's Players Theatre

Outstanding Costume Design
Jennifer Brawn Gittings, “In the Next Room (or the vibrator play)” San Diego REPertory Theatre
Jeanne Reith, “The Servant of Two Masters,” Lamb’s Players Theatre

Outstanding Lighting Design
Michael Gilliam, “Jane Austen's Emma,” The Old Globe
Karen Filijan, “Angels in America,” ion Theatre

Outstanding Set Design
Tobin Ost, “Jane Austen's Emma,” The Old Globe

Outstanding Special Event
“Susurrus,” La Jolla Playhouse

Outstanding Projection Design
Peter Nigrini, “Sleeping Beauty Wakes,” La Jolla Playhouse

About the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle: Founded in 1983 and re-established in 2002, the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle is an independent, nonprofit organization of print and online theater critics dedicated to open and honest dialogue about theatre in San Diego County and to honoring artistic excellence. The members of our organization are professional critics writing for daily newspapers, magazines, alternative weeklies, entertainment trade publications, broadcast media, and Web sites in San Diego County. The Circle’s annual awards for outstanding San Diego theatre are named for the late Craig Noel, founder and longtime artistic director of The Old Globe. The organization’s 2011 ceremony is presented as a gift to the theater community by a small group of donors, including The Shiley Trust, Danah H. Fayman, The Dr. Seuss Foundation, the Harvey & Sheryl White Foundation, Osborn & Dea Hurston, Jay & Julie Sarno, Ralph Johnson and Ted & Trina Kaplan. For information, contact Critics Circle President Pam Kragen at pkragen@nctimes.com.

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Critics Circle announces 2011 award nominees

LA JOLLA (12/20/2011) -- More than 100 local and national theatre artists representing more than 40 San Diego theatrical productions at a dozen local theaters will compete for the 2011 Craig Noel Awards on Feb. 6, the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle announced today.

Among the shows with multiple nominations were the Old Globe’s “August: Osage County,” “The Tempest” and “Jane Austen’s Emma”; La Jolla Playhouse’s “Sleeping Beauty Wakes”; Ion Theatre’s two-play series “Angels in America”; Cygnet Theatre’s “Cabaret”; San Diego REPertory Theatre’s “The Who’s Tommy” and “In the Next Room (or the vibrator play)”; North Coast Repertory Theatre’s “Lend Me a Tenor”; Moxie Theatre’s “Dead Man’s Cell Phone”; and Moonlight Stage Productions’ “Hairspray.”

Competing for the outstanding resident musical award will be “Cabaret,” “Jane Austen’s Emma,” “Sleeping Beauty Wakes,” “The Who’s Tommy,” and Cygnet Theatre’s “Little Shop of Horrors.” Competing for the outstanding dramatic production award will be “Angels in America,” “August: Osage County,” “Dead Man’s Cell Phone,” “Lend Me a Tenor,” “The Tempest,” and the New Village Arts Theatre’s rendering of John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men.” Competing for the outstanding touring production award will be Broadway/San Diego’s presentations of “Next to Normal” and “Shrek: The Musical” and La Jolla Playhouse’s Broadway-bound presentation of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival production of “Jesus Christ Superstar.”

In the musical acting categories, the outstanding female leading performance in a musical nominees are Melissa Fernandes (“Little Shop of Horrors”), Linda Libby (“Gypsy: A Musical Fable,” produced by ion Theatre), Patti Murin (“Jane Austen’s Emma”), Karson St. John (“Cabaret”), and Aspen Vincent (“Sleeping Beauty Wakes”). The outstanding male leading performance in a musical nominees are Geno Carr (“The Servant of Two Masters,” produced by Lamb’s Players Theatre), Randall Dodge (“The Fantasticks,” produced by the Welk Resorts Theatre), Bryce Ryness (“Sleeping Beauty Wakes”), B. Slade (“The Who’s Tommy”), and Robert Townsend (“The Story of My Life,” produced by San Diego Musical Theatre).

In the dramatic acting categories, the outstanding female leading performance in a play nominees are Jill Drexler (“Foxfire,” produced by Moonlight Stage Productions), Melinda Gilb (“Walter Cronkite Is Dead.” produced by San Diego REPertory Theatre), Jo Anne Glover (“Dead Man’s Cell Phone”), Lois Markle (“August: Osage County”), Rosina Reynolds (“The Glass Menagerie,” produced by Cygnet Theatre) and Aubrey Saverino (“In the Next Room (or the vibrator play).” The outstanding male leading performance in a play nominees are Miles Anderson (“The Tempest”), Jeffrey DeMunn (“Death of a Salesman,” produced by The Old Globe), Manny Fernandes (“Of Mice and Men”), Robert Foxworth (“Superior Donuts,” produced by San Diego REPertory Theatre), Jon Rua (“Somewhere,” produced by The Old Globe), and Kyle Sorrell (“Angels in America”).

The outstanding ensemble award will be presented to the cast of one of the following productions: “Angels in America,” “August: Osage County,” “Dead Man’s Cell Phone,” “Lend Me a Tenor,” or “Peer Gynt” (produced by La Jolla Playhouse).

Critics Circle President Pam Kragen also announced the establishment of a new annual award in memory of longtime critic and arts writer, Don Braunagel, who passed away in June 2011. Established in Braunagel’s memory by his widow Yolanda Braunagel, the cash award will honor special achievements at small-budget theater companies.

The 10^th annual Craig Noel Award will take place from 6 to 10 p.m. Monday, February 6, 2012, at the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, 700 Prospect Drive, La Jolla.

Nominees for the 2011 Craig Noel Awards:

Outstanding Resident Musical

“Cabaret,” Cygnet Theatre

“Jane Austen's Emma,” The Old Globe

“Little Shop of Horrors,” Cygnet Theatre

“Sleeping Beauty Wakes,” La Jolla Playhouse

“The Who’s Tommy,” San Diego REPertory Theatre

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical, Female

Melissa Fernandes, “Little Shop of Horrors,” Cygnet Theatre

Linda Libby, “Gypsy: A Musical Fable,” ion Theatre

Patti Murin, “Jane Austen's Emma,” The Old Globe

Karson St. John, “Cabaret,” Cygnet Theatre

Aspen Vincent, “Sleeping Beauty Wakes,” La Jolla Playhouse

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical, Male

Geno Carr, “The Servant of Two Masters,” Lamb’s Players Theatre

Randall Dodge, “The Fantasticks,” Welk Resorts Theatre

Bryce Ryness, “Sleeping Beauty Wakes,” La Jolla Playhouse

B. Slade, “The Who’s Tommy,” San Diego REPertory Theatre

Robert Townsend, “The Story of My Life,” San Diego Musical Theatre

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical, Male

Doug Davis, “Hairspray,” Moonlight Stage Productions

Derrick Gaffney, “Spring Awakening,” Actors' Conservatory Theatre

Randall Hickman, “Hairspray,” Moonlight Stage Productions

Dick Latessa, “Little Miss Sunshine,” La Jolla Playhouse

Bob Stillman, “Sleeping Beauty Wakes,” La Jolla Playhouse

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical, Female

Melissa Fernandes, “Cabaret,” Cygnet Theatre

Linda Libby, “Cabaret,” Cygnet Theatre

Dani Marcus, “Jane Austen's Emma,” The Old Globe

Jill Van Velzer, “The Great American Trailer Park Musical,” San Diego REPertory Theatre

Katie Whalley, “Gypsy: A Musical Fable,” ion Theatre

Outstanding Direction of a Musical

Jeff Calhoun, “Jane Austen's Emma,” The Old Globe

Steve Glaudini, “Hairspray,” Moonlight Stage Productions

Sean Murray, “Cabaret,” Cygnet Theatre

Claudio Raygoza and Kim Strassburger, “Gypsy: A Musical Fable,” ion Theatre

Sam Woodhouse, “The Who’s Tommy,” San Diego REPertory Theatre

Outstanding Musical Direction

Laura Bergquist, “Jane Austen's Emma,” The Old Globe

Steve Gunderson, “The Who’s Tommy,” San Diego REPertory Theatre

Don LeMaster, “A Chorus Line,” San Diego Musical Theatre

Elan McMahan, “Hairspray,” Moonlight Stage Productions

Outstanding Choreography

David Brannen, “Cabaret,” Cygnet Theatre

JT Horenstein, “Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show,” The Old Globe

Michael Mizerany, “Dooley,” Diversionary Theatre

Doug Varone, “Sleeping Beauty Wakes,” La Jolla Playhouse

Javier Velasco, “The Who’s Tommy,” San Diego REPertory Theatre

Outstanding Music for a Play

Shaun Davey, “The Tempest,” The Old Globe

John Gromada, “A Dram of Drummhicit,” La Jolla Playhouse

Outstanding Dramatic Production

“Angels in America,” ion Theatre

“August: Osage County,” The Old Globe

“Dead Man’s Cell Phone,” Moxie Theatre

“Lend Me A Tenor,” North Coast Repertory Theatre

“Of Mice and Men,” New Village Arts Theatre

“The Tempest,” The Old Globe

Outstanding Ensemble

“Angels in America,” ion Theatre

“August: Osage County,” The Old Globe

“Dead Man’s Cell Phone,” Moxie Theatre

“Lend Me a Tenor,” North Coast Repertory Theatre

“Peer Gynt,” La Jolla Playhouse

"Stick Fly," Mo'olelo Performing Arts

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play, Male

Miles Anderson, “The Tempest,” The Old Globe

Jeffrey DeMunn, “Death of a Salesman, “The Old Globe

Manny Fernandes, “Of Mice and Men,” New Village Arts Theatre

Robert Foxworth, “Superior Donuts,” San Diego REPertory Theatre

Jon Rua, “Somewhere,” The Old Globe

Kyle Sorrell, “Angels in America,” ion Theatre

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play, Female

Jill Drexler, “Foxfire,” Moonlight Stage Productions

Melinda Gilb, “Walter Cronkite is Dead,” San Diego REPertory Theatre

Jo Anne Glover, “Dead Man’s Cell Phone,” Moxie Theatre

Lois Markle, “August: Osage County,” The Old Globe

Rosina Reynolds, “The Glass Menagerie,” Cygnet Theatre

Aubrey Saverino, “In the Next Room (or the vibrator play),” San Diego REPertory Theatre

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Female

Geeta Citygirl Chopra, “Rafta, Rafta … ,” The Old Globe

Lisel Gorell-Getz, “In the Next Room (or the vibrator play)” San Diego REPertory Theatre

Catalina Maynard, “Angels in America,” ion Theatre

Tonya Pinkins, “Milk Like Sugar,” La Jolla Playhouse

Diona Reasonover, “Stick Fly,” Mo'olelo Performing Arts Company

Karson St. John, “Ten Cent Night,” Moxie Theatre

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Male

Ben Diskant, “The Tempest,” The Old Globe

David Ellenstein, “My Name is Asher Lev,” North Coast Repertory Theatre

Nick Kennedy, “Grace,” ion Theatre

Brian Mackey, “The Glass Menagerie,” Cygnet Theatre

Matt Thompson, “Dead Man’s Cell Phone,” Moxie Theatre

Jay Whittaker, “Amadeus,” The Old Globe

Outstanding Touring Production

“Jesus Christ Superstar,” La Jolla Playhouse

“Next to Normal,” Broadway/San Diego

“Shrek the Musical,” Broadway/San Diego

Outstanding New Play

Kirsten Greenidge, “Milk Like Sugar,” La Jolla Playhouse

Matthew Lopez, “Somewhere,” The Old Globe

Stephen Metcalfe, “The Tragedy of the Commons,” Cygnet Theatre

David Myers, “Small Prophecies,” University of California, San Diego, Baldwin New Play Festival

Outstanding Direction of a Play

Sam Gold, “August: Osage County,” The Old Globe

Adrian Noble, “The Tempest,” The Old Globe

Glenn Paris & Claudio Raygoza, “Angels in America,” ion Theatre

Daren Scott, “Of Mice and Men,” New Village Arts Theatre

Delicia Turner Sonnenberg, “Dead Man’s Cell Phone,” Moxie Theatre

Matthew Wiener, “Lend Me A Tenor,” North Coast Repertory Theatre

Outstanding Sound Design

David Ballard, “Amadeus,” The Old Globe

Melanie Chen, “Angels in America,” ion Theatre

Deborah Gilmour Smyth, “The Book of the Dun Cow,” Lamb's Players Theatre

Jeremy J. Lee, “Somewhere,” The Old Globe

George Ye, “Tragedy of the Commons,” Cygnet Theatre

Outstanding Costume Design

Deirdre Clancy, “Amadeus,” The Old Globe

Jennifer Brawn Gittings, “In the Next Room (or the vibrator play),” San Diego REPertory Theatre

Jennifer Brawn Gittings, “The Who’s Tommy,” San Diego REPertory Theatre

Sonia Elizabeth Lerner, “Lend Me A Tenor,” North Coast Repertory Theatre

Jeanne Reith, “The Servant of Two Masters,” Lamb’s Players Theatre

Outstanding Lighting Design

Christopher Akerlind, “Sleeping Beauty Wakes,” La Jolla Playhouse

Alan Burrett, “The Tempest,” The Old Globe

Karen Filijan, “Angels in America,” ion Theatre

Michael Gilliam, “Jane Austen's Emma,” The Old Globe

Japhy Wiedeman, “August: Osage County,” The Old Globe

Outstanding Set Design

Marty Burnett, “Lend Me a Tenor,” North Coast Repertory Theatre

David Korins, “Little Miss Sunshine,” La Jolla Playhouse

Michael McKeon, “Trying,” Lamb’s Players Theatre

Tobin Ost, “Jane Austen's Emma,” The Old Globe

Victoria Petrovich, “In the Next Room (or the vibrator play),” San Diego REPertory Theatre

David Zinn, “August: Osage County,” The Old Globe

Other awards to be announced on February 6:

Outstanding Young Artist/Sandra Ellis-Troy Scholarship

Outstanding Special Event

Actor of the Year

Braunagel Award

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Critics Circle mourns loss of Don Braunagel

LA JOLLA (6/3/11) -- Don Braunagel, one of the founding members of the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle who had reviewed theater in San Diego since 1980, passed away June 3 after a heroic, three-year battle with cancer. He was 72. donbraunagel.JPG (9521 bytes)

Braunagel served most recently as a theater critic for sandiego.com. He was the theater critic and columnist for San Diego Magazine from 1995 to 2010. And he covered theater for the San Diego Tribune from 1980 to 1992. He also served as a freelance San Diego theater critic for Variety and Daily Variety from 1985 to 1995.

Before coming to San Diego, Braunagel was entertainment editor and theater critic for the Oakland Press in Pontiac, Mich.

Don was instrumental in the revival of the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle 10 years ago, obtaining the organization's nonprofit status, helping to create the group's website and coordinating and posting hundreds of photos to the site each year.

"Don loved theater and was proud to have the opportunity to serve as a critic in San Diego for so many years. He often said that he'd reviewed theater all over the world but felt that San Diego had the best overall theater scene worldwide," said Circle president Pam Kragen. "He was generous, intelligent, kind, thoughtful and a true lover of life. It's hard to imagine the Circle without his enthusiastic presence in the future."

Don was first diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2008. The disease was treated and in remission when he received a new diagnosis of ampullary cancer in September 2009. He blogged about his courageous battle with the disease for nearly two years, and continued to review theatrical productions right up until his final months. He passed away Friday, June 3, at his La Jolla home, surrounded by members of his family and his devoted wife of 26 years, Yolanda.

A service to celebrate his life has been scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, June 18, at the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, at 700 Prospect St. in La Jolla. A reception will follow.

Read more about Don in a tribute by Critics Circle member Jeff Smith of the San Diego Reader here.

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2010 Craig Noel Award winners announced

SAN DIEGO (1/10/11) -- La Jolla Playhouse’s production of Lynn Nottage’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Ruined” earned top honors Monday at the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle’s 2010 Craig Noel Awards for Theatrical Excellence.

Eight San Diego County professional and semi-professional companies took home a total of 35 awards, given in 29 categories, in the ninth annual presentation before an audience of more than 400 people at the Museum of Contemporary Arts, San Diego, in La Jolla.

The evening opened with a filmed tribute to Award namesake Noel, who passed away April 3, 2010, at the age of 94. The founding director of San Diego’s Old Globe Theatre put the city on the map as a regional theater destination. In 2007, he received the nation’s highest artistic award, the National Medal of Arts. of Arts.

The Playhouse’s “Ruined” co-production (with Berkeley Repertory Theatre and Huntington Theatre Co.) was honored in the categories of Outstanding Dramatic Production, Direction (Liesl Tommy), Lead Performance, Female (Tonye Patano), Featured Performance, Female (Zainab Jah), Ensemble, Set Design (Clint Ramos) and Sound Design (Broken Chord). La Jolla Playhouse artistic director Christopher Ashley is seen accepting a prize, at left.

“It's rare to have one production win in so many categories, but when we held our voting session in December, virtually every member of the Critics Circle ranked 'Ruined' No. 1, so it was a hard act to follow,” said Circle president Pam Kragen.

Other big winners at Monday’s ceremony were Cygnet Theatre’s production of “Sweeney Todd,” and San Diego Repertory Theatre’s “Hairspray.” The two musicals shared the award for Outstanding Resident Musical. Musical. Musical. Musical. Musical.

“Sweeney Todd” was also honored in the categories of Direction of a Musical (Sean Murray and James Vasquez); Musical Direction (Charlie Reuter); and Lead Performance in a Musical, Female (Deborah Gilmour Smyth). “Hairspray” picked up additional awards for Choreography (Javier Velasco); Featured Performance in a Musical, Male (Steve Gunderson); and Outstanding Young Artist (Victoria Matthews).

Another musical winner was Joy Yandell, who won for her featured role in Lamb’s Players Theatre’s “MiXtape.”

In the New Musical category, La Jolla Playhouse’s production of Christopher Curtis and Thomas Meehan’s musical “Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin” won top honors, as did the musical’s star, Rob McClure, who won the Lead Performance in a Musical, Male. On hand to give the New Musical prize was Tony nominee Jeff Calhoun, who directed last year’s honoree in the New Musical category, “Bonnie and Clyde” (also produced at the Playhouse).ayhouse).

Tony-winning composer Duncan Sheik (“Spring Awakening”) was honored for his score for “Whisper House,” which had its world premiere last year at The Old Globe. And composer Mark Bennett (“The Coast of Utopia”) was honored in the Music for Play category for his classically inspired score of La Jolla Playhouse’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”s Dream.”s Dream.”

The Old Globe’s new musical “Robin and the 7 Hoods” won for Outstanding Choreography by three-time Tony nominee Casey Nicholaw and for its imaginative costumes by Tony-winner Gregg Barnes.

Also honored at the Globe was Miles Anderson, who won Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play, Male, for his title role in the Summer Shakespeare Festival production of “The Madness of George III.” Globe Shakespeare Festival actor Jay Whittaker was honored for his Featured work in all three Festival productions.

Technical winners included lighting designer Eric Lotze and set designer Andrew Hull for their work on Cygnet’s “Private Lives.”

Seema Sueko, founding artistic director for Mo’olelo Performing Arts Company, was honored with the second Des McAnuff New Vision Award. Named for the former artistic director of La Jolla Playhouse, the honor -- which recognizes inspired and risk-taking artistic vision -- was first bestowed upon Moxie Theatre artistic director Delicia Turner Sonnenberg in 2007. Turner Sonnenberg took the stage Monday to present the award to Sueko.

San Diego’s Ion Theatre -- co-founded by Claudio Raygoza and Glenn Paris -- was honored as Producer of the Year, for opening a new black-box theater in Hillcrest and producing a string of critically acclaimed shows in the new space during 2010. One of Ion’s 2010 productions, “Hurlyburly,” was also honored in the category of Outstanding Ensemble.

A special “Actor of the Year” award went to Steve Gunderson for his fine performances in four San Diego County musicals in 2010: Cygnet’s “Sweeney Todd,” San Diego Rep’s “Hairspray,” “New Village Arts’ “Into the Woods” and the Old Globe’s “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”

Playwright Ronald McCants, a 2010 graduate of UC San Diego’s master’s program in playwriting, won the Outstanding New Play award for his thought-provoking drama “Oyster,” the story of a black father trying to reconnect with the adult son he abandoned years ago. The play premiered last spring at the university’s Baldwin New Play Festival.

Winning the category of touring production was Bill Camp and Robert Woodruff’s adaptation of Dostoevsky’s “Notes from Underground,” produced at La Jolla Playhouse. Camp was also honored for his harrowing lead performance as Underground Man in the drama. drama. drama. drama. drama.

The other winner for Performance in a Touring Production with Tovah Feldshuh, who starred as Israeli prime minister Golda Meir in the solo show “Golda’s Balcony” at the Old Globe (Feldshuh received a Tony nomination for the same role in 2004).

This year’s ceremony also marked the debut of the Circle’s Sandra Ellis-Troy Scholarship program. Created to honor the beloved actor and Moonlight Stage Productions drama camp director who passed away Dec. 4, the Fund will give scholarships to promising young actors each year. The first winner of a scholarship is Victoria Matthews, a 16-year-old student from San Diego School and Creative and Performing Arts, who also won the Outstanding Young Artist award for her role as Little Inez in San Diego Rep’s “Hairspray.”

Complete Winners List

SPECIAL AWARDS
Producer of the Year: Ion Theatre, Claudio Raygoza & Glenn Paris
Actor of the Year: Steve Gunderson
Des McAnuff New Visions Award: Seema Sueko, Mo’olelo Performing Arts Co.

Outstanding Resident Musical
“Sweeney Todd,” Cygnet Theatre
“Hairspray,” San Diego Repertory Theatre

Outstanding Original Score
Duncan Sheik, “Whisper House,” The Old Globe

Outstanding New Musical
“Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin,” La Jolla Playhouse

Outstanding Direction of a Musical
Sean Murray & James Vasquez, “Sweeney Todd,” Cygnet Theatre

Outstanding Musical Direction
Charlie Reuter, “Sweeney Todd,” Cygnet Theatre

Outstanding Music for a Play
Mark Bennett, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” La Jolla Playhouse

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical, Female
Deborah Gilmour Smyth, “Sweeney Todd,” Cygnet Theatre

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical, Male
Rob McClure, “Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin,” La Jolla Playhouse

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical, Male
Steve Gunderson, “Hairspray,” San Diego Repertory Theatre

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical, Female
Joy Yandell, “MiXtape,” Lamb’s Players Theatre

Outstanding Choreography
Javier Velasco, “Hairspray,” San Diego Repertory Theatre
Casey Nicholaw, “Robin and the 7 Hoods,” The Old Globe

Outstanding Direction of a Play
Liesl Tommy, “Ruined,” La Jolla Playhouse

Outstanding Sound Design
Broken Chord, “Ruined,” La Jolla Playhouse

Outstanding Costume Design
Gregg Barnes, “Robin and the 7 Hoods,” The Old Globe

Outstanding Lighting Design
Eric Lotze, “Private Lives,” Cygnet Theatre

Outstanding Set Design
Andrew Hull, “Private Lives,” Cygnet Theatre
Clint Ramos, “Ruined,” La Jolla Playhouse

Outstanding Ensemble
“Hurlyburly,” Ion Theatre
“Ruined,” La Jolla Playhouse

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Female
Zainab Jah, “Ruined,” La Jolla Playhouse

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Male
Jay Whittaker, Old Globe Shakespeare Festival body of work

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play, Male
Miles Anderson, “The Madness of George III,” The Old Globe

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play, Female
Shana Wride, “Private Lives,” Cygnet Theatre
Tonye Patano, “Ruined,” La Jolla Playhouse

Outstanding Performance in a Touring Production
Bill Camp, “Notes From Underground,” La Jolla Playhouse
Tovah Feldshuh, “Golda’s Balcony,” The Old Globe

Outstanding Touring Production
“Notes From Underground,” La Jolla Playhouse

Outstanding Dramatic Production
“Ruined,” La Jolla Playhouse

Outstanding New Play
“Oyster,” Ronald McCants, Baldwin New Play Festival, UCSD

Outstanding Young Artist
Victoria Matthews, “Hairspray,” San Diego Repertory Theatre

Sean Murray, left, and James Vasquez accept the prize for Outstanding Direction of a Musical for Cygnet Theatre's "Sweeney Todd."

Check out our listings and review page with links to more than 1,000 reviews by Critics Circle members, updated weekly.

Founded in 1983 and re-established in 2002, the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle is an independent, nonprofit organization of print and online theater critics dedicated to open and honest dialogue about theater in San Diego County and to honoring artistic excellence.

The members of our organization are professional critics writing for daily newspapers, magazines, entertainment trade publications and Web sites in San Diego, Riverside and Los Angeles counties.

The organization's major event is an awards program held each January, honoring the previous year's finest in theater production, direction, acting, playwriting, scoring and technical achievements. The event is presented free of charge to the theatrical community thanks to the gracious support of private underwriters.

In 2002, the awards were renamed in honor of Craig Noel, longtime artistic director at San Diego's Old Globe Theatre and the founding father of San Diego's theater community, who passed away in 2010.

The Craig Noel Awards program is underwritten by San Diego arts philanthropists, including Donald & Darlene Shiley, Danah H. Fayman, Audrey Geisel, The Harvey & Sheryl White Foundation, Arthur & Molli Wagner, Jeff & Sheila Lipinsky, Osborn & Dea Hurston, Jay & Julie Sarno and Arnold Rosenberg.

Contact Information

Mailing address: 1613 Madrid Drive, Vista, CA 92081

760-839-3341

Web site maintained by Pam Kragen, North County Times newspaper.