San Diego Theatre Critics Circle News

[2/6/2012]
The 2011 awards will be announced here on Feb. 6, 2012.
[12/20/2011]
Critics Circle's 2011 award nominations announced. Check out the links here: Playbill.com Theatremania.com Broadwayworld.com San Diego Reader 2011 Craig Noel Award nominees named Award in memory of critic Don Braunagel announced SAN DIEGO (Dec. 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 10th 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. 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, Ted & Trina Kaplan, Osborn & Dea Hurston, Jay & Julie Sarno and Ralph Johnson. 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 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 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 Diana 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 [1/12/2011] Critics Circle's 2010 awards earns national, regional press coverage. Check out the links here: TheatreMania.com BroadwayWorld.com Playbill.com TalkinBroadway.com by member Bill Eadie KPBS Culture Lust arts blog by Angela Carone Voiceofsandiego.org arts blog by Kelly Bennett Twitter.com North County Times by member Pam Kragen San Diego Gay and Lesbian News by member Jean Lowerison Examiner.com by member Carol Davis PHOTOS FROM THE PARTY POSTED HERE
[1/10/2011]
Playhouse’s “Ruined” leads list of winners at 2010 San Diego Theatre Critics Circle awards 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. 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). “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. “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). 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.” 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. 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 12-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.” Founded in 1983, the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle is a non-profit collective of print and online theater critics covering live theater in San Diego County. In 2002, the awards program was renamed in honor of Craig Noel, founding artistic director of San Diego’s Old Globe Theatre, acclaimed regional theater innovator and 2007 recipient of the National Medal of Arts, who passed away in 2010. For information on the awards and members of the organization, visit the Web site at www.sdcriticscircle.org. Complete Winners List 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 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.
[1/1/2011]
Critics Circle announces admission of two new members SAN DIEGO (Jan. 1, 2011) -- The San Diego Theatre Critics Circle has announced the admission of two new members for 2011. Bill Eadie, the theater critic for sandiego.com for the past few years, is a professor of journalism and media studies at San Diego State University, and is editor of the Western Journal of Communication. His full biography can be found here. Jean Lowerison reviews theater for the San Diego Gay and Lesbian News (sdgln.com) and has been reviewing both theater and film for other San Diego-area publications for the past decade. Her biography can be found here. Pam Kragen, the president of the Critics Circle, said that at the end of each year the members gather to vote on admitting new members who meet the highest standards of journalistic excellence and exhibit a wealth of experience covering theater in San Diego. "We are excited to have Bill and Jean join our organization and we're sure they'll bring a fresh energy and voices to our voting sessions," Kragen said. "Both of them have a long track record of reviewing theater for local news outlets and we're proud to have them in our group."
[12/10/2010]
2010 Craig Noel Award nominees announced Sandra Ellis-Troy memorial fund launched SAN DIEGO (Dec. 10, 2010) -- The San Diego Theatre Critics Circle has announced the nominees for the 2010 Craig Noel Awards, which will be unveiled at a ceremony on Jan. 10, 2011, in La Jolla. More than 100 nominees from 12 San Diego County theaters will compete in 29 artistic categories at the ninth annual awards program. This year’s ceremony will be dedicated to the memory of the awards’ namesake, Craig Noel, the founding artistic director of San Diego’s Old Globe Theatre who passed away in April at the age of 94. The ceremony is also dedicated to Donald Shiley, who with his wife, Darlene, was a major sponsor of the Craig Noel Awards since their founding. He passed away July 31 at the age of 90. This year’s nominees include three world premiere musicals, up-and-coming and veteran San Diego actors, directors and designers, as well as national and international artists, including Grammy-winning composer Duncan Sheik, British director Adrian Noble and Broadway director/choreographer Casey Nicholaw. . “With two Tony Award-winning regional theaters in town, the Old Globe and La Jolla Playhouse, the bar for quality in local theater has always been high,” said Pam Kragen, president of the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle. “We were pleased to see a consistently high caliber of work at all levels, and that’s reflected in our nominations.” Another feature of the upcoming ceremony will be the award of the first Sandra Ellis-Troy Memorial Scholarship. Ellis-Troy, who passed away Dec. 4 at the age of 68, worked in most of San Diego’s major theaters over the past 20 years. Ellis-Troy also ran youth drama camps for her employer, Moonlight Stage Productions in Vista. In honor of her work with young actors, a memorial fund has been established to grant scholarships for promising youth actors. Tax-deductible donations to the fund can be made directly to the not-for-profit San Diego Theatre Critics Circle via credit card by clicking here or by sending a check to 1613 Madrid Drive, Vista, CA 92081. The award ceremony will take place from 6 to 10 p.m. Monday, Jan. 10, 2011, at the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, 700 Prospect St., La Jolla. Admission to the ceremony is free. Nominees for the 2010 Craig Noel Awards: Outstanding Resident Musical "Sweeney Todd,” Cygnet Theatre “Title of Show,” Diversionary Theatre “Hairspray,” San Diego Repertory Theatre “MiXtape,” Lamb’s Players Theatre “Miss Saigon,” Moonlight Stage Productions Outstanding Original Score Duncan Sheik, “Whisper House,” The Old Globe Christopher Curtis, “Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin,” La Jolla Playhouse Outstanding New Musical “Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin,” La Jolla Playhouse “Whisper House,” The Old Globe “Robin and the 7 Hoods,” The Old Globe Outstanding Direction of a Musical James Vasquez, “Title of Show,” Diversionary Theatre Sam Woodhouse, “ Hairspray,” San Diego Repertory Theatre Sean Murray & James Vasquez, “Sweeney Todd,” Cygnet Theatre Warren Carlyle & Michael Unger, “Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin,” La Jolla Playhouse Casey Nicholaw, “Robin and the 7 Hoods,” The Old Globe Outstanding Musical Direction Charlie Reuter, “Sweeney Todd,” Cygnet Theatre Eric Stern, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” La Jolla Playhouse Jon Lorenz, “MiXtape,” Lamb’s Players Theatre Bryan Perri, “Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin,” La Jolla Playhouse Mark Hummel, “Robin and the 7 Hoods,” The Old Globe Outstanding Music for a Play Mark Bennett, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” La Jolla Playhouse Scott Paulson, “The Man Who,” New Village Arts Broken Chord, “Ruined,” La Jolla Playhouse Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical, Female Andrea Huber, “A Little Night Music,” Lyric Opera San Diego Deborah Gilmour Smyth, “Sweeney Todd,” Cygnet Theatre Bethany Slomka, “Hairspray,” San Diego Repertory Theatre Ashley Brown, “Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin,” La Jolla Playhouse Jennifer Paz, “Miss Saigon,” Moonlight Stage Productions Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical, Male Rob McClure, “Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin,” La Jolla Playhouse Eric Schneider, “Robin and the 7 Hoods,” The Old Globe Johann Michael Camat, “Miss Saigon,” Moonlight Stage Productions Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical, Male Tom Zohar, “Sweeney Todd,” Cygnet Theatre Kurt Norby, “Sweeney Todd,” Cygnet Theatre Steve Gunderson, “Hairspray,” San Diego Repertory Theatre Matthew Scott, “Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin,” La Jolla Playhouse Victor Morris, “Storyville,” San Diego Repertory Theatre Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical, Female Holly Brook, “Whisper House,” The Old Globe Kandis Chappell, “A Little Night Music,” Lyric Opera San Diego Joy Yandell, “MiXtape,” Lamb’s Players Theatre Melissa Fernandes, “Into the Woods,” New Village Arts Hannah Rose Kornfeld, “Into the Woods,” New Village Arts Outstanding Choreography Colleen Kollar Smith, “Ring Round the Moon,” Moonlight Stage Productions Javier Velasco, “Hairspray,” San Diego Repertory Theatre Warren Carlyle, “Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin,” La Jolla Playhouse Randy Duncan, “Ruined,” La Jolla Playhouse Casey Nicholaw, “Robin and the 7 Hoods,” The Old Globe Outstanding Direction of a Play Glenn Paris, “Hurlyburly,” Ion Theatre David Ellenstein, “Ghosts,” North Coast Repertory Theatre Delicia Turner Sonnenberg, “Eurydice,” Moxie Theatre Adrian Noble, “The Madness of George III,” The Old Globe Seema Sueko, “Yellow Face, Mo’olelo Performing Arts Liesl Tommy, “Ruined,” La Jolla Playhouse Outstanding Sound Design George Ye, “The Piano Lesson,” Cygnet Theatre Christopher Walker, “The Madness of George III,” The Old Globe Matt Lescault-Wood, “Eurydice,” Moxie Theatre Broken Chord, “Ruined,” La Jolla Playhouse Deborah Gilmour Smyth, “The Glory Man,” Lamb’s Players Theatre Outstanding Costume Design Deirdre Clancy, “The Madness of George III,” The Old Globe Jeanne Reith, “The Norman Conquests,” Cygnet Theatre Linda Cho, “Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin,” La Jolla Playhouse Gregg Barnes, “Robin and the 7 Hoods,” The Old Globe Jeanne Reith, “Storyville,” San Diego Repertory Theatre Outstanding Lighting Design Matthew Richards, “Whisper House,” The Old Globe Eric Lotze, “Sweeney Todd,” Cygnet Theatre Eric Lotze, “Private Lives,” Cygnet Theatre Alan Burrett, “The Madness of George III,” The Old Globe Lap Chi Chu, “Ruined,” La Jolla Playhouse Outstanding Set Design Michael Schweikardt, “Whisper House,” The Old Globe Andrew Hull, “Private Lives,” Cygnet Theatre Rachel Hauck, “Surf Report,” La Jolla Playhouse Clint Ramos, “Ruined,” La Jolla Playhouse Ralph Funicello, “The Madness of George III,” The Old Globe Outstanding Ensemble “Hurlyburly,” Ion Theatre “King Lear,” The Old Globe “The Piano Lesson,” Cygnet Theatre “The Norman Conquests,” Cygnet Theatre “Ruined,” La Jolla Playhouse Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Female Karson St. John, “Hurlyburly,” Ion theatre Miriam White, “Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue,” Ion Theatre Aubrey Saverino, “King Lear,” The Old Globe Carla Duren, “Ruined,” La Jolla Playhouse Zainab Jah, “Ruined,” La Jolla Playhouse Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Male Avery Glymph, “The Whipping Man,” The Old Globe Todd Blakesley, “Eurydice,” Moxie Theatre Michael Stewart Allen, “King Lear,” The Old Globe Mark Pinter, “Becky's New Car,” North Coast Repertory Theatre Brian Bielawski, “Yellow Face,” Mo’olelo Performing Arts Jay Whitaker, Old Globe Shakespeare Festival body of work Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play, Male Francis Gercke, “Hurlyburly,” Ion theatre Mark Christopher Lawrence, “The Piano Lesson,” Cygnet Theatre Richard Baird, “Ghosts,” North Coast Repertory Theatre Miles Anderson, “The Madness of George III,” The Old Globe Greg Watanabe, “Yellow Face,” Mo’olelo Performing Arts Sean Cox, “The Crucible,” Moxie Theatre & Intrepid Shakespeare Company Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play, Female Rachael VanWormer, “Speech and Debate,” Diversionary Theatre Rosina Reynolds, “Ghosts,” North Coast Repertory Theatre DeAnna Driscoll, “Frankie & Johnny in the Clair de Lune,” Ion Theatre Shana Wride, “Private Lives,” Cygnet Theatre Tonye Patano, “Ruined,” La Jolla Playhouse Outstanding Touring Production “Aurelia’s Oratorio,” La Jolla Playhouse “Burn the Floor,” Broadway/San Diego “Notes From Underground,” La Jolla Playhouse “Culture Clash in AmeriCCa,” San Diego Repertory Theatre Outstanding Dramatic Production “Hurlyburly,” Ion Theatre “Ghosts,” North Coast Repertory Theatre “The Madness of George III,” The Old Globe “Yellow Face,” Mo’olelo Performing Arts “Ruined,” La Jolla Playhouse Other awards to be announced on Jan. 10: Outstanding New Play Outstanding Performance in a Touring Production Outstanding Young Artist Producer of the Year Actor of the Year Des McAnuff New Visions Award
[4/5/2010]
San Diego Theatre Critics Circle mourns Craig Noel Craig Noel, the namesake for the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle's annual Awards for Theatrical Excellence, passed away April 3, 2010, at his San Diego home. He was 94. Noel spent more than 70 years as the founding artistic director of the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego's Balboa Park, and his contributions to developing San Diego's reputation as a nationally renowned theater city are significant. In 2007, he was honored by President George Bush with the National Medal of Arts, the nation's highest honor for artistic excellence.	Craig Noel takes the podium to a standing ovation at the inaugural Craig Noel Awards ceremony at the San Diego Natural History Museum in 2003.

Read more about Craig Noel and his artistic legacy in articles by Critics Circle members published here, here, here, here and here. Or listen to an April 7 interview with Critics Circle president Pam Kragen about Craig's legacy on KPBS Radio "These Days" here.

Read a recap of Craig Noel's moving memorial service held May 24, 2010, at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion in San Diego's Balboa Park here.

And read about the house that Craig built. The Old Globe celebrates its 75th anniversary just weeks after Noel's memorial. Read more here.

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The Critics Circle also mourns the death of longtime member Bill Fark, a theater critic for more than 25 years at the North County Times newspaper. Fark passed away at his Escondido home on Sunday, April 18, 2010. He was 91. Read about Bill's colorful life here.

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[1/26/2010]

Darko Tresnjak waves to his UCSD grad students in the back row while accepting his Special Achievement Award.

Darko Tresnjak, DJ Sullivan among top honorees at San Diego Theatre Critics Circle's 2009 Craig Noel Awards

Old Globe's "Cyrano," Playhouse's "Bonnie & Clyde," "Creditors" among top honorees

SAN DIEGO -- Productions by the Old Globe Theatre and La Jolla Playhouse dominated as the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle on Jan. 25, 2010, presented the eighth annual Craig Noel Awards for Theatrical Excellence, honoring the best stage work of 2009.

The ceremony was dedicated to Noel, the 94-year-old founding director of the Old Globe. He's in frail health and, for the first time since the awards were renamed in his honor in 2002, was unable to attend his namesake awards. They were given out at the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, in La Jolla, at a ceremony attended by more than 450 members of the theater community and their supporters.

"Although the troubled economy affected some of the programming choices local theaters made in 2009, critics association members were pleased to see risk-taking plays and several new musicals produced at San Diego theaters, both large and small," said Pam Kragen, president of the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle.

Nine San Diego County professional and semi-professional companies took home a total of 37 awards, given in 27 categories, including a new one, Outstanding Young Artist. Also, the critics presented three special awards. Topping the winners’ list was the Playhouse’s world premiere of “Bonnie & Clyde,” which took five awards in the musical categories: new musical, direction, musical direction, female lead performance and female featured performance.

Next in line, taking four Noels, was the Playhouse’s fresh version of Strindberg’s “Creditors.” It won for lighting design, set design, music for a play and for Tony-winning playwright Doug Wright’s pungent new adaptation. The Globe’s summer production of “Cyrano de Bergerac” garnered three major awards: dramatic production, direction of a play and lead male performance, which went to Patrick Page in the title role.

Two nationally known actors were among the winners present to accept their awards. Obba Babatundé, who won the Lead Actor in a Musical award for his tour-de-force performance as Sammy Davis Jr. in "Sammy," thanked Davis for inspiring him and paving the way for other entertainers. And veteran television actor Armin Shimerman ("Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer") was honored for his featured performance in San Diego Rep's "The Seafarer."

Four productions received two apiece: the Globe’s “Sammy,” “Opus” and “Twelfth Night,” and Cygnet Theatre’s “Bed and Sofa.” Other plaques went to artists at Diversionary Theatre, San Diego Repertory Theatre, ion theatre company, Compass Theatre and North Coast Repertory Theatre. The first Outstanding Young Artist award went to Ian Brininstool for his performance as a questioning young teen in the bittersweet “Over the Tavern” at North Coast Rep.

Darko Tresnjak, winning director for “Cyrano,” also received one of the evening's special awards for his body of work in San Diego, especially reviving and helming the Globe’s Summer Shakespeare Festival. Also honored was DJ Sullivan, for her decades of acting on stage and screen, for her union activities on behalf of actors, and for teaching and directing local actors, many of whom have gone on to illustrious careers (she is pictured at right with Critics Circle member Jeff Smith). An Outstanding Special Event Award went to the Ira Aldridge Repertory Players, for its doo-wop musical revue, “Looking for an Echo.”

Complete awards list Ceremony photos

Read all about it! National coverage of our 2009 awards:

Playbill

Broadway World

TheatreMania

Local coverage:

The San Diego Union-Tribune

The North County Times

The San Diego Reader

kpbs.org	San Diego Daily Transcript	sdnn.com
	examiner.com

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Special thanks to these contributors
for helping to make our presentation grand:

Donald and Darlene Shiley
Danah H. Fayman
The Seuss Foundation and Audrey Geisel
Harvey and Sheryl White Foundation
Sheila & Jeff Lipinsky
Giuseppe Fine Catering & Eurobar Espresso
The Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego
Musical accompanist Justin Gray
Event photographer Ion Moe

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[1/26/2009]

Arthur Wagner, Jonathan McMurtry, Steve Karo earn special honors at San Diego Theatre Critics Circle’s 2008 Craig Noel Awards ceremony

La Jolla Playhouse, Old Globe, Cygnet among honorees at annual ceremony honoring professional theater in 2008

SAN DIEGO -- “Fences,” a February 2008 production by Cygnet Theatre, was the big winner as the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle on Monday, Jan. 26, 2009, presented the seventh annual Craig Noel Awards for Theatrical Excellence, honoring the best stage work of 2008. Noel, the 93-year-old founding director of the Old Globe Theatre, was in attendance for his namesake awards, which were presented at the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, in La Jolla, attended by some 350 theater industry members and supporters.

The August Wilson classic “Fences” won in five categories, including dramatic production, direction and ensemble. Its other two awards went to Antonio T.J. Johnson and Sylvia M’Lafi Thompson in the categories of male and female leads in a play.

Thirty-two plaques were presented in 23 categories, with awards going to work (production, direction, technical and acting achievements) at 13 different professional and semi-professional theater companies throughout San Diego County.

"The troubled economy had a great impact on San Diego County theaters in 2008,” said Pam Kragen, president of the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle, “but many companies rose to the occasion, producing adventurous, thought-provoking work, regardless of its commercial potential. We were excited to see a balance of strong work at theaters both large and small, and a rich variety of new and revived musicals."

La Jolla Playhouse productions also fared well, winning a total of six Noels. Moises Kaufman’s “33 Variations,” about to open on Broadway with Jane Fonda in the lead role, was honored for David Lander’s lighting and Derek McLane’s set.

The Playhouse’s premiere of Joe DiPietro and David Bryan’s “Memphis” (now in production at Seattle’s Fifth Avenue Theatre) was honored as outstanding new musical and for Chad Kimball’s lead performance. “Xanadu,” which Playhouse artistic director Christopher Ashley first directed on Broadway, was named outstanding resident musical, and Bill T. Jones won for his choreography in “The Seven.”

Old Globe productions garnered four mentions. “Dancing in the Dark” won for Patrick Page’s featured performance and Larry Hochman’s orchestrations. “The Women” was honored for Anna Oliver’s costumes, and Steven Drukman’s boxing-themed “In This Corner” was named outstanding new play.

The small Ion Theatre Company won in three categories: Tim Boyce for his sound design in “A Streetcar Named Desire,” Linda Libby for her solo work in “Request Programme” and Rachael VanWormer for her featured performance in “Bash” (as well as in Diversionary’s “Corpus Christi”). Four other companies took two awards each.

Three different theater companies shared in the achievement of San Diego actor Tom Andrew, who earned a “body of work” prize for his lead performances in three different 2008 plays: Inukshuk Productions’ “Terra Nova,” Cygnet’s “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” and Mo’olelo Performing Arts’ “Night Sky.”

Special awards were given to Jonathan McMurtry, Arthur Wagner and Steve Karo. McMurtry is a veteran San Diego actor with nearly 48 years onstage at the Old Globe. Wagner founded the Department of Theatre & Dance at UC San Diego, was a longtime board member for La Jolla Playhouse and, with his wife, Molli, is a generous supporter of the arts in San Diego County. And Karo led the drive to renovate the historic Balboa Theatre in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter.

Filmmaker Martin Morawski created 10-minute tribute films in honor of McMurtry and Wagner. McMurtry’s tributes included comments from his longtime friend and two-time Tony Award-winning director Jack O’Brien, who ran the Old Globe for 25 years.

Founded in 1983, the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle is a non-profit collective of print and online theater critics covering live, professional theater in San Diego County. In 2002, the awards program was renamed in honor of Craig Noel, founding artistic director of San Diego’s Old Globe Theatre, acclaimed regional theater innovator and 2007 recipient of the National Medal of Arts. For information on the awards and members of the organization, visit the Web site at www.sdcriticscircle.org.

Complete awards list

Read all about it! National coverage of our 2008 awards:

Playbill

Broadway World

TheatreMania

Local coverage:

The San Diego Union-Tribune

The North County Times

La Jolla Light

La Jolla Village News

San Diego Daily Transcript

Many thanks to these contributors to our 2008 Awards ceremony:

David C. Copley
Danah H. Fayman
The Seuss Foundation and Audrey Geisel
Donald and Darlene Shiley
The Harvey & Sheryl White Foundation Broadway/San Diego Sheila & Jeff Lipinsky

Giuseppe's Fine Catering
Martin Morawski, Solar Turbines, Inc. MCASD

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[1/21/2008]

San Diego Theatre Critics Circle honors
2007’s best at gala awards ceremony

Jack O’Brien, Floyd Gaffney honored at San Diego Theatre Critics Circle’s 2007 Craig Noel Awards

LA JOLLA -- Two 1950s-themed, Broadway-bound musicals dominated the musical categories and plays based on African-American themes were multiple award winners on Jan. 21, 2008, as the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle presented the sixth annual Craig Noel Awards for Theatrical Excellence, spotlighting the best stage work of 2007.

Of the 41 awards presented in 27 categories to 14 theater companies, San Diego’s Old Globe captured 14. In addition, Jack O’Brien, leaving his post as Globe artistic director, received a special tribute and was honored with a perpetual award named in his honor, the Jack O’Brien Award for Excellence in Directing. Its first recipient was Esther Emery for her direction of three notably different plays at Cygnet and Moxie Theatres in 2007. As in years past, the namesake for the awards program, 94-year-old Craig Noel handed out all of the evening's awards.

Seven of the Globe’s wins went to the musical “A Catered Affair,” a world premiere penned by Harvey Fierstein. It was named outstanding musical and honored in the categories of direction (John Doyle), score (John Bucchino), orchestrations (Don Sebesky), lighting (Brian MacDevitt) and lead performances, female (Faith Prince) and male (Tom Wopat). “A Catered Affair” will open in previews in New York in March.

La Jolla Playhouse was also a multiple winner for its Broadway-bound musical “Cry-Baby.” Based on the John Waters film, the musical was honored for its choreography (Rob Ashford) and its lyrics (David Javerbaum and Adam Schlesinger). Alli Mauzey, who played the kooky character Lenora, won for featured performance in a musical.

Another Globe production was cited in two categories. The company’s reprise of August Wilson’s “Two Trains Running” captured awards for lead actor (Chuck Cooper) and costume design (Karen Perry).

Another multiple winner was Carlsbad’s New Village Arts Theatre, honored for its dance-filled work “Sailor’s Song.” The play won for direction (Kristianne Kurner), ensemble, choreography (Robin Christ and Kathy Meyer) and costumes (Jessica John). "Sailor" set designer Nick Fouch was honored for this production as well as for Cygnet’s Theatre’s “Yellowman” and Moxie Theatre’s “Devil Dog Six.”

Cygnet Theatre’s “Yellowman” was named outstanding drama, and Monique Gaffney was honored for her performance in the production. Other Cygnet commendations went to Ron Choularton, for solo performance in “St. Nicholas,” and Sandy Campbell, for featured performance in “Communicating Doors.”

Outstanding resident musical awards went to Moonlight Stage Productions for “West Side Story” and Starlight Theatre for “Ragtime.” In the latter musical, Deborah Gilmour Smyth was honored for her lead performance as Mother. “Jersey Boys,” produced by Broadway/San Diego, was named outstanding touring production.

O’Brien’s tribute included a film featuring Fierstein, Tom Stoppard, Des McAnuff, Sheldon Epps, David Yazbek, Norbert Leo Butz, the casts of O'Brien-directed "The Coast of Utopia" and "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas," along with many others important in his life and career. The critics also gave a posthumous salute to Dr. Floyd Gaffney, who for decades was San Diego’s driving force in African-American theater.

   Founded in 1983, the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle is a non-profit collective of print and

online theater critics covering live, professional theater in San Diego County. In 2002, the

awards program was renamed in honor of Craig Noel, founding artistic director of San Diego’s

Old Globe Theatre, acclaimed regional theater innovator and 2007 recipient of the

National Medal of Arts.

Complete awards list

Many thanks to these contributors to our 2007 Awards ceremony:

David C. Copley
Danah H. Fayman
The Seuss Foundation and Audrey Geisel
Donald and Darlene Shiley
The Harvey & Sheryl White Foundation Broadway/San Diego Sheila Lipinsky

Giuseppe Fine Catering
Martin Morawski and Creative Video Group MCASD

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Craig Noel wins 2007 National Medal of Arts

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Nov. 15, 2007) -- Old Globe Founding Artistic Director Craig Noel, for whom the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle's annual awards are named, was honored at the White House on Nov. 15 with the 2007 National Medal of Arts, the highest award for the arts given by the United States government. Members of the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle helped lobby the National Endowment of the Arts to honor Noel for his achievements. To read more about Noel's award, click here and here.