Nichols, who writes for the Los Angeles Times and other outlets (including Back Stage), will serve a one-year term. He'd previously held the post from 2008-2010. After some three decades observing the local talent, Nichols said Los Angeles offers actors a host of opportunities to appear on stage. “In the Los Angeles area, there are more operating theaters than any other city,” he said. “It’s all spread out, you have to drive, but they’re still out here.”
There’s also a chance for theater actors to work alongside established television and film performers, he noted. Nichols pointed to French Stewart appearing in “Stoneface: The Rise and Fall and Rise of Buster Keaton” playing at the Sacred Fools Theatre until July 15. And of course there’s Brooke Shields starring in the Geffen Playhouse’s upcoming production of “The Exorcist.”
Moreover, Nichols added, there’s the possibility for actors to crossover to different companies and different theaters. “A pet peeve of mine is that this is not a theater town—that’s just not true,” he said. “The possibilities are wide open for Los Angeles right now—actors have to push and find them.”
The group’s outgoing president, Bob Verini, will take over as awards chairman. Verini singled out several “revivals” in a year that saw him take in 120 productions in Los Angeles alone.
"L.A. is always chockfull of revivals, and not just because of the ephemeral nature of theater that requires revisiting works whether originally well done or not," he wrote on the LDCC website.
"An adventurous company can take a property you hoped you’d never have to see again, and breathe the kiss of life into it. Who ever thought a director could dust away the familiar moralizing of 'The Crucible' and make it sing with dramatic power? Sean Branney and his team at Theatre Banshee did just that."
The group, which has 16 members, also announced that Sharon Perlmutter, of TalkinBroadway.com, will serve as its vice president. Terry Morgan of LAist.com will serve as secretary and Mayank Keshaviah of L.A. Weekly will continue in the post of treasurer. The industry group is dedicated to excellence in theatrical criticism and the growth of theatre in the Los Angeles area.
