The following are individual critics' "best of" lists, minus Garland honorees and honorable mentions they voted for.
Paul Birchall
PRODUCTION: Cardenio, the Lone Star Ensemble at 2100 Square Feet. PLAYWRITING: Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen, The Exonerated at the Actors' Gang; Rob Elk and Joe Keyes, Bob's Holiday Office Party at the Hudson Theatre; Ian MacKinnon and Aaron Hartzler, Spanked at Highways Performance Space; Virginia Rudolph and Russell Taylor, Fool of Hearts at the Globe Playhouse; the ensemble of Cock Tales, Cock Tales Productions at M Bar and Restaurant. MUSICAL SCORE: Virginia Rudolph and Russell Taylor, Fool of Hearts. DIRECTION: Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen, The Exonerated; Anthony Caldarella, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Swimming Bird Productions and Open City at the Hudson Backstage; Aaron Francis, Crazyface at Sacred Fools Theater; James Kerwin, Cardenio; Robert Prior, Ramayana 2K2, Fabulous Monsters at Highways Performance Space; Michael Sargent, Hollywood Burning at Evidence Room; Matt Shakman, Ragged Time at the Black Dahlia Theatre; Justin Tanner, Bob's Holiday Office Party; Jacob Titus, Spanked. MUSICAL DIRECTION: Virginia Rudolph and Russell Taylor, Fool of Hearts. CHOREOGRAPHY: Stephen Hues, Ramayana 2K2. COSTUME DESIGN: Laura Esposito, Crazyface; Robert Prior, Ramayana 2K2. PERFORMANCE: Helena Carroll, The Beauty Queen of Leenane; Amy Chaffee, Communicating Doors at the Odysseyce; Liz Davies, Hollywood Burning; Megan Henning, Cardenio; M.J. Karmi, The Beauty Queen of Leenane; Steve Lipinsky, Cardenio; Ann Randolph, Bob's Holiday Office Party; Charles Woodruff, Fool of Hearts. ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE: The cast of Cardenio; the cast of Crazyface; the cast of The Exonerated; the cast of Fool of Hearts; the cast of Ramayana 2K2.
Jesse Dienstag
PRODUCTION: Betrayal at Pacific Resident Theatre. DIRECTION: Sean Branney, The Weir, Theatre Banshee at the Gene Bua Theatre. SCENIC DESIGN: Gary Smoot, Laura Comstock's Bag-Punching Dog, Circle X Theatre Company at the 24th Street Theatre. COSTUME DESIGN: Paul Spadone, Laura Comstock's Bag-Punching Dog. PERFORMANCE: Joe Fria, Laura Comstock's Bag-Punching Dog; Chita Rivera, The House of Bernarda Alba, Center Theatre Group at the Mark Taper Forum; Tim Sabourin, Laura Comstock's Bag-Punching Dog. ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE: The cast of Betrayal; the cast of The Weir.
J.A. Eliason
SCENIC DESIGN: Gustavo Rincon and Plasis Design, on earth as it is in heaven, About Productions at 24th Street Theatre. PERFORMANCE: June Claman, The Triumph of Love at A Noise Within; Thomas Vincent Kelley, Death of a Salesman at Interact Theatre Company; Lily Nicksay, The Wild Duck at A Noise Within; Kate Whitney, Closer, Ella Jake Productions at Evidence Room. ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE: The cast of for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf, Amen Entertainment at the Globe Playhouse.
Claudia Grazioso
PRODUCTION: A Mulholland Christmas Carol at Theatre of NOTE; The Strip at Evidence Room. PLAYWRITING: Stacy Mathewson, Son of a Biker at Theatre of NOTE; William Robens, A Mulholland Christmas Carol. DIRECTION: Brian Bedford, The Molière Comedies, Center Theatre Group at the Mark Taper Forum. SCENIC DESIGN: Kiff Scholl, A Mulholland Christmas Carol. PERFORMANCE: Pamela Gien, The Syringa Tree at the Pasadena Playhouse; Stacy Mathewson, Son of a Biker; Terry Tocantins, A Mulholland Christmas Carol; Greg Wall, A Mulholland Christmas Carol. ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE: The cast of Dion Lives, the Mechanicals at the Tamarind Theatre; the cast of A Mulholland Christmas Carol; the cast of The Strip.
Hoyt Hilsman
PRODUCTION: Proof, Broadway L.A. at the Wilshire Theatre; Someone Who'll Watch Over Me at the Hudson Guild Theatre; War Music, Playwrights' Arena and the Echo Theatre Company at Los Angeles Theatre Center. PLAYWRITING: Bryan Davidson, War Music; Matt Pelfrey, Freak Storm, Lodestone Theatre Ensemble at the Victory Theatre. MUSICAL SCORE: Marc Jackson, Sweetest Tongue, Sharpest Tooth, not so soft productions at the Complex. ADAPTATION: Jennifer Li, Sweetest Tongue, Sharpest Tooth. TRANSLATION: Philip Littell, He Hunts at the Geffen Playhouse, adapted from Georges Feydeau's Monsieur Chasse! DIRECTION: Todd Nielsen, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown at The Colony Theatre; Jennifer Seifert, Someone Who'll Watch Over Me; Mel Shapiro, Big Love at Pacific Resident Theatre. CHOREOGRAPHY: Nicholas Gunn, Big Love; Jennifer Li, Sweetest Tongue, Sharpest Tooth. SCENIC DESIGN: Andrew Evashchen, Big Love. LIGHTING DESIGN: Younwha Kong, Big Love. COSTUME DESIGN: Audrey Eisner, Big Love. PERFORMANCE: Nancy Bell, War Music; Scott Conte, Big Love; Dana Dewes, Big Love; Juri Henley-Cohn, Someone Who'll Watch Over Me; Jason Huber, Big Love; John Prosky, War Music; Kate Shindle, First Lady Suite, the Blank Theatre Company at the 2nd Stage Theatre. ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE: The cast of Side Show at The Colony Theatre; the cast of War Music.
Wenzel Jones
PRODUCTION: Dance With Me, Marcella Meharg and Eirene Productions at the Working Stage Theatre; Fluffy Bunnies in a Field of Daisies, the Subtle Bliss Theatre Co. at the Zoo Theatre; Major Barbara at South Coast Repertory; Trainspotting, Seat of Your Pants at Theater/Theatre; Victor, Black & Tan Productions and the Eclectic Company Theatre at the Eclectic Company Theatre. PLAYWRITING: Jillian Armenante and Alice Dodd, Laura Comstock's Bag-Punching Dog, Circle X Theatre Company at the 24th Street Theatre; Matt Chaffee, Fluffy Bunnies in a Field of Daisies; Fritz Coleman, The Reception at the Victory Theatre; Alanna Ubach and Ian McCrudden, Patriotic Bitch, Chad Green Pictures at Stages Theatre Center. MUSICAL SCORE: Curtis Moore, Once Upon a Primetime, Neurotic Young Urbanites at the Powerhouse Theatre; Brenda Varda and Beth Bergman, Amerikafka, The Met Theatre and Ayin Productions at the Met Theatre; Mike Yionoulis, The Violet Hour at South Coast Repertory; Ensemble, Uncle Tom's Cabin at Sacred Fools Theater. ADAPTATION: Floraine Kay and Randolph Curtis Rand, Uncle Tom's Cabin. DIRECTION: Martin Benson, Major Barbara; Matt Chaffee, Fluffy Bunnies in a Field of Daisies; caryn morse desai, Master Harold... and the boys at International City Theatre. MUSIC DIRECTION: Ted Sperling, The Full Monty, Center Theatre Group, et. al. at the Ahmanson Theatre. CHOREOGRAPHY: Leanne Fonteyn, The Poseidon Adventure: The Musical!, Opiate of the Masses at the Tamarind Theatre; Janet Miller, South Pacific, City of Torrance at the James Armstrong Theatre. SCENIC DESIGN: Robert Bingham, Fools at Actors Co-op; Don Gruber, Far East at Laguna Playhouse; Rachel Hauck, The House of Bernarda Alba, Center Theatre Group at the Mark Taper Forum; Yevgenia Nayberg, Elfriede's Story, California Repertory Company at the Edison Theatre. LIGHTING DESIGN: John J. Grant, Victor; Donald Holder, The Violet Hour; Chris Parry, Major Barbara. COSTUME DESIGN: Dana C. Litwack, Fools; Dwight Richard Odle, Far East. MAKEUP DESIGN: Stephen Legawiec, Red Thread, Ziggurat Theatre Ensemble at Gascon Center Theatre; Stan Nowak, Side Show at The Colony Theatre. SOUND DESIGN: David Edwards, Far East; David Scholnick, Amerikafka. PERFORMANCE: David Agranov, Trainspotting; Rebecca Gray, Fairy Tale Engineers at Theatre of NOTE; Hamish Linklater, The Violet Hour; Dakin Matthews, Major Barbara; Todd Sherry, Doing Judy, Steve Gideon and Tom Pardoe at the Matrix Theatre; Gina St. John, Fluffy Bunnies in a Field of Daisies; Alanna Ubach, Patriotic Bitch; Callan White, Elfriede's Story; Carie Yonekawa, Far East. ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE: The cast of Master Harold... and the boys; the cast of Uncle Tom's Cabin.
Anne Kelly-Saxenmeyer
PRODUCTION: J.B., Buffalo Nights Theatre Company at the Powerhouse Theatre; Pentecost at Evidence Room. PLAYWRITING: Vicki Juditz, Where Do Babies Come From? at the Elephant Theatre. ADAPTATION: FrederÃque Michel, The Girl in the Flammable Skirt at City Garage, adapted from Aimee Bender's short stories. DIRECTION: Brian Kite, J.B.; John Steppling, Dog Mouth, Padua Playwrights at Evidence Room. CHOREOGRAPHY: Kitty McNamee, Burn This, Michaela Productions at the Odyssey Theatre. LIGHTING DESIGN: Lap-Chi Chu, Pentecost. PERFORMANCE: Michael Goorjian, J.B.; Ilana Gustafson, The Girl in the Flammable Skirt; Vicki Juditz, Where Do Babies Come From?; Will Kepper, Flight at Open Fist Theatre; Leo Marks, Pentecost; Horace Martin, Someone Who'll Watch Over Me, D'Arc Boy Productions at the Hollywood Court Theatre; Christopher Shea, Once Upon a Primetime, Neurotic Young Urbanites at the Powerhouse Theatre. ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE: The cast of ElectroPuss, Circle X Theatre Company at the Hudson Theatre; the cast of J.B.; the cast of Pentecost.
Rob Kendt
PRODUCTION: Crossings: Journeys of Catholic Immigrants, Cornerstone Theater Company at St. Vibiana's Cathedral; Harry Heart and the Greatest Jug Band… Ever/On the Ranch, Maria DeLuca at the Ivar Brick Box. PLAYWRITING: Peter Howard, Crossings: Journeys of Catholic Immigrants; Leon Martell, Bea[u]tiful in the Extreme at The Colony Theatre; Bernardo Solano, Crossings: Journeys of Catholic Immigrants. MUSICAL SCORE: Josh Charney, Harry Heart and the Greatest Jug Band… Ever/On the Ranch. DIRECTION: Joe Jordan, The Tragedy of Macbeth at Sacred Fools Theater. MUSIC DIRECTION: Bent Clausen, Woyzeck at the UCLA Freud Playhouse. LIGHTING DESIGN: Robert Oriol, Richard III at Theatre of NOTE; Steven Young, The Laramie Project at The Colony Theatre. COSTUME DESIGN: Miguel Montalvo, Richard III. VIDEO DESIGN: Christopher Kondek, King Lear, Cal Arts Center for New Theatre at the Brewery Arts Complex. PERFORMANCE: Eydie Alyson, First Lady Suite, the Blank Theatre Company at the 2nd Stage Theatre; Xander Berkeley, The Caretaker at the Lost Studio; Jennifer Coolidge, Beverly Winwood Presents… The Actors Showcase at the Groundling Theatre; Pamela Gordon, Destronelli at Theatre of NOTE; Beth Malone, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown at The Colony Theatre; Ed Martin, The Laramie Project; Hillary Tuck, A Taste of Honey, Swimming Bird Productions at 2100 Square Feet. ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE: The cast of Crossings: Journeys of Catholic Immigrants; the cast of The Tragedy of Macbeth.
Leigh Kennicott
PRODUCTION: Macbeth at A Noise Within. PLAYWRITING: Carlos Lacámara, Becoming Cuban, City Stage at the Hudson Guild Theatre. MUSICAL SCORE: Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan, Woyzeck at the UCLA Freud Playhouse. TRANSLATION: Paul Schmidt, The Cherry Orchard at A Noise Within. DIRECTION: Geoff Elliott and Julia Rodriguez Elliott, Macbeth; Sabin Epstein, Bus Stop at A Noise Within. SCENIC DESIGN: Michael C. Smith, Macbeth; Robert Wilson, Woyzeck. LIGHTING DESIGN: James Taylor, Macbeth. COSTUME DESIGN: Angela Balogh Calin, The Cherry Orchard; Pat Tonnema, Ragged Time at the Black Dahlia Theatre. VIDEO DESIGN: Philip Bussmann, J. Reid Farrignton, and Tara Webb, To You, the Birdie! (Phèdre), the Wooster Group at the UCLA Freud Playhouse. PERFORMANCE: Tony Abatemarco, Ragged Time; Mark Adair-Rios, Becoming Cuban; Mark Bramhall, Bus Stop; Abby Craden, Bus Stop; Martina Geller, The Palestinian Connection at the Complex; Jeris Lee Poindexter, Ragged Time; Deborah Strang, Bus Stop. ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE: The cast of Macbeth.
Kristina Mannion
PRODUCTION: Jesus Christ Superstar, the Really Useful Superstar Company, Inc., Nederlander Presentations, Inc., and McCoy Rigby Entertainment at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts; The Shape of Things at Laguna Playhouse. DIRECTION: Phyllis B. Gitlin, Over the River and Through the Woods at Long Beach Playhouse; Richard Stein, The Shape of Things. MUSIC DIRECTION: Darryl Archibald, Swing!, Musical Theatre West at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center. CHOREOGRAPHY: Dana Solimando, Jesus Christ Superstar; Dana Solimando, Swing! SCENIC DESIGN: Raymond Kent, The Spitfire Grill at Laguna Playhouse; Gary Wissmann, King O' the Moon, McCoy Rigby Entertainment at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts. COSTUME DESIGN: Vicki Lindstrom, Ivona, Princess of Burgundia, California Repertory Company at the Edison Theatre. SOUND DESIGN: Jeffery Eisenmann, Ivona, Princess of Burgundia. PERFORMANCE: Carl Anderson, Jesus Christ Superstar; Tamara Davis, Nine at Chance Theater; Jay Michael Fraley, Truth and Beauty at Rude Guerrilla Theater Company; Tom Moses, Over the River and Through the Woods; Michael Eric Strickland, The Shape of Things; Audrey Wasilewski, King O' the Moon. ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE: The cast of Jesus Christ Superstar; the cast of The Spitfire Grill.
Dany Margolies
PRODUCTION: Crazy Drunk, Buffalo Nights Theatre Company and Hot Properties at [Inside] the Ford; Dear Charlotte, Nom de Plume Productions and the Powerhouse Theatre Company at the Powerhouse Theatre; Flight at the Open Fist Theatre. PLAYWRITING: Joy Gregory, Dear Charlotte; Joe Hortua, Making It at South Coast Repertory; Wayne Peter Liebman, "Goosegirl" from Grimm at the Met Theatre; Wes Walker, Wilfredo, Padua Playwrights at 2100 Square Feet. MUSICAL SCORE: Susan Christiansen, Red Thread, Ziggurat Theatre Ensemble at Gascon Center Theatre; James Dethlefson and Brian Palla, Trainspotting, Seat of Your Pants at Theatre/Theater; Robert Oriol, Wilfredo. ADAPTATION/TRANSLATION: Troubadour Theater Company, All's Kool That Ends Kool, Troubadour Theater Company at the Miles Playhouse and at the Falcon Theatre. DIRECTION: Matt Almos, Crazy Drunk; Casey Biggs, Richard III, Circus Theatricals at the Odyssey; Daniel Henning, First Lady Suite, the Blank Theatre Company at the 2nd Stage Theatre; Tracy Hudak, Dear Charlotte; Charles Otte, Flight. MUSIC DIRECTION: Paul Gemignani, Into the Woods, Dodger Theatricals, et. al. at the Ahmanson Theatre. CHOREOGRAPHY: John Carrafa, Into the Woods. SCENIC DESIGN: Jason Adams, Dog Mouth, Padua Playwrights Productions at Evidence Room; Angela Balogh Calin, Making It; Roger Mathey, Trainspotting. LIGHTING DESIGN: Leif Gantvoort, Red Thread. COSTUME DESIGN: Nephelie Andonyadis, The Dazzle at South Coast Repertory; Ames Ingham, Dog Mouth. FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHY: Shawn Lee, Noise, Furious Theatre Company at the Armory Northwest; Thom McNamara, The Lonesome West at Celtic Arts Center. MAKEUP DESIGN: Judi Lewin, Death of a Salesman at Interact Theatre Company; Christa McCarthy, Noise. SOUND DESIGN: James Dethlefson, Brian Palla, and Kirk Scott, Trainspotting; Karl Lundeberg, Dog Mouth. HAIR & WIG DESIGN: Carol F. Doran, The House of Bernarda Alba, Center Theatre Group at the Mark Taper Forum; Deanne Johnson, The Wizard of Oz, the Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center; Judi Lewin, First Lady Suite; Christa McCarthy, Noise. PROP DESIGN: Susan A. Lyon, Death of a Salesman; MacAndME, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown at The Colony Theatre; Christina Price, Noise; Karen Ryan, The Lonesome West; Tisha Terrasini and Ina Russell, Flight. ANIMAL TRAINING: William Berloni, The Wizard of Oz. PERFORMANCE: Tessa Auberjonois, Lobby Hero at South Coast Repertory; Michael Cullen, Cobb at the Falcon Theatre; Stephen Davies, Dog Mouth; Matt Gottlieb, Fedunn, Judy Arnold Productions at the Odyssey Theatre; Timothy McNeil, The Day I Stood Still, Page 93 at the Elephant Theatre; Stephanie Zimbalist, The Cherry Orchard, the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble and Circus Theatricals at the Odyssey Theatre. ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE: The cast of Henry V, Independent Shakespeare Company at the Odyssey Theatre.
Tom McCulloh
PRODUCTION: Blockage, Dan Hirsch/Whitefire Theatre/Fells Point Prods. at the Whitefire Theatre; Dealer's Choice, Birdman Productions/Old Country Productions at the Third Stage; The Visible Horse, Appian Way Productions at the Court Theatre. PLAYWRITING: Rick Bitzelberger, Blockage. DIRECTION: David Blanchard, Dealer's Choice; Guillermo Cienfuegos, Pains of Youth, Nom de Guerre Productions at the Paul E. Richards Theatre Place; Lisa James, The Visible Horse. PERFORMANCE: Derek Bishop, Trainspotting, Seat of Your Pants at Theater/Theatre; Jeff Fischer, Blockage; Branden Morgan, Trainspotting; Jamieson Stern, The Theban Warriors, Greenway Arts Alliance at the Greenway Court Theatre.
Scott Proudfit
PRODUCTION: Room, SITI Company at the UCLA Freud Playhouse; The Woman in Black, the Road Theatre Company at Lankershim Arts Center. MUSICAL SCORE: Jeff Marsh, The Woman in Black. DIRECTION: Anne Bogart, Room; Ken Sawyer, The Woman in Black. SCENIC DESIGN: Jason Adams and Andy Daley, Hot Property at Evidence Room; Andrea Bechert, Sweeney Todd at Performance Riverside; Thomas Buderwitz, Death of a Salesman at Interact Theatre Company; Neil Patel, Room. LIGHTING DESIGN: J. Kent Inasy, Death of a Salesman; Brian Scott, Lipstick Traces, Foundry Theatre at the UCLA MacGowan Little Theatre. COSTUME DESIGN: Rosemary Boyce and Cynthia Herteg, An American Book of the Dead*, The Game Show, Circle X Theatre Company at the Met Theatre. SOUND DESIGN: Dorie Couture, Sweeney Todd; Eric Pargac, Noise, Furious Theatre Company at the Armory Northwest. PERFORMANCE: Carol Kane, He Hunts at the Geffen Playhouse; Gary Kelley, Alagazam at the Actors' Gang; Ellen Lauren, Room; Nick Offerman, Hot Property; Debbie Prutsman, Sweeney Todd; Eve Roberts, The Waverly Gallery at the Pasadena Playhouse; Kevin Weisman, Crazy Drunk, Buffalo Nights Theatre Company and Hot Properties at [Inside] the Ford. ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE: The cast of Dear Charlotte, Nom De Plume Productions and the Powerhouse Theatre Company at the Powerhouse Theatre; the cast of The Woman in Black.
Jenelle Riley
PRODUCTION: Progressive Chain Bowling, The San Fernando Valley Life Studies Institute at the Actors' Gang El Centro. PLAYWRITING: Haynes Brooke, Progressive Chain Bowling. DIRECTION: John Sylvain, Progressive Chain Bowling. SCENIC DESIGN: Carlos Fedos, Heaven at Sacred Fools Theater; Aaron Francis, Crazyface at Sacred Fools Theater. LIGHTING DESIGN: Lisa D. Katz, The Grapes of Wrath at West Coast Ensemble. COSTUME DESIGN: Diana Eden, The Grapes of Wrath. SOUND DESIGN: David Mark Peterson, The Grapes of Wrath. PERFORMANCE: Adam Bitterman, Heaven; Haynes Brooke, Progressive Chain Bowling; Elizabeth Dement, Progresssive Chain Bowling; Robert Gantzos, The Grapes of Wrath; Ken Palmer, Progressive Chain Bowling. ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE: The cast of Beverly Winwood Presents… The Actors Showcase at the Cañon Theatre; the cast of Progressive Chain Bowling; the cast of Star Wars Trilogy in 30 Minutes at the Coronet Theatre.
Brad Schreiber
PRODUCTION: Cobb at the Falcon Theatre; Five Women Wearing the Same Dress, Fledgling Productions at the Elephant Theater; Lipstick Traces, Foundry Theatre at the UCLA MacGowan Little Theatre. PLAYWRITING: Lee Blessing, Cobb; Kristina Leach, Grasmere at the Egyptian Arena Theatre; Stephen Rappaport, The Theory of Everything at Plymouth; Joshua Rebell, Gatsby in Hollywood at the MET Theatre. MUSICAL SCORE: Jef Bek, Under the Blue Sky at the Geffen Playhouse; Paul Libman, Dear Father… A Kafka Cabaret, at Blue. ADAPTATION: Kirk Lynn, Lipstick Traces, from Greil Marcus's book of the same name. DIRECTION: Randall Arney, God's Man in Texas at the Geffen Playhouse; Nikolai Guzov, Five Women Wearing the Same Dress. FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHY: Marty Pistone, After the Fall at the Fountain Theatre. SCENIC DESIGN: Barbara-Julie Miller, Sympathetic Magic at the El Portal Studio Theatre. LIGHTING DESIGN: Bo Crowell, YBGd? at the Lillian Theatre; Frederick Wenzlaff, La Gioconda, the Collective at Stages Theatre Center. PROP DESIGN: Dorian Faye and David Tushla, La Gioconda; Richard Hardin, Side Show at The Colony Theatre. SOUND DESIGN: Richard Woodbury, God's Man in Texas. VIDEOGRAPHY: Marcelo Cruz, YBGd?; Lee Harry, One Night Only at the Stella Adler Theatre. PERFORMANCE: Martin Bedoian, I Licked a Slag's Deodorant at the Open Fist Theatre; A.K. Benninghofen, Gatsby in Hollywood; Shirl Bernheim, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife at the Ahmanson Theatre; Stephen Rappaport, The Theory of Everything; Elizabeth Rodriguez, Den of Thieves at the Black Dahlia Theatre; Patricia Scanlon, Cringe at Evidence Room; Carol Shannon, Dead Girls Diary at Actors Lab. ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE: The cast of Cobb; the cast of Den of Thieves; the cast of Gangster Planet at the Egyptian Arena Theatre; the cast of God's Man in Texas; the cast of Grasmere.
Madeleine Shaner
PRODUCTION: All My Sons at the Actor's Co-op; Animal Farm, Son of Semele at McCadden Place Theatre; Bullshot Crummond at Actor's Co-op; Fellow Traveler at Malibu Stage Company; Street Stories, Playwrights' Arena at the Los Angeles Theatre Center; Times Like These, Padua Playwrights Productions at 2100 Square Foot Theatre. PLAYWRITING: Gigi Bermingham, Non-Vital Organs, City Stage at the Hudson Guild Theatre; Paula Cizmar, Street Stories; John Herman Shaner, Fellow Traveler. MUSICAL SCORE: Nona Hendryx, Blue at the Pasadena Playhouse. ADAPTATION: Kaz Mata-Mura and Mike Rademaekers, Teahouse of the August Moon at the Secret Rose Theatre; Zombie Joe, Othello at Zombie Joe's Underground. DIRECTION: Kevin R. Kelley, All My Sons; Edgar Landa, Animal Farm; John O'Keefe, Times Like These; Tom Pardoe, Doing Judy, Steve Gideon and Tom Pardoe at the Matrix Theatre; Jon Lawrence Rivera, Street Stories; Jack Stehlin, The Cherry Orchard, the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble and Circus Theatricals at the Odyssey Theatre. MUSIC DIRECTION: Susan Christiansen, Red Thread, Ziggurat Theatre Ensemble at Gascon Center Theatre. CHOREOGRAPHY: Madame Fujima Kansuma Kai, Teahouse of the August Moon. SCENIC DESIGN: John H. Binkley, Street Stories; James Leonard Joy, Blue; Sydney Z. Litwack, All My Sons; Yakovetic, Bullshot Crummond. COSTUME DESIGN: Jeri Batzdorff, Othello; Debra Bauer, Blue; A. Laura Brody, All My Sons; Terry Gordon, Doing Judy; Hina Mamemura, Teahouse of the August Moon. MAKEUP & HAIR DESIGN: Glen Alen Gutierrez, Doing Judy. SOUND DESIGN: Sam Batzdorff, Othello; François Bergeron, Blue; Frederick W. Boot, A Class Act at the Pasadena Playhouse; Robert Fromer, Street Stories. PERFORMANCE: Bonnie Bailey-Reed, All My Sons; Harold Gould, Fellow Traveler; Robert Grossman, The Chosen, Los Angeles Repertory Company and West Coast Jewish Theatre; Keisuke Hoashi, Teahouse of the August Moon; Laurie O'Brien, Times Like These; Robert Picardo, A Class Act; Phylicia Rashad, Blue; Dorothy Sinclair, Collected Stories at Theatre 40; George Weiss Vando, Doing Judy; Norbert Weisser, Times Like These; Ogie Zulueta, Red Thread. ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE: The cast of Animal Farm; the cast of Lament for the Moths at the Laurelgrove Theatre; the cast of Othello.
Var Smith
PRODUCTION: Spoon River Anthology at Theatre West. DIRECTION: Betty Garrett and Joyce Van Patten, Spoon River Anthology; Jon Malmed, A Lonely Monkeyhouse at Company of Angels. SCENIC DESIGN: Victoria Profitt, The Price at the Odyssey Theatre; Melissa Teoh, Saturday Night at the Palace, Furious Theatre Company at Armory Northwest. PERFORMANCE: Howard Gibson, The Traveling Lady at Company of Angels; William "Biff" McGuire, Morning's at Seven, Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson Theatre; George Murdock, The Price; Stephen Tobolowsky, Morning's at Seven; Sue Turner-Cray, Manchester Girl, at the Hudson Theatre; Carol Woods, The Full Monty, Center Theatre Group, et. al. at the Ahmanson Theatre; Jessica Wright, The Traveling Lady. ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE: The cast of The Full Monty; the cast of A Lonely Monkeyhouse.
Les Spindle
PRODUCTION: Amy's View at International City Theatre; Animal Farm at the Theatricum Botanicum; The Big Voice: God or Merman? at the Zephyr Theatre; Insurrection: Holding History, the Celebration Theatre at the McCadden Place Theatre; Sweeney Todd at Performance Riverside. PLAYWRITING: David Church and James Webber, Judy's Scary Little Christmas at the Victory Theatre; Brian Howrey, Fairy Tale Engineers at Theatre of NOTE. MUSICAL SCORE: Brian Howrey, Fairy Tale Engineers; Steve Scalchlin, The Big Voice: God or Merman?; Joe Patrick Ward, Judy's Scary Little Christmas. DIRECTION: Deborah LaVine, Napoli Milionaria, Road Theatre Company at the Lankershim Arts Center; Derek Charles Livingston, Insurrection: Holding History; Dorothy Lyman, A Prayer for My Daughter at the ITA Workshop Stage. MUSIC DIRECTION: Michael Borth, Mame, Musical Theatre West at Carpenter Performing Arts Center. CHOREOGRAPHY: Debbie Allen, Pearl at the Geffen Playhouse; Kay Cole, Follies, Reprise! at the Wadsworth Theatre; Dan Mojica, Anything Goes, Reprise! at the UCLA Freud Playhouse. SCENIC DESIGN: Santo Loquasto, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson Theatre; Peter Lovello, An Appalachian Twelfth Night, Dancing Barefoot Productions at the Globe Playhouse. LIGHTING DESIGN: Frank McKown, Doing Judy, Steve Gideon and Tom Pardoe at the Matrix Theatre; David Lee Perkins, Dance With Me at the Working Stage Theatre. COSTUME DESIGN: Carin Jacobs, Mame; Sharell Martin, Sweeney Todd; Megan Geer-Alsop and Terry Hunter, Animal Farm. MASK DESIGN: April Chapman, Direct From Death Row: The Scottsboro Boys at the Fountain Theatre. SOUND DESIGN: Tom Clark and Nevin Steinberg, The Full Monty, Center Theatre Group, et. al. at the Ahmanson Theatre. PERFORMANCE: Sam Anderson, Napoli Milionaria; Connie Champagne, Judy's Scary Little Christmas; Ellen Crawford, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, San Diego Repertory Theatre/The Blank Theatre Company at the 2nd Stage; Van Epperson, A Prayer for My Daughter; Mike Genovese, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?; Norman Large, Sweeney Todd; Carol Lawrence, Amy's View; Suanne Spoke, Napoli Milionaria; Liza Standish, Legends and Bridge at Group Repertory Theatre; Amanda Watkins, South Pacific, Broadway LA at the Wilshire Theatre. ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE: The cast of Direct From Death Row: The Scottsboro Boys; the cast of A Prayer for My Daughter.
Polly Warfield
PRODUCTION: An Appalachian Twelfth Night, Dancing Barefoot Productions at the Globe Playhouse; Evita, Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center; Fools at Actors Co-Op; Once in a Lifetime, Theatre Neo at the Hudson Avenue Theatre. PLAYWRITING: Randy Schulman, La Gioconda, The Collective at Stages Theatre Center; John Crowther, F.LL.W., Theatre of Will at the Hudson Avenue Theatre; Richard Greenberg, The Violet Hour at South Coast Repertory; Ronnie Marmo, West of Brooklyn, the 68 Cent Crew at the Space; Murray Mednick, Fedunn, Judy Arnold Productions at the Odyssey Theatre; Ben Pleasants, Contentious Minds, Engadine Productions at the Lillian Theatre; Rik Reppe, Staggering Toward America at the Globe Playhouse; Mark Stein, Direct From Death Row: The Scottsboro Boys at the Fountain Theatre. MUSICAL SCORE: Ray Leslee, Standup Shakespeare at the Odyssey Theatre; Hugh Levick, Fedunn. ADAPTATION: Jorge Albertella and Letitzia Schwartz, Ghetto Cabaret at the L.A. Jewish Theatre, adapted from Joshua Sobol's Ghetto; Robert L. Williams, An Appalachian Twelfth Night. TRANSLATION: Tori Haring-Smith, Napoli Milionaria, Road Theatre Company at the Lankershim Arts Center from Eduardo deFilippo's original. DIRECTION: Jamie Rocco, The Wizard of Oz, Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center; Mitchell Ryan, Fedunn. MUSIC DIRECTION: David Manning, Standup Shakespeare. CHOREOGRAPHY: Sha Newman, Evita; Jamie Rocco, The Wizard of Oz; Judy Young, Coming Attractions, Theatre Neo at the Hudson Avenue Theatre. SCENIC DESIGN: Michael Anania, The Wizard of Oz; Jeff G. Rack, Heartbreak House at Theatre 40; Matthew Scarpino, Coming Attractions; David St. James and Mary-Pat Green, Once in a Lifetime. LIGHTING DESIGN: Raun Yankovich, The Wizard of Oz. COSTUME DESIGN: Heidi Ballard, Coming Attractions. SOUND DESIGN: John Feinstein, The Wizard of Oz. PERFORMANCE: Lisa Fishman, Ghetto Cabaret; Bari Hochwald, Fedunn; Christa Jackson, Evita; Tripp Pickle, Coming Attractions; Rik Reppe, Staggering Toward America; Jacqueline Schultz, After the Fall at the Fountain Theatre; David St. James, Once in a Lifetime. ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE: The cast of Crazy Drunk, Buffalo Nights Theatre Company and Hot Properties at [Inside] the Ford; the cast of La Gioconda.
Laura Weinert
PRODUCTION: Nickel and Dimed, Center Theatre Group at the Mark Taper Forum; The Tempest, East West Players at the David Henry Hwang Theater. MUSICAL SCORE: Amy Knoles, Cover Story, Collage Dance Theatre at the Herald Examiner Building; Nathan Wang, The Tempest. DIRECTION: Bartlett Sher, Nickel and Dimed; Andrew Tsao, The Tempest; Michael Winters, Love's Labour's Lost at A Noise Within. MUSIC DIRECTION: Don LeMaster, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Performance Riverside; Kevin Robison, Sweeney Todd, the Pacific Conservatory for the Performing Arts at the Marian Theatre and the Festival Theatre. CHOREOGRAPHY: Nick Erickson, The Tempest. SCENIC DESIGN: Dave Nofsinger, Sweeney Todd; Victoria Petrovich, The Tempest. COSTUME DESIGN: Alex Jaeger, Love's Labour's Lost. SOUND DESIGN: John Curtis (sound technician), Cover Story. PERFORMANCE: Marcel Marceau, Marcel Marceau at the Geffen Playhouse; Maury Sterling, Crazy Drunk, Buffalo Nights Theatre Company and Hot Properties at [Inside] the Ford; David Studwell, Sweeney Todd; Kate Valk, To You, the Birdie! (Phèdre), the Wooster Group at the UCLA Freud Playhouse; Matthew Yang King, The Tempest; Gwendoline Yeo, The Tempest. ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE: The cast of Love's Labour's Lost; the cast of The Tempest.
Charlene Baldridge
San Diego
PRODUCTION: The Caretaker, Renaissance Theatre Company at 6th@Penn; Cloud 9 at the Diversionary Theatre. PLAYWRITING: Kerry Meads, Festival of Christmas at Lamb's Players Theatre. MUSICAL SCORE: Steve Gunderson, A Christmas Carol, San Diego Repertory Theatre. DIRECTION: Brendon Fox, Cloud 9; Mark Lamos, Compleat Female Stage Beauty at the Globe Theatres; Deborah Gilmour Smyth, 1776 at Lamb's Players Theatre. CHOREOGRAPHY: Faith Jensen-Ismay, Beyond Therapy, the Globe Theatres. COSTUME DESIGN: Christal Weatherly, Wintertime at La Jolla Playhouse. SOUND DESIGN: Robinn E. Broad, Tartuffe at La Jolla Playhouse. PERFORMANCE: Bryan Bevell, The Caretaker; Ivonne Coll, Adoration of the Old Woman at La Jolla Playhouse; Tom Nelis, Wintertime; Robin Pearson Rose, All My Sons at the Globe Theatres; Rainn Wilson, The Taming of the Shrew at the Globe Theatres. ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE: The cast of 1776; the cast The Importance of Being Earnest (in rep with Travesties) at North Coast Repertory Theatre. SPECIAL COMMENDATIONS: to Butoh artist Charlene Penner for her extraordinary Setting the Angels Free at 6th@Penn; to composer David Burge, the Mingei International Museum, and all involved for the year's most exquisite evening in the production of Burge's The Thousand Paper Cranes, and to Linda Castro and David Cohen for their readings series, Seven Weeks of Greeks at 6th@Penn, which stretched to nearly 20 weeks of Greeks.
Gi-Gi Downs
San Diego
PRODUCTION: The Universal Monster Show, Sledgehammer Theatre at St. Cecilia's Playhouse. PLAYWRITING: Tim West, The Universal Monster Show; Josh Kornbluth, Red Daiper Trilogy, Sledgehammer Theatre. MUSICAL SCORE: Lindsay Jones, Beyond Therapy at the Globe Theatres; Ericka Moore, Funkalosophy, Eveoke Dance Theatre; Jerry Yager, Pericles, Prince of Tyre at the Globe Theatres. ADAPTATION: Liza Lorwin, Peter and Wendy at La Jolla Playhouse; Matthew Wilder, Valparaiso, Sledgehammer Theatre. DIRECTION: Kirsten Brandt, The Universal Monster Show; Sean Murray, Never the Sinner at the Diversionary Theatre. MUSIC DIRECTION: Ericka Moore, Funkalosophy. CHOREOGRAPHY: Gina Angelique and Ericka Moore, Funkalosophy. SCENIC DESIGN: Daniel Ostling, When Grace Comes In at La Jolla Playhouse; Marty Burnett, The Caretaker, 6th @ Penn Theater, Renaissance Theatre Company; Melissa Ficociello, A Knife in the Heart, Sledgehammer Theatre. LIGHTING DESIGN: David Lee Cuthbert, The Universal Monster Show; Mike Durst, Never the Sinner; Karin Filijan, The Caretaker; Christopher Hall, Funkalosophy. COSTUME DESIGN: Shulamit Nelson, The Mystery of Irma Vep at the Diversionary Theatre; Shulamit Nelson, Never the Sinner. MAKEUP DESIGN: Shulamit Nelson, The Mystery of Irma Vep. SOUND DESIGN: Peter Hashagen, Funkalosophy; Jerry Yager, Pericles, Prince of Tyre. PERFORMANCE: Priscilla Allen, The Killing of Sister George at the Diversionary Theatre; Antonio T.J. Johnson, Never the Sinner; Farhang Pernoon, The Mystery of Irma Vep; Ned Schmidtke, Pericles, Prince of Tyre; Michael Severance, The Universal Monster Show; David Stanbra, A Knife in the Heart. ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE: The cast of The Universal Monster Show; the cast of Pageant at North Coast Repertory Theatre.
George Weinberg-Harter
San Diego
PRODUCTION: Peter and Wendy, Mabou Mines at La Jolla Playhouse. MUSICAL SCORE: Johnny Cunningham, Peter and Wendy; Jim Moony, The Merchant of Venice, San Diego Repertory Theatre; Michael Roth, Compleat Female Stage Beauty at the Globe Theatres. DIRECTION: Rosina Reynolds and Sean Murray, Travesties at North Coast Repertory Theatre; Deborah Gilmour Smyth, A Man For All Seasons at Lamb's Players Theatre. MUSIC DIRECTION: Bill Doyle & Steve Snyder, Working, San Diego Repertory Theatre; Elan McMahan, Ragtime at the Moonlight Amphitheatre. CHOREOGRAPHY: Jerry Mitchell, Imaginary Friends at the Globe Theatres; Paul David Bryant, Ragtime. SCENIC DESIGN: Julie Archer, Peter and Wendy. LIGHTING DESIGN: Kenneth Posner, Imaginary Friends; Chris Rhynne, The Mystery of Irma Vep at the Diversionary Theatre. COSTUME DESIGN: Robert Morgan, Imaginary Friends; Jeanne Reith, A Man For All Seasons. SOUND DESIGN: Paul Peterson, Compleat Female Stage Beauty; Jon Weston, Imaginary Friends. PERFORMANCE: Ron Campbell, Shylock, San Diego Repertory Theatre; Jonathan Fried, Compleat Female Stage Beauty; Michael Harvey, A Man For All Seasons; Karen Kandel, Peter and Wendy; Swoosie Kurtz, Imaginary Friends; Tom Stephenson, 1776; Gail West, A Man For All Seasons. ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE: The cast of The Caretaker, Renaissance Theatre Company at 6th@Penn; the cast of The Mystery of Irma Vep.