The critics who voted are Paul Birchall, Jeff Favre, Hoyt Hilsman, Travis Holder, Wenzel Jones, Iris Mann, Eric Marchese, Dany Margolies, Dink O’Neal, Brad Schreiber, Madeleine Shaner, Les Spindle, Neal Weaver, and Jennie Webb. Collectively we saw hundreds of shows in 2008, whether we were reviewing or not. This is true devotion to theatre.
Under our voting system, each Garland winner was named on at least three critics' Best of 2008 lists. Each critic listed up to five nominees for each category except performance, up to 10 nominees for performance in musical productions and 10 for straight plays. Lists, minus the winners, are here Critics List.
This year we present two special awards in what we hope will become an annual honor. Our Visionary Award -- to a person who gave work to many actors and brought many first-time audiences into L.A. theatre -- goes to Marc Platt, producer of Wicked. Our Lifetime Achievement Award -- to a person who not only made his mark in the performing arts but also stood up and fought hard for Southland theatre, large and small—goes to Gil Cates, producing director of the Geffen Playhouse. You can read more about them in our April 23 issue.
The Garland tradition might not have continued without the tenacity of our editor-in-chief, Jamie Painter Young; our associate publisher, Charles Weiss; and our publisher, Jeff Black. They pondered and networked and created means to see us through another season. We warmly welcome to the Garlands family the following sponsors: Joel Asher, Stella Adler Los Angeles, Commercial Kids, Studio C, DC Design 8, Women in Theatre, the Geffen Playhouse, and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
This year’s winners are herewith invited to a party scheduled for April 27, at which they will be presented with their Garland statuettes. Please email dmargolies@backstage.com to let us know whether or not you can attend.
And, as always, to all other theatremakers in the Southland, we hope to see your names on these lists next year. Now get to work!
Dany Margolies
Executive Editor
PRODUCTION
Louis & Keely Live at the Sahara, Sacred Fools Theater Company at Sacred Fools and at the Matrix Theatre
9 to 5: The Musical, Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson Theatre
Secrets of the Trade, the Black Dahlia Theatre
PLAYWRIGHTING
Jake Broder and Vanessa Claire Smith, Louis & Keely Live at the Sahara, Sacred Fools Theater Company at Sacred Fools and at the Matrix Theatre
Jonathan Tolins, Secrets of the Trade, the Black Dahlia Theatre
ADAPTATION
Marilyn Campbell and Curt Columbus, Crime and Punishment, Actors Co-op
Patricia Resnick, 9 to 5: The Musical, Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson Theatre
Nick Salamone, Gulls, the Theatre @ Boston Court
Ron West, deLEARious, Open Fist Theatre Company
MUSICAL SCORE
Maury McIntyre (music) and Nick Salamone (lyrics), Gulls, the Theatre @ Boston Court
Dolly Parton, 9 to 5: The Musical, Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson Theatre
Duncan Sheik (music) and Steven Sater (lyrics), Spring Awakening, Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson Theatre
Phil Swann and Ron West, deLEARious, Open Fist Theatre Company
Charlotte Caffey and Anna Waronker, Lovelace: A Rock Opera, Hayworth Theatre
DIRECTION
Jeremy Aldridge, Louis & Keely: Live at the Sahara, Sacred Fools Theater Company at Sacred Fools and at the Matrix Theatre
Nick DeGruccio, For an Outstanding Season
Matt Shakman, Secrets of the Trade, the Black Dahlia Theatre
CHOREOGRAPHY
Andy Blankenbuehler, 9 to 5: The Musical, Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson Theatre
Bill T. Jones, Spring Awakening, Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson Theatre
Lee Martino, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Havok Theatre Company at Bootleg Theatre
Sha Newman, West Side Story, FCLO Music Theatre at Plummer Auditorium
MUSIC DIRECTION
Dennis Kaye, Louis & Keely Live at the Sahara, Sacred Fools Theater Company at Sacred Fools and at the Matrix Theatre
Johanna Kent, Assassins, West Coast Ensemble at the El Centro Theatre
Christian Nesmith, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, the MET Theatre
Jared Stein, Spring Awakening, Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson Theatre
SCENIC DESIGN
Scott Pask, 9 to 5: The Musical, Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson Theatre
LIGHTING DESIGN
Christian Epps, Gem of the Ocean, Fountain Theatre
Steven Young, For an Outstanding Season
COSTUME DESIGN
Alex Jaeger, Gulls, the Theatre @ Boston Court
Stephanie Kerley Schwartz, Compleat Female Stage Beauty, Rogue Machine at Theatre/Theater
William Ivey Long, 9 to 5: The Musical, Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson Theatre
SOUND DESIGN
David B. Marling, Gem of the Ocean, Fountain Theatre
PERFORMANCE IN A STRAIGHT PLAY
Joe Egender, He Asked for It, Theatre of NOTE
John Glover, Secrets of the Trade, the Black Dahlia Theatre
Mark St. Amant, American Dead, Rogue Machine at Theatre/Theater
Nilaja Sun, No Child…, Center Theatre Group at the Kirk Douglas Theatre
Julie White, The Little Dog Laughed, Center Theatre Group at the Kirk Douglas Theatre
PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL PRODUCTION
Jake Broder, Louis & Keely Live at the Sahara, Sacred Fools Theater Company at Sacred Fools and at the Matrix Theatre
Chuck DiMaria, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, the MET Theatre
Judy Kaye, Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson Theatre
Katrina Lenk, Lovelace: A Rock Opera, Hayworth Theatre
Lisa O'Hare, My Fair Lady, Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson Theatre
Vanessa Claire Smith, Louis & Keely Live at the Sahara, Sacred Fools Theater Company at Sacred Fools and at the Matrix Theatre
ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE
Secrets of the Trade, the Black Dahlia Theatre
Amy Aquino, Bill Brochtrup, John Glover, Mark L. Taylor, and Edward Tournier
Thrill Me: The Leopold & Loeb Story, Havok Theatre Company at the Hudson Backstage Theatre
Stewart W. Calhoun and Alex Schemmer