The San Diego Theatre Critics Circle's Craig Noel Awards were presented Monday, Jan. 26, 2009, at the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, in La Jolla.

More than 350 people attended the ceremony, which featured filmed tributes to veteran actor Jonathan McMurtry and Arthur Wagner, founding chairman of the Department of Theatre and Dance at UC San Diego. There was also a dedication to local historian Steve Karo who led the drive to restore the Balboa Theatre in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter and nearly 30 other awards.

Follow the links below for:

Full report              Winners                 Photos

Read all about it! National coverage of our awards:

Local coverage:

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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.

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.

The Craig Noel Awards program is graciously underwritten by San Diego arts philanthropists, including Donald & Darlene Shiley, Danah H. Fayman, David C. Copley, Audrey Geisel, The Harvey & Sheryl White Foundation, Broadway/San Diego and Jeff & Sheila Lipinsky.