2015 AWARDS
On Feb. 8, 2016, the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle presented the 14th annual Craig Noel Awards for Excellence in Theatre, honoring the outstanding achievements on San Diego stages in 2015, at the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, in La Jolla. An audience of nearly 500 attended. More than 30 awards were given out.
Outstanding Dramatic Production
“The Quality of Life” – Intrepid Theatre Company
Outstanding New Play
“Blueprints to Freedom” – Michael Benjamin Washington, La Jolla Playhouse
Outstanding Resident Musical
“Dogfight” – Cygnet Theatre
Outstanding New Musical
“Come From Away,” La Jolla Playhouse
Outstanding Touring Production
“The White Snake” – The Old Globe
Don Braunagel Award for Achievement by a Small Theater
InnerMission Productions
Outstanding Young Artist Award
Elliot Weaver
Actors of the Year
Sylvia M’Lafi Thompson & Jeffrey Jones
Director of the Year
Delicia Turner Sonnenberg
Outstanding Direction of a Play
Christy Yael-Cox – “The Quality of Life”, Intrepid Theatre Company
Outstanding Direction of a Musical
Christopher Ashley – “Come From Away,” La Jolla Playhouse
Outstanding Musical Direction
Elan McMahan – “Big Fish,” Moonlight Stage Productions
Outstanding Choreography
Colleen Kollar Smith – “West Side Story,” Lamb’s Players Theatre
Outstanding Original Score
Irene Sankoff & David Hein – “Come from Away,” La Jolla Playhouse
Outstanding Ensemble
1 “Come From Away,” La Jolla Playhouse
“2. The Quality of Life,” Intrepid Theatre Company
Outstanding Solo Performance
Hershey Felder – “Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin”
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical, Female
Victoria Strong – “The King and I,” The Welk Theatre\
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical, Male
Robert J. Townsend – “La Cage aux Folles,” San Diego Musical Theatre
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical, Male
James Vasquez – “La Cage aux Folles,” San Diego Musical Theatre
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical, Female
Jenn Colella – “Come From Away,” La Jolla Playhouse
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play, Male
Michael Benjamin Washington – “Blueprints to Freedom,” La Jolla Playhouse
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play, Female
Sandy Campbell – “Master Class,” ion theatre
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Female
Dana Hooley – “The Birthday Party,” New Fortune Theatre Company
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Male
Mike Sears – “Parlour Song,” Backyard Renaissance Theatre
Outstanding Sound Design
Gareth Owen – “Come From Away,” La Jolla Playhouse
Outstanding Costume Design
Jeanne Reith – “OZ,” Lamb’s Players Theatre
Outstanding Lighting Design
Christopher Akerlind – “Indecent,” La Jolla Playhouse
Outstanding Scenic Design
- Alexander Dodge – “The Comedy of Errors,” The Old Globe
- Brian Redfern – “My Mañana Comes,” San Diego Repertory Theatre
Outstanding Projection Design
- Joe Huppert – “The Oldest Boy,” San Diego Repertory Theatre
- John Infante – “Big Fish,” Moonlight Stage Productions
Special thanks to these contributors:
Darlene Shiley
Danah H. Fayman
Stanley Cohen
The Seuss Foundation & Audrey Geisel
Yolanda Braunagel
Osborn and Dea Hurston
Mike Napoli & Performing Arts LIVE
Jay and Julie Sarno
Ralph Johnson
Trina Kaplan
Also:
Musical direction/orchestrations: Justin Gray
Event photographer: Ion Moe
Stage manager: Debbie Luce
Slide show presenter: Leslie Crawford
Films/slide show production: Pam Kragen
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Nominees announced for the 2015 Craig Noel Awards
SAN DIEGO (Jan. 1, 2016) – The San Diego Theatre Critics Circle has announced the nominees for its 14th annual Craig Noel Awards, which will be held Feb. 8, 2016, at the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, in La Jolla.
Categories:
Outstanding Musical Direction
Ian Eisendrath – “Come from Away,” La Jolla Playhouse
Kris Kukul – “Kiss Me, Kate,” The Old Globe
Elan McMahan – “The Music Man,” Moonlight Stage Productions
Elan McMahan – “Big Fish,” Moonlight Stage Productions
Terry O’Donnell – “Dogfight,” Cygnet Theatre
Outstanding Choreography
David Brannen – “Dogfight,” Cygnet Theatre
Jill Gorrie – “Singin’ in the Rain,” San Diego Musical Theatre
Peggy Hickey – “Kiss Me, Kate,” The Old Globe
Colleen Kollar Smith – “West Side Story,” Lamb’s Players Theatre
Ray Limon – “Hello, Dolly!,” Welk Resort Theatre
Outstanding Original Score
Lisa Gutkin & Aaron Halva – “Indecent,” La Jolla Playhouse
Jon Lorenz – “OZ, a new American Musical Fairytale,” Lamb’s Players Theatre
Michael Roth – “The Oldest Boy,” San Diego Repertory Theatre
Irene Sankoff & David Hein – “Come from Away,” La Jolla Playhouse
Outstanding Ensemble
“Come From Away,” La Jolla Playhouse
“Indecent,” La Jolla Playhouse
“The Quality of Life,” Intrepid Theatre Company
“My Mañana Comes,” San Diego Repertory Theatre
“The Whale,” Cygnet Theatre
Outstanding Solo Performance
Hershey Felder – “Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin”
Darrell Hammond – “The Darrell Hammond Project,” La Jolla Playhouse
Cashae Monya – “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill,” ion theatre
Mercedes Ruehl – “Full Gallop,” The Old Globe
David Turner – “Buyer & Cellar,” The Old Globe
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical, Male
Josh Adamson – “Big Fish,” Moonlight Stage Productions
Richard Bermudez – “The King and I,” Welk Resort Theatre
Sean Murray – “My Fair Lady,” Cygnet Theatre
Jeffrey Scott Parsons – “Cabaret,” Welk Resort Theatre
Robert J. Townsend – “La Cage aux Folles,” San Diego Musical Theatre
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical, Female
Hannah Corrigan – “Violet,” San Diego Repertory Theatre
Cynthia Ferrer – “Hello, Dolly!,” Welk Resort Theatre
Caitie Grady – “Dogfight,” Cygnet Theatre
Allison Spratt Pearce – “My Fair Lady,” Cygnet Theatre
Victoria Strong – “The King and I,” Welk Resort Theatre
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical, Female
Michelle Alves – “West Side Story,” Lamb’s Players Theatre
Jenn Colella – “Come From Away,” La Jolla Playhouse
Sarah Errington – “Dogfight,” Cygnet Theatre
Melissa Fernandes – “Sondheim on Sondheim,” Moonlight Stage Productions
Natalie Nucci – “West Side Story,” San Diego Musical Theatre
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical, Male
Bryan Barbarin – “OZ, a new American Musical Fairytale,” Lamb’s Players Theatre
Geno Carr – “Come From Away,” La Jolla Playhouse
Marc Ginsburg – “Shrek, The Musical,” Moonlight Stage Productions
James Vasquez – “La Cage aux Folles,” San Diego Musical Theatre
Fernando Vega – “OZ, a new American Musical Fairytale,” Lamb’s Players Theatre
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play, Male
Richard Baird – “Betrayal,” North Coast Repertory Theatre
Jeffrey Jones – “The Quality of Life,” Intrepid Theatre Company
Robert Smyth – “Freud’s Last Session,” Lamb’s Players Theatre
Robert J. Townsend – “The 39 Steps,” Premiere Productions
Michael Benjamin Washington – “Blueprints to Freedom,” La Jolla Playhouse
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play, Female
Sandy Campbell – “Master Class,” ion theatre
Maggie Carney – “The Quality of Life,” Intrepid Theatre Company
DeAnna Driscoll – “The Quality of Life,” Intrepid Theatre Company
Summer Spiro – “Steal Heaven,” San Diego Repertory Theatre
Sylvia M’Lafi Thompson – “ ‘night, Mother,” ion theatre
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Male
Ro Boddie – “Blueprints to Freedom,” La Jolla Playhouse
Tsering Dorjee Bawa – “The Oldest Boy,” San Diego Repertory Theatre
Manoel Felciano – “Twelfth Night,” The Old Globe
David McBean – “Unnecessary Farce,” North Coast Repertory Theatre
James Saba – “Hay Fever,” Cygnet Theatre
Mike Sears – “Parlour Song,” Backyard Renaissance
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Female
Maggie Carney – “Sons of the Prophet,” Cygnet Theatre
Kathi Copeland – “Precious Little,” InnerMission Productions
Priti Gandhi – “Master Class,” ion theatre
Jo Anne Glover – “The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence,” Moxie Theatre
Dana Hooley – “The Birthday Party,” New Fortune Theatre Company
Outstanding Scenic Design
Alexander Dodge – “The Comedy of Errors,” The Old Globe
Sean Fanning – “Full Gallop,” The Old Globe
Riccardo Hernandez – “Twelfth Night,” The Old Globe
Brian Redfern – “My Mañana Comes,” San Diego Repertory Theatre
Jerry Sonnenberg – “The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence,” Moxie Theatre
Outstanding Sound Design
Kevin Anthenill – “The Oldest Boy,” San Diego Repertory Theatre
Mark Bennett – “Arms and the Man,” The Old Globe
Melanie Chen – “Betrayal,” North Coast Repertory Theatre
Gareth Owen – “Come From Away,” La Jolla Playhouse
David Scott – “Dogfight,” Cygnet Theatre Company
Outstanding Costume Design
Elisa Benzoni – “The Fox on the Fairway,” North Coast Repertory Theatre
Jacinda Johnston-Fischer – “Trouble in Mind,” Moxie Theatre
Jacinda Johnston-Fischer – “Hay Fever”/”The Vortex,” Cygnet Theatre
Jeanne Reith – “OZ, a new American Musical Fairytale,” Lamb’s Players Theatre
Fabio Toblini – “Kiss Me, Kate,” The Old Globe
Outstanding Lighting Design
Christopher Akerlind – “Indecent,” La Jolla Playhouse
Lonnie Alcaraz – “Oedipus El Rey,” San Diego Repertory Theatre
Russell H. Champa – “The Twenty-seventh Man,” The Old Globe
Matt Novotny – “Gunmetal Blues,” North Coast Repertory Theatre
Jennifer Setlow – “The Oldest Boy,” San Diego Repertory Theatre
Projection Design
Joe Huppert – “The Oldest Boy,” San Diego Repertory Theatre
John Infante – “Big Fish,” Moonlight Stage Productions
Blake McCarty – “Return to the Forbidden Planet,” New Village Arts
John Narun – “Blueprints to Freedom,” La Jolla Playhouse
Victoria Petrovich – “Steal Heaven,” San Diego Repertory Theatre
Outstanding Direction of a Musical
Christopher Ashley – “Come From Away,” La Jolla Playhouse
Steve Glaudini – “Big Fish,” Moonlight Stage Productions
Sean Murray – “Dogfight,” Cygnet Theatre
Darko Tresnjak – “Kiss Me, Kate,” The Old Globe
Sam Woodhouse – “Violet,” San Diego Repertory Theatre
Outstanding Direction of a Play
Glenn Paris – “ ‘night, Mother,” ion theatre
Rebecca Taichman – “Indecent,” La Jolla Playhouse
Delicia Turner Sonnenberg – “My Mañana Comes,” San Diego Repertory Theatre
Delicia Turner Sonnenberg – “Trouble in Mind,” Moxie Theatre
Christy Yael-Cox – “The Quality of Life”, Intrepid Theatre Company
Outstanding New Play
“Blueprints to Freedom” – Michael Benjamin Washington, La Jolla Playhouse
“Indecent” – Paula Vogel and Rebecca Taichman, La Jolla Playhouse
“Orange Julius” – Basil Kreimendahl, Moxie Theatre
“Sea of Souls” – Glenn Paris and Claudio Raygoza, ion theatre
“Uncanny Valley” – Thomas Gibbons, San Diego Repertory Theatre
Outstanding Touring Production
“Healing Wars,” La Jolla Playhouse
“Motown, The Musical,” Broadway / San Diego
“Murder for Two,” The Old Globe
“The White Snake,” The Old Globe
Outstanding New Musical
“Come From Away,” La Jolla Playhouse
“OZ, a new American Musical Fairytale,” Lamb’s Players Theatre
Outstanding Resident Musical
“Big Fish” – Moonlight Stage Productions
“Dogfight” – Cygnet Theatre
“Kiss Me, Kate” – The Old Globe
“My Fair Lady” – Cygnet Theatre
“Violet” – San Diego Repertory Theatre
Outstanding Dramatic Production
“Indecent” – La Jolla Playhouse
“ ‘night, Mother” – ion theatre
“Oedipus El Rey” – San Diego Repertory Theatre
“The Quality of Life, Intrepid Theatre Company
“Trouble in Mind” – Moxie Theatre
Awards to be announced from the stage:
- Don Braunagel Award for Outstanding Work by a Small Theater Company
- Outstanding Young Actor & Sandra Ellis-Troy Scholarship
- Actor of the Year, Female
- Actor of the Year, Male
- Director of the Year
Winners will not be notified in advance. Arrangements will be made to deliver awards to winners who could not be present.
Admission to the ceremony is free of charge. If you are not already on our invitation list and would like to receive an invite via Paperless Post (email), please contact our president, Pam Kragen, with your name and contact information.
Craig Noel, the namesake for the Critics Circle’s annual awards — who died in 2010 — was revered for his decades-long efforts to build a rich and vibrant theater community in San Diego. We honor his legacy as the beloved founding father of San Diego’s theater community by carrying on the tradition of rewarding excellence with awards in his name.
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