2008 AWARDS
On Jan. 26, 2009, the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle presented the seventh annual Craig Noel Awards for Theatrical Excellence, honoring the outstanding achievements on San Diego stages in 2008.
SPECIAL AWARDS:
- Tribute to Arthur Wagner, founder of the Department of Theatre and Dance at UC San Diego, La Jolla Playhouse pioneer and longtime local arts philanthropist.
- Actor Jonathan McMurtry, 48-year veteran of the Old Globe —- lifetime achievement award.
- Steve Karo, led restoration effort for the Balboa Theatre.
Dramatic Production:
“Fences,” Cygnet Theatre
Outstanding New Musical:
“Memphis,” La Jolla Playhouse
Resident musical:
“Dreamgirls,” San Diego Musical Theatre
“Xanadu,” La Jolla Playhouse
Touring Production:
“Spring Awakening,” Broadway/San Diego producers
New Play:
Steven Drukman, “In This Corner,” Old Globe Theatre
Direction of a Musical:
Steve Glaudini, “Les Miserables,” Moonlight Stage Productions
Sean Murray, “A Little Night Music,” Cygnet’s Old Town Theatre
Direction of a Play:
Delicia Turner Sonnenberg, “Fences,” Cygnet Theatre
Orchestrations for a Musical
Larry Hochman, “Dancing in the Dark,” The Old Globe
Lead Performance in a Musical, Female:
Deborah Gilmour Smyth, “Light in the Piazza,” Lamb’s Players Theatre
Lead Performance in a Musical, Male:
Chad Kimball, “Memphis,” La Jolla Playhouse
Featured Performance in a Musical, Male:
Tony Houck, “Scrooge in Rouge,” Diversionary Theatre
Patrick Page, “Dancing in the Dark,” The Old Globe
Tonex, “Dreamgirls,” San Diego Musical Theatre & “The Princess and the Black-Eyed Pea,” San Diego Repertory Theatre
Featured Performance in a Musical, Female:
Lillias White, “The Princess and the Black-Eyed Pea,” San Diego Repertory Theatre
Choreography:
Bill T. Jones, “The Seven,” La Jolla Playhouse
Sound Design:
Tim Boyce, “A Streetcar Named Desire,” Ion Theatre
Costume Design:
Jennifer Brawn Gittings, “Scrooge in Rouge,” Diversionary Theatre
Anna Oliver, “The Women,” Old Globe
Lighting Design:
David Lander, “33 Variations,” La Jolla Playhouse
Set Design:
Derek McLane, “33 Variations,” La Jolla Playhouse
Ensemble:
“Fences,” Cygnet Theatre
Featured Performance in a Play, Female:
Jo Anne Glover, “The Receptionist,” Cygnet Theatre
Rachael VanWormer, “Bash,” Ion Theatre; “Corpus Christi,” Diversionary Theatre
Featured Performance in a Play, Male:
Manny Fernandes, “Golden Boy,” New Village Arts Theatre
Bobby Plasencia, “Water & Power,” San Diego Repertory Theatre
Lead Performance in a Play, Male:
Antonio T.J. Johnson, “Fences,” Cygnet Theatre
Tom Andrew, body of work in 2008 (“Terra Nova,” “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play,” “Night Sky”)
Lead Performance in a Play, Female:
Sylvia M’Lafi Thompson, “Fences,” Cygnet Theatre
Amanda Sitton, “Golden Boy,” New Village Arts Theatre
Solo Performance
Linda Libby, “Request Programme,” Ion Theatre
Special thanks to these contributors:
Donald and Darlene Shiley
David C. Copley
Danah H. Fayman
The Seuss Foundation and Audrey Geisel
Broadway/San Diego
Harvey and Sheryl White Foundation
Sheila & Jeff Lipinsky
Giuseppe Fine Catering
Martin Morawski and Solar Turbines Inc.
The Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego
Musical accompanist Justin Gray
Event photographer Ion Moe