1776, La Bohème, Intimate Apparel Top 2004 Los Angeles Ovation Awards

By Ernio Hernandez
16 Nov 2004

Performance Riverside's revival of 1776 was the big winner at the 2004 annual Los Angeles Ovation Awards, beating out Center Theatre Group's Ahmanson Theatre presentation of La Bohème, five awards to four.

Hector Elizondo and Garry Marshall hosted the Nov. 15 ceremony at the Orpheum Theatre honoring artistic excellence in L.A. theatres.

The Mark Taper Forum-Roundabout Theatre Company L.A. staging of Intimate Apparel took home honors for actress Viola Davis and her director Daniel Sullivan while Baz Luhrmann's staging of La Bohème earned awards — similarly to its Tony Award-honored Broadway run — for its ensemble and designers Catherine Martin and Nigel Levings, but not for director.

Fountain Theatre's staging of Athol Fugard's Exits and Entrances, The Theatre @ Boston Court's Romeo and Juliet: Antebellum New Orleans, 1836, Rubicon Theatre Company's All My Sons and International City Theatre's Caught in the Net were also among the productions with multiple wins.

Producer Paula Holt received a special James A. Doolittle Award for Leadership in the Theatre. The Career Achievement Award went to Betty Garrett, Broadway actress of Call Me Mister and Hollywood musicals "On the Town," "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" and "My Sister Eileen." The Cornerstone Theatre Company was also honored with the Community Outreach Award.

The complete list of nominees (with winners marked with an asterisk and in boldface) follows. Some categories allowed for multiple winners.

WORLD PREMIERE PLAY

  • A Safe Distance by Maurice Chauvet - Apartment A
  • *Exits and Entrances by Athol Fugard - Fountain Theatre
  • Jonna's Body, please hold by Jonna Tamases & Nicholas de Wolff - Odyssey Theatre Ensemble
  • Red Light, Green Light by Erik Patterson - Theatre of NOTE
  • Stage Directions by L. Trey Wilson - Ensemble Studio Theatre-LA Project

    WORLD PREMIERE MUSICAL

  • Focus Today by Carolyn Almos, Matt Almos, Jon Beauregard, Albert Dayan, Selina Woolery Smith - Burglars of Hamm
  • It's A Stevie Wonderful Life by Matt Walker & the Troubadour Theatre Company - Falcon Theatre
  • Lady Macbeth Sings the Blues by Amanda McBroom and Joel Silberman - Rubicon Theatre Company
  • Peach Blossom Fan by Edward Mast, adapted from Kung Shang-Ren, music and lyrics by Stephin Merritt - Center for New Theater
  • *The Shaggs: The Philosophy of the World by Joy Gregory and Gunnar Madsen - Powerhouse Theatre

    LEAD ACTOR IN A PLAY

  • Jack Axelrod, Visiting Mr. Green - International City Theatre
  • George Ball, All My Sons - Rubicon Theatre Company
  • David Heymann, Visiting Mr. Green - International City Theatre
  • *Morlan Higgins, Exits and Entrances - Fountain Theatre
  • Lance E. Nichols, Driving Miss Daisy - Rubicon Theatre Company
  • Adam Stein, Nocturne - Black Dahlia Theatre
  • Clarence Williams III, I Just Stopped By to See the Man - Geffen Playhouse

    LEAD ACTRESS IN A PLAY

  • *Viola Davis, Intimate Apparel - Center Theatre Group: Mark Taper Forum
  • Linda Emond, Homebody/Kabul - CTG: Mark Taper Forum
  • Marilyn Fox, Orpheus Descending - Pacific Resident Theatre
  • Karen Kondazian, Master Class - Fountain Theatre
  • Michael Learned, Driving Miss Daisy - Rubicon Theatre Company
  • Robin Pearson Rose, All My Sons - Rubicon Theatre Company
  • Jonna Tamases, Jonna's Body, please hold - Odyssey Theatre Ensemble

    LEAD ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

  • David Engel, La Cage Aux Folles - Musical Theatre West
  • *Steve Glaudini, 1776 - Performance Riverside
  • Norman Large, La Cage Aux Folles - Musical Theatre West
  • Wade McCollum, Hedwig and the Angry Inch - Celebration Theatre
  • Jamie Torcellini, Hot Mikado - Musical Theatre West

    LEAD ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

  • Carol Dennis, Hot Mikado - Musical Theatre West
  • *Yvette Freeman, Dinah Was - International City Theatre
  • Christa Jackson, Always... Patsy Cline - Musical Theatre West
  • Amanda McBroom, Lady Macbeth Sings the Blues - Rubicon Theatre Company
  • Sally Struthers, Always... Patsy Cline - Musical Theatre West

    FEATURED ACTOR IN A PLAY

  • Larry Cedar, Around the World in 80 Days - The Colony Theatre Company
  • Scott Cummins, Lobby Hero - Odyssey Theatre Ensemble
  • *Joseph Fuqua, All My Sons - Rubicon Theatre Company
  • Eric Lange, Driving Miss Daisy - Rubicon Theatre Company
  • Len Lesser, The Price - A Noise Within
  • Jeff Marlow, Around the World in 80 Days - The Colony Theatre Company
  • Corey Stoll, Intimate Apparel - CTG: Mark Taper Forum

    FEATURED ACTRESS IN A PLAY

  • Faline England, All My Sons - Rubicon Theatre Company
  • Mariette Hartley, Enchanted April - Pasadena Playhouse
  • *Carolyn Hennesy, The Fan Maroo - Theatre of NOTE
  • Marilyn McIntyre, The Credeaux Canvas - The Victory Theatre Center
  • Deborah Strang, The Price - A Noise Within

    FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

  • *Nils Anderson, 1776 - Performance Riverside
  • Stan Chandler, 1776 - Performance Riverside
  • Mark Eckstein, Swing! - Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities
  • Norman Large, Phantom - Performance Riverside
  • Darryl Alan Reed, Dinah Was - International City Theatre
  • Jeffrey Rockwell, Gunmetal Blues - The Colony Theatre Company
  • Peter Van Norden, Dinah Was - International City Theatre

    FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

  • Desiree Duarte, Swing! - Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities
  • Amy Pietz, Company - Reprise! Broadway's Best
  • Debbie Prutsman, Phantom - Performance Riverside
  • *Jill Van Velzer, 1776 - Performance Riverside
  • Sybyl Walker, Dinah Was - International City Theatre

    SOLO PERFORMANCE

  • *Gigi Bermingham, Non-Vital Organs (redux) - Odyssey Theatre Ensemble
  • Steven Hack, Willie's Son - Interact Theatre Company
  • Clinton Leupp, Miss Coco Peru Is Undaunted - LA Gay & Lesbian Center's Village at Ed Gould Plaza
  • Sandra Tsing Loh, Sugar Plum Fairy - Geffen Playhouse
  • Rain Pryor, Fried Chicken & Latkas - Canon Theatricals

    ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE

  • *Baz Luhrmann's production of La Bohème - CTG: Ahmanson Theatre
  • *Caught in the Net - International City Theatre
  • Eleemosynary - Fremont Centre Theatre
  • Forever Plaid - Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities
  • Ma Rainey's Black Bottom - Elephant Stageworks
  • Side by Side by Sondheim - Rubicon Theatre Company
  • Stage Directions - Ensemble Studio Theatre-LA Project

    DIRECTOR OF A PLAY

  • *Ray Cooney, Caught in the Net - International City Theatre
  • caryn desai, Visiting Mr. Green - International City Theatre
  • Simon Levy, Master Class - Fountain Theatre
  • James O'Neil, All My Sons - Rubicon Theatre Company
  • *Stephen Sachs, Exits and Entrances - Fountain Theatre
  • Matt Shakman, Nocturne - Black Dahlia Theatre
  • *Daniel Sullivan, Intimate Apparel - CTG: Mark Taper Forum

    DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL

  • Stan Chandler, Forever Plaid - Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities
  • *Nick DeGruccio, 1776 - Performance Riverside
  • caryn desai, Dinah Was - International City Theatre
  • Paul Hadobas, Jekyll & Hyde -Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities
  • Baz Luhrmann, La Bohème - CTG: Ahmanson Theatre

    CHOREOGRAPHER

  • Lee Martino, Brigadoon - Reprise! Broadway's Best
  • Lee Martino, Phantom - Performance Riverside
  • Lee Martino, Side by Side by Sondheim - Rubicon Theatre Company
  • Sean McKnight, Hot Mikado - Musical Theatre West
  • *Dana Solimando, Swing! - Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities

    MUSICAL DIRECTION

  • Brian Baker, Always... Patsy Cline - Musical Theatre West
  • Lanny Hartley, Dinah Was - International City Theatre
  • Don LeMaster, 1776 - Performance Riverside
  • *Dean Mora, Lady Macbeth Sings the Blues - Rubicon Theatre Company
  • Gerald Sternbach, Company - Reprise! Broadway's Best

    PRODUCTION FROM A TOURING COMPANY

  • Little Shop of Horrors - CTG: Ahmanson Theatre
  • *The Phantom of the Opera - CTG: Ahmanson Theatre
  • Thoroughly Modern Millie - CTG: Ahmanson Theatre

    PLAY (SMALLER THEATRE)

  • Eleemosynary - Fremont Centre Theatre
  • Holy Days - Theatre Forty
  • Ma Rainey's Black Bottom - Elephant Stageworks
  • *Master Class - Fountain Theatre
  • Nocturne - Black Dahlia Theatre

    PLAY (LARGER THEATRE)

  • *All My Sons - Rubicon Theatre Company
  • Driving Miss Daisy - Rubicon Theatre Company
  • Intimate Apparel - CTG: Mark Taper Forum
  • The Price - A Noise Within
  • Visiting Mr. Green - International City Theatre

    MUSICAL (SMALLER THEATRE)

  • 24 Hours: A Rock Musical - Make The Call Productions
  • Fleetwood Macbeth - Troubadour Theater Company
  • Guys and Dolls - Interact Theatre Company
  • *Hedwig and the Angry Inch - Celebration Theatre
  • The Spitfire Grill - Actors Co-Op/Crossley Theatre

    MUSICAL (LARGER THEATRE)

  • *1776 - Performance Riverside
  • Dinah Was - International City Theatre
  • Baz Luhrmann's production of La Bohème - CTG: Ahmanson Theatre
  • Forever Plaid - Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities
  • Side by Side by Sondheim - Rubicon Theatre Company
  • Always... Patsy Cline - Musical Theatre West
  • Hot Mikado - Musical Theatre West

    SET DESIGN (SMALLER THEATRE)

  • Tom Buderwitz, Summertime - The Theatre @ Boston Court
  • *Joel Daavid, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom - Elephant Stageworks
  • Rob Howeth, The Trial - Write Act Repertory Company
  • Desma Murphy, The Pagans - Road Theatre Company
  • Yevgenia Nayberg, A Winter People - The Theatre @ Boston Court
  • Craig Siebel, Nocturne - Black Dahlia Theatre
  • Scott Siedman, The Big Knife - Elephant Stageworks

    SET DESIGN (LARGER THEATRE)

  • Christopher Barreca, Peach Blossom Fan - Center for New Theater
  • D. Martyn Bookwalter, Talley's Folly - Pasadena Playhouse
  • Tom Buderwitz, Dinah Was - International City Theatre
  • Tom Buderwitz, The Ladies of the Camellias - The Colony Theatre Company
  • *Catherine Martin, La Bohème - CTG: Ahmanson Theatre
  • Derek McLane, Intimate Apparel - CTG: Mark Taper Forum
  • Douglas W. Schmidt, The Royal Family - CTG: Ahmanson Theatre

    LIGHTING DESIGN (SMALLER THEATRE)

  • *Mike Durst, Nocturne - Black Dahlia Theatre
  • Jose Lopez, A Winter People - The Theatre @ Boston Court
  • Kathi O'Donohue, Daisy in the Dreamtime - Fountain Theatre
  • Dan Weingarten, Romeo and Juliet: Antebellum New Orleans, 1836 - The Theatre @ Boston Court
  • Steven Young, Summertime - The Theatre @ Boston Court

    LIGHTING DESIGN (LARGER THEATRE)

  • Shaun Fillion, Peach Blossom Fan - Center for New Theater
  • Allen Lee Hughes, Intimate Apparel - CTG: Mark Taper Forum
  • *Nigel Levings, La Bohème - CTG: Ahmanson Theatre
  • Jeremy Pivnick, Clutter - The Colony Theatre Company
  • Jeremy Pivnick, Dinah Was - International City Theatre
  • Russell Pyle, Driving Miss Daisy - Rubicon Theatre Company
  • Scott Zielinski, Topdog/Underdog - CTG: Mark Taper Forum

    SOUND DESIGN (SMALLER THEATRE)

  • Kathryn Bostic and Michael Sena, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom - Elephant Stageworks
  • Robbin Broad, The Shaggs: The Philosophy of the World - Powerhouse Theatre
  • *Julie Ferrin, Martin Carrillo and Paul Hepker, Romeo and Juliet... - The Theatre @ Boston Court
  • *Steve Goodie, Cold/Tender - The Theatre @ Boston Court
  • Bill Levine, Home or The Quest For the Lost Tablet of Ur - Zoo District
  • Nick Omana and Terence Davis, Side Man - Malibu Stage Company
  • John Zalewski, Summertime - The Theatre @ Boston Court

    SOUND DESIGN (LARGER THEATRE)

  • *Acme Sound Partners, La Bohème - CTG: Ahmanson Theatre
  • Steven Cahill, Defying Gravity - Rubicon Theatre Company
  • Steven Cahill, Driving Miss Daisy - Rubicon Theatre Company
  • Paul Fabre, Dinah Was - International City Theatre
  • Marc Gwinn, Intimate Apparel - CTG: Mark Taper Forum

    COSTUME DESIGN (SMALLER THEATRE)

  • Audrey Eisner, Orpheus Descending - Pacific Resident Theatre
  • *Alex Jaeger, Romeo and Juliet... - The Theatre @ Boston Court
  • Scott Lane, Summertime - The Theatre @ Boston Court
  • Shon LeBlanc and A. Jeffrey Schoenberg, Blithe Spirit - Cowardice Theatre Company
  • Dori Quan, A Winter People - The Theatre @ Boston Court
  • *A. Jeffrey Schoenberg, The Devils - Open Fist Theatre Company
  • Lisa Tomczeszyn, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom - Elephant Stageworks

    COSTUME DESIGN (LARGER THEATRE)

  • Ann Bruice, Driving Miss Daisy - Rubicon Theatre Company
  • Robert Blackman, The Royal Family - CTG: Ahmanson Theatre
  • Catherine Martin and Angus Strathie, La Bohème - CTG: Ahmanson Theatre
  • Garry Lennon, Dinah Was - International City Theatre
  • A. Jeffrey Schoenberg, The Ladies of the Camellias - The Colony Theatre Company
  • Alejo Vietti and Jess Goldstein, Enchanted April - Pasadena Playhouse
  • *Catherine Zuber, Intimate Apparel - CTG: Mark Taper Forum

    The peer-judged Ovation Awards, established in 1989, honor "artistic excellence of L.A.’s theatres and theatre artists, and their continuing contribution to the vibrant cultural scene."

    For more information, visit www.theatrela.org.