The San Diego Theatre Critics Circle presented the seventh annual Craig Noel Awards for Excellence in Theatre, honoring the outstanding achievements on San Diego stages in 2008.
Memphis played La Jolla Playhouse in 2008 and is currently playing Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre. Nationally known artists — including Bill T. Jones, Patrick Page, Tonex, Lillias White and Larry Hochman — were among those honored, as were the national tour of Spring Awakening and Xanadu's resident run at La Jolla Playhouse prior to the current national tour.
The San Diego Theatre Critics Circle's 2008 Craig Noel Award winners follow.
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. Lifetime Achievement Award: Actor Jonathan McMurtry, 48-year veteran of the Old Globe.
Steve Karo, led restoration effort for the Balboa Theatre.
Outstanding New Musical
Memphis, La Jolla Playhouse
Resident Musical
Dreamgirls, San Diego Musical Theatre
Xanadu, La Jolla Playhouse
Orchestrations for a Musical
Larry Hochman, Dancing in the Dark, The Old Globe
Direction of a Musical
Steve Glaudini, Les Miserables, Moonlight Stage Productions
Sean Murray, A Little Night Music, Cygnet's Old Town Theatre
Lead Performance in a Musical, Female
Deborah Gilmour Smyth, The 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
Direction of a Play
Delicia Turner Sonnenberg, Fences, Cygnet Theatre
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
Touring Production
Spring Awakening, Broadway/San Diego producers
New Play
Steven Drukman, In This Corner, Old Globe Theatre
Dramatic Production
Fences, Cygnet Theatre
Visit www.sdcriticscircle.org.