Over 400 productions were seen in 2008 by Circle critics reviewing theatre from San Jose to Santa Rosa, San Francisco to Concord.

This year the SFBATCC inaugurated the three-part separation of award categories between theatres with (1) over 300 Seats; (2) between 100-300 seats; and (3) 99 seats or Less. Theatre companies of similar sizes now compete and receive recognition for their outstanding work.

Actors' Equity Association (AEA), representing over 900 actors and stage managers in the Bay Area, sponsors this year's Critics Circle Awards.

"We both share a common goal to support professional Equity theatres in the Bay Area," stated David Lotz, AEA's national communications director, "in order to improve the livelihood of the artists who work in those theatres. We are pleased to join the SFBATCC in honoring the achievements of our members and all artists in this incredibly talented community."

Susan Jackson (Blessing Her Heart), Aaron Loeb (Abraham Lincoln's Big Gay Dance Party) and Itamar Moses (Yellowjackets) were all honored in the Original Script Category this year. Touring productions are also recognized. This year, The Drowsy Chaperone, produced by Best of Broadway, won the award.

Among the production winners are California Shakespeare Theater's Uncle Vanya, TheatreWorks' Caroline, or Change, Aurora Theatre Company's The Best Man, Center Repertory Company's The Musical of Musicals, Cutting Ball Theatre's Victims of Duty and Playhouse West's In This House.

San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle 2008 Award Winners

TOURING PRODUCTIONS
The Drowsy Chaperone, Best of Broadway

THEATRES OVER 300 – DRAMA

ENTIRE PRODUCTION
Uncle Vanya, California Shakespeare Theater

PRINCIPAL PERFORMANCE, FEMALE
Pamela Reed, Curse of the Starving Class, American Conservatory Theater

PRINCIPAL PERFORMANCE, MALE
Dan Hiatt, Uncle Vanya, California Shakespeare Theater

SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE, FEMALE
Phoebe Moyer, The Foreigner, San Jose Repertory Theatre

SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE, MALE
Andy Murray, Uncle Vanya, California Shakespeare Theater

DIRECTOR
Timothy Near, Uncle Vanya, California Shakespeare Theater

SET DESIGN
Loy Arcenas, Curse of the Starving Class, American Conservatory Theater

SOUND DESIGN
Jeff Mockus, Uncle Vanya, California Shakespeare Theater

LIGHTING DESIGN
Japhy Weideman, Curse of the Starving Class, American Conservatory Theater

COSTUME DESIGN
Anna Oliver, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde San Jose Repertory Theatre

Beaver Bauer, The Government Inspector, American Conservatory Theater

SPECIALTIES (Fight choreographer, video, musical directors, original score)
Marcus Shelby (musical director, original score), Sonny's Blues, Word for Word in association with Lorraine Hansberry Theatre

ORIGINAL SCRIPT
Itamar Moses, Yellowjackets, Berkeley Repertory Theatre

SOLO PERFORMANCE
Nilaja Sun, No Child, Berkeley Repertory Theatre

ENSEMBLE
Sonny's Blues, Word for Word Performing Arts Company in association with Lorraine Hansberry Theatre

THEATRES OVER 300 – MUSICALS

ENTIRE PRODUCTION
Caroline, or Change, TheatreWorks

PRINCIPAL PERFORMANCE, FEMALE
Beth Glover, Grey Gardens, TheatreWorks

PRINCIPAL PERFORMANCE, MALE
Shane Partlow, The Will Rogers Follies, Diablo Light Opera

SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE, FEMALE
Allison Blackwell, Caroline, or Change, TheatreWorks

SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE, MALE
Julian Hornik, Caroline, or Change, TheatreWorks

Paul Myrvoid, Grey Gardens, TheatreWorks

DIRECTOR
Robert Kelley, Caroline, or Change, TheatreWorks

MUSICAL DIRECTOR
William Liberatore, Caroline, or Change, TheatreWorks

SET DESIGN
J.B. Wilson, Caroline, or Change, TheatreWorks

J.B. Wilson, Grey Gardens, TheatreWorks

SOUND DESIGN
[no nominees]

LIGHTING DESIGN: Pamela Grey, Grey Gardens, TheatreWorks

COSTUME DESIGN
Fumiko Bielefeldt, Caroline, or Change, TheatreWorks

SPECIALTIES(Fight choreographer, video, musical directors, original score)
Sheri Stockdale (choreographer), The Will Rogers Follies, Diablo Light Opera

ORIGINAL SCRIPT
[no nominees]

SOLO PERFORMANCE
[no nominees]

ENSEMBLE
Caroline, or Change, TheatreWorks

THEATRES 100-300 SEATS - DRAMA

ENTIRE PRODUCTION
The Best Man, Aurora Theatre Company

PRINCIPAL PERFORMANCE, FEMALE
Susi Damilano, Bug, SF Playhouse

PRINCIPAL PERFORMANCE, MALE
Andy Murray, The Seafarer, Marin Theatre Company

SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE, FEMALE
Christine Macomber, The Cocktail Hour, Ross Valley Players

Velina Brown, Abraham Lincoln's Big Gay Dance Party, SF Playhouse

SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE, MALE
Julian Lopez-Morillas, The Seafarer, Marin Theatre Company

Warren David Keith, The Devil's Disciple, Aurora Theatre Company

DIRECTOR
Mary Ann Rodgers, The Cocktail Hour, Ross Valley Players

SET DESIGN
J.B. Wilson, The Seafarer, Marin Theatre Company

SOUND DESIGN
Cliff Caruthers, Bug, SF Playhouse

LIGHTING DESIGN
Jon Tracy, Bug, SF Playhouse

COSTUME DESIGN
Anna R. Oliver, The Devil's Disciple, Aurora Theatre Company

SPECIALTIES (Fight choreographer, video, musical directors, original score)
Chris Houston (music composer), Abraham Lincoln's Big Gay Dance Party, SF Playhouse

ORIGINAL SCRIPT
Aaron Loeb, Abraham Lincoln's Big Gay Dance Party, SF Playhouse

SOLO PERFORMANCE
[no nominees]

ENSEMBLE
The Best Man, Aurora Theatre Company

THEATRES 100-300 SEATS – MUSICALS

ENTIRE PRODUCTION
The Musical of Musicals, Center Repertory Company of Walnut Creek

PRINCIPAL PERFORMANCE, FEMALE
Lauren English, Cabaret, SF Playhouse

PRINCIPAL PERFORMANCE, MALE
Mark Farrell, The Musical of Musicals, Center Repertory Company of Walnut Creek

SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE, FEMALE
Karen Grassle, Cabaret, SF Playhouse

SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE, MALE
Louis Parnell, Cabaret, SF Playhouse

DIRECTOR
Mindy Cooper, The Musical of Musicals, Center Repertory Company of Walnut Creek

MUSICAL DIRECTOR
Brandon Adams, The Musical of Musicals, Center Repertory Company of Walnut Creek

SET DESIGN
Robert Broadfoot, The Musical of Musicals, Center Repertory Company of Walnut Creek

SOUND DESIGN
Will McCandless, Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, Marin Theatre Company

LIGHTING DESIGN
Kurt Landisman, The Musical of Musicals, Center Repertory Company of Walnut Creek

COSTUME DESIGN
Cassandra Carpenter, The Musical of Musicals, Center Repertory Company of Walnut Creek

SPECIALTIES (Fight choreographer, video, musical directors, original score)
Stephanie Temple (choreography), Zanna, Don't!, New Conservatory Theatre Center

ORIGINAL SCRIPT
[no nominees]

SOLO PERFORMANCE
[no nominees]

ENSEMBLE
Zanna Don't, New Conservatory Theatre Center

THEATRES UNDER 99 SEATS - DRAMA

ENTIRE PRODUCTION
Victims of Duty, Cutting Ball Theater

PERFORMANCE, FEMALE
Joyce Henderson, Ladies of the Camellias, Off Broadway West Theatre Company

PERFORMANCE, MALE
Liam Vincent, Dead Mother or Shirley Not All in Vain, Thick Description

DIRECTOR
Joyce Henderson, The Taming of the Shrew, Off Broadway West Theatre Company

ORIGINAL SCRIPT
Susan Jackson, Blessing Her Heart as part of Marin Fringe Fall2008 (Program One), Dominican University

SOLO PERFORMANCE
Andrew Nance, I Am My Own Wife, New Conservatory Theatre Center

ENSEMBLE
Ladies of the Camellias, Off Broadway West Theatre Company

THEATRES UNDER 99 SEATS - MUSICALS

ENTIRE PRODUCTION
In This House, Playhouse West

PERFORMANCE, FEMALE
Lynda DiVito, In This House, Playhouse West

PERFORMANCE, MALE
Sean Owens, Vera Wilde, Shotgun Players

DIRECTOR
Lois Grandi, In This House, Playhouse West

MUSICAL DIRECTOR
Dave Dobrusky, In This House, Playhouse West

Tim Hanson, Thrill Me, New Conservatory Theatre Center

SPECIALTIES(Fight choreographer, video, musical directors, original score)
Chris Jeffries (original score), Vera Wilde, Shotgun Players

Lisa Clark (set designer), Vera Wilde Shotgun Players

ENSEMBLE
Vera Wilde, Shotgun Players