Actors Kimberly Elise ("The Great Debaters") and Anthony Anderson ("Law and Order", "Transformers") hosted the 18th annual NAACP Theatre Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood on June 30.
The Pasadena premiere of Ray Charles Live! – starring Brandon Victor Dixon and Nikki Renée Daniels – earned three NAACP Awards, as did the national tour of The Color Purple.
Performance highlights included songs from The Color Purple and Ray Charles Live!. Grammy winner Stephanie Mills, of Broadway's The Wiz, was also on hand to perform "Be a Lion" from that Tony-winning musical.
In addition to the announced winners, the distinguished honorees for the event included orchestrator Harold Wheeler (Lifetime Achievement Award), writer and producer David E. Talbert (Trailblazer Award), actress Vivica A. Fox (Spirit Award) and American Idol's "Idol Gives Back" (Community Service Award).
NAACP Equity winners include: Lead Female
Jeanette Bayardelle – The Color Purple
Lead Male
Cedric Sanders – A Matter of Honor
Supporting Female
Earnestine Phillips – The Tempest
Supporting Male
Rufus Bonds, Jr. – The Color Purple
Ensemble Cast
Ray Charles Live! A New Musical
Director
Michael Pressman – Come Back, Little Sheba
Music Director
Rahn Coleman – Ray Charles Live! A New Musical
Choreography
Marguerite Derricks – Sister Act
Costumes
Paul Tazewell – The Color Purple
Lighting
Paulie Jenkins – Defiance
Set Design
James Noone – Come Back, Little Sheba
Sound
Carl Casella – Ray Charles Live! A new Musical
Playwright
Suzan-Lori Parks – Ray Charles Live! A New Musical
Producer
Pasadena Playhouse – A Matter of Honor
NAACP Local winners include:
Lead Female
Nia Orms – Please Take A Number
Lead Male
Dominic Hoffman – Last Fare
Supporting Female
Wynter Daggs – Meet Me At The Oak
Supporting Male
Jeff Branion – Drums in the Night
Ensemble Cast
Jitney
Director
Darin Dahms – Butterflies of Uganda: Memories of a Child Soldier
Director of a Musical
Denise Dowes – Love & Other Social Issues
Music Director
Paul Wong – Do Lord Remember Me
Choreography
Bradley Rapier – City Kid
Costumes
Mylette Nora – George Washington’s Boy
Lighting
Joel Daavid – Jitney
Set Design
Ellen Sandor – The Bow Wow Club
Sound
Ellen Juhlin & Kari Rae Seekins – Gilgamesh
Playwright
Terryl Daluz & Mann Alfonso – Masks
Producer
Paula Mitchell Manning and Greenway Arts Alliance – Butterflies of Uganda: Memories of a Child Soldier
For a complete list of nominees visit www.bhwdnaacptheatreawards.com.