LOS ANGELES: The LA Stage Alliance held the 27th annual Ovation Awards on Tuesday, Jan 17 at Center Theatre Group’s Ahmanson Theatre. Thirty-five awards were given to 19 theatre companies in Southern California. The most honored company this year was Celebration Theatre, with seven awards. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles LGBT Center won five, including best season.
In addition, CTG also presented the 2017 Sherwood Award for innovative and adventurous artists to lighting designer Pablo Santiago. The prize comes with $10,000. The two Sherwood finalists were costume designer Jenny Foldenauer and video designer Keith Skretch, who each received a $2,000 honorarium.
The ceremony was hosted by actor Alexandra Billings. The Ovation Awards have been handed out since 1989. The voters are Los Angeles theatre professionals and the eligibility period ran from Aug. 31, 2015-Aug. 28, 2016.
Best Season
Los Angeles LGBT Center
Best Production of a Play (Intimate Theatre)
Dry Land, The Echo Theater Company
Best Production of a Play (Large Theatre)
Guards at the Taj, Geffen Playhouse
Best Production of a Musical (Intimate Theatre)
The Boy From Oz, Celebration Theatre
Best Production of a Musical (Large Theatre)
HAM: A Musical Memoir, Los Angeles LGBT Center
Best Presented Production
1984, The Broad Stage
Best Acting Ensemble of a Play
The Complete History of America (Abridged), Falcon Theatre
Best Acting Ensemble of a Musical
The Boy From Oz, Celebration Theatre
Best Choreography
Janet Roston, The Boy From Oz, Celebration Theatre
Best Music Direction
Todd Schroeder, HAM: A Musical Memoir, Los Angeles LGBT Center
Best Book for an Original Musical
Michael Shaw Fisher, Shakespeare’s Last Night Out, Orgasmico Theatre Company
Best Lyrics/Composition for an Original Musical
Rebekah Allen, We Are the Tigers: A New Musical, Heart And Flame Productions
Best Playwriting for an Original Play
Luis Alfaro, Mojada: A Medea in Los Angeles, The Getty Villa & The Theatre @ Boston Court
Best Direction of a Musical
Michael A. Shepperd, The Boy From Oz, Celebration Theatre
Best Direction of a Play
Ken Sawyer, Hit the Wall, Los Angeles LGBT Center
Best Lead Actor in a Musical
Sam Harris, HAM: A Musical Memoir, Los Angeles LGBT Center
Best Lead Actress in a Musical
Moya Angela, Dreamgirls, La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
Best Lead Actor in a Play
Sam Anderson as John, John Is a Father, The Road Theatre Company
Best Lead Actress in a Play
Lily Nicksay, See Rock City, Rubicon Theatre Company
Best Featured Actor in a Musical
Stanton Morales, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Sierra Madre Playhouse
Best Featured Actress in a Musical
Bess Motta, The Boy From Oz, Celebration Theatre
Best Featured Actor in a Play
Michael A. Shepperd, Bootycandy, Celebration Theatre
Best Featured Actress in a Play
Paula Christensen, Colony Collapse, The Theatre @ Boston Court
Best Lighting Design (Intimate Theatre)
Elizabeth Harper, The Golden Dragon, The Theatre @ Boston Court
Best Lighting Design (Large Theatre)
KC Wilkerson, Wicked Lit 2015, Unbound Productions
Best Scenic Design (Intimate Theatre)
John Vertrees & Erin Walley, Deathtrap, Sierra Madre Playhouse
Best Scenic Design (Large Theatre)
Tom Buderwitz, Casa Valentina, Pasadena Playhouse
Best Sound Design (Intimate Theatre)
John Nobori, The Golden Dragon, The Theatre @ Boston Court
Best Sound Design (Large Theatre)
Drew Dalzell & Noelle Hoffman, Wicked Lit 2015, Unbound Productions
Best Costume Design (Intimate Theatre)
Michael Mullen, The Boy From Oz, Celebration Theatre
Best Costume Design (Large Theatre)
Christine Cover Ferro, Wicked Lit 2015, Unbound Productions
Best Video/Projection Design
Matthew Hill, Man Covets Bird, 24th Street Theatre
Composition for a Play
Gregory Nabours, The Sparrow, Coeurage Theatre Company
Fight Choreography
Edgar Landa, That Pretty Pretty; or, The Rape Play, Son of Semele Ensemble
Puppet Design
Greg Ballora, Sean Cawelti, Christine Papalexis, Jack Pullman, Brian White, Wood Boy Dog Fish, Bootleg Theater & Rogue Artists Ensemble
