The Old Globe’s 2011 production of Tracy Letts’ drama “August: Osage County” was the leading honoree at the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle’s 10th annual Craig Noel Awards ceremony, held Monday at the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, in La Jolla before an audience of more than 450.
“August: Osage County” won the evening’s top award for Outstanding Dramatic Production, as well as for Lois Markle’s lead performance, Sam Gold’s direction and the Ensemble award for its 13-member cast.
La Jolla Playhouse was also honored in three top categories. It won top touring show honors for the Des McAnuff-directed, Broadway-bound production of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” which originated at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival last summer. Kirsten Greenidge’s “Milk Like Sugar” was honored as Outstanding New Play. And The Playhouse-produced audio drama “Susurrus,” presented last fall at the San Diego Botanic Garden, was named Outstanding Special Event.
Cygnet Theatre’s production of “Cabaret” picked up three awards, for director Sean Murray, choreographer David Brannen and leading lady Karson St. John, who starred in the musical as a female Master of Ceremonies.
Tied with “Cabaret” for three awards in the musical category was The Old Globe’s production of Paul Gordon’s “Jane Austen’s Emma,” which won Outstanding Resident Musical, and honors for set designer Tobin Ost and lighting designer Michael Gilliam.
San Diego’s ion theatre was the inaugural recipient of the Don Braunagel Award for Outstanding Work at a Small Theater for its production of Tony Kushner’s two-part “Angels in America.” The award was launched to honor Don Braunagel, a founding member of the Critics Circle, who passed away in June 2011 at the age of 72. Braunagel covered theater in San Diego for more than 30 years and was a passionate supporter of work at small theaters. The annual cash prize will be reserved for theaters with fewer than 200 seats.
The award was presented by, and is underwritten by, Braunagel’s wife, Yolanda, who told the audience: "He was extremely proud of San Diego theater. He admired your acting, directing, your light, sound, set and costume design. He appreciated good PR work. He respected the courage it takes to put on a play you believe in, not knowing how audiences or critics will respond to your hard work. And he particularly admired small theaters who ---- with tiny budgets, difficult venues, sometimes difficult to find venues, sometimes drafty venues with hard seats ---- still manage sometimes to put on unforgettable productions, sometimes the best theater in town. And on those nights, Don and I would drive home in awe."
Brian Mackey was named Actor of the Year for a body of work that included ion theatre’s “The Woolgatherer” and “Bash: Latter Day Plays,” San Diego Repertory Theatre’s “In the Next Room (or the vibrator play)” and Cygnet Theatre’s “The Glass Menagerie.”
Lucia Vecchio, 13, was named Outstanding Young Artist for her lead performance in the Onstage Playhouse production of “The Diary of Anne Frank.” Vecchio also received the Sandra Ellis-Troy Memorial Scholarship to assist her further development as a theater artist.
In the musical acting categories, the outstanding female leading performance in a musical was presented to both Linda Libby, who played Mama Rose in ion theatre’s “Gypsy: A Musical Fable,” and Karson St. John in “Cabaret.” The outstanding male leading performance in a musical was presented to B. Slade for his title role in San Diego REPertory Theatre’s production of “The Who’s Tommy.”
