The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle has announced its nominations and special awards for excellence in Los Angeles, Orange County and Ventura County theatre for the year 2011. The 43rd Annual Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards ceremony will take place on Monday, March 19, 2012 at A Noise Within, the acclaimed classical repertory theatre company, in its new 33,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art venue in Pasadena, thanks to the generous donation of A Noise Within’s management. The theatre is located on the corner of Foothill Boulevard and Sierra Madre Villa Avenue at 3352 East Foothill Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91107. Tickets are $40, and should be reserved in advance from the LADCC's website, at www.ladramacriticscircle.com. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. for pre-show hors d’oeuvres (with no-host bar), and the show commences at 7:30 p.m.
The show will be hosted by L.A. theatre favorites Jason Graae (recipient of the 2007 Joel Hirschhorn Award for outstanding achievement in musical theatre) and Lesli Margherita (nominated this year for Kiss Me, Kate). Additional performers and presenters will be announced at a later date.
Awards will be given in eighteen categories, honoring excellence in theatre over the past year. Seven special awards will also be given. The LADCC is grateful to the organizations who have graciously agreed to sponsor some of our special awards this year.
The 2011 LADCC special award recipients are as follows:
· The Ted Schmitt Award for the world premiere of an outstanding new play will be awarded to David Wiener for Extraordinary Chambers. The award is accompanied by an offer to publish by Samuel French, Inc.
· The Polly Warfield Award for an excellent season in a small to mid-size theater will be awarded to Rogue Machine. The award is accompanied by an honorarium funded by the Nederlander Organization.
· The Bob Z award for career achievement in set design will be awarded to Kurt Boetcher.
· The Angstrom Award for career achievement in lighting design will be awarded to Lap Chi Chu. The award is accompanied by an honorarium funded by Angstrom Lighting.
· The Margaret Harford Award for sustained excellence in theater will be awarded to the Odyssey Theatre.
· The Joel Hirschhorn Award for outstanding achievement in musical theatre will be awarded to Lee Martino.
· The Milton Katselas Award for career or special achievement in direction will be awarded to Matt Shakman. The award is accompanied by an honorarium funded by The Katselas Theatre Company.
The nominees for the 2011 Los Angeles Drama Critics
Circle Awards for theatrical excellence are as follows:
Production
· 9 Circles, Alicia Adams & Jessica Hanna, Bootleg Theater
· Blackbird, Rogue Machine, Theatre/Theater
· House of the Rising Son, Ensemble Studio Theatre—LA, Atwater Village Theatre
· Jerry Springer: The Opera, Chance Theater
· Margo Veil, The Odyssey Theatre Ensemble and Evidence Room, Odyssey Theatre
· Re-Animator: The Musical, Dean Schramm & Stuart Gordon, Steve Allen Theater
· Small Engine Repair, Rogue Machine, Theatre/Theater
· The Cripple of Inishmaan, Center Theatre Group and Druid and Atlantic Theater Company, Kirk Douglas Theatre
· Way to Heaven, Ron Sossi, Odyssey Theatre
