BILLY ELLIOT Leads 2008-09 Outer Critics Circle Winners With 7, SHREK Follows with 4
By: Robert Diamond May. 11, 2009
Outer Critics Circle, the organization of writers and commentators for all media covering New York theatre announced today its award winners for the 2008-09 season in 23 categories.
As previously announced, the OCC Executive Committee awarded Special Achievement Awards to David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik, and Kiril Kulish for their performances in "Billy Elliot the Musical" and an Outstanding Ensemble Performance Award to the full cast of "The Norman Conquests" (Amelia Bullmore, Jessica Hynes, Stephen Mangan, Ben Miles, Paul Ritter and Amanda Root).
Celebrating its 59th season of bestowing awards of excellence in the field of theater, the Outer Critics Circle, is an association with members affiliated with more than ninety newspapers, magazines, web sites, radio and television stations, and theatre publications in America and abroad. The annual awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, May 21st (4PM) at the legendary Sardi's Restaurant.
OUTSTANDING NEW BROADWAY PLAY
* God of Carnage *
Reasons To Be Pretty
OUTSTANDING NEW BROADWAY MUSICAL
* Billy Elliot the Musical *
Shrek the Musical
A Tale of Two Cities
OUTSTANDING NEW OFF-BROADWAY PLAY
Farragut North
* Ruined *
Shipwrecked! The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont (As Told By Himself)
Why Torture is Wrong, and the People Who Love Them
OUTSTANDING NEW OFF-BROADWAY MUSICAL
Rooms A Rock Romance
What's That Smell? The Music of Jacob Sterling
OUTSTANDING NEW SCORE
(Broadway or Off-Broadway)
* Billy Elliot the Musical *
Rooms A Rock Romance
Shrek the Musical
OUTSTANDING REVIVAL OF A PLAY
(Broadway or Off-Broadway)
The Cripple of Inishmaan
* The Norman Conquests *
OUTSTANDING REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL
(Broadway or Off-Broadway)
Enter Laughing
* Hair *
Pal Joey
OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR OF A PLAY
Garry Hynes The Cripple of Inishmaan
Anthony Page Waiting for Godot
Bartlett Sher Joe Turner's Come and Gone
* Matthew Warchus The Norman Conquests *
Moisés Kaufman 33 Variations
OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL
* Stephen Daldry Billy Elliot the Musical *
Arthur Laurents West Side Story
Jason Moore Shrek the Musical
Diane Paulus Hair
OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHER
Karole Armitage Hair
Andy Blankenbuehler 9 to 5
* Peter Darling Billy Elliot the Musical *
Josh Prince Shrek the Musical
OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN
(Play or Musical)
* Tim Hatley Shrek the Musical *
Santo Loquasto Waiting for Godot
Ian MacNeil Billy Elliot the Musical
Walt Spangler Desire Under the Elms
OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN
(Play or Musical)
Nicky Gillibrand Billy Elliot the Musical
* Tim Hatley Shrek the Musical *
John Napier Equus
Martin Pakledinaz Blithe Spirit
Catherine Zuber Joe Turner's Come and Gone
OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN
(Play or Musical) Kevin Adams Hair
* Rick Fisher Billy Elliot the Musical *
David Hersey Equus
Peter Kaczorowski Ruined
OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A PLAY
Raúl Esparza Speed-the-Plow
* Geoffrey Rush Exit the King *
Thomas Sadoski Reasons To Be Pretty
OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Saidah Arrika Ekulona Ruined
Carla Gugino Desire Under the Elms
* Marcia Gay Harden God of Carnage *
OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
James Barbour A Tale of Two Cities
Matt Cavenaugh West Side Story
* Brian d'Arcy James Shrek the Musical *
Josh Grisetti Enter Laughing
David Pittu What's That Smell? The Music of Jacob Sterling
OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
* Sutton Foster Shrek the Musical *
Megan Hilty 9 to 5
Leslie Kritzer Rooms A Rock Romance
* Josefina Scaglione West Side Story *
OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTOR IN A PLAY
John Benjamin Hickey Mary Stuart
Russell G. Jones Ruined
Patrick Page A Man For All Seasons
* David Pearse The Cripple of Inishmaan *
OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTRESS IN A PLAY
* Angela Lansbury Blithe Spirit *
AndRea Martin Exit the King
Kristine Nielsen Why Torture is Wrong, and the People Who Love Them
Susan Louise O'Connor Blithe Spirit
Condola Rashad Ruined
OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Daniel Breaker Shrek the Musical
* Gregory Jbara Billy Elliot the Musical *
Christopher Sieber Shrek the Musical
OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Kathy Fitzgerald 9 to 5
* Haydn Gwynne Billy Elliot the Musical *
Martha Plimpton Pal Joey
Carole Shelley Billy Elliot the Musical
OUTSTANDING SOLO PERFORMANCE
Mike Birbiglia Sleepwalk With Me
Mike Burstyn Lansky
Mike Daisey If You See Something Say Something
* Lorenzo Pisoni Humor Abuse *
Matt Sax Clay
OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE
* Amelia Bullmore Jessica Hynes Stephen Mangan
Ben Miles Paul Ritter Amanda Root
Cast of The Norman Conquests *
John Gassner AWARD
(Presented for an American play, preferably by a new playwright)
Annie Baker Body Awareness
* Gina Gionfriddo Becky Shaw *
Beau Willimon Farragut North
SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
* David Alvarez Trent Kowalik Kiril Kulish
for their performances in Billy Elliot the Musical *
2008-2009 Outer Critics Circle Executive / Nominating Committee
Simon Saltzman (President)
Marjorie Gunner (President Emerita)
Mario Fratti (Vice-President) Patrick Hoffman (Corresponding Secretary)
Louis A. Rachow (Treasurer) Glenn Loney (Historian & Member-at-Large)
Rosalind Friedman (Recording Secretary) and Aubrey Reuben & Thomas Gentile (Members-at-Large)
NOTE:
The play Dividing the Estate was considered last season and won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play. The musical Next to Normal was also considered last year (nominated in three categories including Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical, Outstanding Score & Outstanding Actress) and won the OCC Award for Outstanding Score.
Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.
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