JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, Patti Murin et al. Nominated for 2011 Craig Noel Awards

More than 100 local and National Theatre artists representing more than 40 San Diego theatrical productions at a dozen local theaters will compete for the 2011 Craig Noel Awards on Feb. 6, the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle announced today.

Among the shows with multiple nominations were The Old Globe’s “August: Osage County,” “The Tempest” and “Jane Austen’s Emma”; La Jolla Playhouse’s “Sleeping Beauty Wakes”; Ion Theatre’s two-play series “Angels in America”; Cygnet Theatre’s “Cabaret”; San Diego REPertory Theatre’s “The Who’s Tommy” and “In the Next Room (or the vibrator play)”; North Coast Repertory Theatre’s “Lend Me a Tenor”; Moxie Theatre’s “Dead Man’s Cell Phone”; and Moonlight Stage Productions’ “Hairspray.”

Competing for the outstanding resident musical award will be “Cabaret,” “Jane Austen’s Emma,” “Sleeping Beauty Wakes,” “The Who’s Tommy,” and Cygnet Theatre’s “Little Shop of Horrors.” Competing for the outstanding dramatic production award will be “Angels in America,” “August: Osage County,” “Dead Man’s Cell Phone,” “Lend Me a Tenor,” “The Tempest,” and the New Village Arts Theatre’s rendering of John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men.” Competing for the outstanding touring production award will be Broadway/San Diego’s presentations of “Next to Normal” and “Shrek: The Musical” and La Jolla Playhouse’s Broadway-bound presentation of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival production of “Jesus Christ Superstar.”

In the musical acting categories, the outstanding female leading performance in a musical nominees are Melissa Fernandes (“Little Shop of Horrors”), Linda Libby (“Gypsy: A Musical Fable,” produced by ion Theatre), Patti Murin (“Jane Austen’s Emma”), Karson St. John (“Cabaret”), and Aspen Vincent (“Sleeping Beauty Wakes”).

The outstanding male leading performance in a musical nominees are Geno Carr (“The Servant of Two Masters,” produced by Lamb’s Players Theatre), Randall Dodge (“The Fantasticks,” produced by the Welk Resorts Theatre), Bryce Ryness (“Sleeping Beauty Wakes”), B. Slade (“The Who’s Tommy”), and Robert Townsend (“The Story of My Life,” produced by San Diego Musical Theatre).

In the dramatic acting categories, the outstanding female leading performance in a play nominees are Jill Drexler (“Foxfire,” produced by Moonlight Stage Productions), Melinda Gilb (“Walter Cronkite Is Dead.” produced by San Diego REPertory Theatre), Jo Anne Glover (“Dead Man’s Cell Phone”), Lois Markle (“August: Osage County”), Rosina Reynolds (“The Glass Menagerie,” produced by Cygnet Theatre) and Aubrey Saverino (“In the Next Room (or the vibrator play).”

The outstanding male leading performance in a play nominees are Miles Anderson (“The Tempest”), Jeffrey DeMunn (“Death of a Salesman,” produced by The Old Globe), Manny Fernandes (“Of Mice and Men”), Robert Foxworth (“Superior Donuts,” produced by San Diego REPertory Theatre), Jon Rua (“Somewhere,” produced by The Old Globe), and Kyle Sorrell (“Angels in America”).

The outstanding ensemble award will be presented to the cast of one of the following productions: “Angels in America,” “August: Osage County,” “Dead Man’s Cell Phone,” “Lend Me a Tenor,” or “Peer Gynt” (produced by La Jolla Playhouse).
Critics Circle President Pam Kragen also announced the establishment of a new annual award in memory of longtime critic and arts writer, Don Braunagel, who passed away in August. Established in Braunagel’s memory by his widow Yolanda Braunagel, the cash award will honor special achievements at small-budget theater companies.

The 10th annual Craig Noel Award will take place from 6 to 10 p.m. Monday, February 6, 2012, at the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, 700 Prospect Drive, La Jolla.

About the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle: Founded in 1983 and re-established in 2002, the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle is an independent, nonprofit organization of print and online theater critics dedicated to open and honest dialogue about theatre in San Diego County and to honoring artistic excellence. The members of our organization are professional critics writing for daily newspapers, magazines, alternative weeklies, entertainment trade publications, broadcast media, and Web sites in San Diego County. The Circle’s annual awards for outstanding San Diego theatre are named for the late Craig Noel, founder and longtime artistic director of The Old Globe. The organization’s 2011 ceremony is presented as a gift to the theater community by a small group of donors, including The Shiley Trust, Danah H. Fayman, The Dr. Seuss Foundation, the Harvey & Sheryl White Foundation, Osborn & Dea Hurston and Ralph Johnson.

Nominees for the 2011 Craig Noel Awards:

Outstanding Resident Musical
“Cabaret,” Cygnet Theatre
“Jane Austen's Emma,” The Old Globe
“Little Shop of Horrors,” Cygnet Theatre
“Sleeping Beauty Wakes,” La Jolla Playhouse
“The Who’s Tommy,” San Diego REPertory Theatre

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical, Female
Melissa Fernandes, “Little Shop of Horrors,” Cygnet Theatre
Linda Libby, “Gypsy: A Musical Fable,” ion Theatre
Patti Murin, “Jane Austen's Emma,” The Old Globe
Karson St. John, “Cabaret,” Cygnet Theatre
Aspen Vincent, “Sleeping Beauty Wakes,” La Jolla Playhouse

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical, Male
Geno Carr, “The Servant of Two Masters,” Lamb’s Players Theatre
Randall Dodge, “The Fantasticks,” Welk Resorts Theatre
Bryce Ryness, “Sleeping Beauty Wakes,” La Jolla Playhouse
B. Slade, “The Who’s Tommy,” San Diego REPertory Theatre
Robert Townsend, “The Story of My Life,” San Diego Musical Theatre

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical, Male
Doug Davis, “Hairspray,” Moonlight Stage Productions
Derek Gaffney, “Spring Awakening,” Actors' Conservatory Theatre
Randall Hickman, “Hairspray,” Moonlight Stage Productions
Dick Latessa, “Little Miss Sunshine,” La Jolla Playhouse
Bob Stillman, “Sleeping Beauty Wakes,” La Jolla Playhouse

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical, Female
Melissa Fernandes, “Cabaret,” Cygnet Theatre
Linda Libby, “Cabaret,” Cygnet Theatre
Dani Marcus, “Jane Austen's Emma,” The Old Globe
Jill Van Velzer, “The Great American Trailer Park Musical,” San Diego REPertory Theatre
Katie Whalley, “Gypsy: A Musical Fable,” ion Theatre

Outstanding Direction of a Musical
Jeff Calhoun, “Jane Austen's Emma,” The Old Globe
Steve Glaudini, “Hairspray,” Moonlight Stage Productions
Sean Murray, “Cabaret,” Cygnet Theatre
Claudio Raygoza and Kim Strassburger, “Gypsy: A Musical Fable,” ion Theatre
Sam Woodhouse, “The Who’s Tommy,” San Diego REPertory Theatre

Outstanding Musical Direction
Laura Bergquist, “Jane Austen's Emma,” The Old Globe
Steve Gunderson, “The Who’s Tommy,” San Diego REPertory Theatre
Don LeMaster, “A Chorus Line,” San Diego Musical Theatre
Elan McMahan, “Hairspray,” Moonlight Stage Productions

Outstanding Choreography
David Brannen, “Cabaret,” Cygnet Theatre
JT Horenstein, “Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show,” The Old Globe
Michael Mizerany, “Dooley,” Diversionary Theatre
Doug Varone, “Sleeping Beauty Wakes,” La Jolla Playhouse
Javier Velasco, “The Who’s Tommy,” San Diego REPertory Theatre

Outstanding Music for a Play
Shaun Davey, “The Tempest,” The Old Globe
John Gromada, “A Dram of Drummhicit,” La Jolla Playhouse

Outstanding Dramatic Production
“Angels in America,” ion Theatre
“August: Osage County,” The Old Globe
“Dead Man’s Cell Phone,” Moxie Theatre
“Lend Me A Tenor,” North Coast Repertory Theatre
“Of Mice and Men,” New Village Arts Theatre
“The Tempest,” The Old Globe

Outstanding Ensemble
“Angels in America,” ion Theatre
“August: Osage County,” The Old Globe
“Dead Man’s Cell Phone,” Moxie Theatre
“Lend Me a Tenor,” North Coast Repertory Theatre
“Peer Gynt,” La Jolla Playhouse

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play, Male
Miles Anderson, “The Tempest,” The Old Globe
Jeffrey DeMunn, “Death of a Salesman, “The Old Globe
Manny Fernandes, “Of Mice and Men,” New Village Arts Theatre
Robert Foxworth, “Superior Donuts,” San Diego REPertory Theatre
Jon Rua, “Somewhere,” The Old Globe
Kyle Sorrell, “Angels in America,” ion Theatre

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play, Female
Jill Drexler, “Foxfire,” Moonlight Stage Productions
Melinda Gilb, “Walter Cronkite is Dead,” San Diego REPertory Theatre
Jo Anne Glover, “Dead Man’s Cell Phone,” Moxie Theatre
Lois Markle, “August: Osage County,” The Old Globe
Rosina Reynolds, “The Glass Menagerie,” Cygnet Theatre
Aubrey Saverino, “In the Next Room (or the vibrator play),” San Diego REPertory Theatre

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Female
Lisel Gorell-Getz, “In the Next Room (or the vibrator play)” San Diego REPertory Theatre
Catalina Maynard, “Angels in America,” ion Theatre
Tonya Pinkins, “Milk Like Sugar,” La Jolla Playhouse
Diana Reasonover, “Stick Fly,” Mo'olelo Performing Arts Company
Karson St. John, “Ten Cent Night,” Moxie Theatre

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Male
Ben Diskant, “The Tempest,” The Old Globe
David Ellenstein, “My Name is Asher Lev,” North Coast Repertory Theatre
Nick Kennedy, “Grace,” ion Theatre
Brian Mackey, “The Glass Menagerie,” Cygnet Theatre
Matt Thompson, “Dead Man’s Cell Phone,” Moxie Theatre
Jay Whittaker, “Amadeus,” The Old Globe

Outstanding Touring Production
“Jesus Christ Superstar,” La Jolla Playhouse
“Next to Normal,” Broadway/San Diego
“Shrek the Musical,” Broadway/San Diego

Outstanding New Play
Kirsten Greenidge, “Milk Like Sugar,” La Jolla Playhouse
Matthew Lopez, “Somewhere,” The Old Globe
Stephen Metcalfe, “The Tragedy of The Commons,” Cygnet Theatre
David Myers, “Small Prophecies,” University of California, San Diego, Baldwin New Play Festival

Outstanding Direction of a Play
Sam Gold, “August: Osage County,” The Old Globe
Adrian Noble, “The Tempest,” The Old Globe
Glenn Paris & Claudio Raygoza, “Angels in America,” ion Theatre
Daren Scott, “Of Mice and Men,” New Village Arts Theatre
Delicia Turner Sonnenberg, “Dead Man’s Cell Phone,” Moxie Theatre
Matthew Wiener, “Lend Me A Tenor,” North Coast Repertory Theatre

Outstanding Sound Design
David Ballard, “Amadeus,” The Old Globe
Melanie Chen, “Angels in America,” ion Theatre
Deborah Gilmour Smyth, “The Book of the Dun Cow,” Lamb's Players Theatre
Jeremy J. Lee, “Somewhere,” The Old Globe
George Ye, “Tragedy of The Commons,” Cygnet Theatre

Outstanding Costume Design
Deirdre Clancy, “Amadeus,” The Old Globe
Jennifer Brawn Gittings, “In the Next Room (or the vibrator play),” San Diego REPertory Theatre
Jennifer Brawn Gittings, “The Who’s Tommy,” San Diego REPertory Theatre
Sonia Elizabeth Lerner, “Lend Me A Tenor,” North Coast Repertory Theatre
Jeanne Reith, “The Servant of Two Masters,” Lamb’s Players Theatre

Outstanding Lighting Design
Christopher Akerlind, “Sleeping Beauty Wakes,” La Jolla Playhouse
Alan Burrett, “The Tempest,” The Old Globe
Karen Filijan, “Angels in America,” ion Theatre
Michael Gilliam, “Jane Austen's Emma,” The Old Globe
Japhy Wiedeman, “August: Osage County,” The Old Globe

Outstanding Set Design
Marty Burnett, “Lend Me a Tenor,” North Coast Repertory Theatre
David Korins, “Little Miss Sunshine,” La Jolla Playhouse
Michael McKeon, “Trying,” Lamb’s Players Theatre
Tobin Ost, “Jane Austen's Emma,” The Old Globe
Victoria Petrovich, “In the Next Room (or the vibrator play),” San Diego REPertory Theatre
David Zinn, “August: Osage County,” The Old Globe

Other awards to be announced on February 6:
Outstanding Young Artist/Sandra Ellis-Troy Scholarship
Outstanding Special Event
Actor of the Year
Braunagel Award