'SHREK', 'BILLY' & RUINED Lead Outer Critics Circle Nominations
By: Eddie Varley Apr. 20, 2009
Outer Critics Circle, the organization of writers and commentators covering New York theater for out-of-town newspapers, national publications and other media beyond Broadway, announced today (April 20, 2009) its nominees for the 2008-09 season in 23 categories. Broadway stars and former Outer Critics Circle Award honorees Rebecca Luker and Danny Burstein presided over the (11AM) announcement ceremony at Manhattan's historic Algonquin Hotel.
Based on a recommendation by the OCC Executive Committee, Special Achievement Awards will be given to David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik, and Kiril Kulish for their performances in "Billy Elliot the Musical" and an Outstanding Ensemble Performance Award will be bestowed 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, radio and television stations, and theatre publications in America and abroad. The winners of the following categories will be announced on Monday, May 11th and the annual awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, May 21st (4PM) at the legendary Sardi's Restaurant.
Outer Critics Circle
2008-2009 Award Nominations
OUTSTANDING NEW BROADWAY PLAY
Reasons To Be Pretty
OUTSTANDING NEW BROADWAY MUSICAL
Billy Elliot 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
The Toxic Avenger
What's That Smell The Music of Jacob Sterling
OUTSTANDING NEW SCORE
(Broadway or Off-Broadway)
Billy Elliot the Musical
Rooms A Rock Romance
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
Diane Paulus Hair
OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHER
Karole Armitage Hair
Andy Blankenbuehler 9 to 5
Peter Darling Billy Elliot the Musical
OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN
(Play or 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
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
Nancy Opel The Toxic Avenger
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
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
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.
Videos