Old Globe Receives 5 NAACP Theatre Awards

Executive Producer Lou Spisto today announced that The Old Globe's world premiere productions of Sammy and The First Wives Club - A New Musical were the recipients of five 2010 NAACP Theatre Awards.  The awards presentation was held on Monday, Aug. 30 at the Director's Guild of America in Hollywood.
 
The Old Globe was named Best Producer for the world premiere production of Sammy.  Broadway veteran Obba Babatundé won the Best Lead Actor award for his astonishing portrayal of Sammy Davis Jr. and Ian Fraser, winner of 11 Emmy Awards for his musical talents, picked up the award for Best Music Director.  The new musical's book, music and lyrics were written by Oscar and Grammy Award winner Leslie Bricusse and premiered at the Globe Sept. 19 - Nov. 8, 2009.
 
Internationally recognized opera and theater director Francesca Zambello was named Best Director of a Musical and Broadway and West End designer Mark McCullough won Best Lighting for The First Wives Club.  With music by the legendary songwriting team of Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland and book by Tony Award winner Rupert Holmes, The First Wives Club premiered at the Globe July 17 - August 23, 2009.
"We are proud to be recognized by the NAACP for our achievements during the 2009-10 season and offer our enthusiastic congratulations to Obba, Ian, Francesca and Mark," said Spisto.  "The Old Globe has long had a commitment to diversity and we continue to develop and present programming to further our goals."
 
LOCATION:  The Old Globe is located in San Diego's Balboa Park at 1363 Old Globe Way.  There are numerous free parking lots available throughout the park.  Valet parking is also available ($10).  For additional parking information visit www.BalboaPark.org. 
 
CALENDAR:  King Lear (6/12-9/23), The Madness of George III (6/19-9/24), The Taming of the Shrew (6/16- 9/26), The Last Romance (7/30-9/12), Brighton Beach Memoirs and Broadway Bound (9/14-11/7), Welcome to Arroyo's (9/25-10/31), The Winter's Tale (11/9-11/14), Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! (11/20-12/26).
 
The Tony Award-winning Old Globe is one of the country's leading professional regional theaters and has stood as San Diego's flagship arts institution for 75 years.  Under the direction of Executive Producer Louis G. Spisto, The Old Globe produces a year-round season of 15 productions of classic, contemporary and new works on its three Balboa Park stages: the 600-seat Old Globe Theatre, the 250-seat Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre and the 612-seat outdoor Lowell Davies Festival Theatre, home of its internationally renowned Shakespeare Festival.  More than 250,000 people attend Globe productions annually and participate in the theater's education and community programs.  Numerous world premieres such as The Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, A Catered Affair, and the annual holiday musical, Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, have been developed at The Old Globe and have gone on to enjoy highly successful runs on Broadway and at regional theaters across the country.