Who won L.A.’s Ovation Awards

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Three local productions of contemporary Broadway musicals and a new play about morality won the most 2008 Ovation Awards, the LA Stage Alliance’s honors for the best in Southern California theater. The awards were presented earlier tonight at a ceremony at the Luckman Fine Arts Complex at Cal State L.A.
“Miss Saigon,” a production of Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities, won four awards, including best musical at a large theater and best actress in a musical for Jennifer Paz.

“The Quality of Life,” a Geffen Playhouse world premiere of a Jane Anderson play about morality, religion and self-righteousness, won three awards for best play in an intimate theater, for lead actress Laurie Metcalf and for playwright Anderson.

“Singin’ in the Rain” and “Jekyll & Hyde,” both productions of Cabrillo Music Theatre, each won three awards. Because the Ovations allow two awards in some categories, both won for best direction of a musical — to Nick DeGruccio of “Jekyll & Hyde” and Larry Raben of “Singin’ in the Rain.” Robert J. Townsend (“Jekyll &and Hyde”) was named lead actor in a musical.

The Rubicon Theatre Company won four awards, including top honors to D.W. Jacobs’ “R. Buckminster Fuller: The History (and Mystery) of the Universe” for best play in a large theater and for lead actor Joe Spano.

Black Dahlia Theatre’s “Secrets of the Trade” won for two awards: lead actor in a play (to John Glover) and for direction of a play (to Matt Shakman). The award for touring production went to “Avenue Q,” the puppet play that appeared at the Ahmanson Theatre.

Read on for the rest of the winners:

Featured actor in a play: Barry Lynch, “Of Mice and Men,” Theatre Banshee
Featured actress in a play: J. Nicole Brooks, “As Much As You Can,” Hendel Productions West
Featured actor in a musical: Randy Rogel, “Singin’ in the Rain”
Featured actress in a musical: Gwen Stewart, “All Shook Up,” Musical Theatre West
Book/lyrics/music for an original musical: John Bucchino and Daisy Prince, “It’s Only Life,” Rubicon Theatre
Ray Stricklyn Memorial Award for Solo Performance: Nilaja Sun, “No Child ...,” Kirk Douglas Theatre
Ensemble performance: Stan Chandler, David Engel, Larry Raben, Darcie Roberts, “The Andrews Brothers,” Musical Theatre West
Choreography: Bradley Rapier, “City Kid — The Musical,” City Kid Productions LLC
Musical direction: Alby Potts, “Singin’ in the Rain”
Franklin R. Levy Memorial Award for Musical Intimate Theater: “Louis & Keely: Live at the Sahara,” Sacred Fools Theatre Company
Set design, intimate theater: Desma Murphy, “And Neither Have I Wings Tto Fly,” Road Theatre Company
Set design, large theater: Thomas S. Giamario, “Bus Stop,” Rubicon Theatre
Lighting design, intimate theater: Jeremy Pivnick, “Crime and Punishment,” Actors Co-op/Crossley Theatre
Lighting design, large theater: Darrell Clark, “Miss Saigon”
Lighting design, large theater: Steven Young, “Jekyll & Hyde”
Sound design, intimate theater: Ken Rich, “The Common Air,” Elephant Stageworks
Sound design, large theater: John Feinstein, “Miss Saigon”
Costume design, intimate theater: Scott A. Lane, “Pest Control — The Musical,” Open at the Top Productions
Costume design, large theater: Paul Tazewell, “Ray Charles Live! A New Musical,” Pasadena Playhouse

-- Sherry Stern