2014 LA STAGE ALLIANCE OVATION AWARDS Nominees Announced - Theatre at Boston Court Leads; Geffen, La Mirada Follow

Nominees for the 2014 LA STAGE Alliance Ovation Awards were announced on the evening of Monday, September 22 at Native Voices at the Autry National Center in Los Angeles. The nominations were revealed by past Ovation Award recipients Gigi Bermingham, Brighid Fleming, Parmer Fuller, Jennifer Haley, Brian Kite, Glynn Turman, and John Zalewski, along with LA STAGE Alliance Chief Executive Officer Terence McFarland.

Theatre @ Boston Court received the most nominations (19), followed by the Geffen Playhouse and La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts with 17 each, Center Theatre Group and 3-D Theatricals with 13 each, and the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts (12). Theatre @ Boston Court garnered nine nominations for Stupid f-ing Bird (co-production with Circle X Theatre Company), seven for Everything You Touch (co-production with Rattlestick Playwrights Theater), R II (2), and Best Season. The Geffen Playhouse received nominations for The Country House (11), Play Dead (3), Slowgirl (2), and Wait Until Dark (1). La Mirada's nominations are for Floyd Collins (9), LES MISERABLES (7), and Best Season. Center Theatre Group received seven nominations for Harmony and one each for A Word or Two and Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty all at the Ahmanson Theatre, The Steward of Christendom at the Mark Taper Forum (2), and St. Jude and The Black Suits, both at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, with one each. Nods to 3-D Theatricals are for The Producers (7), Funny Girl (2), Damn Yankees, Into the Woods, and Legally Blonde with one each, and Best Season.

The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts received nominations for Maurice Hines is Tappin' Thru Life (8), Parfumerie (3), and Brief Encounter (1).

Ovation Honors, which recognize outstanding achievement in areas that are not among the standard list of nomination categories, have been awarded to Dave Robbins (Music Composition for a Play, A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Actors' Gang), Ahmed Best (Fight Choreography, Backyard at Echo Theater Company), and Michelle Zamora (Puppet Design, Roald Dahl's The Magic Finger, MainStreet Theatre Company).

For the 2013-2014 voting season, there are a grand total of 195 nominations for 78 productions, presented by 49 companies. There were 318 total productions registered from 137 companies. Of those productions registered, 78 were Ovation Recommended, identified during their runs as scoring in the top quarter of all productions in the Overall Production categories. The complete list of nominees is below.

Said CEO Terence McFarland, "We're always excited to see the breadth and diversity of the Ovation Awards nominee list. This year's crop is reflective of the tremendous work happening on stages throughout the region. We're thrilled to shine a light on some stalwarts of the community and bring broader attention to those burgeoning artists at the beginning of their careers. I look forward to celebrating all achievements in excellence in Los Angeles theatre on November 2."

The Full Nominees List Includes:

BEST SEASON

• 3-D THEATRICALS
• ACTORS CO-OP
• FOUNTAIN THEATRE
• LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
• THE THEATRE @ BOSTON COURT

BEST PRODUCTION OF A PLAY (Intimate Theatre)

• EVERYTHING YOU TOUCH
  The Theatre @ Boston Court/
  Rattlestick Playwrights Theater
• HENRY V
  Pacific Resident Theatre
• MY NAME IS ASHER LEV
  Fountain Theatre
• STUPID f-ing BIRD
  The Theatre @ Boston Court/
  Circle X Theatre Company
• THE LARAMIE PROJECT: TEN YEARS LATER
  Los Angeles LGBT Center
• THE PLIANT GIRLS
  Fugitive Kind Theater
• THE RECOMMENDATION
  IAMA Theatre Company

BEST PRODUCTION OF A PLAY (Large Theatre)

• BREATH & IMAGINATION
  The Colony Theatre Company
• COME BACK, LITTLE SHEBA
  A Noise Within
• OTHER DESERT CITIES
  International City Theatre
• PERICLES, PRINCE OF TYRE
  A Noise Within
• PREMEDITATION
  The Los Angeles Theatre Center (LATC)
• SLOWGIRL
  Geffen Playhouse
• THE COUNTRY HOUSE
  Geffen Playhouse

BEST PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL (Intimate Theatre)

• 110 IN THE SHADE
  Actors Co-op
• LYSISTRATA JONES
  Chance Theater
• THE WRONG MAN
  Skylight Theatre Company

BEST PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL (Large Theatre)

• FLOYD COLLINS
  La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
• LES MISERABLES
  La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
• MAURICE HINES IS TAPPIN' THRU LIFE
  Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts

BEST PRESENTED PRODUCTION

• A WORD OR TWO
  Center Theatre Group
• BRIEF ENCOUNTER
  Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
• MATTHEW BOURNE'S SLEEPING BEAUTY
  Center Theatre Group

ACTING ENSEMBLE FOR A PLAY

• LEBENSRAUM
  Art of Acting Studio
• MY NAME IS ASHER LEV
  Fountain Theatre
• STUPID f-ing BIRD
  The Theatre @ Boston Court/
  Circle X Theatre Company
• THE BROTHERS SIZE
  Fountain Theatre
• THE COUNTRY HOUSE
  Geffen Playhouse
• THE PLIANT GIRLS
  Fugitive Kind Theater
• THE RECOMMENDATION
  IAMA Theatre Company

ACTING ENSEMBLE OF A MUSICAL

• FLOYD COLLINS
  La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
• HARMONY
  Center Theatre Group
• LES MISERABLES
  La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
• MAURICE HINES IS TAPPIN' THRU LIFE
  Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
• THE PRODUCERS
  3-D Theatricals

CHOREOGRAPHY

• JOHN CHARRON
  BYE BYE BIRDIE
  Cabrillo Music Theatre
• DANA SOLIMANDO
  DAMN YANKEES
  3-D Theatricals
• JOANN HUNTER
  HARMONY
  Center Theatre Group
• DANIELLE AGAMI
  INVISIBLE CITIES
  The Industry
• KELLY TODD
  LYSISTRATA JONES
  Chance Theater
• LAUREN KADEL
  MEL BROOKS' YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN
  Musical Theatre West
• AMEENAH KAPLAN
  THE BROTHERS SIZE
  Fountain Theatre

MUSIC DIRECTION

• DAVID O
  FLOYD COLLINS
  La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
• JOHN O'NEILL
  HARMONY
  Center Theatre Group
• JOHN GLAUDINI
  LES MISERABLES
  La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
• SHERRIE MARICLE
  MAURICE HINES IS TAPPIN' THRU LIFE
  Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
• DAVID LAMOUREUX
  THE PRODUCERS
  3-D Theatricals

BOOK FOR AN ORIGINAL MUSICAL

• CHRISTOPHER CERRONE
  INVISIBLE CITIES
  The Industry
• ROSS GOLAN
  THE WRONG MAN
  Skylight Theatre Company
• DEAN MCCLURE
  WHEN YOU WISH: THE STORY OF WALT DISNEY
  When You Wish L.A., LLC

LYRICS/MUSIC FOR AN ORIGINAL MUSICAL

• CHRISTOPHER CERRONE
  INVISIBLE CITIES
  The Industry
• ROSS GOLAN
  THE WRONG MAN
  Skylight Theatre Company
• DEAN MCCLURE
  WHEN YOU WISH: THE STORY OF WALT DISNEY
  When You Wish L.A., LLC

PLAYWRIGHTING FOR AN ORIGINAL PLAY

• SHEILA CALLAGHAN
  EVERYTHING YOU TOUCH
  The Theatre @ Boston Court/
  Rattlestick Playwrights Theater
• TOMMY SMITH
  FIREMEN
  The Echo Theater Company
• MARJA-LEWIS RYAN
  ONE IN THE CHAMBER
  Theatre Planners
• LUIS ALFARO
  ST. JUDE
  Center Theatre Group
• AARON POSNER
  STUPID f-ing BIRD
  The Theatre @ Boston Court/
  Circle X Theatre Company
• DONALD MARGULIES
  THE COUNTRY HOUSE
  Geffen Playhouse
• MEGHAN BROWN
  PLIANT GIRLS
  Fugitive Kind Theater

DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL

• RICHARD ISRAEL
  110 IN THE SHADE
  Actors Co-op
• RICHARD ISRAEL
  FLOYD COLLINS
  La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
• MICHAEL MATTHEWS
  FUNNY GIRL
  3-D Theatricals
• YUVAL SHARON
  INVISIBLE CITIES
  The Industry
• BRIAN KITE
  LES MISERABLES
  La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts

DIRECTOR OF A PLAY

• TIM ROBBINS
  A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
  Actors' Gang
• JESSICA KUBZANSKY
  EVERYTHING YOU TOUCH
  The Theatre @ Boston Court/
  Rattlestick Playwrights Theater
• GUILLERMO CIENFUEGOS
  HENRY V
  Pacific Resident Theatre
• JOSE LUIS VALENZUELA
  PREMEDITATION
  The Los Angeles Theatre Center (LATC)
• MICHAEL MICHETTI
  STUPID f-ing BIRD
  The Theatre @ Boston Court/
  Circle X Theatre Company
• DANIEL SULLIVAN
  THE COUNTRY HOUSE
  Geffen Playhouse
• AMANDA MCRAVEN
  THE PLIANT GIRLS
  Fugitive Kind Theater

LEAD ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

• MARK WHITTEN as Floyd Collins
  FLOYD COLLINS
  La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
• DAVIS GAINES as Fred/Petruchio
  KISS ME KATE
  Cabrillo Music Theatre
• JAMES BARBOUR as Jean Valjean
  LES MISERABLES
  La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
• JEFF SKOWRON as Thenardier
  LES MISERABLES
  La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
• MAURICE HINES as Maurice Hines
  MAURICE HINES IS TAPPIN' THRU LIFE
  Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
• JAY WINNICK as Max Bialystock
  THE PRODUCERS
  3-D Theatricals
• JEFF SKOWRON as Leo Bloom
  THE PRODUCERS
  3-D Theatricals

LEAD ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

• KIM HUBER as Nellie Collins
  FLOYD COLLINS
  La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
• NICOLE PARKER as Fanny Brice
  FUNNY GIRL
  3-D Theatricals
• VIVA CARR as Baker's Wife
  INTO THE WOODS
  3-D Theatricals
• VICTORIA STRONG as Lilli/Kate
  KISS ME, KATE
  Cabrillo Music Theatre
• ALISON ENGLAND as Zombina
  ZOMBIES FROM THE BEYOND
  The Visceral Company

LEAD ACTOR IN A PLAY

• GORDON GOODMAN as John Barrymore
  BARRYMORE
  Good People Theater Company
• ROGER GUENVEUR SMITH
  FREDERICK DOUGLASS NOW
  Bootleg Theater
• CHRIS L. MCKENNA as Vic
  TASTE
  Sacred Fools Theatre Company
• ERIC LANGE as Elliot Cooper
  THE COUNTRY HOUSE
  Geffen Playhouse
• MALCOLM BARRETT as Dwight Barnes
  THE RECOMMENDATION
  IAMA Theatre Company
• JOE SPANO as White
  THE SUNSET LIMITED
  Rubicon Theatre Company
• TUCKER SMALLWOOD as Black
  THE SUNSET LIMITED
  Rubicon Theatre Company

LEAD ACTRESS IN A PLAY

• KARAN KENDRICK as Angel Mo'
  BREATH & IMAGINATION
  The Colony Theatre Company
• DEBORAH STRANG as Lola
  COME BACK, LITTLE SHEBA
  A Noise Within
• KIRSTEN VANGSNESS as Jess
  EVERYTHING YOU TOUCH
  The Theatre @ Boston Court/
  Rattlestick Playwrights Theater
• ANNA KHAJA as Rivkeh
  MY NAME IS ASHER LEV
  Fountain Theatre
• BLYTHE DANNER as Anna Patterson
  THE COUNTRY HOUSE
  Geffen Playhouse
• SARAH STEELE as Susie Keegan
  THE COUNTRY HOUSE
  Geffen Playhouse
• ELIZABETH RODRIGUEZ as Rosie
  UNORGANIZED CRIME
  Elephant Theatre

FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

• JOSEY MCCOY as Skeets Miller
  FLOYD COLLINS
  La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
• JOHN MANZARI as John Manzari
  MAURICE HINES IS TAPPIN' THRU LIFE
  Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
• LEO MANZARI as Leo Manzari
  MAURICE HINES IS TAPPIN' THRU LIFE
  Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
• LUKE SPRING as Luke Spring
  MAURICE HINES IS TAPPIN' THRU LIFE
  Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
• DAVID ENGEL as Roger De Bris
  THE PRODUCERS
  3-D Theatricals
• LEIGH WAKEFORD as Carmen Ghia
  THE PRODUCERS
  3-D Theatricals
• ANDY UMBERGER as Roy Disney
  WHEN YOU WISH: THE STORY OF WALT DISNEY
  When You Wish L.A., LLC

FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

• STEPHANIE ANDERSEN as Sister Chantelle
  BARE: A ROCK MUSICAL
  glory/struck Productions
• HANNAH CORNEAU as Ruth
  HARMONY
  Center Theatre Group
• LINDSEY ALLEY as Paulette
  LEGALLY BLONDE
  3-D Theatricals
• ANDI DAVIS as INGA
  MEL BROOKS' YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN
  Musical Theatre West
• REBECCA JOHNSON as Elizabeth
  MEL BROOKS' YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN
  Musical Theatre West
• TRACY LORE as Frau Blucher
  MEL BROOKS' YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN
  Musical Theatre West
• ANNIE GOLDEN as Mrs. Werring
  THE BLACK SUITS
  Center Theatre Group

FEATURED ACTOR IN A PLAY

• HUGO ARMSTRONG as Ted
  BACKYARD
  The Echo Theater Company
• LEON RUSSOM as Chorus/Bates/Bardolph
  HENRY V
  The Porters of Hellsgate
• ALEC FRASIER as Adam
  ONE IN THE CHAMBER
  Theatre Planners
• ADAM SILVER as Dev
  STUPID f-ing BIRD
  The Theatre @ Boston Court/
  Circle X Theatre Company
• ARYE GROSS as Sorn
  STUPID f-ing BIRD
  The Theatre @ Boston Court/
  Circle X Theatre Company
• JOE DELAFIELD as Alcippe
  THE LIAR
  The Antaeus Company
• TYLER SEIPLE as Marcus/Claude
  THE PLIANT GIRLS
  Fugitive Kind Theater

FEATURED ACTRESS IN A PLAY

• REBECCA GRAY as Susan
  FIREMEN
  The Echo Theater Company
• CAROLE WEYERS as Nym/Katherine
  HENRY V
  Pacific Resident Theatre
• SHANNON HOLT as Queen Elizabeth/Hitler/Reagan
  PASSION PLAY
  Odyssey Theatre Ensemble
• KELLY SCHUMANN as Tam
  THE HOMOSEXUALS
  Celebration Theatre
• RACHEL GRATE as Kay
  THE PLIANT GIRLS
  Fugitive Kind Theater
• SAGE HOWARD as Courtney
  THE PLIANT GIRLS
  Fugitive Kind Theater
• ABIGAIL MARKS as Dull Gret/Angie
  TOP GIRLS
  The Antaeus Company

LIGHTING DESIGN (Intimate Theatre)

• DAVID DARWIN
  A CHRISTMAS CAROL 2014
  Grove Theater Center
• JEREMY PIVNICK
  EVERYTHING YOU TOUCH
  The Theatre @ Boston Court/
  Rattlestick Playwrights Theater
• KRISTEEN CROSSER
  FOXFINDER
  Furious Theatre Company
• JEREMY PIVNICK
  R II
  The Theatre @ Boston Court
• ELIZABETH HARPER
  STUPID f-ing BIRD
  The Theatre @ Boston Court/
  Circle X Theatre Company
• JEREMY PIVNICK
  THE DIFFERENT SHADES OF HUGH
  Road Theatre Company
• LUKE MOYER
  THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO THOMAS JEFFERSON, CHARLES DICKENS AND COUNT LEO TOLSTOY
  NoHo Arts Center Ensemble

LIGHTING DESIGN (Large Theatre)

• LISA KATZ
  FLOYD COLLINS
  La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
• JEFF CROITER & SETH JACKSON
  HARMONY
  Center Theatre Group
• DAVID LANDER
  PARFUMERIE
  Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
• ELIZABETH HARPER
  PLAY DEAD
  Geffen Playhouse
• PABLO SANTIAGO
  PREMEDITATION
  The Los Angeles Theatre Center (LATC)
• PETER KACZOROWSKI
  THE COUNTRY HOUSE
  Geffen Playhouse
• ROBERT WIERZEL
  THE STEWARD OF CHRISTENDOM
  Center Theatre Group

SCENIC DESIGN (Intimate Theatre)

• JEFF RACK
  GOD ONLY KNOWS
  Theatre 40
• JEFF RACK
  NIGHT WATCH
  Theatre 40
• D MARTIN BOOKWALTER
  ON THE MONEY
  The Victory Theatre Center
• JEFF MCLAUGHLIN
  PRAY TO BALL
  Skylight Theatre Company
• STEPHANIE SCHWARTZ
  STUPID f-ing BIRD
  The Theatre @ Boston Court/
  Circle X Theatre Company
• DEANNE MILLAIS
  TASTE
  Sacred Fools Theatre Company
• THOMAS BROWN
  THE OLD SETTLER
  Interact Theatre Company

SCENIC DESIGN (Large Theatre)

• TOBIN OST
  HARMONY
  Center Theatre Group
• TOM BUDERWITZ
  NOÉL COWARD'S A SONG AT TWILIGHT
  Pasadena Playhouse
• ALLEN MOYER
  PARFUMERIE
  Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
• TOM BUDERWITZ
  PLAY DEAD
  Geffen Playhouse
• JOHN LEE BEATTY
  THE COUNTRY HOUSE
  Geffen Playhouse
• KEVIN DEPINET
  THE STEWARD OF CHRISTENDOM
  Center Theatre Group
• CRAIG SIEBELS
  WAIT UNTIL DARK
  Geffen Playhouse

SOUND DESIGN (Intimate Theatre)

• AUSTIN QUAN
  DR. JEKYLL & MR. HYDE
  Actors Co-op
• JOHN ZALEWSKI
  EVERYTHING YOU TOUCH
  The Theatre @ Boston Court/
  Rattlestick Playwrights Theater
• DOUG NEWELL
  FOXFINDER
  Furious Theatre Company
• CHRISTOPHER MOSCATIELLO
  PRAY TO BALL
  Skylight Theatre Company
• JOHN ZALEWSKI
  R II
  The Theatre @ Boston Court
• DAN SPURGEON
  THE MYSTERY PLAYS
  The Visceral Company
• BILL FROGGATT
  THE WHIPPING MAN
  West Coast Jewish Theatre

SOUND DESIGN (Large Theatre)

• JOSH BESSOM
  FLOYD COLLINS
  La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
• CARL CASELLA
  MAURICE HINES IS TAPPIN' THRU LIFE
  Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
• CRICKET MYERS
  PLAY DEAD
  Geffen Playhouse
• RICHARD WOODBURY
  SLOWGIRL
  Geffen Playhouse
• JON GOTTLIEB
  THE COUNTRY HOUSE
  Geffen Playhouse
• JULIE FERRIN
  THE PRODUCERS
  3-D Theatricals
• DREW DALZELL & NOELLE HOFFMAN
  WICKET LIT 2013
  Unbound Productions

COSTUME DESIGN (Intimate Theatre)

• SHON LEBLANC
  AH, WILDERNESS!
  Actors Co-op
• JENNY FOLDENAUER
  EVERYTHING YOU TOUCH
  The Theatre @ Boston Court/
  Rattlestick Playwrights Theater
• WENDELL CARMICHAEL
  LEND ME A TENOR
  Actors Co-op
• KELLY BAILEY
  PRAY TO BALL
  Skylight Theatre Company
• GRACE GOODSON-WITCHER
  THE OLD SETTLER
  Interact Theatre Company
• RACHEL STIVERS
  THE PLIANT GIRLS
  Fugitive Kind Theater
• TERRI A. LEWIS
  TOP GIRLS
  The Antaeus Company

COSTUME DESIGN (Large Theatre)

• TOBIN OST
  HARMONY
  Center Theatre Group
• A. JEFFREY SCHOENBERG
  KISS ME, KATE
  Cabrillo Music Theatre
• COLLEEN GRADY
  LES MISERABLES
  La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
• DAVID MICKELSEN
  NOÉL COWARD'S A SONG AT TWILIGHT
  Pasadena Playhouse
• MICHAEL KRASS
  PARFUMERIE
  Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
• ANGELA CALIN
  PERICLES, PRINCE OF TYRE
  A Noise Within
• RITA RYACK
  THE COUNTRY HOUSE
  Geffen Playhouse

VIDEO/PROJECTION DESIGN

• SPENCER LEE & HANA KIM
  PRAY TO BALL
  Skylight Theatre Company
• BEN ROCK & ANTHONY BACKMAN
  STONEFACE
  Pasadena Playhouse
• SEAN CAWELTI
  STUPID f-ing BIRD
  The Theatre @ Boston Court/
  Circle X Theatre Company
• ADAM FLEMMING
  THE DIFFERENT SHADES OF HUGH
  Road Theatre Company
• HANA KIM
  THE UGLY ONE
  Ensemble Studio Theatre/LA
• MICHAEL HOY & ADAM FLEMMING
  THE WRONG MAN
  Skylight Theatre Company

OVATIONS HONORS

Composition for a Play

• DAVE ROBBINS
  A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
  Actors' Gang

Fight Choreography

• AHMED BEST
  BACKYARD
  The Echo Theater Company

Puppet Design

• MICHELLE ZAMORA
  ROALD DAHL'S THE MAGIC FINGER
  MainStreet Theatre Company