Don Grigware Picks the Best of Southern California Theatre for 2009
(Photo of Don Grigware with Tony Award Winner Jay Johnson by Paul Kreppel)
The Best in LA Theatre for 2009 brought to you by L.A.'s Don Grigware (alphabetical listings - artists performing outside LA may be included in performance categories)
Top Productions
Anita Bryant Died For Your Sins - West Coast Ensemble
The Apple Tree - Crown City Theatre
August Osage County - Ahmanson Theatre
Cabaret - Met Theatre
Farragut North - Geffen Playhouse
F*cking Men - Celebration Theatre
Life Could Be a Dream - Hudson Mainstage
Meet Me in St. Louis - Musical Theatre West @ The Carpenter Center for the Performing Arts, Long Beach
Parade - Mark Taper Forum
Voice Lessons - Zephyr Theatre Most Promising New Musical
Bonnie & Clyde - La Jolla Playhouse
Most Promising New Play
Anita Bryant Died For Your Sins - West Coast Ensemble
Best Revival (tie)
The Light in the Piazza @ El Portal Secondstage
Pippin @ Mark Taper Forum
Best Ensemble: Play (3 cast split)
Anita Bryant Died For Your Sins
@ West Coast Ensemble
F*cking Men
@ Celebration
Theatre
Best Ensemble: Musical (tie) Life Could Be a Dream
@ Hudson Mainstage Theatre
@ Mark Taper Forum Best Lead Performance
Sam Anderson The Bird and Mr. Banks @The Road Theatre CompanyEduardo Enrikez Cabaret @ The Met TheatreStephanie Fredericks The Apple Tree @ Crown City Theatre Laurie Metcalf Voice Lessons @ Zephyr TheatreMegan Mullally The Receptionist @ Odyssey Theatre Laura Osnes/Stark Sands Bonnie & Clyde @ La Jolla PlayhouseEstelle Parsons August Osage County @ Ahmanson TheatreChris Pine Farragut North @ Geffen PlayhouseBill Pullman/Julia Stiles Oleanna @ Mark Taper Forum
Best Featured Performances
Ray Abruzzo Mauritius @ Pasadena Playhouse Shannon Cochran August Osage County @ Ahmanson TheatreRachel Dratch Minsky's @ Ahmanson TheatreAnnalisa Erickson Cabaret @ Met TheatreSam Harris The First Wives Club @ Old Globe, San Diego Dee Hoty, Nikki Crawford Stormy Weather @ Pasadena Playhouse David McBean Twist @ Diversionary Theatre, San Diego John McLaughlin The Golden Gays @ Cavern Club, Casita del Campo, Silverlake Julia Migenes Man of La Mancha @ Reprise!, Freud Playhouse Kimberly Van Luin Wonder of the World @ Victory Theatre Mare Winningham Bonnie & Clyde La Jolla Playhouse Best Solo Show
The Two & Only Jay Johnson @ The Colony Theatre
Best Cabaret Artist: Male
Alan Cumming
I Bought a Blue Car Today
@ Geffen Playhouse
Best Cabaret Artist: Female
Alexandra Billings
Everybody's Girl
@ Sterling's Upstairs @ Vitello's
Best Seasonal Show (tie)
Wicked Summer Nights: Upright Cabaret
@ Ford Amphitheatre
Winter Wonderettes
@ Laguna Playhouse
Best CD
this place I know
Stephanie J. Block
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