SAN FRANCISCO: Theatre Bay Area announced the 2015 TBA Awards at the second annual TBA Awards Celebration. The peer-based awards voted on by 350 individuals in the Bay Area on 306 productions, which are produced by 87 companies in the 9 counties of the Bay Area. Of the final selections, 123 performed in San Francisco, 100 performed in the East Bay, 83 performed in the South Bay, and 37 performed in the North Bay.
Old Hats at American Conservatory Theater took home the first tier award for outstanding production of a play, with Clybourne Park at 6th Street Playhouse for the second tier, and The Brothers Size at Ubuntu Theater Project for the third tier. Party People at Berkeley Repertory Theatre took home outstanding production of a musical for first tier theatres. H.M.S. Pinafore at Lamplighters Music Theatre took home the prize in the second tier category, and Dogfight at OMG, I Love That Show! Productions for the third tier. Triangle at TheatreWorks was recognized as outstanding world premiere musical, and also took home the most awards of the night with the ensemble, principal performers, and designers being lauded.
In addition to honoring finalists and recipients in each category, three Legacy Awards were given to honor an artist, a philanthropist, and an organization that has made extraordinary contributions to the Bay Area theatre community. Recipients were the late American Conservatory Theater‘s associate director Mark Rucker; Judith Cohen, consultant, philanthropist, and executive director of Handful Players; and the Oakland School for the Arts, a public charter school.
The Charles Dean Award was presented to actor, director, playwright, and educator Margo Hall, who has dedicated her career to the Bay Area. She received a $10,000 cash prize. Hall is a founding member of the Campo Santo collective. Some of her acting credits include A Raisin in the Sun at California Shakespeare Theater, Marcus; or the Secret of Sweet at American Conservatory Theater, Seven Guitars at Marin Theatre Company, and The World in a Woman’s Hands at Shotgun Players. Directing credits include Hotel Angulo, Simpatico, and Joyride for Campo Santo, and The Story at San Francisco Playhouse.
A complete list of the 2015 TBA Awards Recipients is here.
