SAN DIEGO: The San Diego Theatre Critics Circle has announced the recipients of the 17th annual Craig Noel Awards, which recognize excellence in the San Diego theatre community. An awards ceremony was held on Feb. 11 at the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation. The 2018 awardees were chosen by a group of nine San Diego-based theatre critics.
The top winners for the evening, with four awards each, included the Old Globe’s production of A Thousand Splendid Suns and Lamb’s Players Theatre’s production of Once.
In addition to recognizing theatre productions, the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle also honored theatre artists and companies.
David Ellenstein, artistic director of North Coast Repertory Theatre, was named Director of the Year. Ellenstein directed five productions at North Coast Rep, and a production at the Roustabouts Theatre Co in 2018.
The Don Braunagel Award for Outstanding Achievement, which recognizes the work of a small theatre company, went to the Roustabouts Theatre Co.
The 2018 Actors of the Year awardees were Kevin Hafso Koppman and Nadia Guevara, who both appeared in three productions last year and each directed a production.
An Outstanding Special Event citation was given to San Diego Opera, Bodhi Tree Concerts, and SACRA/PROFANA, for the collaborative co-production of All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914.
The full list of winners is below:
Outstanding Dramatic Production (tie)
A Doll’s House, Part 2, San Diego Repertory Theatre
A Thousand Splendid Suns, the Old Globe
Outstanding New Play/Performing Arts Live Prize
The Wanderers by Anna Ziegler, the Old Globe
Outstanding Resident Musical
Once, Lamb’s Players Theatre
Director of the Year
David Ellenstein (Body of Work 2018)
Don Braunagel Award for Outstanding Achievement by a Small Theater
The Roustabouts Theatre Co.
Actors of the Year – Male and Female
Kevin Hafso Koppman
Nadia Guevara
Outstanding Young Artist/Sandra Ellis-Troy Scholarship
Noah Baird, Disney’s Newsies, Moonlight Stage Productions
Outstanding Special Event
All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914, co-production with San Diego Opera, Bodhi Tree Concerts and SACRA/PROFANA
Outstanding Direction of a Play
Carey Perloff, A Thousand Splendid Suns, the Old Globe
Outstanding Direction of a Musical
Sam Woodhouse, Fun Home, San Diego Repertory Theatre
Outstanding Musical Direction
Scott Lacy, Once, Lamb’s Players Theatre
Outstanding Scenic Design
Ken MacDonald, A Thousand Splendid Sons, the Old Globe
Outstanding Sound Design (tie)
Melanie Chen Cole, Men on Boats, New Village Arts
Will Pickens, Uncle Vanya, the Old Globe
Outstanding Costume Design
Fabio Toblini, The Importance of Being Earnest, the Old Globe
Outstanding Lighting Design
Robert Wierzel, A Thousand Splendid Suns, the Old Globe
Outstanding Ensemble
Once, Lamb’s Players Theatre
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play, Male
James Sutorius, The Father, North Coast Repertory Theatre
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play, Female
Sofia Jean Gomez, A Doll’s House, Part 2, San Diego Repertory Theatre
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Female
Joy Yvonne Jones, Voyeurs de Venus, Moxie Theatre
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Male
Wrekless Watson, Cardboard Piano, Diversionary Theatre
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical, Female
Caitie Grady, Once, Lamb’s Players Theatre
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical, Male
Zackary Scot Wolfe, Avenue Q, New Village Arts
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical, Female
Eboni Muse, Hairspray, San Diego Musical Theatre
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical, Male
Bryan Banville, Monty Python’s Spamalot, Cygnet Theatre
Outstanding Choreography
Jill Gorrie, Hairspray, San Diego Musical Theatre
