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Playwright Rajiv Joseph attends the 31st annual Lucille Lortel Awards at NYU Skirball Center on May 1, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Matthew Eisman/Getty Images for The Lucille Lortel Awards)

‘Guards at the Taj,’ ‘Robber Bridegroom’ Win Big at 2016 Lortel Awards

Honorary awards were also given to outgoing Signature Theatre artistic director James Houghton and Suzan-Lori Parks.

NEW YORK CITY: The 2016 Lucille Lortel Awards were held Sunday, May 1 at NYU Skirball Center. Zachary Levi hosted the ceremony, which honored Off-Broadway shows.

The big winner of the night was Rajiv Joseph’s two-hander Guards at the Taj, produced this season at Atlantic Theater Company. It won four awards, including best play, scenic design, lighting design, and sound design.

The other big winner of the night was Roundabout Theatre Company‘s revival of Alfred Uhry and Robert Waldman’s musical The Robber Bridegroom. The production won best musical revival, lead actor in a musical, and featured actress in a musical.

In addition to the competitive awards in 18 categories, two special awards and two honorary awards were given. Outgoing Signature Theatre artistic director James Houghton was honored with the lifetime achievement award. Suzan-Lori Parks was this year’s Playwrights’ Sidewalk Inductee and will receive a sidewalk plaque outside the Lucille Lortel Theatre. Signature Theatre’s production of Angel Reapers received a special award for outstanding alternative theatrical experience, and Peter Nigrini received a special award for his production design of Grounded at the Public Theater.

The Lucille Lortel Awards are distributed by the Off-Broadway League, and the ceremony is produced by special arrangement with the Lucille Lortel Foundation. Representatives of the Off-Broadway League, Actors’ Equity Association, Stage Directors & Choreographers Society, the Lucille Lortel Foundation, in addition to theatre journalists and academics and other Off-Broadway professionals, serve on the awards voting committee.

The complete list of winners is below.

Outstanding Play
Guards at the Taj
Produced by Atlantic Theater Company
Written by Rajiv Joseph

Outstanding Musical
FUTURITY
Produced by Soho Rep and Ars Nova in association with Carole Shorenstein Hays
Music by César Alvarez with the Lisps, lyrics and book by Alvarez

Outstanding Revival
The Robber Bridegroom
Produced by Roundabout Theatre Company in association with Daryl Roth
Book and lyrics by Alfred Uhry, music by Robert Waldman

Outstanding Solo Show
Grounded
Produced by the Public Theater
Written by George Brant
Performed by Anne Hathaway

Outstanding Director
Liesl Tommy, Eclipsed

Outstanding Choreographer
Martha Clarke, Angel Reapers

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play
Timothée Chalamet, Prodigal Son

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play
Phylicia Rashad, Head of Passes

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical
Steven Pasquale, The Robber Bridegroom

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical
Annette O’Toole, Southern Comfort

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play
Matt McGrath, The Legend of Georgia McBride

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play
Alana Arenas, Head of Passes

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical
Jeffrey Kuhn, Southern Comfort

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical
Leslie Kritzer, The Robber Bridegroom

Outstanding Scenic Design
Tim Mackabee, Guards at the Taj

Outstanding Costume Design
Anita Yavich, The Legend of Georgia McBride

Outstanding Lighting Design
David Weiner, Guards at the Taj

Outstanding Sound Design
Rob Milburn and Michael Bodeen, Guards at the Taj

SPECIAL AWARDS
Outstanding Alternative Theatrical Experience
Angel Reapers
Produced by Signature Theatre
By Martha Clarke and Alfred Uhry

Peter Nigrini, projection design, Grounded

HONORARY AWARDS
Lifetime Achievement Award
James Houghton

Playwrights’ Sidewalk Inductee
Suzan-Lori Parks

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