L.A. Drama Critics Circle announces 2012 nominations

The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle announced on Thursday its nominations for its 2012 awards. Leading the way, with five nominations each, were productions of August Wilson’s “Jitney,” “Silence! The Musical” and Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot.”

The awards will be handed out at a ceremony on March 18 at the Los Angeles Theatre Center. “Third Rock From the Sun” actor French Stewart, a habitué of the L.A. theater scene, will host the show.

“Jitney” was produced at South Coast Repertory and later transferred to the Pasadena Playhouse. “Silence,” the bawdy musical parody of “The Silence of the Lambs,” recently ran at the Hayworth Theatre. “Godot” was a Center Theatre Group production at the Mark Taper Forum.

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The nominees for best production of the year are “Jitney” and “Silence” as well as “Cyrano,” presented by the Fountain Theatre and Deaf West Theatre; “Justin Love” at the Celebration Theatre; the national touring production of “The Book of Mormon” at the Pantages; “The Grönholm Method” at the Falcon Theatre; the national tour of “War Horse” at the Ahmanson; and “Bad Apples” by Circle X.

“Godot” was nominated in the category of best revival alongside “Heartbreak House” at the Theatricum Botanicum and “West Side Story” at the Chance Theatre.

Unlike other awards, the L.A. Drama Critics Circle often chooses multiple winners in each category. The organization consists of theater critics from around Southern California, including two regular reviewers for The Times, F. Kathleen Foley and David C. Nichols.

Last year’s big winners were “Margo Veil,” a play by Len Jenkins that was performed at the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble, and the revival of Lorraine Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun” by the Ebony Repertory Theatre, with four wins each.

For the full list of this year’s nominations, check the L.A. Drama Critics Circle website.

RELATED:

Review: ‘Jitney’ evocative at South Coast Repertory

Review: In ‘Silence! The Musical,’ a killer silliness ensues

Theater review: ‘Waiting for Godot’ at the Mark Taper Forum