THEATER CRITICS PICK SAN DIEGO’S BEST

Top honors for this year’s outstanding achievements in theater arts were given to eight groups Sunday night when the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle held its third annual awards ceremony at the Reuben E. Lee restaurant.

The La Jolla Playhouse narrowly led the pack with four winners, followed by three for the Old Globe and two for the San Diego Repertory Theatre. The other awards were spread among five theatrical troupes. “Holy Ghosts” (San Diego Repertory Theatre) and “Emily” (Old Globe) were the only productions to win in two different categories.

Here are the critics’ choices for the 1985-86 theatrical season:

Best Production: “Holy Ghosts” (San Diego Repertory Theatre).

Best New Play: “Emily” by Stephen Metcalfe (Old Globe).

Best Leading Actress: Madolyn Smyth in “Emily” (Old Globe).

Best Supporting Actress: Rebecca Nachison in “In the Sweet Bye and Bye” (Gaslamp Quarter).

Best Leading Actor: Douglas Roberts in “Billy Bishop Goes to War” (North Coast Repertory).

Best Supporting Actor: Michael Genovese in “Gillette” (La Jolla Playhouse).

Best Director: Douglas Jacobs for “Holy Ghosts” (San Diego Repertory).

Best Choreography: Kenneth Green for “Blues for a Gospel Queen” (Southeastern Community Theatre).

Best Costumes: Robert Morgan for “Pygmalion” (Old Globe).

Best Scenic Design: Douglas Stein for “Figaro Gets a Divorce” (La Jolla Playhouse).

Best Lighting Design: David Thayer for “The Diviners” (Lamb’s Players).

Best Sound Design: Victor Zupanc and Michael S. Roth for “1951” (UC San Diego).

Best New Score: Nat and Julian Adderley for “Shout Up a Morning” (La Jolla Playhouse).

Best Road Show: “Ajax” (La Jolla Playhouse).

The critics also presented two special awards at Sunday’s ceremony. The fledgling San Diego Theatre League was cited for its pioneer efforts in setting up the “Arts Tix” booth--a project designed to help match audiences with available theater seats. And Sushi was lauded for providing a home for and inspiration to unusual and innovative theater artists.

This year’s voting members of the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle were Don Braunagel, Frances Bardacke, George Weinberg-Harter, William E. Fark, Carol and Gerry Davis, Welton Jones, D. Larry Steckling, Jonathan Saville, Christopher Schneider, Jeff Smith, Bill Teague and Eileen Sondak.