‘Museum,’ ‘Checkmates’ Among Big NAACP Winners

“The Colored Museum,” “Checkmates,” “De Obeah Mon” and “The Gospel Truth” were the big winners Monday night, as the Beverly Hills/Hollwood chapter of the NAACP presented its second annual Theatre Awards to a near-capacity crowd at USC’s Bing Theater.

Sequins, furs (for men and women) and a pervading atmosphere of good will set the tone for the evening, as 24 awards were presented by the National Assn. for the Advancement of Colored People chapter to a variety of plays staged here last year.

George C. Wolfe’s scabrous “The Colored Museum” (which garnered six awards) was named best Equity play, while the musical “De Obeah Mon” was the big winner in the Equity Waiver category with four awards.

“It’s mine! It’s mine!” crowed director L. Kenneth Richardson as he bounded to the stage for his prize for “Colored Museum.” “I came all the way from Jersey City, New Jersey, to get this award.”

Other enthusiastic winners included “The Gospel Truth’s” Johnny Brown (“This must be a dream, right?”) and the absent Danitra Vance who, in a written acceptance, called her “Colored Museum” co-stars to the stage (“Loretta (Devine) and Vickilyn (Reynolds), get up here!”) and shared the honor with them.

Special awards were presented to producer Woodie King Jr., actress Beah Richards, the Inglewood Playhouse and the Inner City Cultural Center. Marguerite Ray and Ted Lange accepted on behalf of ICCC, exhorting the audience to support black theater--in attendance and coin.

A complete list of awards follows:

Best play, Equity: “The Colored Museum,” producer Gordon Davidson, Mark Taper Forum/Center Theatre Group, presented in association with the New York Shakespeare Festival.

Best actor, Equity: Paul Winfield, “Checkmates.”

Best actress, Equity: Danitra Vance, “The Colored Museum.”

Best writer, Equity: Ron Milner, “Checkmates.”

Best director, Equity: L. Kenneth Richardson, “The Colored Museum.”

Best performance by a supporting actor, Equity: Teddy Wilson, “Ceremonies in Dark Old Men.”

Best set design, Equity: Brian Martin, “The Colored Museum.”

Best lighting design, Equity: Kathy Perkins, “Checkmates.”

Best costume design, Equity: Nancy L. Konrardy, “The Colored Museum.”

Best play, Equity Waiver: “De Obeah Mon,” Richard Gitlin, C.D. Aquarius, producers.

Best actor, Equity Waiver: Johnny Brown, “The Gospel Truth.”

Best actress, Equity Waiver: Dolores Hall, “De Obeah Mon.”

Best writer, Equity Waiver: Charles Douglass, “De Obeah Mon”

Best director, Equity Waiver: Cliff Roquemore, “The Gospel Truth.”

Best choreographer, Equity Waiver: Hope Clark, “The Colored Museum.”

Best supporting actress, Equity Waiver: Peggy Ann Blow, “The Gospel Truth.”

Best supporting actor, Equity Waiver: David Whitfield, “The Gospel Truth.”

Best set design, Equity Waiver: Don Llewellyn, “Distant Fires.”

Best lighting design, Equity Waiver: Tom Hall, “The First Breeze of Summer.”

Best costumes, Equity Waiver: Samuel P. Barton and Ron Cremers, “De Obeah Mon.”

Community Service Award: Inglewood Playhouse, Cepheus Jaxon, artistic director.

Outstanding Theatre Award: Inner City Cultural Center.

Trailblazer Award: Woodie King, Jr.

Lifetime Achievement Award: Beah Richards.