A Standing Ovation for ‘Sunset’ : ‘Boulevard’ Wins Four Honors, With ‘Fool Moon’ and ‘Falsettos’ Earning Three Each in Los Angeles’ First Competitive, Peer-Judged Theater Awards

“Sunset Boulevard” took home four Ovation Awards, more than any other show, as the first competitive, peer-judged theater awards to cover most of Los Angeles County were presented in a glittery program that attracted 1,250 people to the Alex Theatre in Glendale Monday night.

“Fool Moon” and “Falsettos,” both presented under Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson auspices at the Doolittle Theatre, took three trophies each, and another show from the same series, “Five Guys Named Moe,” won two honors. Together with an award for “Carpa Clash,” a Center Theatre Group show at the Mark Taper Forum, they gave CTG nine Ovations--the most to a single production company.

The top winner among small theater productions was “Men on the Verge of a His-panic Breakdown,” at the Celebration Theatre. It won an award for best world premiere for playwright Guillermo Reyes and also was named best play in a smaller theater.

“Sunset Boulevard” and “Fool Moon” garnered awards for best musical and play, respectively, in the larger theaters. The Blank Theatre Company’s revival of “The Fantasticks” at the Egyptian Arena Theatre was named best musical in a smaller theater. It was the only award that came with a cash prize--$1,000, given in the memory of the late producer Franklin R. Levy by his friends and family.

“The End of the Day,” at the Coast Playhouse, won two awards, for costumes and lighting.

Actress Mariette Hartley was a last-minute replacement as emcee, filling in for John Larroquette, who couldn’t make it because of a family emergency, Hartley said.

Although Theatre LA, an organization of 123 theater companies and producers, has previously presented Ovations for lifetime achievement, this year’s Ovations were the first for specific achievements--and the first competitive Ovations. The period of eligibility was from September, 1993, through August, 1994.

The winners:

* Play/Larger: “Fool Moon,” Doolittle Theatre

* Play/Smaller: “Men on the Verge of a His-panic Breakdown,” Celebration Theatre

* Musical/Larger: “Sunset Boulevard,” Shubert Theatre

* Musical/Smaller: “The Fantasticks,” Blank Theatre Company at Egyptian Arena Theatre

* Writing of a World Premiere: Guillermo Reyes, “Men on the Verge of a His-panic Breakdown”

* Director/Musical: Tracy Young, “Hysteria,” Actors’ Gang

* Director/Play: Bill Irwin and David Shiner, “Fool Moon”

* Leading Actor/Play: Christopher Liam Moore, “Twelfth Night,” Cornerstore Theatre at Taper, Too

* Leading Actress/Play: Jenifer Lewis, “The Diva Is Dismissed,” Hudson BackStage

* Leading Actor/Musical: Michael Rupert, “Falsettos,” Doolittle Theatre

* Leading Actress/Musical: Barbara Walsh, “Falsettos”

* Featured Actor/Play: Ellis E. Williams, “Distant Fires,” Fair Day Inc./Coast Playhouse

* Featured Actress/Play: Marga Gomez, “Carpa Clash,” Mark Taper Forum

* Featured Actor/Musical: Jeffrey Polk, “Five Guys Named Moe,” Doolittle Theatre

* Featured Actress/Musical: Carolee Carmello, “Falsettos”

* Set Design/Larger: John Napier, “Sunset Boulevard”

* Set Design/Smaller: Rick Bluhm, “Working,” Colony Studio Theatre

* Costume Design/Larger: Anthony Powell, “Sunset Boulevard”

* Costume Design/Smaller: Ian Falconer/Alison Hirsch, “The End of the Day,” Fair Day Inc./Coast Playhouse

* Lighting Design/Larger: Andrew Bridge, “Sunset Boulevard”

* Lighting Design/Smaller: Michael Gilliam, “The End of the Day”

* Sound Design/Larger: Tom Morse, “Fool Moon”

* Sound Design/Smaller: Nathan Birnbaum/Gina Leishman/Elliot Siegel, “The Oresteia,” Actors’ Gang

* Choreography: Charles Augins, “Five Guys Named Moe”

* Lifetime Achievement: James A. Doolittle