Stage Critics Vote Small for Awards : Theater: Large resident companies are generally outshined in L.A. drama critics ’94 nominations. ‘The 1940’s Radio Hour’ ties for highest number of awards with eight.

Smaller theaters dominated this year’s Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle 1994 Awards nominations, which were announced Monday. Large companies such as Center Theatre Group and South Coast Repertory, which usually compete for most of the top honors, barely made a showing.

Tied in first place with eight nominations each, including outstanding production, are the rock opera blockbuster “The Who’s Tommy,” and “The 1940’s Radio Hour,” Actors Co-op’s nostalgic surprise hit at Hollywood’s small Crossley Theatre.

“Tommy,” at the Universal Amphitheatre, is the only large-scale show among the top multiple nominees. Other smaller theater productions heading the list are Friedrich Duerrenmatt’s dark moral tale, “The Visit,” at the Pacific Resident Theatre Ensemble, and Elmer Rice’s ‘30s classic, “Counsellor-at-Law,” at InterAct Theatre, tied for second place with seven nominations. East West Players’ presentation of Stephen Sondheim’s “Sweeney Todd” and “The Seagull” at the Matrix Theatre garnered five nominations each.

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Among larger theaters, the Center Theatre Group’s Mark Taper Forum received one nomination, for lighting design in “The Wood Demon,” and CTG’s Ahmanson at the Doolittle netted two, for musical direction and choreography in “Smokey Joe’s Cafe.” South Coast Repertory received one nomination, for scenic design in “Playland,” and “Sayonara” at the Alex Theatre in Glendale received one for costume design.

Last year, South Coast Repertory had 10 nominations, while CTG received eight. The year before, CTG dominated with 18 nominations; SCR took five.

In addition to the nominations, several awards were announced, including a Lifetime Achievement Award for actress Betty Garrett for her sustaining excellence in theater in L.A., and the Margaret Harford Award for continuous achievement in the smaller theater arena, which will go to Theatre 40 in Beverly Hills.

“Pot Mom” by Justin Tanner, produced by the Cast Theatre, will receive the Ted Schmitt Award for an outstanding new play receiving its world premiere in L.A. or Orange County. This award was named after Cast founder Ted Schmitt. Tanner and the Cast will also receive a special award for the production of Tanner’s eight plays currently in repertory at the Cast.

Another special award will go to Tim Miller and Highways Performance Space for the Santa Monica venue’s high quality of performance art, theater, dance, comedy and visual art. Ken Booth will receive the Angstrom Award for career achievement in lighting design.

Since the LADCC does not designate “bests” or “winners,” there can be multiple recipients or none in any category.

The awards will be presented at a dinner at the Sportsmen’s Lodge in Studio City on March 20.

Here is the complete list of nominations:

* Production: “Assassins,” Los Angeles Repertory Company at the Los Angeles Theatre Center; “Counsellor-at-Law, InterAct Theatre; “Dylan,” Theatre Group at the Skylight Theatre; “1940’s Radio Hour,” Actors Co-op at the Crossley Theatre; “The Seagull,” Matrix Theatre; “Sweeney Todd,” East West Players; “The Visit,” Pacific Resident Theatre Ensemble; “The Who’s Tommy,” Pace Theatrical Group/ Dodger Productions at Universal Amphitheatre.

* Direction: Tim Dang, “Sweeney Todd”; Peter Ellenstein, “Assassins”; Alan Johnson, “1940’s Radio Hour”; Milton Katselas, “The Seagull”; Des McAnuff, “The Who’s Tommy”; John Rubinstein and Anita Khanzadian, “Counsellor-at-Law”; Stephanie Shroyer, “The Visit”; Robert Walden, “Dylan.”

* Writing: Catherine Butterfield, “Life in the Trees,” Melrose Theatre; Scott McPherson, “Marvin’s Room,” Tiffany Theatre; Justin Tanner, “Pot Mom,” Cast Theatre.

* Lead Performance: Julia Campbell, “The Seagull”; Nancy Linehan Charles, “The Visit,”; Pat Destro, “Dylan”; Kurt Deutsch, “The Seagull”; Marilyn Fox, “Awake and Sing,” Odyssey Theatre; Dave Higgins, “Dylan”; John Rubinstein, “Counsellor-at-Law”; Freda Foh Shen, “Sweeney Todd.”

* Featured Performance: William Akey, “1940’s Radio Hour”; Mary Carver, “Counsellor-at-Law”; Jane Lanier, “Counsellor-at-Law”; Marilyn McIntyre, “Counsellor-at-Law”; Suanne Spoke, “Life in the Trees.”

* Creation Performance: Colin Martin, “Virgins & Other Myths,” Theatre Geo; Lynn Redgrave, “Shakespeare for My Father,” Canon Theatre.

* Scenic Design: John Arnone, “The Who’s Tommy”; Robert Brill, “Playland,” South Coast Repertory; Tim Farmer, “1940’s Radio Hour”; Matthew C. Jacobs, “The Visit”; Bradley Kaye, “Counsellor-at-Law.”

* Lighting Design: D Martin Bookwalter, “The Wood Demon,” Mark Taper Forum; Deena Lynn Mullen, “The Visit”; Chris Parry, “The Who’s Tommy.”

* Costume Design: Jonathan Bixby, “Sayonara,” Alex Theatre; Shon LeBlanc and A. Jeffrey Schoenberg, “1940’s Radio Hour”; Todd Roehrman, “The Seagull”; Naomi Yoshida Rodriguez, “Sweeney Todd”; Cara Varnett, “The Visit.”

* Sound Design: Alan Faulkner, “1940’s Radio Hour”; Steve Canyon Kennedy, “The Who’s Tommy.”

* Musical Direction: Wendy Bobbitt, “The Who’s Tommy”; Brad Ellis, “Forbidden Broadway,” Tiffany Theatre; Brian Miller, “1940’s Radio Hour”; Scott Nagatani, “Sweeney Todd”; Louis St. Louis, “Smokey Joe’s Cafe,” Ahmanson at the Doolittle Theatre.

* Choreography: Wayne Cilento, “The Who’s Tommy”; Teresa Klorer and Debbie Brighton, “1940’s Radio Hour”; Joey McKneely, “Smokey Joe’s Cafe.”

* Music and Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim, “Assassins”; Pete Townshend, “The Who’s Tommy.”

* Original Music: Tom Gerou, “The Visit.”