‘Madness!,’ ‘Pigs’ Top L.A. Drama Critics Circle Nods

Despite its satirical jabs at the war on drugs, “Reefer Madness!” may be the most respectable show in town.

The long-running musical at Hudson Backstage Theatre gathered eight nominations for this year’s Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle awards--more than any other single show. The recognition follows the production’s leveling of the competition at last fall’s Ovation Awards, five of which were won by “Reefer.”

Another cartoon-flavored production is nipping at the heels of “Reefer” in the LADCC competition. The revue “When Pigs Fly,” which was presented at the Coronet Theatre, took off with seven nominations. Interact Theatre’s “The Cherry Orchard” garnered five nods. Receiving four each were South Coast Repertory’s revival of Shaw’s “The Philanderer” and the Adventures in Motion Pictures production of the ballet “Cinderella” at the Ahmanson Theatre.

With six nominations for shows at the Ahmanson and one nod each for programming at the Mark Taper Forum and the Doolittle Theatre, Center Theatre Group tied the producers of “Reefer” for most nods to a single company.

The awards ceremony is slated for March 20 at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. According to LADCC rules, half of the 60 nominees will win; there may be more than one winner--or none--in any category. The event is open to the public; reservations are available at (626) 296-1212.

The nominees:

* Production: “Art,” Doolittle Theatre; “The Cherry Orchard,” Interact Theatre; “Enigma Variations,” Mark Taper Forum; “Orphans,” International City Theatre; “Reefer Madness!,” Hudson Backstage Theatre

* Direction: David Emmes, “The Philanderer”; Andy Fickman, “Reefer Madness!”; Lisa James, “Bitter Women”; Matt Walker, “Twelfth Dog Night”

* Writing: Maripat Donovan and Vicki Quade, “Late Nite Catechism”; Laural Meade, “Harry Thaw Hates Everybody”; Kevin Murphy and Dan Studney, “Reefer Madness!”

* Musical Score: Kevin Murphy and Dan Studney, “Reefer Madness!”; Jeanine Tesori and Brian Crawley, “Violet”; Mark Waldrop and Dick Gallagher, “When Pigs Fly”

* Lead Performance: Pedro Balmaceda, “Orphans”; Todd Buteaux, “Angels of Lemnos”; Christian Campbell, “Reefer Madness!”; Julia Campbell, “Bitter Women”; Carolee Carmello, “Bells Are Ringing”; Valerie Dillman, “Lulu”; Maripat Donovan, “Late Nite Catechism”; Michelle Farr, “The Cherry Orchard”; Loren Freeman, “When Pigs Fly”; Linda Lavin, “Collected Stories”; Tracy Middendorf, “Summer and Smoke”; Christopher Plummer, “Barrymore”; David Suchet, “Amadeus”; Douglas Weston, “The Philanderer”

* Featured Performance: Richard Allen, “Play On!”; Nancy Bell, “The Philanderer”; Kirsten Benton, “Rocky Horror Show”; Alan Blumenfeld, “The Merry Wives of Windsor”; Jim J. Bullock, “When Pigs Fly”; Marilyn Fox, “The Swan”; Francois Giroday, “The Cherry Orchard”; Francois Giroday, “The Philanderer”; Blake Hammond, “When Pigs Fly”; Bari Hochwald, “King Levene”; Will Kemp, “Cinderella”; Neil Vipond, “The Cherry Orchard”; Sara Zinsser, “Bitter Women”

* Scenic Design: Roy Christopher, “Light Up the Sky”; Michael Marlowe, “The Memorandum”; Victoria Profitt, “The Swan”

* Lighting Design: David Flad, “The Angels of Lemnos”; J. Kent Inasy, “The Cherry Orchard”; Kris Sandheinrich, “Broadway”

* Costume Design: Lez Brotherston, “Cinderella”; Howard Crabtree, “When Pigs Fly”; Audrey Eisner, “The Swan”

* Sound Design: Steve Goode, “The Memorandum”; Jon Gottlieb and Phillip G. Allen, “Cinderella”; Chet Towle, “Reefer Madness!”

* Choreography: Keith Cromwell, “When Pigs Fly”; Matthew Bourne, “Cinderella”; Michael Goorjian, “Reefer Madness!”