‘Metamorphoses’ Boosts CTG to Top of Drama Critics Tally
“Metamorphoses,” Mary Zimmerman’s adaptation of stories by Ovid, won every honor for which it was nominated in the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards, presented Monday evening at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.
Known for its onstage swimming pool as well as its ensemble performances and updated perspectives on the classic tales, “Metamorphoses” nabbed five awards--more than any other show. Among its wins was one of three “outstanding production” awards.
For the record:
12:00 a.m. April 5, 2001 For the Record
Los Angeles Times Thursday April 5, 2001 Home Edition Calendar Part F Page 55 Entertainment Desk 2 inches; 37 words Type of Material: Correction
Drama awards--In an article in Wednesday’s Calendar about the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards, Matrix Theatre’s “Waiting for Godot” was omitted from a list of shows that won more than one award. It won two awards. A total of nine shows won more than one award.
“Metamorphoses” began in Chicago and later played Berkeley and Seattle before appearing at the Mark Taper Forum. None of its Chicago-based creators was on hand for the ceremony, so the Taper’s designated stand-in, Luis Alfaro, made the trips to the lectern. He paid special tribute to Zimmerman, saying that while watching her in rehearsals, “I felt she was possessed.”
The Gothic romance spoof “In Flagrante Gothicto,” a Circle X Theatre production that had received seven nominations--more than any other production--won three awards, including an outstanding production honor. Its writers, Alice Dodd and Jillian Armenante, also accepted the previously announced Ted Schmitt Award for best world premiere.
The third winner of the production honor was a dark horse--the Pacific Resident Theatre production of Noel Coward’s “Tonight at 8:30,” which garnered one other award.
The musical “bare,” which depicted traumas among the students at a Catholic high school, won four awards.
Four shows won more than one award, with “The Lion King” winning nods for lighting, costumes and masks/puppets. Winning two awards each were “Additional Particulars,” “Jitney” and “Southern Baptist Sissies.” With its awards for “Jitney” and “Metamorphoses,” Center Theatre Group won seven honors--more than any other company.
Co-emcees Wenzel Jones and Ken Werther took a cue from Oscar producer Gilbert Cates, offering a reward for the shortest acceptance speech: a collection of CDs donated by local show music label Fynsworth Alley. Because of their multiple trips to the lectern, both Alfaro and Armenante had the luxury of reducing some of their speeches to one word--”Thanks”--and were declared joint winners of the CDs.
The L.A. Drama Critics Circle membership consists of 23 critics. The Los Angeles Times does not participate, although two freelance reviewers for The Times are members.
The winners:
Production: “In Flagrante Gothicto,” Circle X Theatre Company at McCadden Place Theater; “Metamorphoses,” Mark Taper Forum; “Tonight at 8:30,” Pacific Resident Theatre
Direction: Jillian Armenante, “In Flagrante Gothicto”; Mary Zimmerman, “Metamorphoses”
Writing: Alice Dodd and Jillian Armenante, “In Flagrante Gothicto”; Ronald Harwood, “Taking Sides”; Ed Simpson, “Additional Particulars”
Musical Score: Jon Hartmere Jr. and Damon Intrabartolo, “bare”
Lead Performance: Kirk Baily, “Additional Particulars”; Kathleen Chalfant, “Wit”; David Dukes, “Waiting for Godot”; Leslie Fera, “Lady Chatterley’s Lover”; Travis Michael Holder, “Nasty Little Secrets”; Gregory Itzin, “Waiting for Godot”
Featured Performance: Stephen McKinley Henderson, “Jitney”; Jill Hill, “The Skin of Our Teeth”; Leslie Jordan, “Southern Baptist Sissies”; Ann Walker, “Southern Baptist Sissies”
Scenic Design: David Gallo, “Jitney”; Daniel Ostling, “Metamorphoses”
Lighting Design: T.J. Gerckens, “Metamorphoses”; Donald Holder, “The Lion King”
Costume Design: Julie Taymor, “The Lion King” costumes; Julie Taymor and Michael Curry, “The Lion King” masks and puppets
Sound Design: Andre Pluess and Ben Sussman, “Metamorphoses”; Casey Stone, “bare”
Choreography: Onalee Hunter, “bare”
Musical Direction: Deborah Lurie and Damon Intrabartolo, “bare”; Mary Van Arsdel, “Tonight at 8:30”
Ted Schmitt Award (best premiere script): Alice Dodd and Jillian Armenante, “In Gothicto Delicto”
Margaret Harford Award (sustained excellence): International City Theatre
Polly Warfield Award (outstanding season in a small or mid-size theater): Deaf West Theatre
Angstrom Award (lifetime achievement, lighting design): D Martyn Bookwalter
Bob Z Award (lifetime achievement, scenic design) John Iacovelli
Natalie Schafer Award (emerging comic actress) Carolyn Hennesy
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