‘Caroline,’ ‘Exits,’ ‘Night Music’ are top prize winners

Two big musicals at the Music Center and a tiny two-character drama at the Fountain Theatre took the top Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards on Monday.

“Caroline, or Change,” “A Little Night Music” and “Exits and Entrances” shared honors for outstanding production and led the list for the most awards per show.

The Tony Kushner and Jeanine Tesori musical “Caroline, or Change,” at the Ahmanson Theatre, received six. The premiere of Athol Fugard’s “Exits and Entrances” at the Fountain nabbed five. And the New York City Opera staging of “Night Music,” imported by Los Angeles Opera, won four. No other production won more than two.

The most dramatic moment of the ceremony at the Coronet Theatre occurred as “Night Music” director Scott Ellis accepted his show’s production award.

Referring to an earlier acceptance speech by Black Dahlia Theatre’s Matt Shakman, who had mentioned his venue’s 30-seat capacity, Ellis told the crowd that his first directing job -- for which he had received a $5,000 fee -- was in a 90-seat theater. He said he would send a check for $5,000 to the Black Dahlia if the young company promises to pass it on later to another small company, after Black Dahlia moves to larger quarters.

Ellis had never heard of the Black Dahlia before the ceremony, he said later.

“I could not believe the generosity,” Shakman said after the ceremony. “We just took over an adjacent storefront for a lobby and dressing room and rehearsal hall, and his contribution will really help.” He said Black Dahlia has no immediate plans to find a larger theater but eventually hopes to make such a move.

Shakman’s earlier remarks, which prompted Ellis’ offer, were part of his acceptance of the Polly Warfield Award for a small or midsize theater -- an award that came with a $500 prize.

There were 17 voting members of the circle in 2004. The group consists primarily of writers from weekly or online publications and does not include Los Angeles Times staff members.

The winners:

Production: “A Little Night Music,” New York City Opera and Los Angeles Opera; “Caroline, or Change,” Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson with Carole Shorenstein Hays; “Exits and Entrances,” Simon Levy, Fountain Theatre.

Tom McCulloh Award (revival): “Rocket to the Moon,” Pacific Resident Theatre and West Coast Jewish Theatre.

Writing: Athol Fugard, “Exits and Entrances”; L. Trey Wilson, “Stage Directions.”

Ted Schmitt Award (world premiere): Dakin Matthews, “The Prince of L.A.”

Adaptation/Translation: Nicholas Saunders and Frank Dwyer, “Chekhov x 4.”

Direction: Stuart Rogers, “Book of Days”; Stephen Sachs, “Exits and Entrances”; Matt Shakman, “Theater District.”

Musical score: Jeanine Tesori and Tony Kushner, “Caroline, or Change.”

Musical direction: John DeMain, “A Little Night Music”; Kimberly Grigsby, “Caroline, or Change.”

Lead performance: Viola Davis, “Intimate Apparel”; Morlan Higgins, “Exits and Entrances”; Wade McCollum, “Hedwig and the Angry Inch”; Tonya Pinkins, “Caroline, or Change.”

Featured performance: William Dennis Hurley, “Exits and Entrances”; Anika Noni Rose, “Caroline, or Change”; Jeremy Sisto, “Take Me Out”; Corey Stoll, “Intimate Apparel.”

Ensemble performance: the cast of “Chekhov x 4.”

Set design: D Martyn Bookwalter, “Talley’s Folly.”

Lighting design: Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer, “Caroline, or Change.”

Costume design: Lindsay W. Davis, “A Little Night Music.”

Sound design: Jon Weston, “A Little Night Music.”

Choreography: Jerry Mitchell, “Hairspray.”

Hair/wigs/makeup: Paul Huntley, “Hairspray.”

Margaret Harford Award: Dakin Matthews.

Natalie Schafer Award: Kirsten Vangsness.

Bob Z Award: Tom Buderwitz.

Angstrom Award: Steven Young.

Polly Warfield Award: Black Dahlia Theatre.

Lifetime Achievement Award: Gordon Davidson.