Craig Noel Awards Honor San Diego Theater
Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Photo by John Howard
Above: A 2017 photo from Moonlight Amphitheatre's production of "In the Heights."
On Monday night, the Craig Noel Awards honored the best plays and musicals performed on San Diego stages. Selected by the San Diego Theatre Critics, the ceremony celebrated productions from the 2017 season.
Top honors went to Moonlight Stage Productions’ "In the Heights," the musical by Lin Manuel Miranda about the lives of Latin characters in New York’s Washington Heights. The San Diego production won four awards, including Outstanding Resident Musical.
On the dramatic side, the awards were split for two plays that tackle racism and civil rights. Ion Theatre’s "The Battle of Emmett Till," about a crime that sparked the civil rights movement won best play, best direction and best ensemble. Intrepid Theatre’s Civil War epic "Father Comes Home from the Wars, Parts 1, 2 & 3" also took home an award for best direction, plus outstanding featured performance by Tom Stephenson.
The San Diego Theatre Critics singled out special awards during the two-hour ceremony. Actor of the Year went to Cortez L. Johnson ("Ballad of Emmett Till," "Blue Door") and Jennifer Paredes ("Twelfth Night," "Ballast"). Chula Vista's volunteer-run OnStage Playhouse won for Outstanding Work by a Small Theatre Company.
Bodhi Tree Concert's "8 Songs For a Mad King," won Outstanding Special Event and Scotty Atienza won Outstanding Young Artist for his work in Ion Theatre's "Cabaret."
Here's a look at the complete list of winners:
Outstanding New Musical
"Tarrytown," Backyard Renaissance Theatre Company
Outstanding Musical Direction
Elan McMahan for "In the Heights," Moonlight Stage Productions
Outstanding Costume Design
Shirley Pierson for "Shockheaded Peter," Cygnet Theatre
Outstanding Sound Design
Joanna Lynne Staub for "Wild Goose Dreams," La Jolla Playhouse
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical, Male
Randall Hickman for "The Little Mermaid," Moonlight Stage Productions
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical, Female
Cashae Monya for "Cabaret," ion theatre
Outstanding New Play
"Ballast," by Georgette Kelly, Diversionary Theatre
Outstanding Touring Production
"An American in Paris," Broadway San Diego
Outstanding Lighting Design
Conor Mulligan for "The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds," Cygnet Theatre
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Female
Annie Hinton for "Well," Diversionary Theatre
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Male
Tom Stephenson for "Father Comes Home from the Wars, Parts 1, 2 & 3," Intrepid Theatre Company
Outstanding Choreography
Carlos Mendoza for "In the Heights," Moonlight State Productions
Outstanding Ensemble
"The Ballad of Emmett Till," ion theatre
Outstanding Scenic Design
Sean Fanning for "On the 20th Century," Cygnet Theatre
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play, Male
Caleb Foote for "Hand to God," San Diego Repertory Theatre
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play, Female
DeAnna Driscoll for "The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds," Cygnet Theatre
Outstanding Projection Design
Michael McKeaon for "Silent Sky," Lamb's Players Theatre
Outstanding Direction of a Play
TIE
Yolanda Marie Franklin and Claudio Raygoza for "The Ballad of Emmett Till," ion theatre
and
Christy Yael-Cox for "Father Comes Home from the Wars, Parts 1, 2 and 3," Intrepid Theatre
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical, Female
Minka Wiltz for "Black Pearl Sings!" San Diego Repertory Theatre
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical, Male
Richard Bermudez, "Kiss of the Spider Woman," Welk Resort Theatre
Outstanding Direction of a Musical
James Vasquez for "In the Heights," Moonlight Stage Productions
Outstanding Solo Performance
TIE
James Lecesne for "The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey," The Old Globe
and
Shana Wride for "2.5 Mile Ride," Diversionary Theatre
Outstanding Resident Musical
"In the Heights," Moonlight Stage Productions
Outstanding Dramatic Production
"The Ballad of Emmett Till," ion theatre
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