The La Jolla Playhouse's world-premiere musical "Come From Away" took home six awards in Monday night's ceremony honoring the best in local theater from 2015. The production won Outstanding New Musical and Outstanding Director of a Musical for La Jolla Playhouse artistic director Christopher Ashley, among other awards.
The Craig Noel Awards, named after the founding artistic director of The Old Globe, are voted on by the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle, composed of 10 local theater critics who meet monthly to discuss local theater.
James Hebert, theater critic for The San Diego Union-Tribune, is a member. He said "Come From Away" was unusual in both story and presentation. It’s about the small town of Gander, Newfoundland. Immediately after 9/11, planes were rerouted to land there, so the town was overwhelmed with strangers.
"A Canadian married couple adapted this real life story into a musical with music from the local traditions in Newfoundland," Hebert said. "So it was really different sounding, different looking, and a really cool story."
The awards ceremony took place at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego in La Jolla.
The small but impressive Intrepid Theatre Company won Outstanding Dramatic Production for "The Quality of Life," Jane Anderson's play about assisted suicide. Intrepid CEO and producing artistic director Christy Yael-Cox directed.
Hebert said she led a powerful team.
"It’s a pretty tough play but she and the actors were able to bring out the humor and the way in which it resonates with a lot of what’s happening today," Hebert said. "It’s a really remarkable tour de force of acting and directing."
Yael-Cox won Outstanding Direction of a Play.
"Come From Away" and "The Quality of Life" shared the top prizes for Outstanding Ensemble performances.
Awards for a body of work went to Delicia Turner Sonnenberg for Director of the Year. In 2015, she directed San Diego Repertory Theatre’s “My Mañana Comes” and productions of “Trouble in Mind” and “The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence,” both at Moxie Theatre, where she is artistic director.
Actor of the Year awards went to Sylvia M'Lafi Thompson and Jeffrey Jones.
Thirty-three awards were given out to 18 different productions on local stages. Here is the full list of award recipients:
Outstanding Dramatic Production
“The Quality of Life” — Intrepid Theatre Company
Outstanding New Musical
"Come From Away" — La Jolla Playhouse
Outstanding New Play
“Blueprints to Freedom” — Michael Benjamin Washington, La Jolla Playhouse
Outstanding Resident Musical
“Dogfight” — Cygnet Theatre
Outstanding Touring Production
“The White Snake” — The Old Globe
Don Braunagel Award for Achievement by a Small Theater
InnerMission Productions
Outstanding Young Artist Award
Elliot Weaver
Actor of the Year
- Sylvia M’Lafi Thompson
- Jeffrey Jones
Director of the Year
Delicia Turner Sonnenberg
Outstanding Direction of a Musical
Christopher Ashley — “Come From Away,” La Jolla Playhouse
Outstanding Direction of a Play
Christy Yael-Cox — “The Quality of Life,” Intrepid Theatre Company
Outstanding Original Score
Irene Sankoff & David Hein — “Come From Away,” La Jolla Playhouse
Outstanding Ensemble
- “Come From Away,” La Jolla Playhouse
- “The Quality of Life,” Intrepid Theatre Company
Outstanding Solo Performance
Hershey Felder — “Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin”
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical, Female
Victoria Strong — “The King and I,” Welk Resort Theatre
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical, Male
Robert J. Townsend — “La Cage aux Folles,” San Diego Musical Theatre
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical, Male
James Vasquez — “La Cage aux Folles,” San Diego Musical Theatre
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical, Female
Jenn Colella — “Come From Away,” La Jolla Playhouse
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play, Male
Michael Benjamin Washington — “Blueprints to Freedom,” La Jolla Playhouse
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play, Female
Sandy Campbell — “Master Class,” ion theatre
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Female
Dana Hooley — “The Birthday Party,” New Fortune Theatre Company
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Male
Mike Sears — “Parlour Song,” Backyard Renaissance Theatre
Outstanding Sound Design
Gareth Owen — “Come From Away,” La Jolla Playhouse
Outstanding Costume Design
Jeanne Reith — “OZ,” Lamb’s Players Theatre
Outstanding Lighting Design
Christopher Akerlind — “Indecent,” La Jolla Playhouse
Outstanding Scenic Design
- Alexander Dodge — “The Comedy of Errors,” The Old Globe
- Brian Redfern — “My Mañana Comes,” San Diego Repertory Theatre
Outstanding Projection Design
- Joe Huppert — “The Oldest Boy,” San Diego Repertory Theatre
- John Infante — “Big Fish,” Moonlight Stage Productions
Outstanding Musical Direction
Elan McMahan — “Big Fish,” Moonlight Stage Productions
Outstanding Choreography
Colleen Kollar Smith — “West Side Story,” Lamb’s Players Theatre
