Ticketholder Awards 2011 (1 of 2)

The 21st Annual Ticketholder Awards, 2011  – Part One

The 21st Ticketholder Awards

[ Read Part 2 ]

Joining the workforce fulltime last January as an instructor in the acting department of the New York Film Academy’s west coast campus on the backlot at Universal Studios has cost me dearly over the last 12 months as a theatre artist and as an incessant theatregoer. Still, although I haven’t had anywhere near as much time as usual in 2011 to attend, critique, perform in, direct or write plays, what I have gained as a teacher has been wonderful nourishment to my lifelong passion for creating and encouraging art in any form. Who knew I had so much to pass on before I pass on?

My apologies, however, for the many great Los Angeles stage productions I couldn’t attend this year due to my increasingly more breakneck schedule at NYFA; many shows I missed might certainly have been included here in contemplation of my awardees. Notice that the pickins’ in the musical theatre arena even lack two productions to get to 10 choices and there are fewer runners-up in the other musical categories than in years past. That’s because if I have my choice (or unless I have been assigned to review a musical for Back Stage), my instinct is to gravitate toward drama and not worry about the problem of Maria or corn as high as an elephant’s eye.

That in no way means the following choices for honors this year are lacking in any way. To be sure, 2011 was a spectacular year for the performing arts in our quirky and often artistically puzzling desert oasis. Each of the winners and runners-up here mentioned deserve a standing ovation. Look for Part Two to arrive soon featuring the behind-the-curtain awardees.

THE TOP 10 PLAY PRODUCTIONS OF 2011

 

1. House of the Rising Son, Ensemble Studio Theatre-LA

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2. The Comedy of Errors, A Noise Within

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3. The Chinese Massacre (Annotated), Circle X Theatre Company

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4. The War Cycle: Gospel According to First Squad, Los Angeles Theatre Ensemble

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5. House of Gold, Ensemble Studio Theatre-LA

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6. Vigil, Center Theatre Group, Mark Taper Forum

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7. The Sonneteer, Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center

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8. Baby Doll, Lillian Theatre

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9. Lights Up on the Fade Out, Lillian Theatre

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10. The Interlopers, Bootleg Theater

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RUNNERS-UP: Ching Chong Chinaman, Artists at Play at The Actors Company; God of Carnage, Ahmanson; Have You Seen Alice?, Theatre of NOTE; Hermetically Sealed, Katselas at the Skylight; A House Not Meant to Stand, Fountain Theatre; Moonlight and Magnolias, Colony Theatre; No. Saints Lane, Coeurage Theatre Company at Actors Circle; The Pity of Things, Theatre of NOTE; Sex and Education, Victory Theatre Center; Stop Kiss, Lounge Theatre; 33 Variations, Ahmanson; Who’s Your Daddy?, Victory Theatre Center; The Word Begins, Rogue Machine at Theatre/Theater 

THE TOP MUSICAL PRODUCTIONS OF 2011

1. IRIS, Cirque du Soleil at the Kodak Theatre

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2. Hair, Broadway/LA, Pantages Theatre

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3. Spring Awakening, Broadway/LA, Pantages Theatre

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4. Fela!, Center Theatre Group, Ahmanson Theatre

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5. I Love Lucy Live on Stage, Greenway Court

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6. Rock of Ages, Broadway/LA, Pantages Theatre

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7. Bring It On—The Musical, Center Theatre Group, Ahmanson Theatre

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8. Come Fly Away, Broadway/LA, Pantages Theatre

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BEST ACTOR IN A PLAY

Paul Witten, House of the Rising Son, Ensemble Studio Theatre-LA

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RUNNERS-UP: Sekou Andrews, The Word Begins, Rogue Machine; Marco Barricelli, Vigil, Taper; Alan Blumenfeld, A House Not Meant to Stand, Fountain; Steve Connell, The Word Begins, Rogue Machine; Jason Dechert, The Eccentricities of a Nightingale, A Noise Within; Matt Gottlieb, Moonlight and Magnolias, Colony; Paul Haitkin, The Sonneteer, LA Gay & Lesbian Center; Sean Hoagland, The Elephant Man, El Centro Theatre; Rod Menzies, House of the Rising Son, EST-LA; Trevor Peterson, The Interlopers, Bootleg; Darren Pettie, THIS, CTG/Douglas

BEST ACTRESS IN A PLAY

Gigi Bermingham, Hermetically Sealed, Katselas Theatre Company at the Skylight Theatre

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RUNNERS-UP: DaShawn Barnes, Tiger Tiger Burning Bright, Stella Adler; Julia Cho, Ching Chong Chinaman, Artists at Play; Valorie Curry, Double Falsehood, Coeurage Theatre Co; Elisa Davis, THIS, CTG/Douglas; Olympia Dukakis, Vigil, Mark Taper Forum; Maria Gobetti, Sex and Education, Victory Theatre Center; Roxanne Hart, A Death in Colombia, Skylight; Kelly Hill, Stop Kiss, Lounge; Diarra Kilpatrick, The Interlopers, Bootleg; Sandy Martin, A House Not Meant to Stand, Fountain; Regina Randolph, Tiger Tiger Burning Bright, Stella Adler; Stephanie Zimbalist, Steel Magnolias, Rubicon

BEST ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

Coby Getzug, Spring Awakening, Broadway/LA, Pantages Theatre

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RUNNERS-UP: Cody Green, Come Fly Away, Pantages; Paris Remillard, Hair, Pantages; Bill Mendieta, I Love Lucy Live on Stage, Greenway Court; Sahr Ngaujah, Fela!, Ahmanson; Christopher Wood, Spring Awakening, Pantages

BEST ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

Sierra Irwin, I Love Lucy Live on Stage, Greenway Court

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RUNNERS-UP: Rebecca Faulkenberry, Rock of Ages, Pantages; Elizabeth Judd, Spring Awakening, Pantages; Taylor Louderman, Bring It On—The Musical, Ahmanson; Adrienne Warren, Bring It On—The Musical, Ahmanson

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A PLAY

Steve Coombs, House of the Rising Son, Ensemble Studio Theatre-LA

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RUNNERS-UP: Daniel Billet, A House Not Meant to Stand, Fountain; Mark Bramhall, Lights Up on the Fade Out, Lillian; Alex Davis, House of Gold, EST-LA; David Douglas, Match, Hayworth Theatre; Mitchell Edmonds, The Eccentricities of a Nightingale, A Noise Within; Glenn Fitzgerald, THIS, CTG/Douglas; Brendan Ford, Moonlight and Magnolias, Colony; Steve Hu, Ching Chong Chinaman, Artists at Play; Ed Martin, The Sonneteer, LA Gay & Lesbian Center; Ray Oriel, The Sonneteer, LA Gay & Lesbian Center; Hank Ostendorf, The Eccentricities of a Nightingale, A Noise Within; James Parks, Lights Up on the Fade Out, Lillian; Collin St. Dic, Tiger Tiger Burning Bright, Stella Adler; Scott Keiji Takeda, Ching Chong Chinaman, Artists at Play; Nicholas S. Williams, The Pity of Things, Theatre of NOTE

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A PLAY

Jacqueline Wright, House of Gold, Ensemble Studio Theatre/LA

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RUNNERS-UP: Jacque Lynn Colton, Baby Doll, Lillian; Emily Eiden, Moonlight and Magnolias, Colony; Cynthia Gravinese, The Sonneteer, LA Gay & Lesbian Center; Jill Hill, The Eccentricities of a Nightingale, A Noise Within; Elizabeth Ho, Ching Chong Chinaman, Artists at Play; Victoria Hoffman, The Sonneteer, LA Gay & Lesbian Center; Tara Karsian, The Interlopers, Bootleg; Virginia Newcomb, A House Not Meant to Stand, Fountain; Alina Phelan, Lights Up on the Fade Out, Lillian; Marta Portillo, Match, Hayworth; Julia Prud’homme, Hermetically Sealed, Skylight; Jennifer Weaver, The Pity of Things, Theatre of NOTE; Von Rae Wood, Steel Magnolias, Rubicon Theatre Company

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

Nicolas Womack, Bring It On—The Musical, Center Theatre Group, Ahmanson Theatre

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RUNNERS-UP: Marshal Kennedy Carolan, Hair, Pantages; Matt DeAngelis, Hair, Pantages; Gregory Haney, Bring It On—The Musical, Ahmanson; Josh Lamon, Hair, Pantages; Darius Nichols, Hair, Pantages; Devon Stone, Spring Awakening, Pantages; Bret Tuomi, Rock of Ages, Pantages; Travis Walker, Rock of Ages, Pantages

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

Ryann Redmond, Bring It On—The Musical, Center Theatre Group, Ahmanson Theatre

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RUNNERS-UP: Lulu Fall, Hair, Pantages; Melanie Marshall, Fela!, Ahmanson; Elle McLemore, Bring It On—The Musical, Ahmanson; Denise Moses, I Love Lucy Live on Stage, Greenway Court; Kate Rockwell, Bring It On—The Musical, Ahmanson; Kacie Sheik, Hair, Pantages; Amy Tolsky, I Love Lucy Live on Stage, Greenway Court  

BEST ENSEMBLE CAST IN A PLAY

Annie Abrams, Gibby Brand, Christine Breihan, Abby Craden, Andrew Dits, Michael Stone Forrest, Sarah-lucy Hill, William Dennis Hunt, Jerry Kernion, Paul D. Masterson, Douglas Rory Milliron, P.J. Ochlan, Lauren Robyn, Rene Ruiz, Andy Stokan, Bruce Turk, Gwenmarie White; The Comedy of Errors, A Noise Within

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RUNNERS-UP:

Richard Azurdia, Warren Davis, Anna Douglas, Elizabeth Ho, Ross Kurt Le, Jully Lee, Alex Levin, West Liang, Johanna McKay, Silas Weir Mitchell, Gary Patent, Jack Scochet, Lisa Tharps, Ryan Yu; The Chinese Massacre (Annotated), Circle X Theatre Company

Jeff Daniels, Hope Davis, James Gandolfini, Marcia Gay Harden; God of Carnage, CTG, Ahmanson Theatre

Meredith Schmidt, Kirsten Kuiken, Joe Calarco, Jeremey Lelliott, Adam Navarro, No. Saints Lane; Coeurage Theatre Company at Actors Circle

Don Amendolia, Jane Fonda, Zach Grenier, Greg Keller, Susan Kellermann, Samantha Mathis, Grant James Varjas, 33 Variations, CTG, Ahmanson Theatre

Trevor Algatt, Eric Anderson, John Brooks, Andrew Crabtree, Michael Hanson, Spencer Kramber, Joe Mahon, AJ Meijer, Josef Malonzo, Michael John Pappas, Jonathan Redding; The War Cycle: Gospel According to First Squad, LA Theatre Ensemble

BEST ENSEMBLE CAST IN A MUSICAL

IRIS, Cirque du Soleil at the Kodak Theatre

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RUNNERS-UP:

Calli Alden, Nick Blaemire, Antwan Bethea, Dexter Carr, Courtney Corbeille, Ariana DeBose, Brooklyn Alexis Freitag, Shonica Gooden, Jason Gotay, Gregory Haney, Haley Hannah, Dominique Johnson, Janet Krupin, Neil Haskell, Taylor Louderman, Elle McLemore, Melody Mills, Michael Mindlin, Michael Naone-Carter, David Ranck, Ryann Redmond, Bettis Richardson, Kate Rockwell, Sheldon Tucker, Alysha Umphress, Adrienne Warren, Lauren Whitt, Nicolas Womack; Bring It On—The Musical, CTG, Ahmanson Theatre

 

Jamie Rea Billings, Aliya Bowles, Paris Bradstreet, Erin Burnston, Rachel Geisler, Coby Getzug, Jim Hogan, Elizabeth Judd, Sarah Kleeman, William J. Lewis, Michael Linden, Courtney Markowitz, Emily Mest, Jeff Ostermueller, Daniel Plimpton, Mark Poppleton, George E. Salazar, Devon Stone, Travis Stroessenreuther, Christopher Wood; Spring Awakening, Pantages Theatre

NEW DISCOVERY 2011

Nicholas Podany, Hermetically Sealed, Katselas Theatre Company at the Skylight Theatre

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RUNNERS-UP: Christopher Leyva, The Little Dog Laughed, Smart Lips Productions at El Centro Theatre; Wolfie Trausch, Hermetically Sealed, Skylight

BEST SOLO PERFORMANCE

John Fleck, Mad Women, Katselas Theatre Company at the Skylight Theatre

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RUNNERS-UP: John Leguizamo, Ghetto Klown, Ricardo Montalban Theatre; John Lithgow, Stories by Heart, CTG, Taper; Johnny O’Callaghan, Who’s Your Daddy?, Victory; Devon Stone, Spring Awakening, Pantages (a little inside joke there); Charlayne Woodard, The Night Watcher, CTG/Kirk Douglas Theatre

[ Read Part 2 ]


TRAVIS MICHAEL HOLDER teaches acting and theatre/film history at the New York Film Academy’s west coast campus at Universal Studios. He has been writing about LA theatre since 1987, including 12 years for BackStage, a 23-year tenure as Theatre Editor for Entertainment Today, and currently for ArtsInLA.com. As an actor, he received the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Best Actor Award as Kenneth Halliwell in the west coast premiere of Nasty Little Secrets at Theatre/Theater and he has also been honored with a Drama-Logue Award as Lennie in Of Mice and Men at the Egyptian Arena, four Maddy Awards, a ReviewPlays.com Award, both NAACP and GLAAD Award nominations, and six acting nominations from LA Weekly. Regionally, he won the Inland Theatre League Award as Ken Talley in Fifth of July; three awards for his direction and performance as Dr. Dysart in Equus; was up for Washington, DC’s Helen Hayes honors as Oscar Wilde in the world premiere of Oscar & Speranza; toured as Amos “Mr. Cellophane” Hart in Chicago; and he has traveled three times to New Orleans for the annual Tennessee Williams Literary Festival, opening the fest in 2003 as Williams himself in Lament for the Moths and since returning to appear in An Ode to Tennessee and opposite Karen Kondazian as A Witch and a Bitch. Never one to suffer from typecasting, Travis’ most recent LA performance, as Rodney in The Katrina Comedy Fest, netted the cast a Best Ensemble Sage Award from ArtsInLA. He has also been seen as Wynchell in the world premiere of Moby Pomerance’s The Good Book of Pedantry and Wonder and Frank in Charles Mee’s Summertime at The Boston Court Performing Arts Center, Giuseppe “The Florist” Givola in Brecht’s The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui for Classical Theatre Lab, Ftatateeta in Shaw’s Caesar and Cleopatra at the Lillian, Cheswick in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest at the Rubicon in Ventura, Pete Dye in the world premiere of Stranger at the Bootleg (LA Weekly Award nomination), Shelly Levene in Glengarry Glen Ross at the Egyptian Arena, the Witch of Capri in Williams’ The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore at the Fountain, and Dr. Van Helsing in The House of Besarab at the Hollywood American Legion Theatre. As a writer, he has also been a frequent contributor to several national magazines and five of his plays have been produced in LA. His first, Surprise Surprise, for which he wrote the screenplay with director Jerry Turner, became a feature film with Travis playing opposite John Brotherton, Luke Eberl, Deborah Shelton and Mary Jo Catlett. His first novel, Waiting for Walk, was completed in 2005, put in a desk drawer, and the ever-slothful, ever-deluded, ever-entitled Travis can’t figure out why no one has magically found it yet and published the goddam thing. www.travismichaelholder.com

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