We’re thrilled to announce our 30th Annual LA STAGE Alliance Ovation Awards nominees.
For the unacquainted, the Ovation Awards are the only peer-judged theatre awards in Los Angeles, created to recognize excellence in theatrical performance, production, and design in the Greater Los Angeles area.
This year’s ceremony will be held at the Theatre at Ace Hotel on Monday, January 13th, 2020. Tickets will go on sale Tuesday, December 3rd, and full information can be found on OvationAwards.com.
During the 2018-19 season, there were 278 total productions registered for the Ovation Awards from 124 different producing bodies, resulting in 199 total nominations for 64 distinct productions presented by 43 organizations. These productions were voted on by 272 Ovation Awards voters — vetted individuals from the Greater Los Angeles area who are working theatre professionals.
And with that, scroll down to read the full list, or click on one of the categories below to jump straight to an individual category. We’ll see you on January 13th!
Best Season
Best Production of a Play (Intimate)
Best Production of a Play (Large)
Best Production of a Musical (Intimate)
Best Production of a Musical (Large)
Best Presented Production
Acting Ensemble of a Play
Acting Ensemble of a Musical
Choreography
Music Direction
Book for an Original Musical
Lyrics/Composition for an Original Musical
Playwriting for an Original Play
Direction of a Musical
Direction of a Play
Lead Actor in a Musical
Lead Actress in a Musical
Lead Actor in a Play
Lead Actress in a Play
Featured Actor in a Musical
Featured Actress in a Musical
Featured Actor in a Play
Featured Actress in a Play
Costume Design (Intimate Theater)
Costume Design (Large Theater)
Fight Direction
Lighting Design (Intimate Theater)
Lighting Design (Large Theater)
Scenic Design (Intimate Theater)
Scenic Design (Large Theater)
Sound Design (Intimate Theater)
Sound Design (Large Theater)
Video/Projection Design (Intimate Theater)
Video/Projection Design (Large Theater)
Ovations Honors Winners
Click here to download your nomination graphic! Post your graphic on social media and tag @LAStageAlliance and #Ovations30.
BEST SEASON
BOSTON COURT PASADENA
Everything That Never Happened
Ladies
The Judas Kiss
CENTER THEATRE GROUP
Dana H.
Lackawanna Blues
Linda Vista
Quack
Sweat
Valley of the Heart
FOUNTAIN THEATRE
Cost of Living
Daniel’s Husband
Hype Man: a Break Beat Play
BEST PRODUCTION OF A PLAY – Intimate Theatre
Accidental Death of an Anarchist
The Actors’ Gang Theater
August Wilson’s Two Trains Running
Sophina Brown
Cost of Living
Fountain Theatre
Daniel’s Husband
Fountain Theatre
Everything That Never Happened
Boston Court Pasadena
THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE
Angela Nicholas
The Wolves
The Echo Theater Company
BEST PRODUCTION OF A PLAY – Large Theatre
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol
Geffen Playhouse
Dana H.
Center Theatre Group
Lackawanna Blues
Center Theatre Group
LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR & GRILL
Garry Marshall Theatre
Linda Vista
Center Theatre Group
BEST PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL – Intimate Theatre
Lizzie, The Musical
Chance Theater
The Last Five Years: A Multisensory Experience
After Hours Theatre Company
The Producers
Celebration Theatre
BEST PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL – Large Theatre
Ragtime
Pasadena Playhouse
Singin’ In The Rain
La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
Witness Uganda
Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
BEST PRESENTED PRODUCTION
A Night with Janis Joplin
La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
Ain’t Too Proud
Center Theatre Group
An Inspector Calls
Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
ACTING ENSEMBLE OF A PLAY
August Wilson’s Two Trains Running
Sophina Brown
Cost of Living
Fountain Theatre
Daniel’s Husband
Fountain Theatre
Linda Vista
Center Theatre Group
Radiant Vermin
Door Number 3 Theatre
THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE
Angela Nicholas
The Wolves
The Echo Theater Company
ACTING ENSEMBLE OF A MUSICAL
Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole
Geffen Playhouse
Lizzie, The Musical
Chance Theater
Ragtime
Pasadena Playhouse
Singin’ In The Rain
La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
Witness Uganda
Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
CHOREOGRAPHY
Edgar Godineaux & JARED GRIMES
Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole
Geffen Playhouse
Abdur-Rahim Jackson
Witness Uganda
Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
SPENCER LIFF
Singin’ In The Rain
La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
Jeffrey Scott Parsons
Dames at Sea
Sierra Madre Playhouse
John Pennington
A Picture of Dorian Gray
A Noise Within
Stephanie Shroyer
Argonautika
A Noise Within
John Todd
The World Goes ‘Round
Reprise 2.0
MUSIC DIRECTION
Darryl Archibald
Ragtime
Pasadena Playhouse
Matt Gould
Witness Uganda
Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
Keith Harrison
Singin’ In The Rain
La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
Jennifer Lin
The Last Five Years: A Multisensory Experience
After Hours Theatre Company
Gerald Sternbach
The World Goes ‘Round
Reprise 2.0
BOOK FOR AN ORIGINAL MUSICAL
Dennis Hackin
BRONCO BILLY – The Musical
Skylight Theatre Company
Doug Haverty
A Carol Christmas
The Group Rep
Florian Klein
Shooting Star – A Revealing New Musical
Shooting Star Productions
LYRICS/COMPOSITION FOR AN ORIGINAL MUSICAL
MICHELE BROURMAN, CHIP ROSENBLOOM & JOHN TORRES
Bronco Billy – The Musical
Skylight Theatre Company
Bruce Kimmel
A Carol Christmas
The Group Rep
ERIK RANSOM & Thomas Zaufke
Shooting Star – A Revealing New Musical
Shooting Star Productions
PLAYWRITING FOR AN ORIGINAL PLAY
Malcolm Barrett
Brain Problems
Ammunition Theatre Company
Jami Brandli
BLISS (or Emily Post is Dead!)
Moving Arts
Jonathan Caren
Canyon
IAMA Theatre Company
Eliza Clark
Quack
Center Theatre Group
Nate Rufus Edelman
Desert Rats
The Latino Theater Company
Lucas Hnath
Dana H.
Center Theatre Group
Anna Moench
MAN OF GOD
East West Players
DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL
Jocelyn Brown
Lizzie, The Musical
Chance Theater
Joseph Leo Bwarie
The Root Beer Bandits
Garry Marshall Theatre
David Lee
Ragtime
Pasadena Playhouse
SPENCER LIFF
Singin’ In The Rain
La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
Griffin Matthews
Witness Uganda
Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
DIRECTION OF A PLAY
Michael Arden
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol
Geffen Playhouse
Alana Dietze
The Wolves
The Echo Theater Company
Will Thomas McFadden
Accidental Death of an Anarchist
The Actors’ Gang Theater
Ruben Santiago-Hudson
Lackawanna Blues
Center Theatre Group
Michele Shay
August Wilson’s Two Trains Running
Sophina Brown
John Vreeke
Cost of Living
Fountain Theatre
Les Waters
Dana H.
Center Theatre Group
LEAD ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Clifton Duncan
Ragtime
Pasadena Playhouse
Marc Ginsburg
Ragtime
Pasadena Playhouse
Dulé Hill
Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole
Geffen Playhouse
Michael Starr
Singin’ In The Rain
La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
Jamie Torcellini
Singin’ In The Rain
La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
LEAD ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Kimberly Immanuel
Singin’ In The Rain
La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
Sara King
Singin’ In The Rain
La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
April Nixon
The Color Purple
Greenway Arts Alliance
Monika Peña
Lizzie, The Musical
Chance Theater
Shannon Warne
Ragtime
Pasadena Playhouse
LEAD ACTOR IN A PLAY
Tim Cummings
Daniel’s Husband
Fountain Theatre
Jefferson Mays
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol
Geffen Playhouse
Rob Nagle
The Judas Kiss
Boston Court Pasadena
Ruben Santiago-Hudson
Lackawanna Blues
Center Theatre Group
Felix Solis
Cost of Living
Fountain Theatre
Bob Turton
Accidental Death of an Anarchist
The Actors’ Gang Theater
LEAD ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Cherise Boothe
American Saga – Gunshot Medley: Part 1
Rogue Machine
Deidrie Henry
LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR & GRILL
Garry Marshall Theatre
CASEY KRAMER
THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE
Angela Nicholas
Mildred Langford
American Saga – Gunshot Medley: Part 1
Rogue Machine
Ellen Lauren
Bacchae
The Getty Villa
Angela Nicholas
THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE
Angela Nicholas
Deidre O’Connell
Dana H.
Center Theatre Group
Katy Sullivan
Cost of Living
Fountain Theatre
FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Rick Batalla
Julius Weezer
Troubadour Theater Company
Josh Grisetti
Beauty and the Beast
La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
Adam Lendermon
Singin’ In The Rain
La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
Dylan Saunders
Ragtime
Pasadena Playhouse
Michael Shepperd
The Producers
Celebration Theatre
Phillip Taratula
Beauty and the Beast
La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
Daniel J. Watts
Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole
Geffen Playhouse
FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Ledisi
Witness Uganda
Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
Gisela Adisa
Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole
Geffen Playhouse
Bryce Charles
Ragtime
Pasadena Playhouse
Amber Iman
Witness Uganda
Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
Jennifer Knox
Dames at Sea
Sierra Madre Playhouse
Ruby Lewis
Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole
Geffen Playhouse
Zonya Love
Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole
Geffen Playhouse
FEATURED ACTOR IN A PLAY
Tobias Forrest
Cost of Living
Fountain Theatre
Tim Hildebrand
THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE
Angela Nicholas
Wesley Mann
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead
A Noise Within
Alex Morris
August Wilson’s Two Trains Running
Sophina Brown
Rob Nagle
The Little Foxes
Antaeus Theatre Company
Maury Sterling
The Joy Wheel
Ruskin Group Theatre Co
Adolphus Ward
August Wilson’s Two Trains Running
Sophina Brown
FEATURED ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Jenny O’Hara
Daniel’s Husband
Fountain Theatre
Nija Okoro
August Wilson’s Two Trains Running
Sophina Brown
Xochitl Romero
Cost of Living
Fountain Theatre
Jaquita Ta’le
Too Heavy for Your Pocket
Sacred Fools Theater Company
Jocelyn Towne
The Little Foxes
Antaeus Theatre Company
Cora Vander Broek
Linda Vista
Center Theatre Group
Denise Yolén
Scraps
The Matrix Theatre Company
COSTUME DESIGN – Intimate Theatre
Naila Aladdin-Sanders
Too Heavy for Your Pocket
Sacred Fools Theater Company
Allison Dillard
BLISS (or Emily Post is Dead!)
Moving Arts
Elena Flores
Señor Plummer’s Final Fiesta
Rogue Artists Ensemble
Dianne Graebner
The Judas Kiss
Boston Court Pasadena
Terri A. Lewis
The Little Foxes
Antaeus Theatre Company
Rachael Lorenzetti
Lizzie, The Musical
Chance Theater
Mylette Nora
August Wilson’s Two Trains Running
Sophina Brown
COSTUME DESIGN – Large Theatre
Kate Bergh
Ragtime
Pasadena Playhouse
Jessica Champagne-Hansen
The Root Beer Bandits
Garry Marshall Theatre
Jenny Foldenauer
Argonautika
A Noise Within
Carlton Jones
Witness Uganda
Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
Dane Laffrey
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol
Geffen Playhouse
Shon LeBlanc
Singin’ In The Rain
La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
Karen Perry
Black Super Hero Magic Mama
Geffen Playhouse
FIGHT DIRECTION
Jen Albert
sucker punch
Coeurage Theatre Company
Aaron AokI & THOMAS iSAO MORINAKA
VIETGONE
East West Players
Ahmed Best
Scraps
The Matrix Theatre Company
Michael Calacino
Rope
Actors Co-op
Andy Lowe
MAN OF GOD
East West Players
Mike Mahaffey
Definition of Man
DConstruction Arts
Jesse James Thomas
Two Noble Kinsmen
The Porters of Hellsgate
LIGHTING DESIGN – Intimate Theatre
Chu-Hsuan Chang
Hype Man: a Break Beat Play
Fountain Theatre
Jennifer Edwards
Daniel’s Husband
Fountain Theatre
Brian Gale
August Wilson’s Two Trains Running
Sophina Brown
John Garofalo
Cost of Living
Fountain Theatre
Jared Sayeg
The Little Foxes
Antaeus Theatre Company
Andrew Schmedake
The Last Five Years: A Multisensory Experience
After Hours Theatre Company
Jaymi Smith
Everything That Never Happened
Boston Court Pasadena
LIGHTING DESIGN – Large Theatre
Elizabeth Harper
Mysterious Circumstances
Geffen Playhouse
Thomas Ontiveros
LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR & GRILL
Garry Marshall Theatre
Jared Sayeg
Ragtime
Pasadena Playhouse
Jared Sayeg
The World Goes ‘Round
Reprise 2.0
Jennifer Schriever
Lackawanna Blues
Center Theatre Group
Ben Stanton
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol
Geffen Playhouse
Paul Toben
Dana H.
Center Theatre Group
SCENIC DESIGN – Intimate Theatre
Francois-Pierre Couture
Everything That Never Happened
Boston Court Pasadena
Joel Daavid
A Streetcar Named Desire
Dance On Productions, LLC
Stephen Gifford
The Producers
Celebration Theatre
Matthew G. Hill
Señor Plummer’s Final Fiesta
Rogue Artists Ensemble
John Iacovelli
August Wilson’s Two Trains Running
Sophina Brown
John Iacovelli
The Little Foxes
Antaeus Theatre Company
DeAnne Millais
Daniel’s Husband
Fountain Theatre
SCENIC DESIGN – Large Theatre
Brett J. Banakis
Mysterious Circumstances
Geffen Playhouse
Mike Billings
Heisenberg
Rubicon Theatre Company
Andrew Boyce
Dana H.
Center Theatre Group
Tom Buderwitz
Ragtime
Pasadena Playhouse
Dane Laffrey
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol
Geffen Playhouse
Dane Laffrey
Quack
Center Theatre Group
Todd Rosenthal
Linda Vista
Center Theatre Group
SOUND DESIGN – Intimate Theatre
Malik Allen
Hype Man: a Break Beat Play
Fountain Theatre
Jeff Gardner
American Saga – Gunshot Medley: Part 1
Rogue Machine
Jeff Gardner
August Wilson’s Two Trains Running
Sophina Brown
Jeff Gardner
Scraps
The Matrix Theatre Company
Adam Macias
Rope
Actors Co-op
Christopher Moscatiello
Radiant Vermin
Door Number 3 Theatre
Cricket Myers
The Last Five Years: A Multisensory Experience
After Hours Theatre Company
SOUND DESIGN – Large Theatre
Philip Allen
Lackawanna Blues
Center Theatre Group
Philip Allen
Ragtime
Pasadena Playhouse
Robert Arturo Ramirez
LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR & GRILL
Garry Marshall Theatre
Mikhail Fiksel
Dana H.
Center Theatre Group
Howard Ho
MAN OF GOD
East West Players
Robert Oriol
Argonautika
A Noise Within
Joshua D. Reid
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol
Geffen Playhouse
VIDEO/PROJECTION DESIGN – Intimate Theatre
Matthew G. Hill
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
24th Street Theatre
David Murakami
BRONCO BILLY – The Musical
Skylight Theatre Company
Dallas Nichols
Señor Plummer’s Final Fiesta
Rogue Artists Ensemble
Cihan Sahin
Accidental Death of an Anarchist
The Actors’ Gang Theater
Nicholas Santiago
Cost of Living
Fountain Theatre
VIDEO/PROJECTION DESIGN – Large Theatre
Hana Kim
Ragtime
Pasadena Playhouse
Lucy Mackinnon
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol
Geffen Playhouse
Yee Eun Nam
The Mother of Henry
The Latino Theater Company
OVATIONS HONORS RECIPIENTS
MUSIC COMPOSITION FOR A PLAY
Romero Mosley
Hype Man: a Break Beat Play
Fountain Theatre
PUPPET DESIGN
Dillon Nelson & ERIN WALLEY
Argonautika
A Noise Within
