2013 Ovation Awards celebrated at the San Gabriel Playhouse

The 24^th Annual LA Stage Alliance Ovation Awards were presented Sunday, November 3, at the historic San Gabriel Mission Playhouse. The event celebrated the hundreds of theater productions and the thousands of talented artists who were involved in the Los Angeles 2013 theater season.

The gorgeous venue was the perfect place for this joyful evening, hosted by actor, comedian, and musician Michael McKean. The line-up of celebrity presenters included Ed Begley Jr., Val Kilmer, Wendie Malick, and Steven Weber. Present were also Mayor of the City of San Gabriel Juli Costanzo, City Manager of La Mirada Jeff Boynton, and other government officials.

The hundreds of local performers, managers, and other artistic personnel that attended the occasion were further delighted by the eclectic sound of the David O and String Theory band.

Thirteen theater companies received thirty-five awards, with the Center Theatre Group (CTG) on top with seven awards for “The Nether,” three for “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone,” one for “the Scottsboro Boys,” and one for “The Royale.” CTG was followed by 3-D theatricals, The Chance Theater, La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, Circle X Theatre Company, the Fountain Theatre, and the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble. La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts took home the coveted Best Season award.

Additionally, the Biller BEST (Building Excellence in Small Theatre) Awards, which included checks totaling $100,000, were presented to six theater companies: the Antaeus Company, The Blank Theatre, Deaf West Theatre, East West Players, The Theatre @ Boston Court, and Theatre Banshee.

CTG presented its Sherwood Award to Miranda Wright. This award was established in 1996 in memory of Richard E. Sherwood, a lover of the arts who was actively involved with the CTG Board for over 25 years, and is presented to innovative and adventurous theater artists, like Wright, who received $10,000 that will help further her artistic work.

For 24 years, the LA Stage Alliance Ovation Awards have been the only peer-judged theater awards in Los Angeles. Voters are local theater professionals who are chosen each year by the Ovation Awards Rules Committee. “The Ovation Awards highlight the world class artistry happening each night on Los Angeles’ stages. This annual celebration brings together our diverse community to acknowledge not only the very best in design, performance and production, but also to unite our theatre-rich region and many of our numerous theatre families. We hope that the recognition of an Ovation Award serves as a catalyst to ever higher artistic achievement and future employment for our theatre professionals,” said Terence McFarland, CEO of LA STAGE Alliance.

By Dena Burroughs

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