Back Stage 2012 Garland Award Winners

Back Stage 2012 Garland Award Winners March 1, 2012 Photo by Craig Schwartz "Bring It On: The Musical" In 1998, Back Stage for the first time honored Southern Californias best theater actors, directors, writers, and designers. Fourteen years later, the Los Angelesarea theater scene is the nations most prolificand Back Stage continues its tradition of singling out the best of the best. Among the 15th annual Garland Award winners are artists who are well-known to theatergoers across the country and others who have just begun to make their mark on Southland stages. Back Stage is proud to present the full list of Garland recipients here and to introduce our readers to one winner who epitomizes everything thats great about the world of 99-Seat theater in L.A.: actor-playwright John Pollono, whose play Small Engine Repair has earned three Garlands.This years recipients were chosen by our devoted L.A. theater criticsJeff Favre, Hoyt Hilsman, Travis Michael Holder, Amy Lyons, Eric Marchese, Dink ONeal, David C. Nichols, Neal Weaver, and Jennie Webb. The selection process was overseen by Les Spindle, Back Stage Editorial Associate, L.A. Theater.Back Stage congratulates the winners and looks forward to continuing the tradition of celebrating all the important work that takes place night after night in one of the worlds greatest theater towns.PRODUCTIONThe Cripple of Inishmaan," Center Theatre Group and Druid and Atlantic Theater Company at the Kirk Douglas TheatreGod of Carnage," Center Theatre Group, Robert Fox, David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers, Stuart Thompson, Scott Rudin, Jon B. Platt, the Weinstein Company, and the Shubert Organization at the Ahmanson TheatreJerry Springer: The Opera," The Chance TheaterSmall Engine Repair," Rogue Machine at Theatre/TheaterPLAYWRITING (world premiere or Southern California premiere)Tom Jacobson, "House of the Rising Son," Ensemble Studio TheatreLos Angeles at the Atwater Village Theatre John Pollono, "Small Engine Repair," Rogue Machine at Theatre/TheaterADAPTATIONJeff Whitty, "Bring It On: The Musical," Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson TheatreMUSICAL SCORE (world premiere or Southern California premiere)Amanda Green (lyrics),Tom Kitt (music), and Lin-Manuel Miranda (music and lyrics), Bring It On: The Musical," Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson TheatreStewart Lee (lyrics) and Richard Thomas(music and lyrics), Jerry Springer: The Opera," The Chance TheaterDavid Lindsay-Abaire (lyrics) and Jeannine Tesori (music), Shrek the Musical," DreamWorks Theatricals, Neal Street Productions, and Broadway/LA at the Pantages Theatre DIRECTIONTrevor Biship, Jerry Springer: The Opera," The Chance TheaterSean Branney, The Crucible," Theatre Banshee at The BansheeGates McFadden, House of Gold," Ensemble Studio TheatreLos Angeles at the Atwater Village Theatre Michael Michetti, House of the Rising Son," Ensemble Studio TheatreLos Angeles at the Atwater Village Theatre Matthew Warchus, God of Carnage," Center Theatre Group, Robert Fox, David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers, Stuart Thompson, Scott Rudin, Jon B. Platt, the Weinstein Company, and the Shubert Organization at the Ahmanson TheatrePERFORMANCE IN A PLAYPatrick J. Adams, 9 Circles," Alicia Adams and Jessica Hanna, Bootleg TheatreSam Anderson, Blackbird," Rogue Machine at Theatre/TheaterGigi Bermingham, Hermetically Sealed," Katselas Theatre Company at the Skylight TheatreSandy Martin, A House Not Meant to Stand," Fountain TheatreJacqueline Wright, House of Gold," Ensemble Studio TheatreLos Angeles at the Atwater Village Theatre PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICALLesli Margherita, Kiss Me, Kate," Reprise Theatre Company at the Freud PlayhouseSahr Ngaujah, Fela! Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson TheatreLisa OHare, Cabaret," Reprise Theatre Company at the Freud PlayhouseRyann Redmond, Bring It On: The Musical," Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson TheatreENSEMBLEGod of Carnage," Cast: Jeff Daniels, Hope Davis, James Gandolfini, and Marcia Gay Harden; Center Theatre Group, Robert Fox, David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers, Stuart Thompson, Scott Rudin, Jon B. Platt, the Weinstein Company, and the Shubert Organization at the Ahmanson TheatreSmall Engine Repair," Cast: Jon Bernthal, Josh Helman, John Pollono, and Michael Redfield; Rogue Machine at Theatre/Theater SOLO PERFORMANCECharlayne Woodard, The Night Watcher," Center Theatre Group at the Kirk Douglas TheatreCHOREOGRAPHYMolly Alvarez, A Christmas Westside Story," Troubadour Theater Company at the Falcon TheatreAndy Blankenbuehler, Bring It On: The Musical," Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson TheatreMarcia Milgrom Dodge, Cabaret," Reprise Theatre Company at the Freud PlayhouseBill T. Jones, Fela! Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson TheatreMUSICAL DIRECTIONChristy Crowl, Cabaret," Reprise Theatre Company at the Freud PlayhouseEric Heinly, A Christmas Westside Story," Troubadour Theater Company at the Falcon TheatreDavid O, The Cradle Will Rock," Blank Theatre Company at the Stella Adler TheatreDave Pepin, Bring It On: The Musical," Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson TheatreMike Wilkins, Jerry Springer: The Opera," The Chance TheaterSCENIC DESIGNBrian Sidney Bembridge, The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity," Geffen PlayhouseMichael Ganio, A Raisin in the Sun," Ebony Repertory Theatre at the Nate Holden Performing Arts CenterJim McLaughlin, A House Not Meant to Stand," Fountain TheatreLIGHTING DESIGNPaule Constable, Les Misrables," Cameron Mackintosh and Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson Theatre Jared A. Sayeg, Cabaret," Reprise Theatre Company at the Freud PlayhouseCOSTUME DESIGNKate Bergh, Cabaret," Reprise Theatre Company at the Freud PlayhouseSOUND DESIGNMikhail Fiksel, The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity," Geffen PlayhouseCasey Long, Jerry Springer: The Opera," The Chance Theater Back Stage 2012 Garland Award Winners March 1, 2012 "Bring It On: The Musical" PHOTO CREDIT Craig Schwartz In 1998, Back Stage for the first time honored Southern Californias best theater actors, directors, writers, and designers. Fourteen years later, the Los Angelesarea theater scene is the nations most prolificand Back Stage continues its tradition of singling out the best of the best. Among the 15th annual Garland Award winners are artists who are well-known to theatergoers across the country and others who have just begun to make their mark on Southland stages. Back Stage is proud to present the full list of Garland recipients here and to introduce our readers to one winner who epitomizes everything thats great about the world of 99-Seat theater in L.A.: actor-playwright John Pollono, whose play Small Engine Repair has earned three Garlands.This years recipients were chosen by our devoted L.A. theater criticsJeff Favre, Hoyt Hilsman, Travis Michael Holder, Amy Lyons, Eric Marchese, Dink ONeal, David C. Nichols, Neal Weaver, and Jennie Webb. The selection process was overseen by Les Spindle, Back Stage Editorial Associate, L.A. Theater.Back Stage congratulates the winners and looks forward to continuing the tradition of celebrating all the important work that takes place night after night in one of the worlds greatest theater towns.PRODUCTIONThe Cripple of Inishmaan," Center Theatre Group and Druid and Atlantic Theater Company at the Kirk Douglas TheatreGod of Carnage," Center Theatre Group, Robert Fox, David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers, Stuart Thompson, Scott Rudin, Jon B. Platt, the Weinstein Company, and the Shubert Organization at the Ahmanson TheatreJerry Springer: The Opera," The Chance TheaterSmall Engine Repair," Rogue Machine at Theatre/TheaterPLAYWRITING (world premiere or Southern California premiere)Tom Jacobson, "House of the Rising Son," Ensemble Studio TheatreLos Angeles at the Atwater Village Theatre John Pollono, "Small Engine Repair," Rogue Machine at Theatre/TheaterADAPTATIONJeff Whitty, "Bring It On: The Musical," Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson TheatreMUSICAL SCORE (world premiere or Southern California premiere)Amanda Green (lyrics),Tom Kitt (music), and Lin-Manuel Miranda (music and lyrics), Bring It On: The Musical," Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson TheatreStewart Lee (lyrics) and Richard Thomas(music and lyrics), Jerry Springer: The Opera," The Chance TheaterDavid Lindsay-Abaire (lyrics) and Jeannine Tesori (music), Shrek the Musical," DreamWorks Theatricals, Neal Street Productions, and Broadway/LA at the Pantages Theatre DIRECTIONTrevor Biship, Jerry Springer: The Opera," The Chance TheaterSean Branney, The Crucible," Theatre Banshee at The BansheeGates McFadden, House of Gold," Ensemble Studio TheatreLos Angeles at the Atwater Village Theatre Michael Michetti, House of the Rising Son," Ensemble Studio TheatreLos Angeles at the Atwater Village Theatre Matthew Warchus, God of Carnage," Center Theatre Group, Robert Fox, David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers, Stuart Thompson, Scott Rudin, Jon B. Platt, the Weinstein Company, and the Shubert Organization at the Ahmanson TheatrePERFORMANCE IN A PLAYPatrick J. Adams, 9 Circles," Alicia Adams and Jessica Hanna, Bootleg TheatreSam Anderson, Blackbird," Rogue Machine at Theatre/TheaterGigi Bermingham, Hermetically Sealed," Katselas Theatre Company at the Skylight TheatreSandy Martin, A House Not Meant to Stand," Fountain TheatreJacqueline Wright, House of Gold," Ensemble Studio TheatreLos Angeles at the Atwater Village Theatre PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICALLesli Margherita, Kiss Me, Kate," Reprise Theatre Company at the Freud PlayhouseSahr Ngaujah, Fela! Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson TheatreLisa OHare, Cabaret," Reprise Theatre Company at the Freud PlayhouseRyann Redmond, Bring It On: The Musical," Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson TheatreENSEMBLEGod of Carnage," Cast: Jeff Daniels, Hope Davis, James Gandolfini, and Marcia Gay Harden; Center Theatre Group, Robert Fox, David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers, Stuart Thompson, Scott Rudin, Jon B. Platt, the Weinstein Company, and the Shubert Organization at the Ahmanson TheatreSmall Engine Repair," Cast: Jon Bernthal, Josh Helman, John Pollono, and Michael Redfield; Rogue Machine at Theatre/Theater SOLO PERFORMANCECharlayne Woodard, The Night Watcher," Center Theatre Group at the Kirk Douglas TheatreCHOREOGRAPHYMolly Alvarez, A Christmas Westside Story," Troubadour Theater Company at the Falcon TheatreAndy Blankenbuehler, Bring It On: The Musical," Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson TheatreMarcia Milgrom Dodge, Cabaret," Reprise Theatre Company at the Freud PlayhouseBill T. Jones, Fela! Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson TheatreMUSICAL DIRECTIONChristy Crowl, Cabaret," Reprise Theatre Company at the Freud PlayhouseEric Heinly, A Christmas Westside Story," Troubadour Theater Company at the Falcon TheatreDavid O, The Cradle Will Rock," Blank Theatre Company at the Stella Adler TheatreDave Pepin, Bring It On: The Musical," Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson TheatreMike Wilkins, Jerry Springer: The Opera," The Chance TheaterSCENIC DESIGNBrian Sidney Bembridge, The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity," Geffen PlayhouseMichael Ganio, A Raisin in the Sun," Ebony Repertory Theatre at the Nate Holden Performing Arts CenterJim McLaughlin, A House Not Meant to Stand," Fountain TheatreLIGHTING DESIGNPaule Constable, Les Misrables," Cameron Mackintosh and Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson Theatre Jared A. Sayeg, Cabaret," Reprise Theatre Company at the Freud PlayhouseCOSTUME DESIGNKate Bergh, Cabaret," Reprise Theatre Company at the Freud PlayhouseSOUND DESIGNMikhail Fiksel, The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity," Geffen PlayhouseCasey Long, Jerry Springer: The Opera," The Chance Theater