The Bard Matches ‘Ragtime’ in Drama Critics Awards

A Noise Within’s production of Shakespeare’s “The Winter’s Tale” and “Ragtime” won the most Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle awards--five each--at the group’s annual ceremony Monday. But the group denied “Ragtime” the top honor for outstanding production, despite the fact that the show had snagged more nominations--nine--than any other.

“The Winter’s Tale” and the Mark Taper Forum’s staging of Tom Stoppard’s “Arcadia” were named outstanding productions. “Arcadia” won three awards.

The program at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel included repeated tributes to the guest of honor, musical theater legend John Raitt, who accepted the accolades near the end of the evening with light comments about his career, including his judgment that he was “a little long in the tooth” when he did his final “Carousel” in the ‘80s. But almost as if to set aside any concerns about the continued strength of his voice, he then delivered a stirring rendition of “The Impossible Dream” from “Man of La Mancha.”

The five honors for “Tale” led Glendale’s A Noise Within to the top of the pack among locally based companies, but two 99-seat troupes were close behind: Culver City’s singular productions, with four awards split equally between “Steaming” and “He Who Gets Slapped,” and Venice’s Pacific Resident Theatre, with three awards for “The Quick-Change Room” and one for “Ardele.”

Center Theatre Group also won four awards, including one for Matthew Bourne’s unorthodox choreography for “Swan Lake” at the Ahmanson Theatre, plus the three for the Taper’s “Arcadia.”

The Geffen Playhouse, now in its second full season, won its first LADCC awards--three for “Old Wicked Songs.” North Hollywood’s Interact Theatre also took home three for its production of “Juno and the Paycock.”

One of the traditional top scorers, South Coast Repertory, won only one competitive award, for John Slattery’s performance in “Three Days of Rain.” However, South Coast’s presence was strongly felt, as artists closely affiliated with the company picked up three of the six previously announced special awards.

The presentation of awards for outstanding lead performances was marked by several references to an unusual phenomenon--there were four couples among the 17 nominees. After presenting awards (for separate productions) to husband Dan Kern and wife Nancy Boykin, Tony Abatemarco commented, “I must compliment the critics for not dividing that household.” Five of the eight individuals within these couples won awards.

Director Ron Link, accepting a sustained achievement award, probably spoke for many L.A. actors and directors when he said that “only one other thing comes to mind” when he sometimes contemplates changing careers: “How many in your party?”

The award recipients:

* Production: “Arcadia,” Mark Taper Forum; “The Winter’s Tale,” A Noise Within.

* Direction: Seth Barrish, “Old Wicked Songs”; Dan Kern, “Juno and the Paycock”; Art Manke, “The Winter’s Tale.”

* Writing: Tom Stoppard, “Arcadia.”

* Musical Score: Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, “Ragtime.”

* Lead Performance: Nancy Boykin, “Juno and the Paycock”; Gar Campbell, “The Quick-Change Room,”; Michael David Edwards, “He Who Gets Slapped”; Marilyn Fox, “The Quick-Change Room”; Dan Kern, “The Winter’s Tale”; Brian Stokes Mitchell, “Ragtime”; Hal Robinson, “Old Wicked Songs”; Michael Rothhaar, “Ardele”; John Slattery, “Three Days of Rain.”

* Featured Performance: Lisa Barnes, “The Quick-Change Room”; Jenna Cole, “The Winter’s Tale”; Gail Godown, “He Who Gets Slapped.”

* Scenic Design: Tim Farmer and Mark Henderson, “Fighting Over Beverley”; Bradley Kaye, “Juno and the Paycock”; Scott Storey, “Steaming.”

* Lighting Design: Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer, “Ragtime”; Ray Thompson, “Steaming.”

* Costume Design: Marianna Elliott, “Arcadia”; Kevin King, “The Winter’s Tale”; Santo Loquasto, “Ragtime.”

* Sound Design: Red Ramona, “Old Wicked Songs.”

* Musical Direction: David Holcenberg, “Ragtime.”

* Choreography: Matthew Bourne, “Swan Lake.”

Special Awards

* Ted Schmitt Award: Richard Greenberg, “Three Days of Rain.”

*Margaret Harford Award: Ron Link.

* Angstrom Lighting Award: Tom Ruzika.

* Natalie Schafer Award: Jodi Carlisle.

* Bob Z Award: Cliff Faulkner.

* Special Award: Bilingual Foundation of the Arts.