The San Diego Theatre Critics Circle handed out 28 awards Monday night at its 21st Craig Noel Awards ceremony, with top prizes going to the Old Globe, La Jolla Playhouse, Cygnet Theatre, CCAE Theatricals and Chalk Circle Collective companies.
Named after National Medal of Arts winner Craig Noel, who founded and led San Diego’s professional theater community for more than 50 years, the awards are presented each year to professional theater productions, directors, actors and designers. This year’s ceremony was held at the BLVD Boulevard Events Center in central San Diego before a sold-out audience of 400.
Besides the production and artist awards, the Critics Circle gave a 2024 Artistic Visionary Award to Tony-winner Christopher Ashley, now in his 18th season as artistic director of La Jolla Playhouse. Besides overseeing more than 50 world premieres and shepherding more than 20 shows to Broadway, including last year’s Tony-winner “The Outsiders” and this year’s recent Broadway debut “Redwood,” starring Idina Menzel, Ashley has launched numerous programs at the Playhouse including the Without Walls Festival and DNA New Works Series. Ashley will leave the Playhouse at the end of this year to become artistic director of New York City’s nonprofit Roundabout Theatre Company.
The Old Globe’s “Henry 6” production, adapted by artistic director Barry Edelstein from William Shakespeare’s three “Henry VI” plays, won the prize for Outstanding New Play. La Jolla Playhouse’s “Redwood” won Outstanding New Musical. Cygnet Theatre’s “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812” won the prize for Outstanding Resident Musical, as well as six other prizes, making it the most-honored show of the evening.
Chalk Circle Collective’s “Constellations” won the prize for Outstanding Dramatic Production, and the 2-year-old theater company was also honored with the 2024 prize for Outstanding Achievement by a Small Theater.
CCAE Theatricals won three prizes for its production of “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” including lead actor Daniel Patrick Russell, a neurodivergent actor who said in his acceptance speech that playing the role of the on-the-spectrum character Christopher in the play was the most thrilling creative experience of his life.
And local actors DeAndre Simmons and Mikaela Macias were honored as 2024 Actors of the Year for their strong performances in multiple productions at different theaters around the county.
The awards were chosen by an all-volunteer group of nine San Diego County newspaper, magazine and online critics, including myself.
Here’s the full list of winners:
Artistic Visionary Award: Christopher Ashley, La Jolla Playhouse.
Outstanding New Play: “Henry 6,” The Old Globe, adapted by Barry Edelstein from William Shakespeare’s “Henry VI, Parts I, II and III.”
Outstanding New Musical: “Redwood” by Tina Landau, Kate Diaz and Idina Menzel at La Jolla Playhouse.
Outstanding Dramatic Production: “Constellations,” Chalk Circle Collective
Outstanding Resident Musical: “Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812,” Cygnet Theatre
Outstanding Achievement by a Small Theater: Chalk Circle Collective
Outstanding Specialty Artist: Peter Herman for his work on makeup and wig designs for more than 300 theatrical productions.
2024 Actors of the Year (two winners): DeAndre Simmons, Mikaela Macias
Outstanding Youth Performance: Lena Palke, “Fun Home” and “Miracle on 34th Street: a Live Musical Radio Play,” both at New Village Arts.
Reviewer of Tomorrow Writing Contest: Sophia Hughes
Outstanding Direction of a Musical: Sean Murray, “Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812,” Cygnet Theatre.
Outstanding Direction of a Play: Hannah Meade, “Constellations,” Chalk Circle Collective.
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical (two winners): Kürt Norby, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812,” Cygnet Theatre; Nio Russell, “The Color Purple,” New Village Arts.
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play (two winners): Daniel Patrick Russell, “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time,” CCAE Theatricals; Nedra Snipes, “Intimate Apparel,” North Coast Repertory Theatre.
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical (two winners): Michael Louis Cusimano, “Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812,” Cygnet Theatre; Bethany Slomka, “Legally Blonde,” San Diego Musical Theatre.
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play (two winners): Deborah Gilmour Smyth, “The Beauty Queen of Leenane,” Backyard Renaissance Theatre Co.; Margot White, “A View from The Bridge,” North Coast Repertory Theatre.
Outstanding Choreography: Katie Banville, “Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812,” Cygnet Theatre.
Outstanding Music Direction: Patrick Marion, “Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812,” Cygnet Theatre.
Outstanding Sound Design: Jon Fredette, “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time,” CCAE Theatricals.
Outstanding Costume Design: Diego Montoya Studio, “Velour: A Drag Spectacular,” La Jolla Playhouse.
Outstanding Scenic Design: Mathys Herbert, “Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812,” Cygnet Theatre.
Outstanding Lighting Design: Mike Billings, “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time,” CCAE Theatricals.
Outstanding Projection Design: Hana S. Kim, “Redwood,” La Jolla Playhouse
(Audience Choice Award: This winner of this award was chosen by the audience late Monday night and was not available at press time.)
More on the awards will be available at sdcriticscircle.org/ and facebook.com/sandiegotheatrecriticscircle.
