The Bay Area Critics Circle Awards

2003 Nominees and Winners

(The Critics Circle hasn’t yet announced its 2004 nominations. Please keep checking this site, as we anticipate that we’ll get news by April 2005.)

The following are the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle nominations and winners for outstanding performance in 2003. Award winners are in boldface. Award certificates are mailed by the Circle to the presenting theatre company. Please note: Theatre Bay Area is in no way affiliated with the SF Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle. We post this list as a service to the community. For specific information about the Critics Circle, e-mail their president, Jerry Friedman.

The following list may contain misspellings and/or other errors. Please e-mail corrections to karen@theatrebayarea.org. They will be forwarded to the Critics Circle. Corrections must be sent to Karen’s e-mail for the information on this page to be corrected. Corrections e-mailed to only Jerry Friedman may not be reflected on this page. Please do not e-mail Karen about Critics Circle contact information or nomination criteria; Jerry Friedman is the contact.

The Paine Knickerbocker Award. Named for the former theatre critic of the S.F. Chronicle, the award is presented to a person or organization (not an actor, director, or staff member of a theatre company) who has made a continuing contribution to Bay Area theatre. A.C.T. Young Conservatory (theater training for young people aged 8 to 19)

The Barbara Bladen Porter Award is a cash incentive award presented to an active, mid-career member of the theatre community.
Liebe Wetzel (artistic director, Lunatique Fantastique)

Special Awards. Awards presented at the discretion of the Circle members to honor a person, production, event, or theatre company not eligible for competition in a current voting category.
Theater of Yugen (commemorating their 25th anniversary)
and The Lysistrata Project (produced by Upon These Boards, recognizing Bay Area groups in this global anti-war theatre event)

Touring Productions:
A Night with Dame Edna: The Show That Cares, Curran Theatre
Elaine Stritch at Liberty, CreativeBattery
The Exonerated, The Culture Project, Inc.
The Producers, Best of Broadway
Surface Transit, Sarah Jones, Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Urinetown, A.C.T. Presents

DRAMA

Entire Production:
American Buffalo, American Conservatory Theater
Arms and the Man, California Shakespeare Theater
The Constant Wife, American Conservatory Theater
The Death of Meyerhold, Shotgun Players
Lobby Hero, Aurora Theatre Company
Triptych, Magic Theatre
Wild Honey, Porchlight Theatre Company

Principal Performance, Female:
Ellen Karas, The Constant Wife, American Conservatory Theater
Francesca Faridany, Fräulein Else, Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Joan Mankin, The Pavilion, Marin Theatre Company and Center REPertory Company
Julia Brothers, Triptych, Magic Theatre
Julie Eccles, Much Ado About Nothing, California Shakespeare Theater
Lise Bruneau, Triptych, Magic Theatre
Sarah Overman, Proof, TheatreWorks
Tara Blau, Wild Honey, Porchlight Theatre Company

Principal Performance, Male:
Anthony Fusco, Arms and the Man, California Shakespeare Theater
Bill Geisslinger, Continental Divide: Mothers Against, Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Bob Leach, Of Mice and Men, Marin Classic Theatre
Marco Barricelli, American Buffalo, American Conservatory Theater
Marco Barricelli, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, American Conservatory Theater
Rick Eldredge, Wild Honey, Porchlight Theatre Company

Supporting Performance, Female:
Amy Resnick, The Old Neighborhood, Aurora Theatre Company
Domenique Lozano, Arms and the Man, California Shakespeare Theater
Joy Carlin, Therese Raquin, Aurora Theatre Company
Julia Brothers, Nickel and Dimed, TheatreWorks and Brava Theater Center
Loring Robba, Mrs. Warren’s Profession, Ross Valley Players
Phoebe Moyer, Merry Wives of Windsor, Marin Shakespeare Company
Robynn Rodriguez, Continental Divide: Mothers Against, Berkeley Repertory Theatre

Supporting Performance, Male:
Charles Dean, Wintertime, San Jose Repertory Theatre
Dan Hiatt, Noises Off, San Jose Repertory Theatre/Nederlander Company, LLC
Darren Bridgett, Blue Surge, Magic Theatre
Howard Dillon, Wild Honey, Porchlight Theatre Company
James Carpenter, Julius Caesar, California Shakespeare Theater
Mark Phillips, Proof, TheatreWorks
Richard Louis James, The Death of Meyerhold, Shotgun Players
Rod Gnapp, Visions of Kerouac, Marin Theatre Company

Director:
Giles Havergal, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, American Conservatory Theater
Kyle Donnelly, The Constant Wife, American Conservatory Theater
Lillian Groag, Arms and the Man, California Shakespeare Theater
Lois Grandi, Proof, Playhouse West
Mark Jackson, The Death of Meyerhold, Shotgun Players
Paul Whitworth, Triptych, Magic Theatre
Richard E. T. White, American Buffalo, American Conservatory Theater
Richard Seyd, Noises Off, San Jose Repertory Theatre/Nederlander Company, LLC
Timothy Near, Wintertime, San Jose Repertory Theatre

Set Design:
Alexander V. Nichols, Mary’s Wedding, San Jose Repertory Theatre
Guilio Cesare Perrone, Wintertime, San Jose Repertory Theatre
Kate Edmunds, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, American Conservatory Theater
Kate Edmunds, The Constant Wife, American Conservatory Theater
Ken Rowland, A Man for All Seasons, Ross Valley Players
Kent Dorsey, American Buffalo, American Conservatory Theater
Scott Bradley, The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci, Berkeley Repertory Theatre

Sound Design:
Garth Hemphill, American Buffalo, American Conservatory Theater
Garth Hemphill, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, American Conservatory Theater
Jake Rodriguez, The Death of Meyerhold, Shotgun Players
Jeff Mockus, Mary’s Wedding, San Jose Repertory Theatre
Michael Roth, Suddenly Last Summer, Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Norman Kern, Syncopation, Marin Theatre Company

Lighting Design:
Alexander V. Nichols, Mary’s Wedding, San Jose Repertory Theatre
Jim Cave, Therese Raquin, Aurora Theatre Company
Kurt Landisman, Triptych, Magic Theatre
Lap-Chi Chu, Wintertime, San Jose Repertory Theatre
Peter Maradudin, American Buffalo, American Conservatory Theater
Steven B. Mannshardt, Proof, TheatreWorks
T. J. Gerckens, The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci, Berkeley Repertory Theatre

Costume Design:
Anna Oliver, The Constant Wife, American Conservatory Theater
B. Modern, Humpty Dumpty, San Jose Repertory Theatre
Beaver Bauer, Arms and the Man, California Shakespeare Theater
Beaver Bauer, Noises Off, San Jose Repertory Theatre/Nederlander Company, LLC
Beaver Bauer, The Three Sisters, American Conservatory Theater
Deborah Dryden, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, American Conservatory Theater
Mara Blumenfelt, The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci, Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Renee Jordan, Wild Honey, Porchlight Theatre Company

Original Script:
Claire Chafee, Darwin’s Finches, Encore Theatre
Edna O’Brien, Triptych, Magic Theatre
Francesca Faridany, Fräulein Else, Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Mark Jackson, The Death of Meyerhold, Shotgun Players
Mary Zimmerman, Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci, Berkeley Repertory Theatre

Choreography or Fight Direction:
Gregory Hoffman, American Buffalo, American Conservatory Theater
Lawrence Ewing, Syncopation, Marin Theatre Company
Will Leong, Noises Off, San Jose Repertory Theatre/Nederlander Company, LLC

Original Score:
Michael Butler/Jeff Mockus, Mary’s Wedding, San Jose Repertory Theatre
Peter D, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, American Conservatory Theater
Todd Barton & Jeremy Lee, Continental Divide: Mothers Against, Berkeley Repertory Theatre

Ensemble Performance:
American Buffalo, American Conservatory Theater
Book of Days, TheatreWorks
The Death of Meyerhold, Shotgun Players
Continental Divide: Mothers Against/Daughters of the Revolution, Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Noises Off, San Jose Repertory Theatre/Nederlander Company, LLC
Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci, The, Berkeley Repertory Theatre

Solo Performance:
Geoff Hoyle, A Feast of Fools, Marines Memorial Theatre
Josh Kornbluth, Love and Taxes, Z Space
Luis Oropeza, Blood Poet Lorca, Luis Oropeza (producer)

MUSICALS

Entire Production:
A Little Night Music, TheatreWorks/Nederlander Company, LLC
Annie, Mountain Play
Bat Boy, TheatreWorks
The Boy Friend, Playhouse West
Guys and Dolls, Foothill Music Theatre
Man of La Mancha, Willows Theatre Company
On the Twentieth Century, Foothill Music Theatre
Singing in the Rain, Broadway by the Bay
Spitfire Grill, Willows Theatre Company

Principal Performance, Female:
Charlotte Cornwell, A Little Night Music, TheatreWorks/Nederlander Company, LLC
Joy Sheratt, The Boy Friend, Playhouse West
Julie James, Me and My Girl, Marin Theatre Company
Margaret Nichols, Jane Eyre, TheatreWorks
Melissa WolfKlain, Singing in the Rain, Broadway by the Bay
Sarah Smithton, Annie, Mountain Play

Principal Performance, Male:
Allen Fitzpatrick, A Little Night Music, TheatreWorks/Nederlander Company, LLC
Darren Fuller, Singing in the Rain, Broadway by the Bay
David Hess, Jane Eyre, TheatreWorks
Joe Vincent, South Pacific, Willows Theatre Company
Justin Greer, Bat Boy, TheatreWorks
Kelly Houston, Paint Your Wagon, 42nd Street Moon
Michael Babin, Me and My Girl, Marin Theatre Company
Noel Anthony, West Side Story, Broadway by the Bay
Rick Williams, Man of La Mancha, Willows Theatre Company

Supporting Performance, Female:
Alice M. Vienneau, A Little Night Music, TheatreWorks/Nederlander Company, LLC
Deb Note-Farwell, The Boy Friend, Playhouse West
Janice Lorraine, Cookin' at the Cookery, San Jose Repertory Theatre
Lianne Marie Dobbs, Jane Eyre, TheatreWorks
Marla Kavanaugh, Jane Eyre, TheatreWorks
Mary Knoll, Annie, Mountain Play
Paige Cook Perez, Singing in the Rain, Broadway by the Bay

Supporting Performance, Male:
Bill Lewis, The Boy Friend, Playhouse West
Brian Gillespie, Paint Your Wagon, 42nd Street Moon
Joshua Powell, Paint Your Wagon, 42nd Street Moon
Martin Lewis, Man of La Mancha, Willows Theatre Company
Robert Wilson, Annie, Mountain Play
Stephen Perez, Singing in the Rain, Broadway by the Bay

Director:
Andrew Holtz, Man of La Mancha, Willows Theatre Company
Brooke Knight, Singing in the Rain, Broadway by the Bay
Jay Manley, Guys and Dolls, Foothill Music Theatre
Jay Manley, On the Twentieth Century, Foothill Music Theatre
Linda Goodrich, Bat Boy, TheatreWorks
Lois Grandi, The Boy Friend, Playhouse West
Robert Kelley, A Little Night Music, TheatreWorks/Nederlander Company, LLC
Robert Kelley, Jane Eyre, TheatreWorks

Music Director:
Attilio Tribuzi, Singing in the Rain, Broadway by the Bay
Catherine Snider, On the Twentieth Century, Foothill Music Theatre
Dave Dobrusky, The Boy Friend, Playhouse West
Dave Dobrusky, Paint Your Wagon, 42nd Street Moon
Paul Smith, Annie, Mountain Play
William Liberatore, A Little Night Music, TheatreWorks/Nederlander Company, LLC
William Liberatore, Bat Boy, TheatreWorks
William Liberatore, Jane Eyre, TheateWorks

Set Design:
Aiyana Trotter, South Pacific, Willows Theatre Company
Andrea Bechert, Bat Boy, TheatreWorks
Joe Ragey, Guys and Dolls, Foothill Music Theatre
Joe Ragey, Jane Eyre, TheatreWorks
Joe Ragey, On the Twentieth Century, Foothill Music Theatre
Tom Langguth, A Little Night Music, TheatreWorks/Nederlander Company, LLC

Sound Design:
Cliff Caruthers, A Little Night Music, TheatreWorks/Nederlander Company, LLC
Lyle Barrere, South Pacific, Willows Theatre Company

Lighting Design:
Chris Guptill, Man of La Mancha, Willows Theatre Company
Kurt Landisman, Guys and Dolls, Foothill Music Theatre
Steven B. Mannshardt, A Little Night Music, TheatreWorks/Nederlander Company, LLC
Steven B. Mannshardt, Jane Eyre, TheatreWorks

Costume:
Beverly Merrick, The Boy Friend, Playhouse West
Fumiko Bielefeldt, A Little Night Music, TheatreWorks/Nederlander Company, LLC
Fumiko Bielefeldt, Jane Eyre, TheatreWorks
Patricia Polen, Annie, Mountain Play

Choreography:
Berle Davis, Singing in the Rain, Broadway by the Bay
Berle Davis, West Side Story, Broadway by the Bay
Dean G. Loumbas, A Little Night Music, TheatreWorks/Nederlander Company, LLC
Linda Goodrich, Bat Boy, TheatreWorks
Lois Grandi, The Boy Friend, Playhouse West
Tyler Risk, On the Twentieth Century, Foothill Music Theatre

Ensemble Performance:
A Little Night Music, TheatreWorks/Nederlander Company, LLC
Bat Boy, TheatreWorks
The Boy Friend, Playhouse West
Guys and Dolls, Foothill Music Theatre
Man of La Mancha, Willows Theatre Company
On the Twentieth Century, Foothill Music Theatre
Paint Your Wagon, 42nd Street Moon

Solo Performance:
Lesley Hamilton, Blue Jelly