Oh! What A Night.

The San Diego Theatre Critics Circle is pleased to announce the winners of its 2019 Craig Noel Awards. Now in its 18th year, the Craig Noel Awards honor the achievements of professional theaters in San Diego County.

The 2019 Craig Noel Award recipients are:

Outstanding Dramatic Production
“Cambodian Rock Band,” La Jolla Playhouse

Outstanding New Musical
"Almost Famous," The Old Globe

Outstanding Resident Musical
“West Side Story,” Moonlight Stage Productions

Outstanding New Play
“The Hour of Great Mercy” by Miranda Rose Hall, Diversionary Theatr

Patrick Mayuyu and Andrew Oswald

Don Braunagel Award for Outstanding Work by a Small Theater Company
Backyard Renaissance Theatre Company

Outstanding Director of the Year
Rob Lutfy (“The Virgin Trial,” “The Last Five Years,” “Pride and Prejudice,” “Marie and Rosetta”

Michael Cusimano -Actor of the Year

Actor of the Year
• Michael Cusimano (“Girlfriend,” “The Last Five Years,” “A Jewel in the Crown City,” “Lamb’s Players Festival of Christmas,” “The Tale of Despereaux”-swing)
• Cashae Monya (“Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” “Intimate Apparel,” “A Jewel in the Crown City,” “Little Shop of Horrors”)

Outstanding Young Artist/Sandra Ellis-Troy Scholarship
Catalina Zelles - “Gabriel,” North Coast Repertory Theatre

Catalina Zelles with Richard Baird

Outstanding Specialty Artist
Vanessa Dinning (dialects/accents/musical performance)

Outstanding Direction of a Play
Chay Yew – “Cambodian Rock Band,” La Jolla Playhouse

Outstanding Direction of a Musical
Barry Edelstein – “Life After” – The Old Globe

William Miller as Cameron Crow in "Almost Famous"

Outstanding Musical Direction
Bryan Perri – “Almost Famous,” The Old Globe

Outstanding Choreography
Colleen Kollar Smith – “Matilda the Musical,” Moonlight Stage Productions

Justin Lang and Jessica John

   Outstanding Scenic DesignTony Cucuzzella – “An Experiment with an Air Pump,” 
Backyard Renaissance Theatre Company

Outstanding Sound Design
Steven Leffue – “Angels in America,” Parts 1 & 2, Cygnet Theatre.

Rosina Reynolds and  James Newcomb "Angels in America"

Outstanding Costume Design
Elisa Benzoni – “Amadeus,” North Coast Repertory Theatre

Outstanding Lighting Design
Japhy Weideman – “Life After” – The Old Globe

Outstanding Projection Design
Blake McCarty - “ 33 1/3 House of Dreams,” San Diego Repertory Theatre

Outstanding Ensemble
“Angels in America,” Parts 1 & 2, Cygnet Theatre

Outstanding Solo Performance
Ryun Yu – “Hold These Truths,” San Diego Repertory Theatre

Ryun Yu "Hold These Truths"

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play
• Tamara McMillian - “Intimate Apparel,” New Village Arts
• Andrew Oswald - “The Hour of Great Mercy,” Diversionary Theatre

Tamara McMillian and Tom Stewart "Intimate Apparel"

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play
• Jessica John - “An Experiment with an Air Pump,” Backyard Renaissance Theatre Company
• Daisuke Tsuji – “Cambodian Rock Band,” La Jolla Playhouse

Cambodian Rock Band

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical
• Sophie Hearn - “Life After” – The Old Globe

Jeremy Wilson and Cashae Monya

• Jeremy Wilson - “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” Diversionary Theatre

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical
• Courtney Arango - “West Side Story,” Moonlight Stage Productions
• Charles Evans, Jr. - “Million Dollar Quartet,” Lamb’s Players Theatre

This year’s awards ceremony was organized by event chair Julie Sarno. Financial support was provided by individual donors Larry and Dawn Alldredge; Lon and Denise Bevers; Stanley Cohen; Jay and Julie Sarno; Bill and Judy Garrett; Harvey and Sheryl White; Dea and Osborn Hurston; Weston Anson; Wendy Nash; Jerry Buckley; Nancy Richards; Ralph Johnson; Arthur and Marilyn Neumann; and Darlene Davies. The event was also underwritten by sponsors: the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation; UC San Diego and Mike Napoli & Performing Arts Live.