Winners Announced of Craig Noel Awards

The winners of the 18th annual Craig Noel Awards were announced February 10. The awards honor achievement in the San Diego professional theatre scene. Winners were presented with their honors at the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation in San Diego.

Backyard Renaissance Theatre Company was presented with the Don Braunagel Award for Outstanding Work by a Small Theater Company, and its show An Experiment with an Air Pump won Outstanding Scenic Design, awarded to Tony Cucuzzella.

Full list of winners:

Outstanding Dramatic Production
Cambodian Rock Band

Outstanding New Musical
Almost Famous

Outstanding Resident Musical
West Side Story

Outstanding New Play
The Hour of Great Mercy

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

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

Outstanding Specialty Artist
Vanessa Dinning, dialects/accents/musical performance

Outstanding Direction of a Play
Chay Yew, Cambodian Rock Band

Outstanding Direction of a Musical
Barry Edelstein, Life After

Outstanding Musical Direction
Bryan Perri, Almost Famous

Outstanding Choreography
Colleen Kollar Smith, Matilda the Musical

Outstanding Scenic Design
Tony Cucuzzella, An Experiment with an Air Pump

Outstanding Sound Design
Steven Leffue, Angels in America," Parts 1 & 2

Outstanding Costume Design
Elisa Benzoni, Amadeus

Outstanding Lighting Design
Japhy Weideman, Life After

Outstanding Projection Design
Blake McCarty, 33 1/3 House of Dreams

Outstanding Ensemble
Angels in America, Parts 1 & 2

Outstanding Solo Performance
Ryun Yu, Hold These Truths

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play
Tamara McMillian, Intimate Apparel
Andrew Oswald, The Hour of Great Mercy

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play
Jessica John, An Experiment with an Air Pump
Daisuke Tsuji, Cambodian Rock Band

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical
Sophie Hearn, Life After
Jeremy Wilson, Hedwig and the Angry Inch

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical
Courtney Arango, West Side Story
Charles Evans, Jr., Million Dollar Quartet

For more information on the Craig Noel Awards, please visit the link below.