The 53rd Annual Village Voice Obie Awards were presented the evening of May 19, 2008 at Webster Hall, and yes, offoffonline was there.
This year's ceremony marks the return of the Obies to Webster Hall after their sojourn to the NYU Skirball Center. Attendees manifested enthusiasm concerning this change, and Webster Hall, with its flickering red fire lanterns, ornate molding and sometimes-scary relief sculptures, does seem like a particularly appropriate venue for an Off- and Off-Off-Broadway theater event.
Co-hosts for the evening were Elizabeth Marvel and Bill Camp. Presenters included Jonathan Groff, Priscilla Lopez, Marisa Tomei, Bradley Whitford, S. Epatha Merkerson, and Julie White. Attendees enjoyed a rousing performance of two songs by the Passing Strange ensemble, leading some to dance along by their seats or even in the aisles.
For the first time, this year's Obies have been webcast, and the complete ceremony can be viewed at www.villagevoice.com/obies.
Congratulations to all those whose achievements were honored this year. We look forward to seeing more of your work.
The Winners:
Playwriting
Horton Foote, Dividing The Estate
David Henry Hwang, Yellow Face
Direction
Krzysztof Warlikowski, Krum
David Cromer, Adding Machine
Performance
LisaGay Hamilton, The Ohio State Murders
Kate Mulgrew, Iphigenia 2.0
Francis Jue, Yellow Face
Rebecca Wisocky, Amazons and Their Men
Joel Hatch, Adding Machine
Heidi Schreck, Drum Of The Waves Of Horikawa
Veanne Cox, Sustained Excellence of Performance
Sean McNall, Sustained Excellence of Performance
Ensemble, Passing Strange:(De'Adre Aziza, Daniel Breaker, Eisa Davis, Colman Domingo, Chad Goodridge, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Stew)
Design
Takeshi Kata, Set - Keith Parham, Lighting Design, Adding Machine
Peter Ksander, Scenic Design, Untitled Mars (This Title May Change)
Ben Katchor, Drawings; John Findlay & Jeff Sugg, Set & Projection; Russell H. Champa, Lighting Design, The Slug Bearers Of Kayrol Island
Jane Greenwood; Sustained Excellence of Costume Design
David Zinn; Sustained Excellence of Costume and Set Design
Special Citations
Nature Theater of Oklahoma, No Dice
David Greenspan, The Argument
Best New Theater Piece: $1,000
Stew, Heidi Rodewald, Annie Dorsen, Passing Strange
The Ross Wetzsteon Award $2,000
Cherry Lane Theatre Mentor Project
Lifetime Achievement Award
Adrienne Kennedy
Obie Grants
Keen Company $5,000
Theater of a Two-Headed Calf $5,000
Obies!
