I had a blast at the 69th annual Outer Critics Circle Awards Dinner at Sardi's this week. This gathering of theater critics, actors, directors, writers, designers, and producers is so much fun because the winners are announced ahead of time. (For the complete list of winners, link HERE). This does away with the stress of competition and turns it into a truly festive occasion.
We sat at round tables of 10 and enjoyed a meal together, so there was plenty of opportunity for relaxed conversation during the three-hour event.
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| Benjamin Walker Photo by Howard Miller |
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| Warren Carlyle Photo by Howard Miller |
I also had a nice chat with a another guest at my table, choreographer and OCC Award winner Warren Carlyle, about the fantastic work he has done with the wow of a revival of Kiss Me, Kate! He is someone else I predict will win a Tony on June 9.
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Taking home a slew of OCC awards was the Broadway musical Hadestown, the grand and glorious retelling of the myth of Orpheus and Euridice. Among those on hand were its creator Anaïs Mitchell, its director Rachel Chavkin, and two of its winning performers, Amber Gray (Persephone) and André De Shields (Hermes).
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| Anaïs Mitchell Photo by Howard Miller |
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| Rachel Chavkin Photo by Howard Miller |
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| Amber Gray Photo by Howard Miller |
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| André De Shields Photo by Howard Miller |
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And here are some of the other notable guests:
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| Joel Grey Photo by Howard Miller |
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| Joel Grey in Cabaret |
Joel Grey has been performing and directing since the 1940s. He is perhaps best known for his portrayal of the Master of Ceremonies in Cabaret. But he is still going strong as director of the highly acclaimed Yiddish language production of Fiddler on the Roof, which won the OCC award for Best Musical Revival, against the likes of Kiss Me, Kate! and Oklahoma!
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| Bob Mackie Photo by Howard Miller |
Bob Mackie, the OCC-winning costume designer for Broadway's The Cher Show, is another iconic figure, perhaps best known for the consistently inventive work he did for Carol Burnett's television variety show. Remember the dress she wore for the spoof of Gone With The Wind, the one with the curtain rod stuck in the material? That was Mackie's.
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| Stephanie J. Block Photo by Howard Miller |
And speaking of
The Cher Show, accepting her OCC Award for Best Actress in a Musical was Stephanie J. Block, who absolutely owns the stage as "Star" Cher.
The Cher Show, accepting her OCC Award for Best Actress in a Musical was Stephanie J. Block, who absolutely owns the stage as "Star" Cher.
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| John Cullum Photo by Howard Miller |
Also in attendance was another terrific actor with a long and illustrious career on Broadway, John Cullum, whose resumé includes Shenandoah, On the Twentieth Century, On A Clear Day You Can See Forever, The Scottsboro Boys, and my favorite, Urinetown.
And more!
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| Celia Kennan-Bolger Best Supporting Actress, To Kill A Mockingbird Photo by Howard Miller |
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| Santino Fontana Best Actor in a Musical Tootsie Photo by Howard Miller |
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| Bryan Cranston, Best Actor in a Play Network Photo by Howard Miller |
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| Mike Birbiglia, Best Solo Performance The New One Photo by Howard Miller |
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| Sydney Beers, Roundabout Theater Company's General Manager. One of my vivacious table guests shown here with the table's centerpiece King Kong doll (Clearly love at first sight!) Photo by Howard Miller |
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| Avenue Q's 'Lucy the Slut' One of the event's guest presenters Photo by Howard Miller |
Kudos to all of the winners, special guests, and to the hard working OCC leadership team for this truly memorable and thoroughly fun event. May the new theater season be as rewarding!
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