TheOvation Awards were aSouthern California award for excellence intheatre,[1] established in 1989.[2] They were given out by the non-profit arts service organization LA Stage Alliance and are the only peer-judged theatre awards inLos Angeles. Winners were selected by a voting committee of Los Angeles–area theater professionals who are selected through an application process every year.[3] The Ovation Awards ceremony was held at different theatres throughout the Los Angeles area, including theAhmanson Theatre and theOrpheum Theatre.[4] Hosts for the ceremonies have includedNathan Lane,[5]Lily Tomlin,[6] andNeil Patrick Harris.[7]
| Ovation Awards | |
|---|---|
| Awarded for | Excellence in Southern California theatre |
| Country | United States |
| First award | 1989 |
| Website | ovationawards |
Eligibility
edit- The producer(s) must be a qualifying member of LA Stage Alliance.
- Productions must meet one or more of the following requirements: Include a director who is a full member of TheSociety of Stage Directors and Choreographers (SDC), a designer who is a full member ofUnited Scenic Artists (USA), an actor who is a full member ofActors' Equity Association (AEA), or producer(s) who have previously produced an Ovation Award–nominated production in the previous three seasons.
- In addition, eligible productions must meet the minimum number of performances, currently ten for intimate theatres and six for larger theatres.
- Productions in venues with more than 100 seats which include no members of any theatrical union, and those produced by companies that are currently involved in a union labor strike, are ineligible.[citation needed]
Categories
editProduction
edit- Musical – Large Theatre
- Musical – Intimate Theatre (Franklin R. Levy Award)
- Play – Large Theatre
- Play – Intimate Theatre
- Touring Production
Performance
edit- Lead Actress in a Musical
- Lead Actor in a Musical
- Featured Actress in a Musical
- Featured Actor in a Musical
- Lead Actress in a Play
- Lead Actor in a Play
- Featured Actress in a Play
- Featured Actor in a Play
- Ensemble Performance
- Solo Performance (Ray Stricklyn Memorial Award)
Direction/Choreography/Design
edit- Direction of a Musical
- Direction of a Play
- Choreography
- Music Direction
- Set Design – Large Theatre
- Set Design – Intimate Theatre
- Lighting Design – Large Theatre
- Lighting Design – Intimate Theatre
- Sound Design – Large Theatre
- Sound Design – Intimate Theatre
- Costume Design – Large Theatre
- Costume Design – Intimate Theatre
Writing/Composition
edit- Playwriting of an Original Play
- Books/Lyrics/Music for an Original Musical
2021 Ceremony and Aftermath
editThe 2021 awards ceremony featured several prominent mistakes taken as slights on marginalized communities. The ceremony did not provide an interpreter for the deaf, despite requests from nominatedDeaf West Theatre. During the ceremony, actress Jully Lee's first name was mispronounced and she was misidentified with a photograph of a different Asian American actress.[8] Two other nominees of color were also incorrectly pictured, with photos of their white costars displayed instead.[9]
In response, over forty participating theatre companies revoked their membership in the LA Stage Alliance, citing the organization's disenfranchisement ofAsian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) as well as people of color (BIPOC) from the Los Angeles theatre community.[8][10] The Alliance, facing existing financial and organizational difficulties,[8][9] initially released plans for institutional reform before deciding to disband altogether.[11]
Lists of winners
editReferences
edit- ^Ng, David (November 2, 2014)."Ovation Awards go to Fountain Theatre, 'The Country House'".The Los Angeles Times.
- ^Willis, John; Hodges, Ben (2007).Theatre World: Volume 61. New York, NY: Applause Theatre & Cinema Books. p. 309.ISBN 978-1-55783-685-4. Retrieved15 August 2018.
- ^Morino, Stephanie (23 November 2016)."Time Out Los Angeles". Time Out America, LLC. Retrieved29 March 2018.
- ^Hernandez, Ernio (29 September 2002)."Playbill". Playbill, Inc. Retrieved29 March 2018.
- ^Sheh, Stephanie (19 November 1998)."Daily Bruin". Retrieved29 March 2018.
- ^Murray, Matthew (10 November 2003)."Theatre Mania". Retrieved29 March 2018.
- ^Fung, Lisa (11 January 2009)."Los Angeles Times". Retrieved29 March 2018.
- ^abcPaulson, Michael (5 April 2021)."LA Stage Alliance Disbands After Awards Ceremony Blunder".New York Times. Retrieved30 December 2024.
- ^abHo, Howard (7 April 2021)."No, LA Stage Alliance Didn't Fold Over a Single Anti-Asian Blunder".American Theatre. Retrieved30 December 2024.
- ^"Theatre Companies Revoke LA Stage Alliance Membership After Asian Nominee is Misidentified at the Ovation Awards".Broadway World. April 1, 2021.
- ^Ferme, Antonio (5 April 2021)."L.A. Stage Alliance Shuts Down After Misidentifying Asian Actress".Variety. Retrieved30 December 2024.