54th Village Voice OBIE Awards
By: Maria Esteves - May 22, 2009
The 54th Annual 2009 Village Voice OBIE Awards ceremony honoring Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway theater achievements of 2008-2009, 
co-hosted by 2009 Tony Award nominee Martha Plimpton and "Shrek the Musical " performer Daniel Breaker were held at the historical Webster Hall ballroom, New York, with a live Internet webcast on PalTalk.com, Monday, May 18, 8:00 pm. The 54th OBIE Award presenters were Anne Hathaway, Brian d'Arcy James (Shrek), Gavin Creel (Hair), John Shea, Karen Olivo (West Side Story), Kate Mulgrew, Marc Kudisch (9 to 5), and Sasha Allen (Hair). The 54th OBIES After Party immediately followed celebrating Creative Block 2009 inaugural, a multidisciplinary arts event.
Since 1955, the Village Voice Obie Awards founded by Jerry Tallmer acknowledge the best of Off-Broadway and Off-Off Broadway productions. The name OBIE derives from the abbreviation for Off-Broadway (O.B.).
2009 OBIES were presented by chairman Michael Feingold, OBIE Committee, producer Eileen Phelan, publicist Gail Parenteau, lighting designer Stephen Wyker, marketing director Mauro De Ceglie, OBIE associate Sarah H. Haught, and creative services Justin Reynolds. The proud sponsors were Compucolor, Crumpler, Fragoli, Harlequin Books, Highline Studios, Le Tourment Vert, LikeMe.net, Macy's, Metro PCS, Parenteau Guidance, Sea Grape Wines, Sierra Nevada, Virgin America and Webster Hall.
The judges may vote multiple OBIES in any category where outstanding achievement deserves recognition. The winners of the 2009 OBIE Awards were judged by:
* Michael Feingold - Chairman chief theater critic, The Village Voice
* Eisa Davis - 2008 Obie Award winner, actress/playwright, "The Blacks"
* Eric Grode - Theater critic
* Ty Jones - 2003 Obie Award winner, actor/playwright, "The Blacks"
* Moises Kaufman - 2004 Obie Award winner, playwright/director, "I Am My Own Wife"
* Andy Propst - Secretary/theater critic, AmericanTheaterWeb.com
* Alexis Soloski - Theater critic, The Village Voice
* Chay Yew - 2007 Obie Award winner, playwright/director, "Durango"
The ceremony included 26 awards within 9 categories. The following are the various awards, and their winners:
Best Performance
FRANCOIS BATTISTE for THE GOOD NEGRO
QUINCY TYLER BERNSTINE for RUINED
SAIDAH ARRIKA EKULONA for RUINED
RUSSELL GEBERT JONES for RUINED
JONATHAN GROFF for PRAYER FOR MY ENEMY and THE SINGING FOREST
BIRGIT HUPPUCH for TELEPHONE
AARON MONAGHAN for THE CRIPPLE OF INISHMAAN
SAHR NGAUJAH for FELA!
LORENZO PISONI for HUMOR ABUSE
JAMES SUGG for CHEKHOV LIZARDBRAIN
JOHN DOUGLAS THOMPSON for OTHELLO
KEVIN T. CARROLL for Sustained Excellence
Best Direction
DAVID CROMER for OUR TOWN
KATIE MITCHELL for THE WAVES
KEN RUS SCHMOLL for TELEPHONE
Best Music and Lyrics
STEPHEN SONDHEIM for ROAD SHOW
Best Design
TONI-LESLIE JAMES for sustained excellence, WIG OUT!
DAVID KORINS for sustained excellence, WHY TORTURE IS WRONG, AND THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM
Special Citations
Director SARAH BENSON and set designer LOUISA THOMPSON for BLASTED
Director DAVID ESBJORNSON and actor CHRISTIAN CAMARGO for HAMLET
Grants
THE CLASSICAL THEATRE OF HARLEM
THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY
LARK PLAY DEVELOPMENT CENTER
The Ross Wetzsteon Award
HERE ARTS CENTER - $2,000
Best New American Play
RUINED, playwright by Lynn Nottage
Lifetime Achievement Award
