Published by Aviva Press

May 28, 2008

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53rd Annual 2008 Village Voice OBIE Awards Ceremony

By: Maria Esteves - May 28, 2008

[img_assist|nid=13386|title=|desc=|link=node|align=left|width=140|height=105]The 53rd Annual 2008 Village Voice OBIE Awards ceremony was held at the historical Webster Hall ballroom, New York, with live simulcast streamed on iClips.Net, Monday, May 19, 8:00 pm - 10:00pm. The 2008 Obies was co-hosted by Broadway performers Bill Camp of CORAM BOY and [img_assist|nid=13385|title=|desc=|link=node|align=right|width=118|height=150]Elizabeth Marvel of SEASCAPE. 2008 Obies was presented by Chairman, Michael Feingold Obie Committee, producer Eileen Phelan, publicist Gail Parenteau, lighting designer Stephen Wyker, sound designer Paul Bell, stage manager Tamera Cone, marketing and promotions Mauro DeCeglie, Joachim Kearns, and Samantha Seier, creative services Christine Brownlee, and Obie associate Sarah H. Haught. The award presenters were Jonathan Groff, Priscilla Lopez, S. Epatha Merkerson, Marisa Tomei, Julie White and Bradley Whitford. The ceremony included a special performance from the cast of PASSING STRANGE singing "We Just Had Sex" and "Welcome To Amsterdam." The supporting sponsors were Stella Artois, Chinatown Brasserie, CRUNCH, MACY'S, Sea Grape Wine Shop, Hint Water, and iClips Network.

The OBIE Awards acknowledges the best of Off Broadway and Off-Off Broadway productions. The judges may vote multiple OBIES in any category where outstanding achievement deserves recognition. The winners of the 2008 OBIE Awards were judged by:

Michael Feingold - Village Voice Chief Theater Critic and OBIE Chairman
Mark Blankenship - Variety Critic
Jeremy Gerard - Bloomberg News Editor/Critic
Robert O'Hara - 2007 OBIE award winner, Playwright/Director (IN THE CONINUUM)
Neil Patel - two-time OBIE award winner, Set Designer
Helen Shaw - Committee Secretary, Time Out New York/New York Sun Critic
Alexis Soloski - Village Voice Theater Critic

The ceremony included 25 awards within 9 categories. The following are the various awards, and their winners:

Best Playwright

Horton Foote for Dividing The Estate
David Henry Hwang for Yellow Face

Best Performance

Lisa Gay Hamilton for The Ohio State Murders
Kate Mulgrew for Iphigenia 2.0
Francis Jue for Yellow Face
Rebecca Wisocky for Amazons and Their Men
Joel Hatch for Adding Machine
Heidi Schreck for Drum Of The Waves Of Horikawa
Veanne Cox performer of sustained excellence
Sean McNall performer of sustained excellence
Ensemble (De'Adre Aziza, Daniel Breaker, Eisa Davis, Colman Domingo, Chad Goodridge, Rebecca Noami Jones, Stew) for Passing Strange

Best Direction

Krzysztof Warlikowski for Krum
David Cromer for Adding Machine

Best Design

Adding Machine - Keith Parham (lights), Takeshi Kata (set)
Untitled Mars (this title may change) - Peter Ksander (set)
Jane Greenwood costume designer of sustained excellence
David Zinn costume/set designer of sustained excellence
Scenic Design
- The Slug Bearers of Kayrol Island - Ben Katchor (drawings), Jim Findlay and Jeff Sugg (set/projection design), Russell H. Champa (lighting)

Special Citations