A: Is for Awards...and the winners are

The award winners of the 2008-2009 season have arrived. here are the winners from the Outer Critics:
John Gassner Playwriting Award: Gina Gionfriddo Becky Shaw
Outstanding Actor in a Musical: Brian d’Arcy James Shrek the Musical
Outstanding Actor in a Play: Geoffrey Rush Exit the King
Outstanding Actress in a Musical: A tie between Josefina Scaglione West Side Story and Sutton Foster Shrek the Musical
Outstanding Actress in a Play: Marcia Gay Harden God of Carnage
Outstanding Choreography: Peter Darling Billy Elliot the Musical
Outstanding Costume Design: Tim Hatley Shrek the Musical
Outstanding Director of a Musical: Stephen Daldry Billy Elliot the Musical
Outstanding Director of a Play: Matthew Warchus The Norman Conquests
Outstanding Ensemble Performance
Award to the full cast of “The Norman Conquests” (Amelia Bullmore, Jessica Hynes, Stephen Mangan, Ben Miles, Paul Ritter and Amanda Root).
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical: Gregory Jbara Billy Elliot the Musical
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play: David Pearse The Cripple of Inishmaan
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical: Haydn Gwynne Billy Elliot the Musical
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play: Angela Lansbury Blithe Spirit
Outstanding Lighting Design: Rick Fisher Billy Elliot the Musical
Outstanding New Broadway Musical: Billy Elliot the Musical
Outstanding New Broadway Play: God of Carnage
Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical: The Toxic Avenger
Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play: Ruined
Outstanding New Score: Billy Elliot the Musical
Outstanding Revival of a Musical: Hair
Outstanding Revival of a Play: The Norman Conquests
Outstanding Set Design: Tim Hatley Shrek the Musical
Walt Spangler Desire Under the Elms

Outstanding Solo Performance
Lorenzo Pisoni Humor Abuse
Matt Sax Clay
Mike Birbiglia Sleepwalk With Me
Mike Burstyn Lansky
Mike Daisey If You See Something Say Something

Special Achievement Award
As previously announced, the OCC Executive Committee awarded Special Achievement Awards to David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik, and Kiril Kulish for their performances in “Billy Elliot the Musical.

To an up and coming actor or actress The Theatre World Award, is the first sign that you are in that elite league of the best. Judy Holliday, Julie Andrews, Carol Channing, Calista Flockhart, Grace Kelly, Cloris Leachman, Brooke Shields, Meryl Streep, Vanessa L. Williams, Danny Aiello, Richard Burton, Marlon Brando, Dustin Hoffman, Dick Van Dyke, Carol Burnett, Antonio Banderas, and Hugh Jackman are among its winners. Presented annually in recognition of an outstanding New York City stage debut performance, either on Broadway or off-Broadway this years winners include:

David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik, and Kiril Kulish (Billy Elliot, The Musical)
Chad L. Coleman (Joe Turner's Come and Gone)
Jennifer Grace (Our Town)
Josh Grisetti, (Enter Laughing, The Musical)
Haydn Gwynne (Billy Elliot, The Musical)
Colin Hanks (33 Variations)
Marin Ireland (reasons to be pretty)
Susan Louise O'Connor (Blithe Spirit)
Condola Rashad (Ruined)
Geoffrey Rush (Exit the King)
Josefina Scaglione (West Side Story)
Wesley Taylor (Rock of Ages)
The cast of The Norman Conquests: Amelia Bullmore, Jessica Hynes, Stephen Mangan, Ben Miles, Paul Ritter, and Amanda Root (Special Award)

When I interviewed Susan Louise O'Conner I wrote she would win one and I was right she did. So did Tom Hanks son Colin. The torch has been passed and this makes round two for the award season and that is a F.A.C.T