Lia Chang: Lucille Lortel Awards for Here Lies Love, Fun Home, The Open House, Good Person of Szechwan and More

Ruthie Ann Miles (center) as Imelda Marcos and Jose Llana (on staircase) as Ferdinand Marcus. Photo by Joan Marcus

Ruthie Ann Miles. Photo by Lia Chang

The 2014 Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway were handed out tonight at NYU Skirball Center, and hosted by acclaimed husband and wife actors and comedians, Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman. This year’s event benefits The Actors Fund.

The David Byrne-Fat Boy Slim Musical Here Lies Love, which received 11 Lortel nominations and recently reopened for a commercial run at The Public, was the top winner of the night, taking home 5 Lortel Awards, including Alex Timbers for Outstanding Director, Ruthie Ann Miles for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical, Clint Ramos for Outstanding Costume Design, Justin Townsend for Outstanding Lighting Design and M.L. Dogg and Cody Spencer for Outstanding Sound Design.

Here Lies Love director Alex Timbers. Photo by Lia Chang

The Public Theater’s Fun Home was named Outstanding Musical, with Judy Kuhn and Michael Cerveris winning in the Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical categories. The Good Person of Szechwan, produced by The Public Theater and The Foundry Theatre, was named Outstanding Musical, and won in the category of Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play for Lisa Kron. Signature’s production of Will Eno’s The Open House won for Outstanding Play and Buyer & Cellar won for Outstanding Solo Show. Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, which also received 11 nominations, garnered 3 awards for Lucas Steele (Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical), Mimi Lien (Outstanding Scenic Design) and Paloma Young (Outstanding Costume Design).

Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812. Photo by Ben Arons

Other acting Lortels were presented to Hand to God‘s Steven Boyer (Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play), Bad Jews‘ Tracee Chimo (Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play) and Dinner with Friends‘ Jeremy Shamos (Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play). Sonya Tayeh won for her Outstanding Choreography of David Henry Hwang’s Kung Fu.

Ari Loeb and Cole Horibe in Kung Fu (2014). Photo by Joan Marcus

Congratulations to all of the Lucille Lortel Winners listed below.

Outstanding Play

The Open House, Produced by Signature Theatre, Written by Will Eno

Will Eno’s The Open House. Photo by Joan Marcus

Outstanding Musical

Fun Home, Produced by The Public Theater, Music by Jeanine Tesori, Book and Lyrics by Lisa Kron, Based on the Alison Bechdel book

Judy Kuhn and Michael Cerveris in Fun Home. Photo by Joan Marcus

Outstanding Revival

Good Person of Szechwan, Produced by The Public Theater and The Foundry Theatre, Written by Bertolt Brecht, Translation by John Willett

Lisa Kron, Paul Juhn, Brooke Ishibashi, Taylor Mac & Ephraim Birney in Good Person of Szechwan. Photo by Carol Rosegg

Outstanding Solo Show

Buyer & Cellar, Produced by Darren Bagert, Dan Shaheen, Ted Snowdon, Daryl Roth, Martin Massman, Pat Flicker Addiss, Doug Nevin, Joan Raffe & Jhett Tolentino, Andrew Tobias, Rattlestick Playwrights Theater,Written by Jonathan Tolins – Performed by Michael Urie

Kung Fu choreographer Sonya Tayeh. Photo by Lia Chang

Outstanding Director

Alex Timbers, Here Lies Love 

Outstanding Choreographer

Sonya Tayeh, Kung Fu 

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play

Steven Boyer, Hand to God 

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play

Tracee Chimo, Bad Jews 

Tracee Chimo. Photo by Lia Chang

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical

Michael Cerveris, Fun Home

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical

Ruthie Ann Miles, Here Lies Love

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play

Jeremy Shamos, Dinner With Friends

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play

Lisa Kron, Good Person of Szechwan

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical

Lucas Steele, Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical

Judy Kuhn, Fun Home

Outstanding Scenic Design

Mimi Lien, Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812

Outstanding Costume Design

Clint Ramos, Here Lies Love

Paloma Young, Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812

Outstanding Lighting Design

Justin Townsend, Here Lies Love

Outstanding Sound Design

M.L. Dogg and Cody Spencer, Here Lies Love 

SPECIAL AWARDS

Lifetime Achievement Award

Robyn Goodman

Playwrights’ Sidewalk Inductee

Richard Nelson

ABOUT THE LUCILLE LORTEL AWARDS
The Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway were created in 1985 by the Off- Broadway League. The Lortel Awards recognize excellence Off-Broadway by honoring the invaluable contribution of artists to the theatre community. Representatives of the Off-Broadway League, Actors’ Equity Association, Stage Directors & Choreographers Society, the Lucille Lortel Foundation, in addition to theatre journalists and academics and other Off-Broadway professionals serve on the Voting committee. Awards may be given in the following categories: Play, Musical, Solo Show, Revival, Alternative Theatrical Experience, Director, Choreographer, Lead Actor and Actress in a Play and Musical, Featured Actor and Actress in a Play and Musical, Scenic, Costume, Lighting and Sound Design. The following honorary awards may also be given: Lifetime Achievement, Body of Work (awarded to an institution), the Edith Oliver Award for Sustained Excellence, Service to Off-Broadway Award and induction onto the Playwrights’ Sidewalk in front of the historic Lucille Lortel Theatre in New York City. For more information, please see www.LortelAwards.org.

ABOUT THE LUCILLE LORTEL FOUNDATION
Lucille Lortel Foundation was created by Lucille Lortel to foster excellence and diversity in the theatre, as well as to faithfully preserve the rich history and support the continued prosperity of Off-Broadway. The Foundation has several major programs, including its general operating support program that has provided millions of dollars to small to mid-size theatres in New York City, universities, and theatre service organizations. The Foundation created and maintains the Internet Off-Broadway Data Base (www.lOBDB.com). For a listing of all of the Foundation’s programs, previous Lortel Award nominees and recipients, information on the Lucille Lortel Theatre and Playwrights’ Sidewalk, and much more, please visit www.lortel.org.

Other articles by Lia Chang:
Jun. 23: The Black Stars of The Great White Way Broadway Reunion: Live The Dream at Carnegie Hall Features Chapman Roberts, Norm Lewis, André De Shields, Chuck Cooper, Brandon Victor Dixon and More
Jun. 4-29: Tony Award–winner BD Wong Leads Cast of A.C.T.’s U.S. Premiere of Orphan of Zhao, a co-production with La Jolla Playhouse
A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder Leads 2014 Tony Award Nominations; Bryan Cranston, LaTanya Richardson, Neil Patrick Harris, Mark Rylance, Audra McDonald, Leigh Silverman among nominees
Signature Theatre to Be Honored with the 2014 Regional Theatre Tony Award
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Miss Saigon’s Francis Jue Receives Elliot Norton Award Nomination for Outstanding Musical Performance by an Actor
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Photos: On the Town with Rome Neal, Jazz Vocalist and Star of Laurence Holder’s MONK
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Apr. 23-27: Joel de la Fuente Stars in Jeanne Sakata’s Hold These Truths at PlayMaker’s Repertory Company
Jun. 22 – July 27: Richard Thomas and Kristen Connolly Set for Old Globe Debut in OTHELLO
Apr. 17-May 18: Tonya Pinkins and Roscoe Orman Lead the Cast of New Federal Theatre’s Off-Broadway Production of The Fabulous Miss Marie
Photos: Bryan Cranston, Peter Jay Fernandez, Roslyn Ruff, Tamara Tunie, Leslie Uggams, Ruben Santiago-Hudson Celebrate All The Way Opening Night
Photos: Backstage and Opening Night of Signature’s World Premiere of David Henry Hwang’s Kung Fu
Photos: Harriet Harris, John Tartaglia, Christine Toy Johnson, Alan Muraoka, James Saito and More celebrate Ann Harada’s Debut at Lincoln Center in the American Songbook Series
Photos: Christine Toy Johnson, Baayork Lee, Jose Llana, Ann Harada, Dodie Pettit and More at Charles Randolph-Wright’s “Three Voices” concert series at Stage 72 
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Here Lies Love articles:
Jose Llana, Ruthie Ann Miles, Melody Butiu, Conrad Ricamora and More Open in David Byrne- Fatboy Slim’s Here Lies Love on May 1
Jose Llana, Ruthie Ann Miles, Melody Butiu, Conrad Ricamora and More Return for Here Lies Love; Previews Begin April 14, 2014
Nov. 25: David Byrne and the Cast of The Public Theater’s HERE LIES LOVE including Jose Llana, Ruthie Ann Miles, Conrad Ricamora, Melody Butiu and More to Host Benefit Concert for the Philippines at Terminal 5
Jaygee Macapugay to appear as Imeda Marcos in Here Lies Love at The Public, July 5-7, 2013
Here Lies Love, Starring Jose Llana and Ruthie Ann Miles, Extends at The Public through July 28, 2013
Christine Toy Johnson, Thom Sesma, Ali Ewoldt, Jose Llana, Ann Harada, Telly Leung and More Set for The Asian American Composers and Lyricists Project at The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre
Christine Toy Johnson and Raul Aranas Lead the Cast of the National Asian Artists Project’s (NAAP) Benefit Presentation of Hello Dolly!, at The Pershing Square Signature Center on April 29 and May 6 Jose Llana, Ruthie Ann Miles, Maria-Christina Oliveras, Conrad Ricamora, Kelvin Moon Loh and More Set for World Premiere of David Byrne and Fatboy Slim’s Here Lies Love at The Public, April 2 – May 19, 2013

Lia Chang

Lia Chang is an actor, a performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. Lia recently starred as Carole Barbara in Lorey Hayes’ Power Play at the 2013 National Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, N.C., with Pauletta Pearson Washington, Roscoe Orman, Lorey Hayes, Marcus Naylor and Phynjuar, and made her jazz vocalist debut in Rome Neal’s Banana Puddin’ Jazz “LADY” at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe in New York. She is profiled in Jade Magazine.

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