The Last Straw Awards 2011

By Joe Straw

This year has been a remarkable year for theatre in Los Angeles.  Scores of theatregoers are leaving their commercialized TV programs at home and rushing to see a living breathing body creating a moment, just a few feet away, right here, live in Los Angeles.

This year I’ve witnessed some amazing productions with wonderful actors filling the roles. And as the year progressed the productions just got better and better.  I’ve observed over 40 productions and have seen hundreds of actors and it is important to say their commitment to the craft alone has been remarkable.    

Also, new theater venues are opening all over town. The new A Noise Within Theatre in East Pasadena is absolutely magnificent.  And Casa 101’s new home is exquisite!  The Latino Theatre Company on Spring Street is playing to capacity crowds and it has become quite the place to see and be seen.  Also, The Blank Theatre and The Elephant Theatre are producing wonderful new plays along theatre row in Hollywood.   

This year the presentation for The Last Straw Awards 2011 will be given not only to actors, but to writers and directors as well.  This award puts out the energy or notice of those who have given 110 percent of themselves and their craft.  It is important to recognize the hard work that went into these productions and in doing so here they are.

Actors

Luca Ellis – Hoboken to Hollywood – The Edgemar Centers of The Arts

John Southwell – Breaker – Firehouse – The Whitefire Theatre

Kamar de los Reyes – Robert Miranda – Firehouse – The Whitefire Theatre

P.J. Ochlan – Angelo – The Comedy of Errors – A Noise Within Theatre

Michael Stone Forrest – Egeon - The Comedy of Errors – A Noise Within Theatre

Peggy Dunne – Margaret Hyman – Broken Glass – Pico Playhouse

Michael Bofshever – Phillip Gellburg _ Broken Blass – Pico Playhouse

Jack Laufer – Harry the druggist – The Cradle Will Rock – The Blank Theatre Company at the Stellar Adler Theatre.

Amad Jackson – Joseph Asagai – A Raisin In The Sun – Ebony Repertory Theatre – Nate Holden Performing Art Center.

Kenya Alexander - Beneatha – A Raisin In The Sun – Ebony Repertory Theatre – Nate Holden Performing Art Center.

Michelle Clunie – Abby – The Mercy Seat – Inside the Ford Theatre

Tanya Frederick – Sylvia – The Edgemar Center for The Arts

Tom Ayers – Tom and Phyllis – Sylvia – The Edgemar Center for The Arts

Stephanie Ann Saunders – Natasha Rambova – Lavender Love – Macha Theatre

Michelle Bernard – Evie Raven – Lavender Love – Macha Theatre

Dennis Christopher – Harry Hay – The Temperamentals – The Blank Theatre

John Tartaglia – Bob Hull – The Temperamentals – The Blank Theatre

F. Murray Abraham – Shylock – The Merchant of Venice – The Broad Stage

Melissa Miller – Jessica – The Merchant of Venice – The Broad Stage

Christopher Randolph – Prince of Arragon – The Merchant of Venice – The Broad Stage

Aaron Hendry – Tartuffe – Theatricum Botanicum

Ted Barton – Tartuffe – Theatricum Botanicum

Tara Karsian – Gertie - The Interlopers – Bootleg Theater

Darryl Stephens – Victoria – The Interlopers – Bootleg Theater

Andrew Friedman – Charlie – Stones in His Pockets – Zephyr Theatre

Jerry Richardson – Jake – Stones in His Pockets – Zephyr Theatre

Miriam Peniche – Estela – Real Women Have Curves – Casa 101

Thea Gill – Dusk Rings a Bell – The Blank Stage

Josh Randall – Dusk Rings a Bell – The Blank Stage

Peter Van Norden – Various Roles – The God of Isaac – Pico Playhouse

Corryn Cummins – Shelly – The God of Isaac - Pico Playhouse

Kenny Suarez – Chris – Love Sick – The Elephant Theatre Company

Salvator Xuereb – Jeff – Love Sick – The Elephant Theatre Company

Lina Hall – Greta Garbo – Garbo’s Cuban Lover – Macha Theatre

Lisa Merkin – Salka Viertel – Garbo’s Cuban Lover – Macha Theatre

Geoff Elliott – Malvolio – Twelfth Night – A Noise Within

Salome Jens – Henrietta Szold – Daughter of My People – The Met Theatre

Fergal McElherron – Dromio – The Comedy of Errors – The Broad Stage

Cornelius Booth – Egeon – The Comedy of Errors – The Broad Stage

Jon Jon Briones – The Romance of Magno Rubio – Inside The Ford

Elizabeth Rainey – Clarabelle – The Romance of Magno Rubio – Inside The Ford

Esperanza America Ibarra – Gina – Hope:  Part II of a Mexican Trilogy – Latino Theatre Company

Sam Gozari – Rudy – Hope:  Part II of a Mexican Trilogy – Latino Theatre Company

Dru Davis – Bobby – Hope:  Part II of a Mexican Trilogy – Latino Theatre Company

Carl Crudup – Ice – Short Eyes – Urban Theatre Movement – Latino Theatre Company

Donte Wince – El Raheem – Urban Theatre Movement – Latino Theatre Company

Ensemble:

The Romance of Magno Rubio - Written by Lonnie Carter

Jon Jon Briones                      Eymard Cabling                      Giovanni Ortega

Muni Zano                              Ed Ramolete                            Erik Esteban

Elizabeth Rainey                     Vincent Reyes

Short Eyes – Written by Miguel Piñero

Miguel Amenyinu                   Carl Crudup                            Cris D’Annunzio

Darby Hinton                         Matthew Jaeger                      Jason Manuel Olazabal

Daryl Anthony Harper           Matias Ponce                          Mark Rolston

David Santana                         Donte Wince                           Alex Alfaro

Jon Lance Dura                       Daniel Zornes

Hope:  Part II of a Mexican Triolgy – by Evelina Fernandez

Geoffrey Rivas                       Dyana Ortelli                          Sal Lopez

Esperanza America Ibarra       Sam Golzari                            Dru Davis

Olivia Cristina Delgado           Keith McDonald                    

                                   

Writers:

Pedro Antonio Garcia – Firehouse – Whitefire Theatre

Evelina Fernandez – Hope Part II of a Mexican Trilogy – The Latino Theatre Company

Lonnie Carter – The Romance of Mango Rubio – Inside The Ford

Donald Freed – Devil’s Advocate – The Latino Theatre Company

Neil Labute – The Mercy Seat – Inside The Ford

Stephen Belber – Dusk Rings A Bell – The Blank Theatre

Directors:

Daniel Henning – Director – Dusk Rings a Bell – The Blank Theatre

Phylicia Rashad – Director – A Raisin In The Sun – Nate Holden Performing Arts Center

Bernardo Bernardo – Director – The Romance of Magno Rubio – Inside The Ford Theatre.

Julian Acosta – Director – Short Eyes – Urban Theatre Movement – Latino Theatre Company

Michael Michetti – Director – The Comedy of Errors – A Noise Within

Zeljko Djukic – Director – Stones In His Pockets -Zephyr Theatre

Jose Luis Valenzuela – Director – Hope:  Part II of a Mexican Trilogy - Latino Theatre Company