(l to r) Zach Grenier and Danny Burstein in ‘Describe the Night.’ (Photo: Ahron R. Foster)
The American Theatre Wing and The Village Voice have announced the winners of the 63rd Annual Obie Awards. Rajiv Joseph’s Describe the Night, produced by Atlantic Theater Company, received the Obie Award for Best New American Play, which is accompanied by a $1,000 prize. Legendary Tony Award-nominated and three-time Obie Award-winning actress Kathleen Chalfant received a special Obie Award for Lifetime Achievement. Emmy and Obie-winning actor John Leguizamo hosted this year’s ceremony, which was held at Terminal 5.
The evening’s festivities, which were live-streamed on the official Obie Awards Twitter account, also included an opening number featuring Obies host John Leguizamo. In addition, special performances were given by Stephen Trask who performed “Wig in a Box” honoring the 20thAnniversary of Hedwig and the Angry Inch; Laura Benanti who led an off-Broadway musical trivia segment; and Laura Osnes who performed “What Matters Most” as part of the In Memoriam.
Best New American Play ($1,000 prize)
Rajiv Joseph, Describe the Night (Atlantic Theater Company)
Playwriting
Aleshea Harris, Is God Is (Soho Rep)
Amy Herzog, Mary Jane (New York Theatre Workshop)
Abe Koogler, Fulfillment Center (Manhattan Theatre Club)
Dominique Morisseau, Pipeline (Lincoln Center Theater)
Directing
Jesse Berger, The Government Inspector (Red Bull Theater)
Anne Kauffman, Mary Jane (New York Theatre Workshop)
Taibi Magar, Is God Is (Soho Rep)
Billy Crudup in ‘Harry Clarke’ at The Vineyard Theatre. (Photo: Carol Rosegg via The Broadway Blog.)
Performance
Sean Carvajal & Edi Gathegi, Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train (Signature Theatre Company)
Carrie Coon, Mary Jane (New York Theatre Workshop)
Alfie Fuller & Dame-Jasmine Hughes, Is God Is (Soho Rep)
Denise Gough, People, Places & Things (National Theatre/Headlong/St. Ann’s Warehouse)
Will Swenson, Jerry Springer – The Opera (The New Group)
Chukwudi Iwuji, The Low Road (The Public Theater)
Robert Sean Leonard, At Home at the Zoo (Signature Theatre Company)
Jessica Hecht, Admissions (Lincoln Center Theater)
Ben Edelman, Admissions (Lincoln Center Theater)
Billy Crudup, Harry Clarke (Vineyard Theatre/Audible)
(l to r) Terrance Mann and Will Swensen in ‘Jerry Springer – The Opera.’ (Photo: Monique Carboni / The New Group)
Design
Lap Chi Chu, Sustained Excellence of Lighting Design
Sarah Laux, Costume Design, Jerry Springer – The Opera (The New Group)
The Design Team, He Brought Her Heart Back in a Box (Theatre for a New Audience)
Christopher Barreca (Set Design), Justin Ellington (Sound Design), Donald Holder (Lighting Design), Montana Levi Blanco (Costume Design), Austin Switser (Video Design)
Special Citations
Ariane Mnouchkine & Theatre du Soleil, A Room in India (Park Avenue Armory)
The Cast and Creative Team, Yerma (Park Avenue Armory)
Simon Stone (Director), Lizzie Clachan (Set Design), Alice Babidge (Costume Design), James Farncombe (Lighting Design), Stefan Gregory (Sound Design); Maureen Beattie, Brendan Cowell, John
MacMillan, Billie Piper, Charlotte Randle, Thalissa Teixeira (Cast)
David Greenspan, Jack Cummings III, & Transport Group, Strange Interlude (Transport Group)
The Ross Wetzsteon Award ($3,000 prize)
Ma-Yi Theater Company
Obie Grants ($6,000 prize each)
Pan-Asian Repertory Theatre
York Theatre Company, for its Musicals in Mufti Series
Lifetime Achievement Award
Kathleen Chalfant
