Seattle Theater Writers Announces the 2012 Winners of Gypsy Rose Lee Awards

Seattle Theater Writers critics' circle is pleased to present the winners' slate of the second annual Gypsy Rose Lee Awards, theater awards devoted to recognizing excellence across the economic spectrum of professional Seattle theaters.

"The winners represent coming to a consensus, which can be quite a challenge," Miryam Gordon, head writer-wrangler says. "It's not easy to get people with very different opinions to agree. I think if we all agree, that must mean more than any one of our opinions on our own. And we all take these selections quite seriously."

In addition to the 32 categories, Seattle Theater Writers also are proud to announce a Special Award of Recognition for Ms. Kathy Hsieh for Excellence in Playwriting for her 10 plus years and roughly 40 hours of theatrical production time, either alone or with partners, on the long-running serial, Sex In Seattle, which culminated in Episode 20 in 2012.

Ms. Hsieh's consistent vision was amusing, and also encapsulated divergent responses to the world from her four Asian-American female characters, as they all struggled with love and other relationships. We honor her achievement and her contribution to her company, SiS Productions, and our artistic community.

The 2012 Gypsy Rose Lee Award Winners are:

Excellence in Production of a Play

(Large Budget): The Pitmen Painters - ACT Theatre

(Small Budget): Jesus Hopped the A Train - Azeotrope

Excellence in Production of a Musical

(Large Budget): The Producers - Village Theatre

(Small Budget): Spring Awakening - Balagan Theatre

Excellence in Direction of a Play

(Large Budget): Allison Narver - Or, - Seattle Repertory Theatre

(Small Budget): Desdemona Chiang - Jesus Hopped the A Train - Azeotrope

Excellence in Direction of a Musical

(Large Budget): Steve Tomkins - The Producers - Village Theatre

(Small Budget): Eric Ankrim - Spring Awakening - Balagan Theatre

Excellence in Performance as a Lead Male Actor

(Large Budget): David Hogan - The Art of Racing in the Rain - Book-It Repertory

(Small Budget): Richard N. Sloniker - Jesus Hopped the A Train - Azeotrope

Excellence in Performance as a Lead Female Actor

(Large Budget): Jennifer Lee Taylor - Pygmalion - Seattle Shakespeare Company

(Small Budget): Mary Ewald - Happy Days - New City Theater

Excellence in Performance as a Supporting Male Actor - any non-lead

(Large Budget): Nick DeSantis - The Producers - Village Theatre

(Small Budget): Dumi - Jesus Hopped the A Train - Azeotrope

Excellence in Performance as a Supporting Female Actor - any non-lead

(Large Budget): Jeanne Paulsen - Pygmalion - Seattle Shakespeare Company

(Small Budget): Nike Imoru - Titus Andronicus - upstart crow

Excellence in Performance as an Ensemble

(Large Budget): Or, - Seattle Repertory Theatre (Kirsten Potter, Basil Harris, Montana von Fliss)

(Small Budget): Kittens in a Cage - Annex Theatre (Francesca Mondelli, Katie Driscoll, Lisa Viertel, Laurel Ryan, Tracy Leigh, Erin Pike, Erin Stewart)

Excellence in Set Design

(Large Budget): Scott Bradley - Clybourne Park - Seattle Repertory Theatre

(Small Budget): Deanna Zibello - Jesus Hopped the A Train - Azeotrope

Excellence in Costume Design

(Large Budget): Catherine Hunt - Or, - Seattle Repertory Theatre

(Small Budget): Katie Hegarty - The Fairytale Lives of Russian Girls - WET

Excellence in Lighting Design

(Large Budget): L.B. Morse - Hedda Gabler - Intiman Theatre

(Small Budget): Amiya Brown - The Skriker - Janice Findley Productions

Excellence in Sound Design

(Large Budget): Evan Mosher - The Bells - Strawberry Theatre Workshop

(Small Budget): Michael White Hayes - Team of Heroes: Behind Closed Doors - Annex Theatre

Excellence in Musical Direction

(Large Budget): Jmichael - Pullman Porter Blues - Seattle Repertory Theatre

(Small Budget): Kimberly Dare - Spring Awakening - Balagan Theatre

Excellence in Choreography or Movement

(Large Budget): Kristin Bohr Holland - The Producers - Village Theatre

(Small Budget): Pat Graney - The Skriker - Janice Findley Productions

Excellence in Local Playwriting

S.P. Miskowski - Emerald City - Live Girls! Theater

Excellence in Local Composing

Christian "Lil Kriz" Beeber - Jesus Hopped the A Train - Azeotrope

About Seattle Theater Writers:

Founded in 2011 by Miryam Gordon and comprised of local writers and reviewers, Seattle Theater Writers is a group dedicated to raising public awareness of theater practitioners and the work produced by professional Equity and non-Equity theater organizations. Born from this mission are the annual Gypsy Rose Lee Awards, recognizing excellence in Seattle theater across 32 categories-the most comprehensive and inclusive local theater awards to date!

For more information, go to www.facebook.com/SeattleTheaterWriters.

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