Sydney Lucas and Michael Cerveris in Fun Home at The Public Theater, New York. Both Cerveris and the show itself were winners at the 29th Annual Lucille Lortel Awards. Picture: Joan Marcus
The rich vein of theatre mined away from the bright lights of Broadway enjoyed its place in the awards sun with the handing out of the 29th Annual Lucille Lortel Awards, celebrating achievement in the Off-Broadway arena. On the musical side of things, Fun Home was named Outstanding Musical of the 2013-14 season.
Fun Home, produced by the venerable not-for-profit Public Theater, has a book and lyrics by Lisa Kron and music by Jeanine Tesori. It’s based on a graphic novel by Alison Bechdel and tells of her growing up in a family ruled over by her semi-closeted gay father. Michael Cerveris, who played the father, was named Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical, and Judy Kuhn, playing his wife, won Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical. Fun Home ended its limited run at The Public in January, but talk continues of a move to Broadway.
The Public also scored with its production of Here Lies Love, a disco-style telling of the life of the infamous one-time First Lady of The Philippines, Imelda Marcos. Alex Timbers, its director, won in the overall director category (covering both musicals and plays), while Ruthie Ann Miles, who plays Imelda, was cited as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical. The show also picked up awards for its lighting design by Justin Townsend; its sound design by M.L. Dogg and Cody Spencer, and its costume design by Clint Ramos.
Here Lies Love, which ended its run under the aegis of The Public last summer, has recently been reopened in the same venue by a group of commercial producers.
The costume award to Here Lies Love came in a tie with another musical, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, whose costumes were by Paloma Young. That musical also picked up an award for Lucas Steele as Outstanding Featured Actor. He portrayed Prince Anatole in this musical adaptation of a slice of Tolstoy’s War and Peace. Natasha, Pierre also collected a third Lortel for its scenic design by Mimi Lien.
Interestingly, the award for choreography didn’t go to a musical but to a play with an acclaimed display of martial arts, Kung Fu, telling the story of the late Bruce Lee. Sonya Tayeh choreographed.
The festivities also saw a Lifetime Achievement Award bestowed on producer Robyn Goodman, whose credits include such musicals as Avenue Q, In the Heights, A Class Act and the recent revival of West Side Story. She is a co-founder of the Off-Broadway company Second Stage and for its first 13 years served as its co-artistic director. In January, she took over co-leadership of the renowned legendary Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope, Pennsylvania.
The Lortel awards carry the name of a leading figure in New York theatre, both on and off Broadway. Lucille Lortel, who died in 1999, began her career as an actress and after her marriage eventually moved into producing. Among her many accomplishments, was the premiere of the Marc Blitzstein’s translation of The Threepenny Opera, a show which raised immeasurably the status of Off-Broadway. The show ran for seven years at the theatre, which now carries her name.
Ron Cohen
Readers may also be interested in:
A Gentleman’s Guide tops Tony Award nominations – News
SHARE THIS POST:
Comments are closed.