Best Actor – D.X. Machina (Jackie) MotherFucker with the Hat @ Wayward Artist

IMDB Isaac Cruz

I’ve now seen Stephen Adly Guirgis’s play Mother Fucker with a Hat in three different productions and, honestly, say there were aspects of each I enjoyed over the others. But as one production, out of the three, there is no doubt in my mind the one I watched at the Wayward Artist in Santa Ana had the most substantial impact and overall the tightest cast of any of those productions. While in theatre, there are a lot of factors that go into a quality production, the lead actor is pivotal in telling the story. D.X. Machina was not only ready to tackle the complex character of Jackie but also captured him, the funny, dangerous, and soft side of this tragic character looking to change, sometimes in the wrong places. D.X. Machina was on another level when it came to this role. – Patrick Chavis

Best Actress – Kalinda Gray (Emilie) Emilie @ Curtis Theatre & Begins and Ends with ‘A’

photo credit: Jose Antonio

One of the aspects of a one-person show I admire is there’s no hiding. It’s just you and the audience; no other characters to work with, and it’s evident if you’re not in it or present. While Emile wasn’t a one-person show, Kalinda was so ever-present in the entire show, even through the intermission. Others left the stage and did whatever they did during intermission. Gray never stopped acting on the stage. And when intermission ended, life went on, and it was like nothing had stopped her. Maintaining that focus and capturing that same energy and dynamic with so many more elements is impressive and one of the strongest performances to grace the stage in O.C. theatre this year. – Patrick Chavis

Best Ensemble – The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee @ Wayward Artist

Photo credit: Francis Gacad

The chemistry in this group was off the charts. This cast gave 100% the entire night, exceptional improv, and top it off, they sang their butts off. There’s not a fun category in the awards, but if there were it would have most likely gone this production. A team effort so suitable, when I closed my eyes, I could swear I was listening to a professional recording. I would have definitely bought a copy! – Patrick Chavis

Best Writing – Benjamin Benne – Alma @ Chance Theater

https://www.benjaminbenne.com/

Benjamin Benne has written a heartwarming and grounded piece that resonates deeply with the times. It is told from the perspective of a Mexican-American mother, a perspective not often seen on the stage. This play was refreshing and an important piece of writing about family and culture with no easy answers. – Patrick Chavis

Best Costumes – Aja Bell – Emilie @ Curtis Theatre & Begins and Ends with ‘A’

photo credit: Jose Antonio

We can all agree that Emilie: La Marquise du Châtelet Defends Her Life Tonight was a feast for the eyes and a great work of art on the OC stage this year. One reason for this was the exquisite costumes from designer Aja Bell. They not only provided an aesthetic for each character on stage but also seemed to pop off the stage even more with the added lighting. The textures and use of the loud but appropriate wigs made this show to behold. – Patrick Chavis

Best Set – Antonio Beach – Buried Child @ Costa Mesa Playhouse

photo credit: Jose Antonio

Detail, detail, detail… Buried Child at the Costa Mesa Playhouse was a masterpiece production this year. If the cast and crew were the players who hit the home run, Antonio Beaches’s design was the bat hitting the home run. There is not a space unaccounted for in this practical but gorgeous design, which is heavily detailed, from the dying cornstalks ever present in the background of the house to the weathered wood. Not only did the space visually tell the story, but the added physical aspects, like the wire mesh near the front door, created drama and, of course, the destruction of the environment, an important element of many of Shepard’s plays. – Patrick Chavis

Best College Show – Romeo & Juliet @ Fullerton Community College

Photo credit: Thea Valerie

Step aside, Leo and Claire Danes (from a film version of Romeo and Juliet). We’ve got a fresher, newer take on the star-crossed lovers, and it was in Fullerton. What a welcome surprise from this talented cast of college actors that made me fall right back in love with a modern take on Romeo & Juliet set around the period of the Vietnam War. It can be challenging to cast age-appropriate roles. A lot goes into casting when it comes to a play or film. Sometimes, you have to cast for talent over aesthetics, but sometimes, you get both, and that was the case here. Romeo & Juliet has always been a story about the youthful, and this production captured it so well and kept it extra exciting with some really smashing fight choreography. – Patrick Chavis

Best Musical – Sweeney Todd @ Chance Theater

photo credit: Jose Antonio

This was undoubtedly a pared-down version of the classic, which might turn some off if they’re looking for something more traditional. But I enjoyed this pared-down version. It left more room for the main characters to show off their skills, and this cast had them in spades. The show took a gamble, and it paid off. Mo Goodfellow’s dance choreography was unique and entertaining. The cast, set design, and direction were so on and focused. – Patrick Chavis

Best Young Actress – Claire Manson (Marian Paroo), The Music Man @ JStage at the Merage JCC

photo credit: Jose Antonio

Playing the part of Marian Paroo from The Music Man is no easy task. She’s the character trying to put a stop to the titular character’s shady schemes that wind up bringing a lot of fun to River City. However, Claire Manson’s engaging performance always has us on Marian’s side. And her beautiful singing reminded us why The Music Man is a beloved classic. – Daniella Litvak

        Best Young Actor – Spike Pulice (Prometheus) Abyss @ The Larking House                                                                        Best Performer – Spike Pulice (Prometheus) Abyss @ The Larking House

Spike Pulice as Prometheus

When I think of Spike Pulice’s performance after the production of Abyss, the first word that comes to mind is brave, but the second would be inventive. With so many revivals of older shows, it’s a thrill to see new work on the OC stage. It comes with risks, and it comes with not having an audience. Pulice was covering a new work, uncharted territory, and he would be the first to make a mark in this production. When that’s the case, even with good direction and support, it can be difficult. But he didn’t take the easy way; this role is incredibly difficult, largely involving the entire 2-hour performance, with gasps of pain while delivering these long passages and dark poetic language, but I was never confused, also quite aware of his feelings at the moment—a top 10 performance in my book. – Patrick Chavis

Kate Galleran

Best Makeup – Kate Galleran – Hedwig and the Angry Inch @ Chance Theater

Best Featured Actor – Mark Tillman (Bradley) Buried Child @ Costa Mesa Playhouse

Photo by Kerrin Piché Serna

Words that come to mind when I think about Mark Tillman’s performance as Bradley, in Buried Child at the Costa Mesa Playhouse: fierce, broken, insanely funny, and obsessed. You would have to be a little bit obsessed with how he walked on the stage; almost every scene had a mean and menacing quality, just right for the character, and it was thrilling to see what was gonna happen next. He’s a consistently good actor from previous shows I’ve watched him in, but this was something else entirely. – Patrick Chavis

Best Featured Actress – Molly Renze (Lelani) Rotterdam @ Wayward Artist

PC: Francis Gacad

In the limited time we have with Lelani in Rotterdam, Renze makes every moment count, from her confident, devil-may-care attitude to her flawless delivery and accent. It was a win for the casting department and Renze’s preparation for the performance of this character. The Wayward Artist has a talented character actress on their hands. Now, what about Lelani’s story? Jon Brittan, get on it! – Patrick Chavis

Best Original Orange County Show – Cardenio or Double Falsehood @ Shakespeare by the Sea

Photo by Brandon Richardson

I think I said it best here in my review:

“Cardenio or Double Falsehood is one of the more contested Shakespearean tales regarding authorship. Shakespeare by the Sea’s new adaptation from Jonathan Fisher and Anna Miles leans into the mystery of the authorship even more and adds a new modern twist that fits like a glove.”  When you’ve reviewed theater, as long as I have, you will inevitably see a lot of Shakespeare; I didn’t make the rules. It’s going to happen. Trying to rework Shakespeare isn’t anything new or fresh; it’s done all the time. That being said, after leaving Cardenio at the performance in Rossmoor, I was pleasantly surprised not only do the new modern elements work, but this is so much more entertaining. Brave of Shakespeare by the Sea to take a chance on new work and their continual offering of Free shows for the community, which is amazing! – Patrick Chavis

Best Lighting – Pablo Santiago – Quixote Nuevo @ South Coast Rep 

PC: Jenny Graham

One of the most visually stunning productions of the year was Quixote Nuevo at South Coast Repertory. Lighting designer Pablo Santiago’s gorgeous palette of light was a big part of that. The festival of lights, colors, and moods elevated the action and the surrounding set. – Patrick Chavis

Best Sound Design – Darryl B. Hovis – Curious Case @ Chance Theater

Darryl B. Hovis’ sound design for Curious added “to the intensity and realness of every scene.” Audiences were transported into vivid soundscapes that provided a crucial element the show’s emotional storytelling. Suspension of disbelief was made effortless with the help of subtle and detailed audio that paints a clear setting. The main character’s story was even more impactful, especially at the climax, with sound almost serving as the play’s backdrop. – Zach Johnston

Best Show – Buried Child @ Costa Mesa Playhouse

photo credit: Jose Antonio

One of the more significant regrets of the year is that I didn’t get to see this one more time. It is one of the best shows of the year, and definitely the best Shepard production I’ve seen. When I thought I had everything understood, there was always something new around the corner, whether it was part of the story or a design element. As I mentioned before, the show’s set was meticulously crafted. You can see the details in the cornstalks and the change of color in the backdrop. Some of the scenes literally appeared like a moving painting on the stage. A true Masterpiece on stage. – Patrick Chavis

Best Actor in a Musical – Wesley Chavez (Guy) Once @ The Electric Company Theatre

pc: Dave Smithson

The production of “Once” at the Muck was unforgettable, not just a show but an experience. It was like stepping into another world for a few hours. I felt transported in this entertaining bar setting they had set up for the show. In a cast of strong singers and performers, Wesley Chavez was a true standout; he’s got an excellent voice and doesn’t just settle for that. I saw a performer that night who put everything he could into the performance; it was outstanding. – Patrick Chavis

Best Actress in a Musical – Jocelyn A. Brown (Mrs. Lovett) Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street @ Chance Theater

photo credit: Jose Antonio

From my review, “Jocelyn A. Brown as Mrs. Lovett will charm you with her comical witticism and cheeky attitude.” I stand by that. What I didn’t mention was how fun and cartoonish her portrayal made her part devilish in all the right ways, and of course, it helped that she could hold tune quite well. It’s challenging to bring a character to the stage that people love so much because people often have excellent references to work from, but Brown was more than ready for the challenge. – Patrick Chavis

Best Featured Actress in a Musical – Sarah Pierce (Martha) The Secret Garden @ Chance Theater

photo credit: Jose Antonio

The Martha character in The Secret Garden, the musical, is pivotal to the story, and she brings a natural, upbeat charm. Pierce was able to overwhelmingly bring out this warmness in her vocals and performance with the little girl. It was excellent casting. She nailed the role.

“I was thoroughly impressed with the performance of Sarah Pierce, who plays Martha the maid. From her acting to her singing, she’s the whole package.” – Patrick Chavis

Best Choreography – Mo Goodfellow – Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street @ Chance Theater

Photos in Black w/ orange hair: Lexi Colvin for GEOMETRY Dance Company

When I mentioned how much I enjoyed the creative movement in Sweeney Todd, I was almost 100% talking about the unique dancing and movement from Choreopgrapher Mo Goodfellow. I’m unsure how to describe the dancing the characters did together in unison throughout the production, possibly interpretive dance. Whatever you want to call it, it’s one of those things that really made this production stand out. It brought a creepy ghoulishness to the ensemble’s movement, and that’s not a bad fit with a musical centered around human pies. Oops, did I spoil something?

“There is not a dull moment in the show, thanks to the excellent pacing and creative movement” from the Sweeney Todd review.  – Patrick Chavis

Best Featured Actor in a Musical – Jonathan Gillard Daly’s (Julius) Prelude to a Kiss @ South Coast Repertory

Prelude to a Kiss, The Musical, is not your typical romantic comedy. It’s got a deeper spine than many of these stories and a genuinely lovely message about the limits of true love. With minimal time on the stage, Daly imparted such a genuine impression of the character, from his acting to his singing of “This Body,” a comical but emotional song about growing older.

From the review: “Jonathan Gillard Daly’s (Julius) performance is worth the price of admission. The biggest shortcoming of this musical is that his character did not have more stage time.” – Patrick Chavis

Audience Award – Buried Child @ Costa Mesa Playhouse

One of the more significant regrets of the year is that I didn’t get to see this one more time. It is one of the best shows of the year and the most definitely the best Shepard production I’ve seen. When I thought I had everything understood, there was always something new around the corner, whether it was part of the story or a design element. As I mentioned before, the show’s set was meticulously crafted. You can see the details in the cornstalks and the change of color in the backdrop. Some of the scenes literally appeared like a moving painting on the stage. A true masterpiece on stage. – Patrick Chavis

Best Live Band – Julian Rymar – Fiddler on the Roof @ The Electric Company Theatre

photo by Katie Mooney

Fiddler was a truly unique and magical outdoor theater experience with live musicians present on stage as cast members in the show. This beloved music became a far more dynamic component in this production. “Julian Rymar provides orchestral direction while on the clarinet and even incorporates live music into his portrayal of one of the villagers. These unconventional but carefully crafted details carry the production through to the end.” – Zach Johnston

Best Director – Brian Johnson – Once @ The Electric Company Theatre

Photo courtesy of The Electric Company Theatre

There’s a lot that goes into theater. It’s a collaborative art form, but in that collaborative art form, the director is an important position requiring vision and a talent for working with others to make it a reality. When I sat in my seat to watch Once at the Muck, it was clear from the beginning that I was in Johnson’s vision. He created an atmosphere with his crew that really elevated the material as theatergoers, bringing us closer to the music and the people behind it. It was fun, engaging, and a truly inspired staging from Johnson that I don’t think anyone will forget about anytime soon. – Patrick Chavis