The Lucille Lortel Awards, for achievement Off Broadway, were announced today. Leading the pack with multiple nominations are Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme, Frank McGuiness’ World War I drama, produced by Lincoln Center Theatre; Avenue Q, the satirical musical featuring a mixed cast of humans and puppets, produced by Vineyard Theatre; and the Signature Theatre revival of Lanford Wilson’s Fifth of July. In the design categories, multiple nominations were earned by Observe the Sons of Ulster… and Avenue Q, as well as Moliere’s Don Juan, currently revived by Theatre for a New Audience at the Lucille Lortel Theatre.
In the lighting design category, five LDs were cited. Christopher Akerlind was doubly nominated, for both the scenery and lighting of Don Juan. Howell Binkley was nominated for his work on the flop musical Radiant Baby, about the life of downtown artist Keith Haring; Radiant Baby was also nominated for outstanding musical. The always-busy Donald Holder was singled out for Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme. James F. Ingalls was nominated for his work on My Life With Albertine, a musical based on an excerpt from Proust’s Remembrance of Things Past; the show was almost universally panned but the design was highly praised. James Vermeulen earned a nod for his colorful sunsets and sunrises on Fifth of July, although one might argue that he did far more creative work on Our Lady of 121st Street, which earned four nominations in other categories.
The list of design nominees is:
Outstanding Scenic Design:
Christopher Akerlind, Don Juan, Theatre for a New Audience
John Lee Beatty, My Old Lady
Alexander Dodge, Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme, Lincoln Center Theatre
Anna Louizos, Avenue Q, Vineyard Theatre
Mark Wendland, The World Over, Playwrights Horizons
Outstanding Costume Design:
Michael Bottari and Ronald Case, Shanghai Moon, The Drama Dept.
Susan Hilferty, My Life With Albertine, Playwrights Horizons
Paul Tazewell, Boston Marriage, The Public Theatre
Catherine Zuber, Far Away, New York Theatre Workshop
Outstanding Lighting Design:
Christopher Akerlind, Don Juan
Howell Binkley, Radiant Baby, The Public Theatre
Donald Holder, Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme
James F. Ingalls, My Life With Albertine
James Vermeulen, Fifth of July
Outstanding Sound Design:
Paul Arditti, Far Away
Mark Bennett, Golda's Balcony
Brett Jarvis, Avenue Q
Jerry Yager, Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme
For the comnplete list of nominees click here.