LD Chris Akerlind, set designer Chris Barreca, and sound designers Jon Gottlieb and Leon Rothenberg have been nominated for the 13th annual NAACP Theatre Awards for their outstanding work on the Center for New Theatre at CalArts’ production of King Lear. In all, the production received five nominations, including Fran Bennett (as King Lear) for best female performance, and best produced play. Winners will be announced on January 27, 2003 in an awards ceremony at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills.
Staged at the Brewery Arts Complex in downtown Los Angeles in June 2002 (see Entertainment Design October 2002 issue and special “Theatre Crafts 35 Years” supplement for in-depth coverage), King Lear marked the formal introduction of the Center for New Theater at CalArts, the professional producing arm of the School of Theater. Dedicated to the creation of adventurous projects that challenge and redefine the boundaries of contemporary theater, this new company is a vital addition to the cultural landscape of Los Angeles.