The 13th-annual SCENIES celebrate the past year’s outstanding achievements in Southern California theater (based on the 225 productions reviewed between August 1, 2017 & July 31, 2018). Scenies are presented in the following categories:

BEST INTIMATE THEATER
Actors Co-op

THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER: 
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF A COMEDY (Intimate Theater)
The Man Who Came To Dinner (Actors Co-op)

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A PLAY
Catherine Urbanek in The Man Who Came To Dinner

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY (Intimate Theater)
Greg Martin in The Man Who Came To Dinner

OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTOR IN A COMEDY (Intimate Theater)
John Allee in The Man Who Came To Dinner
Wenzel Jones in The Man Who Came To Dinner
Irwin Moskowitz in The Man Who Came To Dinner

OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTRESS IN A COMEDY (Intimate Theater)
Brenda Ballard in The Man Who Came To Dinner
Natalie Hope MacMillan in The Man Who Came To Dinner

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE IN A COMEDY (Intimate Theater)
The Man Who Came To Dinner

OUTSTANDING DIRECTION OF A COMEDY (Intimate Theater)
Linda Kerns—The Man Who Came To Dinner

A WALK IN THE WOODS: 
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF A TWO-HANDER
A Walk In The Woods (Actors Co-op)

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN A TWO-HANDER
Nan McNamara and Phil Crowley

OUTSTANDING DIRECTION OF A TWO-HANDER
Ken Sawyer

A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS:
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF A DRAMA (Intimate Theater)  
A Man For All Seasons (Actors Co-op)

OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTOR IN A DRAMA (Intimate Theater)
John Allee in A Man For All Seasons

OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTRESS IN A DRAMA (Intimate Theater)
Deborah Marlowe in A Man For All Seasons
Treva Tegtmeier in A Man For All Seasons

OUTSTANDING ALTERNATE/UNDERSTUDY PERFORMANCE
Kevin Shewey in A Man For All Seasons

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE IN A DRAMA (Intimate Theater)
A Man For All Seasons

OUTSTANDING DIRECTION OF A DRAMA (Intimate Theater)
Thom Babbes

VIOLET:
BEST PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL (Intimate Theater)
Violet (Actors Co-op)

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION DESIGN (Intimate Theater)
Violet (Actors Co-op)

BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL
Richard Israel–Violet

BREAKOUT PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL
Claire Adams in Violet

OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL (Intimate Theater)
Jahmaul Bakare in Violet
Morgan West in Violet

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE CAST PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL (Intimate Theater)
Violet

OUTSTANDING MUSICAL DIRECTION (Intimate Theater)
Taylor Stephenson—Violet

Congrats to the production and cast on their EIGHT Stage Raw Theatre Award nominations

About the Awards: The 2018 Stage Raw Theater Awards celebrate excellence on the Los Angeles stages in venues of 99-seats or under. This fourth annual edition includes productions that opened between January 1, 2017 and May 31, 2018.

LEADING MALE PERFORMANCE
Bruce Ladd, 33 Variations, Actors Co-op

LEADING FEMALE PERFORMANCE
Nan McNamara, 33 Variations, Actors Co-op

ENSEMBLE
33 Variations, Actors Co-op

DIRECTION
Thomas James O'Leary, 33 Variations, Actors Co-op

LIGHTING DESIGN
Andrew Schmedake, 33 Variations, Actors Co-op

MUSICAL DIRECTION
Dylan Price, 33 Variations, Actors Co-op

SET DESIGN
Nicholas Acciani, 33 Variations, Actors Co-op

VIDEO/PROJECTION DESIGN
Nicholas Acciani, 33 Variations, Actors Co-op

A catered nominees reception and Stage Raw fundraiser party is being held at the The Skylight Theatre in Los Feliz, on Tuesday, July 24, 7 - 10 p.m. Tickets are $100 (which includes complimentary admission to the Theater Awards ceremony), in support of Stage Raw. All nominees are invited as complimentary guests of Stage Raw.

The Awards ceremony is slated for Monday night, August 20, at Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring Street in downtown Los Angeles, hosted by Coeurage Theatre Company, directed by Jer Adrianne Lelliott, and celebrating the theme of "community." 

Tickets are $30. You can purchase tickets to the Awards Ceremony Here. 

For the full list of nominees visit StageRaw.com

Violet made it onto the BroadwayWorld HOT LIST. See the excerpt below by Ellen Dostal:

"VIOLET - Actors Co-op, through June 17 (matinees added and the show may extend) Another Jeanine Tesori musical is getting a gorgeous revival in an intimate setting at Actors Co-op. The story of a disfigured young woman who travels across the country to be restored by a faith healer is an emotional journey that strikes at the heart of our innate longing to be loved. Among musical theatre circles, director Richard Israel has a well-deserved reputation for crafting memorable performances by bringing out the rich subtleties in a script and cultivating endless nuances of character. The result is an exquisite audience experience that satisfies on every level. VIOLET, starring a luminous Claire Adams in the title role, is his finest work to date. Nicholas Acciani's resourceful set design puts the audience on the bus along with Violet, two soldiers, and a coterie of quirky Southerners who spring vividly to life from the revolving bus seats. Taylor Stephenson's string-based chamber orchestra delicately envelopes the space with the sound of Tesori's folk and bluegrass-inspired melodies. This is another triumph for the Co-op, one with enough tender wisdom in its interpretation to easily restore your own faith in the almighty power of love. Tickets: www.actorsco-op.org"

Hear a little about the show from our wonderful actors and come see Violet through June 17!

Broadway World interviews director Richard Israel about our upcoming production of Violet. Click to learn more about the challenges of an intimate space, the magic of musicals, and why VIOLET is such a special show. 

Violet opens this Friday, May 11 and runs through June 17.

Actors Co-op is proud to announce the cast of the upcoming musical Violet, music by Jeanine Tesori and book and lyrics by Brian Crawley, based on the The Ugliest Pilgrim by Doris Betts. 

Cast

Violet: Claire Adams
Flick: Jahmaul Bakare
Old Lady/Hotel Hooker: Lori Berg
Lulu Buffington/Almeta (Landlady): Benai Boyd
Virgil/Ensemble: Patrick Cheek
Father: John Allsopp
Billy Dean/Ensemble: Matthew Podeyn
Ensemble: Emuna Rajkumar
Preacher: Kevin Shewey
Musical Hall Singer/Ensemble: Lauren Thompson
Monty: Morgan West
Young Vi: Lily Zager

 

Production

Director: Richard Israel
Producer: Thomas Chavira
Musical Director: Taylor Stephenson    
Choreographer: Julie Hall      
Scenic Design: Nicholas Acciani
Lighting Design: Lisa Katz
Sound Design: Cameron Combe
Property Design: Samantha Ramirez
Hair/Makeup: Design: Klint Flowers
Costume Design: Wendell Carmichael
Stage Manager: Derek R. Copenhaver
Assistant Stage Manager: Jaime Mills
Production Manager: Selah Victor
Publicist: Nora Feldman

A Man For All Seasons opened this weekend and already has a rave review! Click below to read more about this wonderful show:

The first reviews for A Walk In The Woods are in and it's a hit! The show is featured in The LA Times today (page E4 or visit the link below) and Philip Brandes raves about the "finely nuanced performances". Discover Hollywood says "This performance will captivate you from start to finish". 

We are so excited about our upcoming production of A Man For All Seasons opening March 2 and are proud to announce the wonderful cast:

The Common (Wo)Man -- DEBORAH MARLOWE*
Sir Thomas More -- BRUCE LADD*
Master Richard Rich -- MITCHELL LAM HAU
The Duke of Norfolk -- SEAN MCHUGH*
Lady Alice More -- TREVA TEGTMEIER*
Mady Margaret More -- ELSA GAY*
Cardinal Wolsey/ThomasCranmer -- GREG MARTIN*
Thomas Cromwell -- JOHN ALLEE
Signor Chapuys -- VITO VISCUSO*
William Roper -- ISAAC JAY
King Henry VIII -- IAN MICHAELS

* Indicates Actors Co-op Member

BEST PRODUCTION OF A PLAY, Intimate Theatre (33 Variations)
Best Lighting, Intimate Theatre (33 Variations)
Best Scenic Design, Intimate Theatre (33 Variations)
Best Direction of a Play (33 Variations)

Company members & the Cast  & Crew of 33 Variations celebrating at the L.A. Ovation Awards at the Ace Theatre

NAN MCNAMARA* as Joan Honeyman

Nan was most recently seen at Actors Co-op in 33 Variations (Ovation Winner for Best Play, Intimate Theatre) (L.A. Drama Critic's Circle Award nominee for Best Actress) She received the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award and LA Weekly Award for her performance in Wit. TV/Film roles include Major Crimes, Rosewood, Switched at Birth and Criminal Minds. Nan enjoys a vibrant career in voiceover. 

PHIL CROWLEY as Andrey Botvinnik

Phil was last seen in the Actors Co-op production of Ah! Wilderness.  Phil appeared in the one-man play, An Evening With C.S. Lewis. He is a full-time voiceover actor, narrating many documentaries and commercials.  Most recognized as the voice of ABC’s Shark Tank, he can also
be heard on Discovery, History, Travel, and E! Entertainment channels.  

A Walk In The Woods opens February 9

32nd Robby Award Nominations (by Rob Stevens)

Actors Co-op led the 99 seat scene with 12 nominations

NAN MARTIN AWARD FOR BEST DRAMA
33 Variations, Actors Co-Op

MARTIN BENSON AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTOR OF A DRAMA
Thomas James O’Leary, 33 Variations

SALLY KEMP AWARD FOR BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA
Nan McNamara, 33 Variations

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA
John Allee, 33 Variations
Bruce Ladd, 33 Variations

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA
Treva Tegtmeier, 33 Variations

MICHAEL DEVEREAUX AWARD FOR BEST PLAYWRITING
Moises Kaufman, 33 Variations

BEST PROJECTION DESIGN
Nicholas Acciani, 33 Variations

ALBERT LORD AWARD FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY
John Allee, The Man Who Came To Dinner, Actors Co-Op
Wenzel Jones, The Man Who Came To Dinner

DEE CROXTON AWARD FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY
Catherine Urbanek, The Man Who Came To Dinner

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Shon LeBlanc, The Man Who Came To Dinner

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Best Production of a Play (Intimate Theatre)

  33 VARIATIONS

Acting Ensemble of a Play

  33 VARIATIONS

Direction of a Play

THOMAS O’LEARY,  33 VARIATIONS

Lighting Design (Intimate Theatre)

ANDREW SCHMEDAKE , 33 VARIATIONS 

JEAN-YVES TESSIER,  THE TURN OF THE SCREW 

Scenic Design (Intimate Theatre)

NICHOLAS ACCIANI,  33 VARIATIONS

Sound Design (Intimate Theatre)

CAMERON COMBE , OUR TOWN

DAVID MARLING, 33 VARIATIONS

Costume Design (Intimate Theatre)

VICKI CONRAD, 33 VARIATIONS

Video/Projection Design

NICHOLAS ACCIANI, 33 VARIATIONS

Actors Co-op is looking to bring on some interns! If you or someone you know is looking to get involved in a theatre company, let us know! The positions we are currently seeking are: 

Development/Fundraising
Literary Management and Dramaturgy
Marketing/PR/Publicity
Production Management
Stage Management

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For more information and the application: