LA Stage Alliance's 2015 Ovation Awards took place last night at the Ahmanson Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles, and we took one major lesson from the winners: if you haven't already, go see Spring Awakening. That might be a little difficult, because the Deaf West Theatre production of the show, and the big winner from last night, is currently on Broadway.
The production was named best production of a musical, not once, but twice last night. Deaf West Theatre's production at their own theater won in the category for intimate theaters, while their production that moved onto the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts was named best production of a musical in the larger category. But it didn't stop there: the show also won best ensemble, best director (Michael Arden), best choreography (Spencer Liff) and best lighting design (Ben Stanton).
With book and lyrics by Steven Sater and music by Duncan Sheik, the show is based on Frank Wedekind's 1891 play that tells of a group of adolescents as they navigate into adulthood with all the trials and tribulations that come with it. However, as Deaf West Theatre is known for, the theater company performs the show with both speaking actors and American Sign Language. Deaf West's version of the show is on Broadway through January 24, 2016.
Other big winners: Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts won best season; Center Theatre Group's Chavez Ravine: An L.A. Revival for best production of a play for a large theater while Circle X Theatre Company's Trevor won for the intimate theater category; and Center Theatre Group's Luna Gale won best presented production.
A full list of winners can be found here.