Back Stage West Garland Awards

Infobox award
name = Back Stage West Garland Awards
current_awards =


imagesize =
caption =
description = Excellence in Southern California theatre.
presenter = "Back Stage West"
country = USA
location = Los Angeles, California
year = 1998
year2 = 2007
website = http://www.backstage.com/bso/news_reviews/stage/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003555406The Back Stage West Garland Awards, also referred to simply as the Garland Awards, are bestowed by the "Back Stage West" newspaper, honoring excellence in Southern California theatre.cite news | last =Margolies | first =Dany | title =L.A.'s Garland Awards 2007 Announced | work =Back Stage | pages =(Stage News) | publisher =Nielsen Business Media | date =March 7, 2007 | url =http://www.backstage.com/bso/news_reviews/stage/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003555406 | accessdate = 2007-11-30] [cite news | last =Staff | title ='Flower Drum,' 'Horses' top Garland theater nods | work =The Hollywood Reporter | publisher =Nielsen Business Media | date =January 28, 2002 | ] The awards recognize many different types of contributors to theatre, including actors, directors, producers, prop makers, set designers, costume designers, and choreographers.

election process

Award winners are selected through a process voted on by theatre critics in the industry. Each Garland winner has appeared on at least three critics' "Best of" lists for the previous year. Critics are each allowed to name "up to five nominees for each category except performance, up to 10 nominees for performance in a musical production and up to 10 in straight productions." Each winner is presented with a "Garland statuette" in the year following their recognized production.

History

The first awards were presented on January 12, 1998, with eighty individuals recognized, and the next year's ceremony recognized one hundred and fifty people.cite news | last =Proudfit | first =Scott | title =Garlands Sweeter Second Time Around | work =Back Stage West | publisher =Nielsen Business Media | date = January 28, 1999 | url =http://www.allbusiness.com/services/amusement-recreation-services/4366423-1.html | accessdate = 2007-11-30 ] The first ceremony was held at the Coronet Theatre in Los Angeles, California, and awards in the following two years were presented in a ceremony at the Geffen Playhouse in Westwood, Los Angeles, California.cite news | last =Painter | first =Jamie | title =Garlands Toast - Best in the West | work =Back Stage West | publisher =Nielsen Business Media | date = January 15, 1998 | url =http://www.allbusiness.com/services/amusement-recreation-services/4364802-1.html | accessdate = 2007-11-30] Two hundred and seventy stage artists and theatre supporters attended the first annual awards.cite news | last =Manus | first =Willard | title =Garland Awards Inaugurated in L.A. | work =Playbill News | publisher =Playbill, Inc. | date =January 21, 1998 | url =http://www.playbill.com/news/article/36576.html | accessdate = 2007-11-30 ] Awards categories in the first year included production, performance, ensemble cast, sound design, costume, lighting design, set design, musical score, and choreography. Pacific Resident Theatre in Venice, California was recognized with a special award for "continued excellence." Presenters at the first annual awards included Daniel Henning, artistic director for the Blank Theatre Company, and actor Noah Wyle, who had just joined Blank Theatre Company as artistic producer. David Schwimmer spoke on behalf of the Chicago, Illinois-based company he co-founded, Lookingglass Theatre Company, and accepted awards for their production of "Arabian Nights". Ian McKellen was also honored at the ceremony for his
one-man show, "A Knight Out in Los Angeles". The first annual Garland Awards were dedicated to actor Charles Hallahan, a member of the Matrix Theatre Company who died in 1997.

Though the first year's awards focused mainly on the production of "Ragtime", the second annual awards, held on January 25, 1999, focused on many different contributors in the industry.cite news | last =Manus | first =Willard | title =Back Stage West Schedules 2nd Annual Garland Awards For Jan. 25 | work =Playbill News | publisher =Playbill, Inc. | date =January 25, 1999 | url =http://www.playbill.com/news/article/43226.html | accessdate = 2007-11-30 ] Actress Carol Burnett was the first honoree and presenter at the second annual awards. Prizes in the second year were awarded for production, performance, writing, musical score, choreography, direction, and design. The comedy-drama "Elephant Sighs" won the Garland Award for best new play of 1998. [cite news | last =Journal staff | title =Children's Theatre to Present Rainbow Fish | work =Winston-Salem Journal | pages =Page F5 | date =April 30, 2006 | ] The third annual awards ceremony in 2000 ran for two and a half hours, and one hundred and ten individuals were recognized.cite news | last =Proudfit | first =Scott | title =Three's a Charm for Back Stage West Garlands | work =Back Stage West | publisher =Nielsen Business Media | date = February 3, 2000 | url =http://www.allbusiness.com/services/amusement-recreation-services/4371034-1.html | accessdate = 2007-11-30 ] Well-known songs were played at the awards ceremony in a sing-along fashion, including "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and pieces from "West Side Story" and "Hedwig and the Angry Inch".

"Heroes" star David Anders was among an ensemble cast of "The Diary of Anne Frank" honored with a Garland Award for its 2001 production. [cite book | last =Stafford | first =Nikki | coauthors =Robyn Burnett | title =Uncovering Alias: An Unofficial Guide | publisher =ECW Press | date =2004 | pages =Page 150 | id = | isbn =1550226533 ] [cite news | last =Dienstag | first =Jesse | title =The Diary of Anne Frank | work =BackStage | publisher =Nielsen Business Media | date = February 8, 2001 | url =http://www.allbusiness.com/services/amusement-recreation-services/4361302-1.html | accessdate = 2007-11-30 ] The ninth annual awards ceremony was held at the Bootleg Theatre in Los Angeles on March 26, 2007.cite news | last =Spindle | first =Les | coauthors =Lauren Horwitch | title =L.A.'s Best Mingle at Garland Awards | work =Back Stage | publisher =Nielsen Business Media | date =March 27, 2007 | url =http://www.allbusiness.com/services/amusement-recreation-services/4582369-1.html | accessdate = 2007-11-30 ] Over 175 guests attended the event, which honored 2006 productions and theatre contributors including Salome Jens, who won a performance award for "Leipzig", and actor-singer Camille Saviola for her role in "Zorba". Music director Gerald Sternbach, honored for his direction of "Zorba", stated his appreciation of the Garland Awards: "What's wonderful about the Garlands is it's unpretentious. At other things there is a lot of tension, but really, this isn't a ceremony, it's a party. It's a supportive environment where everyone gets to hang."

ee also

*Drama Desk Awards
*Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle
*Obie Award
*Tony Awards

References

External

* [http://www.backstage.com/ Back Stage Online]
* [http://www.backstage.com/bso/about_us/index.jsp About Back Stage: History, Masthead, and Info]