Having produced quick a large amount holiday productions, the San Diego theater scene is gearing up for the New Year, with prospects for various different productions. Meanwhile, the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle announced nominees for their 2016 awards—and a new venue in which to present the coveted honors. The ceremony, in which winners in each of numerous categories will be announced, takes place from 6 to 10 p.m. Monday, Feb. 6, at The Jacobs Center for Community Involvement, 404 Euclid Avenue, San Diego 92114.
Among more than 90 nominees from more than 50 institutions are two new plays presented at La Jolla Playhouse, Ayad Akhtar’s “Junk: The Golden Age of Debt” and Jeff Augustin’s “The Last Tiger in Haiti,” both nominated for Outstanding New Play, along with Bennett Fisher’s “Damascus,” which was premiered at UC San Diego’s Wagner New Play Festival. Other works nominated in this category are Anna Ziegler’s “The Last Match” (Old Globe Theatre) and Herbert Siguenza’s “Manifest Destinitis” (San Diego Repertory Theatre).
Other categories include Outstanding Resident Musical, Outstanding Touring Production, Outstanding Ensemble, with nominations for design awards, direction, and other individuals for outstanding actor, female and male, in both musical and dramatic presentations.
Held for more than a decade at San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art, La Jolla, the ceremony’s attendance was limited by the size of Sherwood Auditorium (circa 400), which is soon to be demolished and incorporated into the museum’s gallery space. Traditionally award nominees, their friends and families, theater critics, theater staffs and avid theatergoers attended the event. The facilities at Jacobs Center allow for larger attendance at the annual, free event; however, interested parties must make reservations. For details and a complete list of nominees, visit www.sdcriticscircle.com.
Regarding Sherwood
The Critics Circle Awards move may raise reader concerns about forthcoming concerts of La Jolla Music Society (LJMS), whose new concert hall, The Jacobs, is scheduled to open in 2018. LJMS spokesperson Vanessa Dinning stated that the museum “kindly allowed us to keep using the hall until they’re ready to start their demolition. All LJMS events up to the middle of March take place at Sherwood. After that date, events scheduled at Sherwood will be heard at La Jolla