Published in KPBS On Air Magazine February 2002

Five years ago, I sat down at my computer with an idea. I wanted to give something back to the theater community, to provide some tangible appreciation of the creative energy, the exhaustive hours, the brilliant commitment and endless entertainment provided by local artists in this evanescent artform.

Ever since 1998, KPBS has been hosting an ever-expanding bash to honor the awardees, a joyous opportunity to celebrate the splendor of San Diego theater. After all, this was the year that Travelocity.com proclaimed San Diego “the newest cultural mecca in the United States.”

So, herewith is my own personal Pat on the back, the 2001 5th annual KPBS Patté Awards for Theater Excellence, which I presented at a dinner/entertainment gala on January 14, in the Shiley Studio at KPBS. The scrumptious, festive evening and the stunningly purple plexiglas sculpture that is the award itself were made possible by a generous grant from Donald and Darlene Shiley, the ultimate Theater Angels.

Last year, the KPBS Patté Theater Angel Award was gratefully given to writer/director/scholar/philanthropist Marianne McDonald. This year, she gave her name to the first-ever McDonald Playwriting Award, which went to the extremely inventive and now highly in-demand young writer, Annie Weisman, whose premiere, Be Aggressive, was the most successful production in the 10-year history of the Mandell Weiss Forum of La Jolla Playhouse. Weisman is a genuine theater native: an alumna of San Diego Junior Theatre, the Playwrights Project and UCSD.

Two other special awards were given again this year. The Shiley Award for Lifetime Achievement was presented to beloved local (and New York) director Jack O’Brien, who celebrated his 20th anniversary at the helm of The Globe Theatres this year with two Tony nominations (for the irresistible The Full Monty and the thought-provoking Invention of Love). The Patté Theater Angel Award was bestowed on theater-lovers Judith Harris and Robert Singer, avid supporters of companies as diverse and wide-ranging as Sledgehammer and La Jolla Playhouse. Harris just completed her highly praised term as Chair of the City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture.

The rest of the 2001 KPBS Patté Awards follow, in no particular order (except, like the Oscars and the Tonys, the Outstanding Performances, Directors and Productions come last).

Outstanding Ensemble

“The Beauty Queen of Leenane”

San Diego Repertory Theatre

“The Laramie Project”

La Jolla Playhouse

“Jeffrey”

Diversionary Theatre

“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf”

San Diego Repertory Theatre

Outstanding Scenic Design

James Joy

“Twelfth Night”

The Globe Theatres

Marty Burnett

“Long Day’s Journey into Night”

Renaissance Theatre Company

and several productions at North Coast Repertory Theatre

Liam O’Brien

“10 Human Beings”

UCSD Theatre & Dance

Outstanding Lighting Design

David F. Segal

“Dinner with Friends”

The Globe Theatres

Karen Filijan

North Coast Repertory Theatre, Diversionary Theatre, Renaissance Theatre

Outstanding Costume Design

Zandra Rhodes

“The Magic Flute”

San Diego Opera

Jeanne Reith

“Tarantara!” & “Dr. Faustus”

Lamb’s Players Theatre

Outstanding Sound Design

Francis Thumm

“Quoth the Raven”

Sledgehammer Theatre

Michael Roth

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream”

The Globe Theatres

Outstanding Performance

Ron Choularton

“Breaking the Code”

Diversionary Theatre

Robert Dahey

“Amelia Earhart, Lost and Found”

6th @ Penn Theatre

Jefferson Mays

“I Am My Own Wife”

La Jolla Playhouse

Sean Murray

“Man of La Mancha”

North Coast Repertory Theatre

Rosina Reynolds

“Long Day’s Journey into Night”

Renaissance Theatre Company

Outstanding Direction

Suzanne Agins

“Life’s a Dream”

UCSD Theatre & Dance

Tim Irving

“Jeffrey”

Diversionary Theatre

Des McAnuff & Kate Whoriskey

“The Collected Works of Billy the Kid”

La Jolla Playhouse

Charlie Oates

“10 Human Beings”

UCSD Theatre & Dance

Outstanding Production

“bash”

      UCSD Theatre & Dance

“Lot’s Daughters”

Diversionary Theatre

“The Mad Dancers”

San Diego Repertory Theatre

“Twelfth Night”

The Globe Theatres

A few other people and productions bear mentioning:

Most Exciting New Theatre Company: New Village Arts

Promising Playwrights: Julia Edwards, Laura Henry, David Wiener, Rachael Van Wormer

Fresh-Faced Talent to Watch: Meredith Kaye Clark, Matthew DeMeritt, Thomas Fonss, Michael Kary, Joy Osmanski, Kate Reynolds, April Tra

Overall, 2001 was a spacey odyssey. May this year be less dramatic on the world stage and even more dramatic on theater stages.

©2002 Patté Productions Inc.