On Sunday, June 10, the Austin Critics Table presented its annual awards for outstanding achievements in the Austin arts in a brisk ceremony at the Bad Dog Comedy Theater, 113 E. Riverside. It was the ninth such ceremony for the Table, an informal association of local arts writers who gather regularly for lunch, and this year’s awards, which covered the period May 2000-April 2001, included expanded recognition for achievements in dance, classical music, and the visual arts along with the usual acknowledgments for outstanding work in theatre. Participating critics for the 2000-01 season included writers Rob Curran (art), Mike Huebner (music), Dawn Davis Loring (dance), Sondra Lomax (dance), Moira Muldoon (theatre), and Robi Polgar (music). Presenting the awards at the ceremony were Table members Michael Barnes, Jamie Smith Cantara, and Jeanne Claire van Ryzin of the Austin American-Statesman, and yours truly from The Austin Chronicle. Obligatory ethical note: Critics refrained from nominating themselves or members of their families for any awards, and refrained from voting in any category in which the critic or a family member was nominated.
David Mark Cohen New Play Award
Circumference of a Squirrel, John Walch
Production, Drama
Circumference of a Squirrel, Zachary Scott Theatre
Director, Drama
Shawn Sides, Requiem for Tesla
Actress, Drama
Kara Bliss, Closer
Actor, Drama (tie)
Martin Burke, Circumference of a Squirrel
Jaston Williams, Tru
Supporting Actress, Drama
Katie Van Winkle, One Flea Spare
Supporting Actor, Drama
Guy Roberts, The Beauty Queen of Leenane
Production, Comedy
Art, Zachary Scott Theatre Center
Director, Comedy
Sarah Richardson, Art
Actress, Comedy
Babs George, Anton in Show Business/ Barefoot in the Park/Light Up the Sky/ Women Who Steal
Actor, Comedy
David Stahl, Art
Supporting Actress, Comedy
Erica Saenz, The LCP Sells Out
Supporting Actor, Comedy
Judson Jones, Bleacher Bums
Musical (tie)
Jouét, Zachary Scott Theatre Center
Oklahoma!, Austin Musical Theatre
Director, Musical
Dave Steakley, Evita/Jouét
Actress, Musical
Meredith McCall, Jouét
Actor, Musical
Dan Sullivan, Evita
Supporting Actress, Musical
Marita Stryker, Evita/You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown
Supporting Actor, Musical
Scotty Roberts, The Music Man
Scenery
Christopher McCollum, A Macbeth/Oklahoma!
Costumes
Leslie Bonnell, Evita/Jouét/Requiem for Tesla
Lighting
Tony Tucci, A Macbeth/Oklahoma!
Sound
Gunn Brothers, A Macbeth
Movement
Scott Thompson and Richard Byron, A Chorus Line/ Oklahoma!
Musical Direction
Graham Reynolds, The Intergalactic Nemesis/ Seven Rooms to the Soul/Wallpaper Psalm
Touring Show, Theatre
Ragtime, UT Performing Arts Center
Touring Show, Dance
You Walk, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, UT Performing Arts Center
Touring Show, Music
Yo-Yo Ma, UT Performing Arts Center
Dance Concert, Large
Hamlet, Ballet Austin
Dance Concert, Small to Medium
The Blue Pearl, Sally Jacques
Choreographer
Stephen Mills
Male Dancer
Nicholas Young
Female Dancer
Theresa Hardy
Symphonic Concert
Austin Symphony (Sibelius: Symphony No. 5)
Choral Concert
Elijah, New Texas Music Works
Chamber Concert
String Quartets of Béla Bartók, Cavani String Quartet
Opera
Die Walküre, Austin Lyric Opera
Male Singer
Dean Peterson, Cold Sassy Tree
Female Singer
Stephanie Prewitt, Medieval Songs
Instrumentalist
Gregory Allen, Mozart: Piano Concerto in F
Museum Exhibition
“Anacronistas: Einar & Jimex de la Torre,” Mexic-Arte Museum
Gallery Exhibition
“La Huella Multiple,” Gallery 106
Gallery (Body of Work)
Lake Austin Fine Arts
Male Artist
Murray McMillan
Female Artist
Margo Sawyer
Special Citations
W.H. “Deacon” Crain Award for Outstanding Student Work: Bradley Carlin, St. Edward’s University; Lawrence Kern, Southwestern University; Brooke Parker, St. Edward’s University
John Bustin Award for Conspicuous Versatility: Allen Robertson
Overall Atmosphere: Back Bog Beast Bait, Tongue and Groove Theatre; Requiem for Tesla, Rude Mechs
Direction of New Opera: Jason Neulander, Wallpaper Psalm
Direction of New Classics: Sharon Sparlin, Troilus and Cressida
Mt. Everest Award: Sophia Glimson, Bach: The “Goldberg Variations” performed on piano and harpsichord in one concert
Up-and-Coming Artist: Chris Alonzo
Outstanding Puppetry: Allison DeFrees
Outstanding Service Above and Beyond the Call of Duty: Vicky Boone, artistic director of Frontera@Hyde Park Theatre
Two Great Tastes That Taste Great Together: Austin Theatre Alliance (Paramount Theatre and the State Theater Company)
Welcome Additions to the Community: Blue Theatre, Bad Dog Comedy Theater, the Hideout
This article appears in June 15 • 2001.