The Eighth Annual Eddon Awards

The Best of LA Theatre for 2017

There are undoubtedly other productions worthy of merit in 2017 which I did not cover. This list is based solely on what I saw and reviewed.

• Alphabetical listings; Equity, Equity-waiver & Non-Equity productions are mixed
• Artists performing outside LA may be included in performance categories 
• No set, costume, technical awards. I leave those to the bigger awards and to the expertise of those who really know those fields inside out.
• Don't take these choices too seriously. After all, it's just one man's opinions.
• This year I have trimmed down categories to include a smaller number of winners  in each. I have also separated plays and performances into Large Space and Small Space.

BEST PRODUCTION in a Large Space

Hamilton - Pantages

The Red Shoes - Ahmanson

Something Rotten - Ahmanson

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time - Ahmanson

Head of Passes - Mark Taper Forum (MTF)

Heisenberg - MTF

Oklahoma - 3D Theatricals

Kiss of the Spider Woman - Welk Resorts Theatre. Escondido

Cagney - Debbie Reynolds Mainstage at the El Portal

Driving Miss Daisy - Colony 

BEST PERFORMANCE - Large Space

Ensemble - Hamilton 

Carmen Cusack - Bright Star, Ahmanson

Phylicia Rashad - Head of Passes

Mary Louise Parker/Denis Arndt - Heisenberg

Ensemble - Oklahoma

Richard Bermudez, Jeffrey Scott Parsons, Natalie Nucci - Kiss of the Spider Woman

Robert Creighton and Ensemble - Cagney

Donna Mills and Ensemble - Driving Miss Daisy

Tyne Daly/Robert Forrester - Chasing Mem'ries, Geffen Playhouse

Al Pacino, Judith Light, Miles Gaston Villanueva - God Looked Away - Pasadena Playhouse

LaChanze and Ensemble - Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
Carly Bracco - Peter Pan - Cabrillo Music Theatre

BEST DIRECTOR - Large Space

Thomas Kail - Hamilton/

Andy Blankenbuehler - choreographer 

BEST PRODUCTION in a Small Space

Lost in Yonkers - Group rep

Stupid Kid - The Road Theatre Company

Separate Tables - Theatre 40

The Man Who Came to Dinner - Actors Co-op

The 39 Steps - Actors Co-op
Frida: Stroke of Passion - Macha Theatre

BEST PERFORMANCE - Small Space

Bennett Saltzman, Roslyn Cohn, Loraine Shields - Lost in Yonkers

Taylor Gilbert and Rob Nagle & Ensemble - Stupid Kid

Roslyn Cohn and Diana Angelina - Separate Tables

Ensemble - Man Who Came to Dinner/39 Steps
Odalys Nanin - Frida: Stroke of Passion

BEST DIRECTOR - Small Space

Cameron Watson - Stupid Kid

BEST NEW PRODUCTION

Summer: The Donna Summer Musical - La Jolla Playhouse

UNIQUE or SPECIAL EVENTS

An Evening of Classic Broadway - Rockwell Table and Stage
Freddy - LA City College in association with the Fountain Theatre
Turning Page - Moth Theatre
Charles Busch Debut Cabaret Tour - Rockwell Table and Stage
An Evening with Debbie Reynolds - El Portal Mainstage

BEST CABARET/CONCERT ARTIST: MALE

James Snyder - Soliloquy - Catalina Jazz Club
Levi Kreis - Broadway at the Keys - LGBT Center
Robert Yacko - Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal

BEST CABARET/CONCERT ARTIST: FEMALE

Kay Cole - Souvenir - Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal
Donna McKechnie - Same Place, Another Time - Catalina Jazz Club
Jean Louisa Kelly - For My Folks - Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal

BEST CDs

Lyn Stanley - The Moonlight Sessions
Levi Kreis - Broadway at the Keys
Robyn Spangler - Something Cool, The Billy Barnes Sessions
Calabria Foti - In the Still of the Night
Rebecca Spencer - Still, Still, Still