26th Annual NAACP Theatre Award Winners

By Darlene Donloe

The best in Los Angeles theatre was lauded this week at the 26^th Annual NAACP Theatre Awards, held at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills.

Joe Morton

The show, hosted by Wendy Raquel Robinson and Miguel Nunez, honored Joe Morton with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

“To say this leaves me speechless is an understatement,” said Morton. “Theater gives me a voice.”

Samuel Jackson and LaTanya Richardson Jackson

Actress LaTanya Richardson Jackson received the Trailblazer Award.

“Theater has always been a home for me,” said Jackson. “Because of the theater I know what true love is. That’s where I met my husband.”

Jackson is married to fellow actor Samuel L. Jackson who was in attendance to support his wife.

Rory Pullens, the executive director of Arts Education for Los Angeles Unified School District, received the Humanitarian Award.  Pullens was honored for his focus on increasing access and equity to the arts for all students.

Singer Ledisi, who is currently the ambassador for the San Francisco Chapter of the Recording Academy, was awarded the Spirit Award.

Entertainer Obba Babatunde performed a spirited version of the classic Mr. Bojangles.  There was also a performance by Black Lives Matter and a special performance by Tammi Mac, who presented a snippet from her award-winning show, Bag Lady.

Ron Hasson

Ron Hasson, president of the Beverly Hills/Hollywood NAACP and a national board member was in attendance to congratulate the nominees and the winners.

“There is always a need in Hollywood to have people of color see their heroes and sheroes,” said Hasson. “It is important to acknowledge those who have entertained us over the years.”

Miguel Nunez spoke about the importance of the event. 

Miguel Nunez

“Everybody likes to be recognized for the work they do,” said Nunez. “We don’t do it for the recognition, though. But, it’s still good to be recognized for your efforts.”

Loretta Devine

“It’s wonderful to be recognized by your peer group,” said actress Loretta Devine. “It gives you the incentive to keep working.”

Kenny Lattimore

“This kind of show is important because we are celebrating ourselves,” said singer Kenny Lattimore. “It’s important to celebrate the stories that come from us.  We have beautiful stories.  It’s most important for us to tell our stories so people can get to know us.”

Paul Jackson Jr. and his wife, Michaela

Musician Paul Jackson Jr. said the awards show was important because “it honors us.”  “You can’t wait for someone else to pat you on the back. Pat yourself on the back. Tell someone, ‘I like what you're doing.’ Be encouraging to someone.”

Kenny Leon

“Anything that presents our culture in a positive light is good,” said director Kenny Leon. “We should always take time to celebrate ourselves.”

Herb J. Wesson, Jr.

"It's always important to recognize our own," said Herb J. Wesson, Jr., president, Los Angeles City Council, Council member, Tenth District. "We support the NAACP. One of the greatest organization around. This is an important event. We need this kind of show more than ever right now."

Wren T. Brown

Wren T. Brown, founder/producing artist director of the Ebony Repertory Theatre won an award for Best Producer – Equity for The Gospel at Colonus.

“In the words of Winston Churchill, 'what a great tragedy if one day you were figuratively tapped on your shoulder and was ill prepared,'” said Brown. “Ladies and gentleman I have been preparing for this role of producer all of my life. I mean that very earnestly. You don’t just learn it in a couple of years.  It’s about understanding what it means to be sensitive to a musician, to an actor, to a singer, to a director, to a designer. It’s not just finding money to produce the effort.  It’s about an accumulated entity of all of those dynamics coming together in such a way that you produce a professional opportunity. My definition as producer is the producing of opportunity. I’m so thankful I’ve been able to do that at the Ebony Repertory Theatre.”

Multiple theater award winners included Motown the Musical, The Gospel At Colonus, Dreamscape, Recorded in Hollywood, The Best of Enemies and Love Soul Deep.

Following is a complete list of winners:

Best Choreography – Equity

Motown The Musical – Patricia Wilcox and Warren Adams

Best Choreography – Local

Ucarmen – Lungelo Ngamlana

Best Costumes – Equity

Motown The Musical – Esosa

Best Costumes – Local

Detroit 67 – Michaela Mendiola

Best Director – Equity

Fences – Gregg T. Daniel

Best Director – Local

Dreamscape – Rickerby Hinds

Best Director of a Musical – Local

Recorded In Hollywood – Denise Dowse

Best Ensemble Cast – Equity

The Gospel At Colonus

Best Ensemble Cast – Local

Recorded In Hollywood

Best Lead Female - Equity

The Best Of Enemies – Tiffany Rebecca Royale

Best Lead Female – Local 

Dreamscape – Rhaechyl Walker and Natali Micchiche

Best Lead Male – Equity

Satchmo at the Waldorf – John Douglas Thompson

Best Lead Male – Local

Dreamscape – John “Faahz” Merchant

Best Lighting – Equity 

Fences – Karyn D. Lawrence

Best Lighting - Local

I And You – Jeremy Pivnick

Best Music Director – Equity

The Gospel At Colonus - Abdul Hamid Royal

Best Music Director – Local

Recorded In Hollywood – Stephan Terry

Best One Person Show - Local

Keena Unbranded – Keena Ferguson

Best Playwright – Equity

Motown the Musical – Berry Gordy

Best Playwright – Local

Changes – Wallace Demarria

Best Producer – Equity

The Gospel At Colonus – Wren T. Brown

Best Producer – Local

Recorded In Hollywood – Dolphins of Hollywood Productions, LLC and Racquel Lehrman, Theatre Planners

Best Set Design – Equity

Satchmo at the Waldorf – Lee Savage

Best Set Design – Local

Pieces – Helleaux Studio Design

Best Sound – Equity

Motown The Musical – Ethan Popp and Bryan Crook

Best Sound – Local

My Children! My Africa! – Warren Davis

Best Supporting Female – Equity

To Kill A Mockingbird – Earnestine Phillips

Best Supporting Female – Local

Love Soul Deep – Nadine Ellis

Best Supporting Male – Equity

The Best Of Enemies – Shon Fuller

Best Supporting Male – Local

The Conversation – Danny De Lloyd