'In Flagrante Gothicto' Tops Critics' Nominations

By DON SHIRLEY

Feb. 28, 2001 12 AM PT

TIMES THEATER WRITER

“In Flagrante Gothicto,” a Gothic romance parody at a tiny Hollywood theater, landed seven Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle nominations, more than any other production in this year’s competition, the organization announced Tuesday.

The production by Circle X Theatre Company at the McCadden Place Theatre won a shared writing nomination for its creators, Jillian Armenante and Alice Dodd. Armenante was also nominated for directing, and Dodd for acting. The show is one of five nominees for outstanding production.

Three shows garnered five nominations apiece, including the Mark Taper Forum’s “Metamorphoses,” which is another of the five nominees for outstanding production. But the other two runners-up in the overall nomination count, Disney’s “The Lion King” and the little musical “bare,” were not among the production nominees.

“The Lion King” has an unusual distinction: Three of four nominations are in one category, costumes. The show’s costumes, masks and puppets, and hair and makeup received individual nominations.

Two shows at Pacific Resident Theatre, “Tonight at 8:30” and “Lady Chatterley’s Lover,” were among the five production nominees. With each of them taking four nominations, Venice-based Pacific Resident Theatre was second only to the Center Theatre Group for the most nominations by a single company. Center Theatre Group’s shows at the Taper and the Ahmanson Theatre received a total of 11 nominations. For the first year since 1981, South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa received no nominations.

The L.A. Drama Critics Circle membership consists of 23 critics. The Los Angeles Times does not participate, although three freelance reviewers for The Times are members.

According to the group’s rules, half of the 60 nominees will win; there may be more than one winner--or none--in any category. The awards ceremony is scheduled for April 2 at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. The event is open to the public; reservations are available at (323) 656-9407.

The nominees:

Production: “In Flagrante Gothicto,” Circle X Theatre Company at McCadden Place Theater; “Lady Chatterley’s Lover,” Pacific Resident Theatre; “The Master and Margarita,” Zoo District at ArtShare and Hudson Theatre; “Metamorphoses,” Mark Taper Forum; “Tonight at 8:30,” Pacific Resident Theatre.

Direction: Jillian Armenante, “In Flagrante Gothicto”; Michael Lilly, “Additional Particulars”; Daniel O’Connor, “Tonight at 8:30”; John Vreeke, “Lady Chatterley’s Lover”; Mary Zimmerman, “Metamorphoses.”

Writing: Jillian Armenante and Alice Dodd, “In Flagrante Gothicto”; Phyllis Frelich, Linda Bove & Bob Daniels, Deaf West Theatre’s adaptation of “A Streetcar Named Desire”; Ronald Harwood, “Taking Sides”; Ed Simpson, “Additional Particulars.”

Musical Score: Shaun Davey and Richard Nelson, “James Joyce’s The Dead”; Amanda Green and Curtis Moore, “Up the Week Without a Paddle”; Jon Hartmere Jr. and Damon Intrabartolo, “bare.”

Lead Performance: Kirk Baily, “Additional Particulars”; Kathleen Chalfant, “Wit”; Leland Crooke, “Taking Sides”; Alice Dodd, “In Flagrante Gothicto”; David Dukes, “Waiting for Godot”; Leslie Fera, “Lady Chatterley’s Lover”; Travis Michael Holder, “Nasty Little Secrets”; Gregory Itzin, “Waiting for Godot”; Troy M. Kotsur, “A Streetcar Named Desire”; Suanne Spoke, “A Streetcar Named Desire”; Deborah Strang, “The Skin of Our Teeth.”

Featured Performance: Eydie Alyson, “Once in a Lifetime”; Anastasia Basil, “In Flagrante Gothicto”; Stephen McKinley Henderson, “Jitney”; Jill Hill, “The Skin of Our Teeth”; Leslie Jordan, “Southern Baptist Sissies”; Keili Lefkovitz, “bare”; Molly Schaffer, “Tonight at 8:30”; Ann Walker, “Southern Baptist Sissies”; Amy Warner, “Lady Chatterley’s Lover.”

Scenic Design: David Gallo, “Jitney”; Daniel Ostling, “Metamorphoses”; Neil Patel, “Dinner with Friends”; Gary Smoot, “In Flagrante Gothicto”; Robert Steinberg, “A Streetcar Named Desire.”

Lighting Design: T.J. Gerckens, “Metamorphoses”; Donald Holder, “The Lion King”; Jennifer Tipton, “James Joyce’s The Dead”; Dan Weingarten, “In Flagrante Gothicto.”

Costume Design: Maro Parian and Sofi Khachmanyan, “The Master and Margarita”; Julie Taymor, “The Lion King” costumes; Julie Taymor and Michael Curry, “The Lion King” masks and puppets; Michael Ward, “The Lion King” hair and makeup.

Sound Design: Bruce Ellman, “Fully Committed”; Andre Pluess and Ben Sussman, “Metamorphoses”; Casey Stone, “bare.”

Choreography: Cate Caplin, “Godspell”; Garth Fagan, “The Lion King”; Onalee Hunter, “bare.”

Musical Direction: Deborah Lurie, “bare”; Charles Prince, “James Joyce’s The Dead”; Boko Suzuki, “Swing!”; Mary Van Arsdel, “Tonight at 8:30.”