Lynn Nottage’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Ruined” was the big winner last night at the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle’s 2010 Craig Noel Awards for Theatrical Excellence.

The group is comprised of local theater critics.

The play about the war-torn Congo, a co-production by La Jolla Playhouse, Berkeley Repertory and Huntington Theatre in Boston, took seven awards. It was judged best drama, took both female acting awards, was feted for best ensemble cast and took top honors for direction, set design and sound design.

Other big winners were two musicals: Cygnet Theatre’s “Sweeney Todd” and San Diego Repertory Theatre’s “Hairspray,” which took home four awards apiece including the shared honor as best resident musical.

“Sweeney Todd” also won for both musical direction and direction of a musical, and Deborah Gilmour Smyth was named best actress in a musical.

“Hairspray” won for best choreography (sharing that award with The Old Globe’s “Robin and the 7 Hoods”). Steve Gunderson was named best male featured performer, and young Victoria Matthews from the School of Creative and Performing Arts – the little girl with the huge voice – was named best young artist.

A total of 36 awards were given to winners from eight local companies in the ceremony, held at the La Jolla‘s Museum of Contemporary Art. Some 450 people attended the event.

Ion Theatre (founded and run by Claudio Raygoza and Glenn Paris) received a special award as Producer of the Year. In 2010 they opened their black box theater in Hillcrest and produced a string of edgy plays including “Hurlyburly,” which was honored in the Outstanding Ensemble category.

Seema Sueko, founding artistic director of Mo’olelo Performing Arts Company, won the Des McAnuff New Vision Award, recognizing risk-taking and vision in theater.

Actor Steve Gunderson won the Actor of the Year award, given for a body of work. Gunderson was recognized for his work in four musicals: Cygnet’s “Sweeney Todd,” San Diego Rep’s “Hairspray,” New Village Arts’ “Into the Woods” and The Old Globe’s “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”

SPECIAL AWARDS

Producer of the Year

Ion Theatre, Claudio Raygoza & Glenn Paris

Actor of the Year

Steve Gunderson

Des McAnuff New Visions Award

Seema Sueko, Mo’olelo Performing Arts Co.

Outstanding Resident Musical

“Sweeney Todd,” Cygnet Theatre

“Hairspray,” San Diego Repertory Theatre

Outstanding Original Score

Duncan Sheik, “Whisper House,” The Old Globe

Outstanding New Musical

“Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin,” La Jolla Playhouse

Outstanding Direction of a Musical

Sean Murray & James Vasquez, “Sweeney Todd,” Cygnet Theatre

Outstanding Musical Direction

Charlie Reuter, “Sweeney Todd,” Cygnet Theatre

Outstanding Music for a Play

Mark Bennett, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” La Jolla Playhouse

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical, Female

Deborah Gilmour Smyth, “Sweeney Todd,” Cygnet Theatre

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical, Male

Rob McClure, “Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin,” La Jolla Playhouse

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical, Male

Steve Gunderson, “Hairspray,” San Diego Repertory Theatre

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical, Female

Joy Yandell, “MiXtape,” Lamb’s Players Theatre

Outstanding Choreography

Javier Velasco, “Hairspray,” San Diego Repertory Theatre

Casey Nicholaw, “Robin and the 7 Hoods,” The Old Globe

Outstanding Direction of a Play

Liesl Tommy, “Ruined,” La Jolla Playhouse

Outstanding Sound Design

Broken Chord, “Ruined,” La Jolla Playhouse

Outstanding Costume Design

Gregg Barnes, “Robin and the 7 Hoods,” The Old Globe

Outstanding Lighting Design

Eric Lotze, “Private Lives,” Cygnet Theatre

Outstanding Set Design

Andrew Hull, “Private Lives,” Cygnet Theatre

Clint Ramos, “Ruined,” La Jolla Playhouse

Outstanding Ensemble

“Hurlyburly,” Ion Theatre

“Ruined,” La Jolla Playhouse

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Female

Zainab Jah, “Ruined,” La Jolla Playhouse

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Male

Jay Whittaker, Old Globe Shakespeare Festival (body of work)

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play, Male

Miles Anderson, “The Madness of George III,” The Old Globe

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play, Female

Shana Wride, “Private Lives,” Cygnet Theatre

Tonye Patano, “Ruined,” La Jolla Playhouse

Outstanding Performance in a Touring Production

Bill Camp, “Notes From Underground,” La Jolla Playhouse

Tovah Feldshuh, “Golda’s Balcony,” The Old Globe

Outstanding Touring Production

“Notes From Underground,” La Jolla Playhouse

Outstanding Dramatic Production

“Ruined,” La Jolla Playhouse

Outstanding New Play

“Oyster,” Ronald McCants, Baldwin New Play Festival, UCSD

Outstanding Young Artist

Victoria Matthews, “Hairspray,” San Diego Repertory Theatre

To read reviews by SDGLN Theater Critic Jean Lowerison, click HERE.