The Roundabout Theater Company’s Broadway revival of “She Loves Me” led the 2015-16 Outer Critics Circle Awards, scoring four trophies, while the company’s starry revival of “Long Day’s Journey Into Night” claimed three, including acting honors for Jessica Lange and Michael Shannon.
The company also was represented with “The Humans,” which originated at the Roundabout’s Off Broadway space before going on to Broadway, where the Tomy-nominated show won the OCC award for outstanding new Broadway play.
The OCC serves as an imperfect bellwether for the Tony Awards, since a number of significant titles in the Tony race – most notably “Hamilton” – weren’t eligible for the OCCs this year because they were recognized in prior incarnations and in previous years. Another Tony player, “Shuffle Along,” didn’t open in time to be considered by the OCCs.
Still, the awards could present a snapshot of some of the Tony candidates around whom support is coalescing, such as Lange — who beat out her Tony competitors Lupita Nyong’o (“Eclisped”) and Michelle Williams (“Blackbird”) for the OCC. The OCCs might also offer a snapshot of future Broadway contenders in recognizing promising Off Broadway work. This year “Dear Evan Hansen,” the well-reviewed musical at Second Stage Theater, picked up two awards (for Off Broadway musical and book of a musical), and is already tipped for a potential Broadway transfer.
The nonprofit Roundabout, which produces work on two Broadway stages as well as at Off Broadway venues, also is a notable player in this year’s Tony nominations. Productions either produced by the Roundabout or originating there accounted for 27 nominations.
OCC winners will receive awards at a May 26 ceremony at Sardi’s. The full list of 2015-16 Outer Critics Circle Award winners follows.
2015-16 OUTER CRITICS CIRCLE AWARDS WINNERS
OUTSTANDING NEW BROADWAY PLAY
The Humans
OUTSTANDING NEW BROADWAY MUSICAL
Bright Star
OUTSTANDING NEW OFF-BROADWAY PLAY
The Christians
OUTSTANDING NEW OFF-BROADWAY MUSICAL
Dear Evan Hansen
OUTSTANDING BOOK OF A MUSICAL
(Broadway or Off-Broadway)
Dear Evan Hansen
OUTSTANDING NEW SCORE (Broadway or Off-Broadway)
Bright Star
OUTSTANDING REVIVAL OF A PLAY (Broadway or Off-Broadway)
Long Day’s Journey Into Night
OUTSTANDING REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL (Broadway or Off-Broadway)
She Loves Me
OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR OF A PLAY
Ivo van Hove A View From the Bridge
OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL
Michael Arden Spring Awakening
OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHER
Sergio Trujillo On Your Feet!
OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN (Play or Musical)
David Rockwell She Loves Me
OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN (Play or Musical)
Jeff Mahshie She Loves Me
OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN (Play or Musical)
Justin Townsend American Psycho the Musical
OUTSTANDING PROJECTION DESIGN (Play or Musical)
Finn Ross American Psycho the Musical
OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A PLAY
Frank Langella The Father
OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Jessica Lange Long Day’s Journey Into Night
OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Danny Burstein Fiddler on the Roof
OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Cynthia Erivo The Color Purple the Musical
OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTOR IN A PLAY
Michael Shannon Long Day’s Journey Into Night
OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTRESS IN A PLAY (TIE VOTE)
Pascale Armand Eclipsed
Judith Light Thérèse Raquin
OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Christopher Fitzgerald Waitress
OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Jane Krakowski She Loves Me
OUTSTANDING SOLO PERFORMANCE
James Lecesne The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey
JOHN GASSNER AWARD
Marco Ramirez The Royale
SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
James Houghton Signature Theatre Company
