And, The Obie Award Goes To…

The 2018 Obie Awards let the sparks fly Off-Broadway last night with the 63rd annual Awards ceremony at New York City’s Terminal 5. Co-presented by The Village Voice and The American Theatre Wing, awards were given out to four writers, three directors and 10 artist performers plus special citations, grants and the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Obie Awards recognize Off-Broadway and Off-Off broadway’s most adventurous and groundbreaking artists and productions. The categories are informal and change each year. There are no advance nominees.

Presiding as host of the evening was Obie and Emmy Award-winning actor John Leguizamo. A roster of presenters of stage and screen shared the stage with several live musical performances.

The musical highlight of the evening was a performance by Stephen Trask singing “Wig In a Box” to salute the 20th Anniversary of the hit Broadway show “Hedwig and the Angry Inch.”

This year’s Obies named Rajiv Joseph’s “Describe the Night” as Best New American play. As previously reported in SOCIALLY SPARKED NEWS, a special Lifetime Achievement Award went to Tony and three-time Obie-winner Kathleen Chalfant. For a complete list of Obie Awards visit www.ObieAwards.com

“A life making art is a life worth living” – 2018 Obie Award-winner Jasmine C. Hughes, acting in a play (Is God Is)

We continue to be Socially Sparked® by the outpouring of creativity and artistry that blesses the Off-Broadway and Off-Broadway stages each year. Next up. The Drama Desk Awards and the crescendo to another Broadway season — The Tony Awards. — Abbe is Socially Sparked! Tweet @sosparkednews & @asparks01