NAACP Theatre Awards are presented at Kodak

“Ray Charles Live! A New Musical,” “The Color Purple” and “Jitney” were top winners at the 18th Annual NAACP Theatre Awards held Monday at Hollywood’s Kodak Theatre.

The Pasadena Playhouse production of the controversial Ray Charles musical won four awards: ensemble cast for an Equity production, musical director (Rahn Coleman), playwright (Suzan-Lori Parks) and sound (Carl Casella).

Producers of the musical, which has been criticized by several members of the singer’s family for what they call inaccuracies and exaggerations, are aiming to take the production to Broadway next year.

“The Color Purple,” the musical adaptation of the Alice Walker novel and hit film that played at the Ahmanson Theatre, won three awards: lead female-Equity (Jeannette Bayardelle), supporting male (Rufus Bonds Jr.) and costumes (Paul Tazewell).

A production of August Wilson’s “Jitney” at the Lillian Theatre won for ensemble cast-local and lighting (Joel Daavid).

Other performing honors included Cedric Sanders (lead male-Equity, for “A Matter of Honor” at Pasadena Playhouse), Dominic Hoffman (lead male-local, for “Last Fare” at the Hayworth Theatre) and Nia Orms (lead female-local for “Please Take a Number” at the Lounge Theatre). Michael Pressman won director-Equity, for “Come Back, Little Sheba” at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, while Darin Dahms won director-local, for “Butterflies of Uganda: Memories of a Child Soldier,” at Greenway Court Theatre.

Special awards went to director Harold Wheeler (lifetime achievement), the “Idol Gives Back” episode of “American Idol” (community service), writer-director David E. Talbert (Trailblazer) and actress Vivica A. Fox (Spirit).

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