Outer Critics Circle: 2011 Award winners

The winners of the Outer Critics Circle, the organization of writers and commentators covering New York theater for out-of-town newspapers, were announced on 16 May 2011.

The Award for Outstanding New Broadway Musical was won by 'The Book of Mormon' which also won in three other categories, and the Award for Outstanding Revival of a Musical (Broadway or Off-broadway) went to Anything Goes which also won in three other categories. These two shows were the most decorated winners this year, with each winning four Awards each.

Nick Stafford's stage adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's novel 'War Horse' won the coveted Outstanding New Broadway Play AWard, and won in a further two categories, with Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart receivingthe award for Best revival of a play (Broadway or Off-Broadway).

The Lincoln Center's production of Jon Robin Baitz's Other Desert Cities was announced winner of the Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play Award, with The New Groups production of The Kid winning the award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical.

The biggest disappointment of the Awards was for the musical Sister Act which though it received nine nominations, won no awards.

As previously announced, Charles Busch, Julie Halston, Swoosie Kurtz and Brian D'Arcy James will serve as presenters at the organization's 61at Annual Award ceremony on 26 May 2010 at Sardi's Restaurant.

Three Special Achievements Awards were also announced:

• Ellen Barkin for her Outstanding Broadway Debut in The Normal Heart
• Adrian Kohler with Basil Jones for Handspring Puppet Company
• Puppet Design, Fabrication and Direction for War Horse

The 2011 Outer Critics Circle winners and nominations are listed below: *Winners are indicated in bold font.

• Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo
• Good People
• The Motherfker With the Hat
• War Horse

Outstanding New Broadway Musical:

• The Book of Mormon
• Priscilla Queen of the Desert
• Sister Act
• Memphis
• Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play:

• Blood From a Stone
• Kin
• Other Desert Cities
• The Other Place

Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical:

• Freckleface Strawberry
• In Transit
• The Kid
• Tomorrow Morning

Outstanding New Score: (Broadway or Off-Broadway

• The Book of Mormon
• Catch Me If You Can
• Sister Act
• Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

Outstanding Revival of a Play:
(Broadway or Off-Broadway)

• Born Yesterday
• The Importance of Being Earnest
• The Merchant of Venice
• The Normal Heart

Outstanding Revival of a Musical:
(Broadway or Off-Broadway)

• Anything Goes
• How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
• Hello Again
• A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Outstanding Director of a Play:

• Marianne Elliott & Tom Morris; War Horse
• Emma Rice; Brief Encounter
• Anna D. Shapiro; The Motherfcker With the Hat
• Daniel Sullivan; Good People

• Desmond Heeley; The Importance of Being Earnest
• Derek McLane; Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo
• Neil Murray; Brief Encounter
• Todd Rosenthal; The Motherfker With the Hat

Outstanding Costume Design:
(Play or Musical)

• Lez Brotherston; Sister Act
• Tim Chappel & Lizzie Gardiner; Priscilla Queen of the Desert
• Desmond Heeley; The Importance of Being Earnest
• Lizz Wolf; Baby It's You!

Outstanding Lighting Design:
(Play or Musical)

• Paule Constable; War Horse
• Natasha Katz; Sister Act
• David Lander; Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo
• Malcolm Rippeth; Brief Encounter

Outstanding Actor in a Play:

• Reed Birney; The Dream of the Burning Boy
• Bobby Cannavale; The Motherfker With the Hat
• Joe Mantello; The Normal Heart
• Al Pacino: The Merchant of Venice
• Mark Rylance: Jerusalem

• Brian Bedford; The Importance of Being Earnest
• Evan Jonigkeit; High
• Stacy Keach; Other Desert Cities
• Seth Numrich; War Horse
• Yul Vázquez; The Motherfker With the Hat

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play:

• Renée Elise Goldsberry; Good People
• Linda Lavin; Other Desert Cities
• Estelle Parsons; Good People
• Alison Pill; The House of Blue Leaves
• Elizabeth Rodriguez; The Motherfker With the Hat