O.C.Theatre Guild Award Winners Recognized at Second Annual Ceremony — Chance Theater’s managers, staffers, board members and various artists crowded the Samueli Theater stage at the conclusion of the awards ceremony, which culminated in the company being recognized for the evening’s top two prizes: Outstanding Production of a Play, for “Cry It Out,” and Outstanding Production of a Musical, for “Next to Normal.” Each show had a total of four awards, and the company had more nominations (47) and more awards (14) than any other nominee. Credit: Photo courtesy of Francis Gacad / Orange County Theatre Guild

April 22, 2023

The 2023 OCTG Theatre Awards are in the books, and like the inaugural awards ceremony a year ago, they confirmed the dedication and determination of Orange County’s theater community in defying the most daunting odds and making the most of whatever talent and resources are on hand.

So let’s take a look at the ceremony that unfolded on Monday night, April 17 – but first, a quick look back at the previous year.

A year ago, the Orange County Theatre Guild was finally able to conduct its inaugural OC Theatre Awards ceremony, after the pandemic had triggered delays and wrought havoc with theaters everywhere. That event signaled a return to normalcy by allowing a sizable contingent of actors, directors, producers, designers and all manner of theater personnel to celebrate something they value and prove that COVID-19 had damaged but not decimated live theater in Orange County.

By the day after the awards, OCTG was already making plans for and announcing its second annual OC Theatre Awards.

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