By: Maria Esteves - May 28, 2008

The 53rd Annual 2008 Village Voice OBIE Awards ceremony was held at the historical Webster Hall ballroom, New York, with live simulcast streamed on iClips.Net, Monday, May 19, 8:00 pm - 10:00pm. The 2008 Obies was co-hosted by Broadway performers Bill Camp of CORAM BOY and Elizabeth Marvel of SEASCAPE. 2008 Obies was presented by Chairman, Michael Feingold Obie Committee, producer Eileen Phelan, publicist Gail Parenteau, lighting designer Stephen Wyker, sound designer Paul Bell, stage manager Tamera Cone, marketing and promotions Mauro DeCeglie, Joachim Kearns, and Samantha Seier, creative services Christine Brownlee, and Obie associate Sarah H. Haught. The award presenters were Jonathan Groff, Priscilla Lopez, S. Epatha Merkerson, Marisa Tomei, Julie White and Bradley Whitford. The ceremony included a special performance from the cast of PASSING STRANGE singing "We Just Had Sex" and "Welcome To Amsterdam." The supporting sponsors were Stella Artois, Chinatown Brasserie, CRUNCH, MACY'S, Sea Grape Wine Shop, Hint Water, and iClips Network.

The OBIE Awards acknowledges the best of Off Broadway and Off-Off Broadway productions. The judges may vote multiple OBIES in any category where outstanding achievement deserves recognition. The winners of the 2008 OBIE Awards were judged by:

• Michael Feingold - Village Voice Chief Theater Critic and OBIE Chairman
• Mark Blankenship - Variety Critic
• Jeremy Gerard - Bloomberg News Editor/Critic
• Robert O'Hara - 2007 OBIE award winner, Playwright/Director (IN THE CONINUUM)
• Neil Patel - two-time OBIE award winner, Set Designer
• Helen Shaw - Committee Secretary, Time Out New York/New York Sun Critic
• Alexis Soloski - Village Voice Theater Critic

The ceremony included 25 awards within 9 categories. The following are the various awards, and their winners:

Best Playwright

• Horton Foote for Dividing The Estate
• David Henry Hwang for Yellow Face

Best Performance

• Lisa Gay Hamilton for The Ohio State Murders
• Kate Mulgrew for Iphigenia 2.0
• Francis Jue for Yellow Face
• Rebecca Wisocky for Amazons and Their Men
• Joel Hatch for Adding Machine
• Heidi Schreck for Drum Of The Waves Of Horikawa
• Veanne Cox performer of sustained excellence
• Sean McNall performer of sustained excellence
• Ensemble (De'Adre Aziza, Daniel Breaker, Eisa Davis, Colman Domingo, Chad Goodridge, Rebecca Noami Jones, Stew) for Passing Strange

Best Direction

• Krzysztof Warlikowski for Krum
• David Cromer for Adding Machine

Best Design

• Adding Machine - Keith Parham (lights), Takeshi Kata (set)
• Untitled Mars (this title may change) - Peter Ksander (set)
• Jane Greenwood costume designer of sustained excellence
• David Zinn costume/set designer of sustained excellence
• Scenic Design
  • The Slug Bearers of Kayrol Island - Ben Katchor (drawings), Jim Findlay and Jeff Sugg (set/projection design), Russell H. Champa (lighting)

Special Citations

• David Greenspan for The Argument
• Nature Theater of Oklahoma for No Dice

Grants

• Keen Company - $5000
• Theater of a Two-Headed Calf - $5000

The Ross Wetzsteon Award

• Cherry Lane Theatre Mentor Project - $2,000

Best New Theater Piece

• Stew, Heidi Rodewald, and Annie Dorsen for Passing Strange

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Adrienne Kennedy