By: Maria Esteves - May 22, 2009

The 54th Annual 2009 Village Voice OBIE Awards ceremony honoring the best Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway theater achievements of 2008-2009, co-hosted by Tony Award nominee Martha Plimpton and "Shrek the Musical" performer Daniel Breaker were held at the historical Webster Hall ballroom, New York, with a live Internet webcast on PalTalk.com, Monday, May 18, 8:00 pm. Presented by chairman Michael Feingold, OBIE Committee, producer Eileen Phelan, publicist Gail Parenteau, lighting designer Stephen Wyker, marketing director Mauro De Ceglie, OBIE associate Sarah H. Haught, and creative services Justin Reynolds. The award presenters included actress Anne Hathaway, actor Brian d'Arcy James "Shrek the Musical," actor John Shea, actress Karen Olivo Broadway revival of "West Side Story, " actress Kate Mulgrew, Tony nominee Marc Kudisch "9 to 5 The Musical," Broadway revival of "Hair," cast members Sasha Allen and Tony Award nominee Gavin Creel. The 54th OBIES After Party immediately followed celebrating Creative Block 2009 inaugural, a multidisciplinary arts event.

2009 Village Voice OBIE Awards: (from left-right) chairman Michael
Feingold, OBIE Committee, with co-hosts Tony Award nominee
Martha Plimpton and performer Daniel Breaker, “Shrek the Musical.”

2009 Village Voice OBIE Awards: Obie juror Michael Feingold,
chairman chief theater critic, The Village Voice.

2009 OBIE Special Citations Award winner director DAVID
ESBJORNSON, “Hamlet,” with (far left) award presenters Gavin
Creel “Hair,” Karen Olivo, “West Side Story,” and
(behind from left) co-hosts Daniel Breaker and Martha Plimpton.

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2009 OBIE Lifetime Achievement Award winner EARLE HYMAN, left, with
Music and Lyrics Award winner composer/lyricist STEPHEN SONDHEIM,
“Road Show,” center, and (from behind) chairman Michael Feingold,
OBIE Committee.

2009 OBIE Lifetime Achievement Award winner
EARLE HYMAN.

2009 OBIE Music and Lyrics Award winner composer/lyricist
STEPHEN SONDHEIM, “Road Show.”

2009 OBIE Best Performance Award winner QUINCY
TYLER BERNSTINE, “Ruined.”

2009 Best Performance Award winner RUSSELL EBERT
JONES, “Ruined.”

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2009 OBIE Best New American Play Award winner RUINED,
playwright Lynn Nottage.

2009 OBIE Best Performance Award winner, KEVIN T. CARROLL.

2009 OBIE Best Performance Award winner FRANCOIS
BATTISTE, “The Good Negro.”

2009 OBIE Best Performance Award winner SAHR NGAUJAH,
“Fela!”

2009 OBIE Special Citations Award winner director SARAH BENSON,
left, and set designer LOUISA THOMPSON, “Blasted.”

2009 OBIE Best Design Award winner costume designer
TONI-LESLIE JAMES, “Wig Out!”

2009 OBIE Best Direction Award winner director KEN RUS
SCHMOLL, “Telephone.”