April in New York...    The rain falls over Central Park, the Yankees and Mets begin playing, and the theatrical awards season continues to heat up!

Lynn Nottage's Ruined is the 2009 Pultizer Prize-winner for Drama. Currently playing Off-Broadway in an extended engagement at Manhattan Theatre Club, the show chronicles the the resilience of the human spirit during times of war. Other shows short-listed for the Prize include Becky Shaw, recently seen at Second Stage, and In the Heights, the Tony Award-winning musical which premiered Off-Broadway at 37 Arts.

In addition, today the Outer Critics Circle announced their 2008-2009 nominees for New York City productions, and Off-Broadway shows were very well-represented.   Ruined racked up five nods, tying for the most of any non-musical production, on or off Broadway!    In addition, Off-Broadway productions completely dominated the Outstanding Solo Performance category, as well as the John Gassner Award, which is presented for an American play, preferably by a new playwright.   The Broadway transfers of Off-Broadway hits reasons to be pretty, Rock of Ages and Irena's Vow were also among the honorees.

A partial list of nominees, featuring shows of particular interest to Off-Broadway fans, follows.   For a complete list of nominations in all categories, visit www.outercritics.org.

Outstanding New Broadway Play

Irena's Vow
 (transfer from Off-Broadway)
reasons to be pretty
 (transfer from Off-Broadway)

Outstanding New Broadway Musical

Rock of Ages
 (transfer from Off-Broadway)

Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play

Becky Shaw

Farragut North

Ruined

Shipwrecked! The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont (As Told By Himself)

Why Torture Is Wrong, and the People Who Love Them

Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical

Happiness

Rooms: A Rock Romance

The Toxic Avenger

What's That Smell? The Music of Jacob Sterling

Outstanding New Score (Broadway or Off-Broadway)

Happiness

Rooms: A Rock Romance


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

The Cripple of Inishmaan


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

Enter Laughing


Outstanding Director of a Play

Garry Hynes, The Cripple of Inishmaan


Outstanding Director of a Musical

Susan Stroman, Happiness

Outstanding Choreographer

Susan Stroman, Happiness

Outstanding Lighting Design (Play or Musical)

Peter Kaczorowski, Ruined


Outstanding Actor in a Play

Thomas Sadoski, reasons to be pretty

Outstanding Actress in a Play

Saidah Arrika Ekulona, Ruined


Outstanding Actor in a Musical

Josh Grisetti, Enter Laughing

David Pittu, What's That Smell? The Music of Jacob Sterling

Outstanding Actress in a Musical

Leslie Kritzer, Rooms A Rock Romance

Nancy Opel, The Toxic Avenger


Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play

Russell G. Jones, Ruined

David Pearse, The Cripple of Inishmaan

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play

Kristine Nielsen, Why Torture is Wrong, and the People Who Love Them

Condola Rashad, Ruined

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical

Wesley Taylor, Rock of Ages

Outstanding Solo Performance

Mike Birbiglia, Sleepwalk With Me

Mike Burstyn, Lansky

Mike Daisey, If You See Something, Say Something

Lorenzo Pisoni, Humor Abuse

Matt Sax, Clay

John Gassner Award (Presented for an American Play, Preferably by a New Playwright)

Annie Baker, Body Awareness

Gina Gionfriddo, Becky Shaw
Beau Willimon, Farragut North