These were a few of our favorite things

Outstanding play, larger theaters: Director Peter Rothstein and his cast sharpened Noel Coward's wit in "Private Lives," which bested a provocative "Merchant of Venice" -- both Guthrie productions -- and an incisive "Speed the Plow" at the Jungle. Honorable mentions to "Jane Eyre" and "The Glass Menagerie" at the Guthrie.

Outstanding play, smaller theaters: Ten Thousand Things' "Richard III" was terrific. Also worthy were a compelling "Fat Pig," by Walking Shadow, and a lyrical "Home" at Pillsbury House.

Outstanding musical, larger theaters: "The Rocky Horror Show" at Ordway bested Penumbra's "Get Ready" and the Guthrie's "1776."

Outstanding musical, smaller theaters: "Zombie Prom" was everything that Minneapolis Musical Theatre does well. It gets the nod over Ten Thousand Things' inventive "Little Shop of Horrors."

Outstanding experimental theater work: Skewed Visions' "Strange Love" was eerie, obtuse, yet strangely transparent in meaning. Gob Squad's reality-TV documentary at the Walker and Burning House Group's "3 Parts Dead" were also very effective.

Outstanding touring musical: "The Lion King" returned and "Spamalot" landed.

Outstanding touring play: Ian McKellen took the measure of a monarch in the Royal Shakespeare Company's "King Lear."

Outstanding new show: Kevin Kling's "Come and Get It," which makes treasure out of tragedy, and "Lost Boys of Sudan" at Children's Theatre Company, a triumph of grace over grit.

Outstanding new script: Julie Marie Myatt's "Boats on a River" and Jeany Parks' sensitive and compelling "100 Men's Wife."

Outstanding theatrical event: It was hard to take your eyes off Rha Goddess' quicksilver one-woman show, "Low."

Outstanding director, play: Marion McClinton's jazzy "Home" and Peter Rothstein's "Private Lives" bested Joe Dowling's provocative "Merchant of Venice." Bain Boehlke deserves note for "Speed the Plow" as does Stan Wojewodski Jr.'s "The Clean House."

Outstanding director, musical: Jayme McDaniel knocked our socks off with his cheeky "Rocky Horror" while Lou Bellamy's "Get Ready" was a harmonic delight. John Miller-Stephany ("1776") and Jamie Rocco ("Love, Janis") also rated.

Outstanding musical director: Ray Berg for both "Rocky Horror" and "Love, Janis."

Outstanding actress in a play, larger theaters: We liked fiery but cool Harriet Harris in "The Glass Menagerie," wondrous Lisa Rafaela Clair in "The Clean House" and sexy sophisticate Veanne Cox in "Private Lives."

Outstanding actress in a play, smaller theaters: Sonja Parks' quick turns in "Home" and Celia Forrest's confident and courageous librarian in "Fat Pig." We were also impressed by Barbara Berlovitz's many roles in "Blood Wedding" for Ten Thousand Things.

Outstanding actor in a play, larger theaters: J.C. Cutler was simply phenomenal in "Shining City" at the Jungle. Stephen Pelinski was deft and dazzling in "Private Lives," and Robert Dorfman's Shylock deserves note.

Outstanding actor in a play, smaller theaters: Bob Davis was a manipulative menace as "Richard III." Shad Cooper played the lead in "Fat Pig" and Payton Woodson was the prodigal son gaining in knowledge in "Home."

Outstanding actress, musical: The name may not be easy to say, but remember Timotha Lanae. With sass, style and skill, the star of Chanhassen's "Respect" bested Autumn Ness ("Seussical" at Children's Theatre), Norah Long ("1776"), and Jill Mikelson and Monica Heuser, who shared the singing lead in "Love, Janis."

Outstanding actor, musical: Monte Wheeler's Frank'n'Furter in "The Rocky Horror Show" delighted us over Bradley Greenwald's disturbed, and disturbing, turn in "1776."

Outstanding featured performer: Sally Wingert's literally smashing cameo in "Private Lives," Charity Jones' in "Jane Eyre" and Charles Keating's touch of the poet in "The Home Place" at the Guthrie.

Outstanding ensembles: The Clean House," "Get Ready," the Jungle's "K2" and "Trying" at Park Square.

Outstanding youth performers (up to age 18): Andrew Lentz in Torch Theater's "A Thousand Clowns."

Outstanding new faces: Swell James T. Alfred showed great chops and calibration in Penumbra's "Redshirts."

Outstanding choreographer: Michael Matthew Ferrell's basketball scene in "High School Musical" was hypnotic. Matthew Bourne's "Edward Scissorhands" at the Ordway cut us to the quick.

Break-out performers: Sarah Agnew as moral standard-bearer "Major Barbara," Shawn Hamilton as a sweet harmonizer in "Get Ready," Emily Gunyou Halaas as the long-suffering secretary in "Trying," Heidi Bakke as the seductress in "Speed the Plow" and Reed Sigmund in "A Year With Frog and Toad."

Outstanding scenic design, larger theaters: David Coggins' breathtaking work in Theatre de la Jeune Lune's "The Deception" bested Frank Hallinan Flood's country house for "The Home Place" and Jon Arnone's "Private Lives."

Outstanding costume design, larger theaters: Sonya Berlovitz's exquisite costumes for "The Deception" won us over.

Outstanding lighting design: Marcus Dilliard for "Private Lives" and for Jeune Lune's "The Deception."

Outstanding sound: Children's Theatre for creating migrating spaces with sound in "Fashion 47."

rpreston@startribune.com • 612-673-4390

groyce@startribune.com • 612-673-7299