2008 OnStage: Soaring performances, plucky productions and fond farewells

Outstanding play, larger theaters: Director Lou Bellamy's riveting staging of "Fences" at Penumbra. Also noteworthy, Ethan McSweeny's poetic staging of "A View From the Bridge" at the Guthrie and Mary Finnerty's crackling "Sisters Rosensweig" at Park Square.

Outstanding play, smaller theaters: Peter Rothstein's direction and Raye Birk's performance made "Old Wicked Songs" a winner for Theatre Latté Da. Also: Marion McClinton's lyrical staging of Eisa Davis' "Bulrusher" at Pillsbury House, and Walking Shadow's "The American Pilot."

Outstanding musical, larger theaters: "42nd Street" tapped its way into hearts at Chanhassen Dinner Theatre. Also worthy: "Blues in the Night" at the Ordway.

Outstanding musical, smaller theaters: "Parade" was a beautifully dramatic staging by Latté Da and Minnesota Jewish Theatre Company. "Once on This Island" showed that Ten Thousand Things is good at whatever it tries.

Outstanding experimental theater work: Eiko & Koma's brilliant "Hunger" made butoh revelatory at Walker Art Center. Michael Sommers invited us to his breakdown in "Dancing With a Contagion" at Open Eye Figure Theatre.

Outstanding touring musical: "Wicked" had deeper cultural resonance this time around, besting Trevor Nunn's ravishing revival of "My Fair Lady" and a plucky "Avenue Q."

Outstanding touring play: John Patrick Shanley's engrossing "Doubt."

Outstanding new show: Jeffrey Hatcher's brilliant, rich script was matched by Ron Peluso's production in "Tyrone and Ralph" at History Theatre.

Outstanding new script: Sun Mee Chomet sent up stereotypes in her funny and felicitous "Asiamnesia" by Mu Performing Arts. Alan Berks deconstructed mystery in "Everywhere, Signs Fall" at Gremlin.

Outstanding theatrical event: Marc Bamuthi Joseph showed his glimmering soul in "The Break/s" at Walker Art Center. "Peer Gynt " was an epic undertaking at the Guthrie.

Outstanding director, play: Lou Bellamy for both "Fences" and "The Piano Lesson" at Penumbra. Ethan McSweeny also did remarkable work with "A View From the Bridge" and Stephen DiMenna spring-loaded a potent "Blackbird."

Outstanding director, musical: Michael Brindisi, "42nd Street" and "The Producers."

Outstanding musical director: Denise Prosek propelled "Parade."

Outstanding actress in a play, larger theaters: Angela Timberman in "Third" and Amy Van Nostrand in "A View From the Bridge," both at the Guthrie.

Outstanding solo performance: Sarah Agnew found emotional depth in more than 20 characters in the Jungle's "Syringa Tree." Kate Eifrig did similarly quicksilver turns in "9 Parts of Desire" at the Guthrie. Joel Sass directed both works.

Outstanding actress in a play, smaller theaters: Christiana Clark as the innocent savant in "Bulrusher" at Pillsbury House. Runners-up: Tracey Maloney in "Blackbird," also by Pillsbury House, and Stacia Rice as the fierce Lady Macbeth for Torch.

Outstanding actor in a play, larger theaters: James A. Williams brought epic, Shakespearean scale and volcanic power to "Fences" at Penumbra. Mark Rylance was a guileful idiot savant in "Peer Gynt." Ansa Akyea lit "The Piano Lesson."

Outstanding actor in a play, smaller theaters: Raye Birk had astonishing depth in "Old Wicked Songs." Sean Haberle nailed the title role in Torch's "Macbeth." Grant Richey was manically abrasive in "Mr. Puntilla and his Man" by Frank Theatre.

Outstanding actress, musical: Zoe Pappas blew the doors off as Inga in Chanhassen's "The Producers." Ann Michels anchored "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" at the Jungle.

Outstanding actor, musical: David Brinkley really understood Julian Marsh in Chanhassen's "42nd Street."

Outstanding featured performer: Mark King minced his way in a delightful turn in "The Producers." Shawn Hamilton lit a fire in "Parade."

Outstanding ensembles: "Five Fingers of Funk" at Children's Theatre. "Sisters Rosensweig" at Park Square.

Outstanding choreographer: Tamara Kangas in "42nd Street" at Chanhassen.

Break-out performers: Soulful-voiced Traci Allen in "Five Fingers of Funk" at CTC.

Outstanding scenic design: Those rolling timbers got our attention in the Guthrie's "Peer Gynt."

Outstanding costume design: Rich Hamson showed off his usual terrific style with "Souvenir" at the Jungle.

Rohan Preston • 612-673-4390 Graydon Royce • 612-673-4299