Last night, Austin Circle of Theaters ushered in a whole new batch of B. Iden Payne Award winners. The event took place on the lovely St. Ed's campus; MMNT artistic director Ev Lunning Jr. hosted, along with members of the Actor's Equity association. Local heroine Karen Kuykendall was this year's Outstanding Honoree; Austin Chronicle Arts Editor Robert Faires presented her award. It was an elegant and exciting evening, to be sure!

We weren't shocked by any of the winners—all nominees did outstanding work—but we can't help but editorialize a teensy bit. Did the voters see Jude Hickey's performance in Hyde Park Theatre's production of The Pillowman? Critically acclaimed as "phenomenal" and "a thrill", we're taken aback that Hickey didn't go home with an award.

Ah, but these kinds of events always elicit such responses. Our kudos to those who scored a disc, as all are certainly deserving of the honor. Winners listed after the jump.

COMEDIES

Outstanding Production of a Comedy
Present Laughter (Zachary Scott Theatre Center)

Outstanding Director of a Comedy
Ken Webster (The Pillowman)

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy
Jamie Goodwin (Garry Essendine, Present Laughter)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy
Jill Blackwood (Rosalind, Amiens, Hymen, As You Like It)

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Comedy
Wray Crawford (Lucien P. Smith, The Boys Next Door)

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Comedy
Helen Merino (Monica Reed, Present Laughter)

DRAMAS

Outstanding Production of a Drama
The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? (Different Stages)

Outstanding Director of a Drama
Lowell Bartholomee (A Beautiful View)

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama
Tom Chamberlain (Martin, The Goat)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama
Rebecca Robinson (Stevie, The Goat)

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Drama
Martin Burke (Mason Marzac, Take Me Out)

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Drama
Michelle Flanagan (Ophelia, Hamlet)

MUSIC THEATER

Outstanding Production of Music Theater
The Rocky Horror Show (Zachary Scott Theatre Center)

Outstanding Director of Music Theater
Michael McKelvey (Assassins)

Outstanding Lead Actor in Music Theater
Joe York (Dr. Frank N. Furter, The Rocky Horror Show)

Outstanding Lead Actress in Music Theater
Leslie K. Hollingsworth (Janet, The Rocky Horror Show)

Outstanding Featured Actor in Music Theater
Quincy Kuykendall (Horse, The Full Monty)

Outstanding Featured Actress in Music Theater
Emily Bem (Alice Miller, My Favorite Year)

PLAYS FOR YOUTH

Outstanding Production of a Play for Youth
The Page and the Caterpillar (Second Youth Family Theatre)

Outstanding Director of a Play for Youth
Leslie K. Hollingsworth (The Page and the Caterpillar)

Outstanding Performer in a Play for Youth
Amy Downing (Ms. Darbus, Ms. Tenny, High School Musical)

TECHNICAL

Outstanding Set Design
Cliff Simon (Present Laughter)

Outstanding Lighting Design
Jason Amato (Trickster)

Outstanding Sound Design
Craig Brock (Take Me Out)

Outstanding Costume Design
Susan Branch (My Favorite Year)

Outstanding Music Director
Michael McKelvey (Assassins)

Outstanding Choreographer
Aaron Alexander (As You Like It)

Outstanding Original Script
Ron Berry, Rebecca Beegle, Sonnet Blanton, Jeffrey Mills, Chase Staggs & Cyndi Williams (The Assumption)

Outstanding Original Score
Chad Salvata (The Dragonfly Princess)

SPECIAL

Outstanding Ensemble Performance
Breanna Stogner & Kathleen Fletcher (Kathy & Mo, Parallel Lives: The Kathy & Mo Show)

Outstanding Youth Performance
Sean Maddox (Ryan Evans, High School Musical)

Outstanding Special Theatrical Event
Bell(e): The Museum of Suicide Machinery (ethos)