4000 Miles, Linda Lavin, Once and More Win 2012 Obie Awards

Winners were announced for the Village Voice's 57th Annual Obie Awards on May 21 at Webster Hall. Lincoln Center Theater's 4000 Miles earned the award for Best New American Play, with the show's stars Gabriel Ebert and Marylouise Wilson also singled out for their performances. Other performers given special citations included Linda Lavin (The Lyons), Santino Fontana (Sons of the Prophet) and Susan Pourfar (Tribes). Founded by Jerry Tallmer, the awards honor the best of off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway. The awards feature informal categories that change annually, recognizing persons and productions of excellence. Presenters at the ceremony included Eric McCormack, Grace Gummer, Hugh Dancy, Jonathan Pryce, Justin Bartha, Leslie Odom Jr., Lily Rabe, Michael McKean, Tonya Pinkins, Topher Grace and Tracee Chimo.

A complete list of winners is below:

Best New American Play
Amy Herzog, 4000 Miles (Lincoln Center Theater)

Performance
Cherise Boothe, Milk Like Sugar (Playwrights Horizons and the Women's Project)

Steven Boyer, Hand to God (Ensemble Studio Theatre/Youngblood)

Sweet and Sad ensemble: John Devries, Shuler Hensley, Maryann Plunkett, Laila Robins, Jay O. Sanders, J. Smith-Cameron (The Public Theater)

Gabriel Ebert and Mary Louise Wilson, 4000 Miles (Lincoln Center Theater)

Jim Fletcher, Sustained Excellence

Santino Fontana, Sons of the Prophet (The Roundabout Theater)

Linda Lavin, The Lyons (The Vineyard Theatre)

Susan Pourfar, Tribes (Barrow Street Theatre)

Playwriting
Kirsten Greenidge, Milk Like Sugar (Playwrights Horizon and the Women's Project)

Direction
Richard Maxwell, Early Plays (The Wooster Group and St. Ann's Warehouse)

Jay Scheib, World of Wires (The Kitchen)

Design
Mark Barton, Sustained Excellence of Lighting Design

Mimi Lien, Sustained Excellence of Set Design

Matt Tierney and Ben Williams, Sound Design, The Select (The Sun Also Rises) (New York Theatre Workshop)

Special Citations
Mark Bennett, Denis O'Hare, Lisa Peterson, and Stephen Spinella, An Iliad (New York Theatre Workshop)

Elevator Repair Service, Sustained Excellence

Erin Courtney and Ken Rus Schmoll, A Map of Virtue (13P)

Steven Hoggett, Martin Lowe, and John Tiffany, Once (New York Theatre Workshop)

Daniel Kitson, It's Always Right Now, Until It's Later (St. Ann's Warehouse)

Ethan Lipton & His Orchestra, No Place to Go (The Public Theater/Joe's Pub)

Ross Wetzsteon Grant ($1,000)
Youngblood (Ensemble Studio Theatre)

Grants
The Bushwick Starr ($2,500)
The Debate Society ($2,500)

Lifetime Achievement
Caridad Svich