Mexodus led 41st annual The Lucille Lortel Awards, winning four of their nine nominations, including Outstanding Musical.
The Lucille Lortel Awards, established in 1985 and hosted by comedian Alex Moffat, celebrate excellence in Off-Broadway theater. This year, presenters included Glee powerhouse Lea Michele and The Pitt star Patrick Ball, alongside other Broadway and Off-Broadway titans. Mexodus, a hip-hop musical about the underground railroad, had the most nominations. Alongside Outstanding Musical, they took home Outstanding Direction, Outstanding Lead Performer in a Musical, and Outstanding Sound Design.
Mikhail Fiksel’s sound design of Mexodus is particularly impressive because they use live-looping all throughout the show, meaning every moment needs to be timed perfectly.
“Being in the room and rehearsal space on the ground floor versus joining the team in tech is a rare opportunity in most processes,” Fiksel told The Knockturnal. “I’m very lucky that we had the support to build the show the way we did.”
Following Mexodus was Jordan Tannahil’s Prince Faggot with six nominations, which ultimately won Outstanding Play. Other notable wins included Outstanding Revival for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Outstanding Choreography for Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole.
“Getting to speak life into the story through tap dance — any opportunity I can get to do that is the dream come true,” Jared Grimes, the tap choreographer for Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole said. “All the guys who paved the way for me are proud. They’re not with us any longer but the more I get opportunities like that I feel like I bring them back.”
The Lucille Lortel Awards also presented various special honors for changemakers in theater. The committee presented Mia Katigbak with the Lifetime Achievement Award for her advocacy across the arts. They also posthumously honored writer and composer William Finn. His legacy lives on through the Falsettos trilogy, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and A New Brain. Performers Chip Zien, Mary Testa, Lillie Cooper and Carolee Carnello honored his impact with a moving medley performance.
Chip Zien, Mary Testa, Lillie Cooper, and Carolee Carnello performing (The Knockturnal)
After the performance, Finn’s longtime collaborator James Lapine took to the stage to accept the honor.
“He’s so funny and wacky and like no one you ever would have met or will ever meet,” Lapine said in his speech. “His work reflects all of that. I think to be honored this way his spirit lives on.”
Alongside the celebratory energy, speaking out against injustice was a common theme throughout the ceremony’s speeches. Cha See, who won Outstanding Lighting Design for The Unknown, urged audiences to support the immigrant artists in theater. In her acceptance speech for Outstanding Costume design for Saturday Church, Qween Jean passionately spoke out for transgender rights.
“There is divinity in all of us,” Jean said. ”That’s something Saturday Church reminds us is that when you walk into a room and you see different people, it doesn’t mean that they’re harmful. It means that they have a different life to carry.”
Nominees and winners alike underscored the importance of Off-Broadway theater in the New York City ecosystem. Off-Broadway shows have more room to take risks and explore creatively. The Lucille Lortel Awards honored that creativity once again, reaffirming its role as a launching ground for innovative storytelling
“Everyone here tonight, everyone nominated, everyone who had a show this season Off-Broadway was only doing it out of love and passion,” acclaimed director Whitney White said.
