Daniel J. Watts, Jefferson Mays & More Win 2020 L.A. Ovation Awards

A celebrated group of Broadway talents were named winners of Ovation Awards for their work on the Los Angeles stage at a ceremony held on January 13. Tina star Daniel J. Watts, Tony winner Jefferson Mays and two-time Tony nominee Michael Arden were among those who triumphed at the annual event.

Watts took home the Featured Actor in a Musical award for his turn as Sammy Davis Jr. in Lights Out: Nat "King" Cole at the Geffen Playhouse. Arden (Once on This Island) won in the Direction of a Play category for helming A Christmas Carol at the Geffen; Mays (A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder) was honored as Best Leading Actor in a Play for his turn in that production.

Dana H., a new drama by Tony nominee Lucas Hnath (A Doll's House, Part 2), won the Ovation Award for Playwriting of an Original Play for its run at Center Theatre Group, with star Deirdre O'Connell winning as Lead Actress in a Play. Dana H. will make its New York premiere at off-Broadway's Vineyard Theatre beginning on February 7 with O'Connell reprising her performance.

Other winners of note to Broadway fans include Spencer Liff (Head Over Heels) winning for his choreography of Singin' in the Rain at La Mirada Theatre and Amber Iman (Shuffle Along) triumphing in the Featured Actress in a Musical category for her turn in Witness Uganda at the Wallis Annenberg Center.

For a look at the full list of L.A. Ovation Award winners, click here.