Theater Southern California

Large-scale theater came out on top with the most nominations for the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle 1995 Awards for outstanding achievement in live theater. The nominations, announced Monday, show a reversal from last year, when smaller theaters dominated the field. Center Theatre Group led the pack with 18 nominations, including seven for the Ahmanson at the Doolittle's "The Woman Warrior" and five for "Angels in America" at the Doolittle.

The Pulitzer- and Tony-winning musical "Rent" will open the Ahmanson Theatre's 1997-98 season in September and will play there at least 16 weeks, through January of 1998, theater officials announced Monday. "Rent" will come to Los Angeles from its previously announced summer engagement at the La Jolla Playhouse.

After barely making a showing in last year's Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards, South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa took the triumphant top spot this year, with nearly twice as many honors for distinguished achievement in theater as its nearest competition.

After barely making a showing in last year's Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards, South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa took the triumphant top spot this year, with nearly twice as many honors for distinguished achievement in theater as its nearest competition.

"Master Class" was at the head of the class of the 1995 Ovation Awards, presented Monday at Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts. Terrence McNally's portrait of opera diva Maria Callas' session with three young students, seen earlier this year at the Mark Taper Forum and now on Broadway, won six Ovations, including best play in a larger theater and honors for its star Zoe Caldwell and featured actress Audra McDonald. East West Players' revival of "Sweeney Todd" took home five Ovations.

Theatergoing opportunities abound in Southern California. Here's a list of tips to help make the experience comfortable and fun: * Read theater reviews, check theater listings. * Call theaters in advance for age recommendations and content advisories. * Ask if there is a study guide or other background material available; go to a theater's Web site for show information.

Kids' Week at the Theatre runs Saturday through May 13. Schedules are subject to change; most events require calling ahead for reservations. Days, times and descriptions can be obtained at all 68 Los Angeles Public Library branches; at (310) 281-1910; and at http://www.kidsweek.org/ Two free kids' tickets with the purchase of one adult ticket: * A Noise Within, 234 S. Brand Blvd.

From Antigone to Randy Newman--you can't say that Southern California theater isn't diverse. Calendar conducted an entirely unscientific survey of six leaders of Southland theater to determine which summer shows they're particularly looking forward to seeing--apart from their own productions, of course. New variations on the story of Antigone and the work of songsmith Randy Newman led the list.

South Coast Repertory, which last year received 11 awards from the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, received only five nominations this year but also produced "Collected Stories," which won the award for best world premiere. In an echo of Tuesday's Oscar nominations, "independent" productions surged ahead of the "majors" in the LADCC nominations, announced Wednesday.