The Week in Review

Outer Critics Circle Nominations Announced: The Outer Critics Circle is the organization of critics and journalists who cover the New York theatre for out-of-town publications. The category for outstanding set design is highly competitive, as it includes John Lee Beatty's multi-set, Edward Hopper-inspired design for The Nance; Rob Howell's explosion of Scrabble tiles and for Matilda, David Korins' transformation of the Public Theater's LuEsther space into a throbbing disco for Here Lies Love; Scott Pask's circus environment for Pippin, and Michael Yeargan's epically scaled design for Golden Boy.

The costume design category includes Amy Clark and Martin Pakledinaz for Chaplin, a bittersweet recognition, as Pakledinaz died in July. Their work, entirely done in black and white, was one of the season's most original concepts. Other nominees include Gregg Barnes for his wacky drag queen outfits in Kinky Boots; Dominique Lemieux, a Cirque du Soleil veteran, for his circus inspired contribution to Pippin; William Ivey Long, who pulled some astonishing a vista costume changes in Cinderella; and Long again for The Mystery of Edwin Drood.

The lighting design category includes Ken Billington, who pulled off a technical coup lighting Chaplin, with its black and white sets and costumes; Paul Gallo, a fine lighting designer but something of a dark horse here for his work on the Off Broadway musical Dogfight; Donald Holder, back in fighting trim after Spider-Man and Smash, with his highly theatrical design for Golden Boy; Kenneth Posner, for his classically elegant work on Cinderella, and Posner again for Pippin.

Sadly, the Outer Critics Circle does not present awards for sound design or projection design. Pippin, which on Thursday earned some of the best reviews of the season, led the way with 11 nominations; followed by Kinky Boots with nine; Chaplin and Cinderella, each with eight; and Golden Boy and The Nance, each with six.

Casino Expansion in the Mid-Atlantic States: Is there no end to the demand for new casino projects? Probably not, as cash-starved states approve new casinos in hopes of easy money. Following the lead of Maryland Live!, in Anne Arundel Country, which is currently taking in something $44.5 million in slot revenue, others are eager to start building. Key quote: "Caesars Entertainment is planning to open a Baltimore casino next year with between 80 and 110 table games and more than 3,700 slot machines, while a Prince George's County casino can open in 2016. The latter is expected to be an $800 million luxury facility at National Harbor operated by MGM Resorts International, though the state is taking bids through May 10." Naturally, this makes current casino operators in the area all the way up to Atlantic City anxious that their clientele will be poached. In the short run, anyway, it should provide plenty of business for lighting and sound manufacturers and suppliers. For more, go to http://plasa.me/erwoo.

Gibson Amphitheater to Close: Say goodbye to Los Angeles' Gibson Amphitheatre, which has since 1971 played host to a staggering array of musicians and comedians as well as the MTV Music Video Awards and VH1 Awards. The venue, which is located next to Universal's CityWalk, is being torn down to accommodate a new attraction: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at the theme park Universal Studios. The venue is named after Gibson Guitars, which signed a ten-year naming rights agreement in 2005; one supposes a small refund is in order. Key quote: "Fans with tickets to shows that are scheduled after September 2013 should hold on to them," Live Nation said. "Live Nation is currently working on moving these events into other venues and will notify fans when there is more information. If a show cannot be moved, then fans will receive a full refund." For more: http://plasa.me/24ltz.