New York Innovative Theatre Awards
The New York Innovative Theatre Awards (IT Awards) were founded in 2004. These annual awards honor excellence in Off-Off-Broadway Theatre and help nurture and promote the Off-Off-Broadway community.
Mission statement
The New York Innovative Theatre Foundation was created to bring recognition to the great work being done in New York City's Off-Off-Broadway, to honor its artistic heritage, and to provide a meeting ground for this extensive community. The organization advocates for Off-Off-Broadway and recognizes the unique and essential role it plays in contributing to American and global culture. We believe that publicly recognizing excellence in Off-Off-Broadway will expand audience awareness and appreciation of the full New York theatre experience.
The IT Awards is a not-for-profit arts organization supporting the Off-Off-Broadway community by:
- Celebrating and Recognizing extraordinary Off-Off-Broadway Theatre
- Strengthening the community and collective identity of Off-Off-Broadway
- Honoring the artistic heritage of Off-Off-Broadway
- Advancing public interest in and understanding of Off-Off-Broadway and the theatrical arts in general
IT Foundation Personnel
This organization was founded in 2004 by Jason Bowcutt, Shay Gines and Nick Micozzi.
STAFF: Shay Gines, Executive Director; Nick Micozzi, Executive Director; Akia, Company Manager; Christopher Borg, Communications & Outreach; Hillary Cohen, Judge Wrangler; Desmond Dutcher, Judge Coordinator; Doug Strassler, Update Editor; Morgan Lindsay Tachco, Community Services Manager; Katie Rosin, Public Relations
BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Jason Bowcutt, Roman Feeser, Shay Gines, Benjamin Hodges, Bob Lee, Roger LeFevre, Leone Rendon de Litt, Nick Micozzi, Linda S. Nelson
ALUMNI STAFF/BOARD: Michael Michell, Board President; Tim Pinckney, Board Member; Nancy Kim, Members Coordinator; Emily Sandack, Update Editor
Judging System
The awards are selected based on a peer evaluation system that includes adjudication from 3 assigned Off-Off-Broadway artists as well as the average of audience votes.
The judging system is a direct result of the endeavour to provide opportunities for artists to see each other's work and create a venue for them to become familiar with other Off-Off-Broadway companies and artists, some of which they might otherwise never know.
In 2008 a video was created to detail this process and can be viewed on YouTube.
Additional Programs
The IT Awards authored a book entitled Producing Off-Off-Broadway which will be published by United Stages in 2007.
2011 IT Awards Recipients
The 2011 New York Innovative Theatre Awards were held on Monday, September 19 at Cooper Union's Great Hall in New York City and was attended by 800 artists and their guests. The event was hosted by comedian Harrison Greenbaum, directed by Tom Wojtunik and a presentation by the Flux Theatre Ensemble. Presenters included Susan Stroman, Jay O. Sanders, David Henry Hwang, John Glover, Shirley Knight, and John Patrick Shanley.[1]
2009 IT Awards Recipients
[2][3] The 2009 New York Innovative Theatre Awards were held on Monday, September 21 at New World Stages in New York City and was attended by 750 artists and their guests. The event was hosted by Julie Halston with script contributions by Matthew Freeman, opening number performed by Scott Williams and directed by Christopher Borg and a presentation by The Brick Theater Company.
- HONORARY AWARDS
The 2009 Artistic Achievement Award for significant artistic contribution to the Off-Off-Broadway community was presented by Nilo Cruz to Maria Irene Fornes.
The 2009 Stewardship Award for significant contribution to the Off-Off-Broadway community through service, support and leadership was presented by Commissioner of Cultural Affairs Kate D. Levin to Harriet Taub and Materials for the Arts.
The 2009 Caffe Cino Fellowship Award for consistent production of outstanding work, was presented by Ben Hodges and Jeff Riebe to The Brick Theater.
- PRODUCTION AWARDS
| Award | Recipient | Production | Producer | Presenter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outstanding Ensemble | Christopher Borg, Jeffrey Cranor, Kevin R. Free & Eevin Hartsough | (Not) Just A Day Like Any Other | New York Neo-Futurists | Charles Busch |
| Outstanding Original Short Script | Nico Vreeland | The Interview, Elephants on Parade 2009 | EBE Ensemble | Bekah Brunstetter |
| Outstanding Original Full Length Script | Nat Cassidy | The Reckoning of Kit & Little Boots | The Gallery Players in association with Engine37 | Bekah Brunstetter |
| Outstanding Solo Performance | Jeff Grow | Creating Illusion! | soloNOVA Arts Festival | James Scruggs |
| Outstanding Director | Suzi Takahashi | Lee/gendary | HERE Arts Center | Austin Pendleton |
| Outstanding Choreography/Movement | Austin McCormick | The Judgment of Paris | Company XIV | Casey Nicholaw |
| Outstanding Set Design | Michael P. Kramer | Ragtime | Astoria Performing Arts Center | Loy Arcenas |
| Outstanding Lighting Design | Bruce Steinberg | Blue Before Morning | terraNOVA Collective | Beverly Emmons |
| Outstanding Sound Design | Asa Wember | Angel Eaters | Flux Theatre Ensemble | Jeremy Lee |
| Outstanding Costume Design | Michelle Beshaw | The Very Sad Story of Ethel & Julius | GOH Productions | Constance Hoffman |
| Outstanding Original Music | Kimmy Gatewood, Andy Hertz, Rebekka Johnson, Sarah Lowe & Jeff Solomon | The Apple Sisters | The Apple Sisters | Andrew Lippa |
| Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role | Julian Elfer | Twelfth Night, or What You Will | T. Schreiber Studio | Kevin Chamberlin |
| Outstanding Actress in a Leading Role | Elyse Mirto | Any Day Now | Writer's Forum at Manhattan Theatre Source | Kevin Chamberlin |
| Outstanding Actor in a Featured Role | William Apps IV | Amerissiah | The Amoralists Theatre Company | Jackie Hoffman |
| Outstanding Actress in a Featured Role | Constance Parng | Lee/gendary | HERE Arts Center | Jackie Hoffman |
| Outstanding Performance Art Production | Creating Illusion | Creating Illusion | soloNOVA Arts Festival | Taylor Mac |
| Outstanding Production of a Musical | Like You Like It | Like You Like It | The Gallery Players | Elizabeth Swados |
| Outstanding Production of a Play | Lee/gendary | Lee/gendary | HERE Arts Center | Magie Dominic and Bob Dahdah |
| Outstanding Stage Manager Award | Jillian Zeman | Ragtime | Astoria Performing Arts Center | Tom Wojtunik and Taryn Drongowski |
- Full web broadcast of the ceremony with blog commentary by Aaron Riccio.
- Podcast of backstage interviews with the presenters and recipients by Michael Gilboe on Broadway Bullet
- List of all of the artists and companies that were nominated for the 2009 awards
2008 IT Awards Recipients
The 2008 New York Innovative Theatre Awards were held on Monday, September 22[4][5] at the Fashion Institute of Technology's Haft Auditorium in New York City and was attended by 750 artists and their guests. The event was hosted by Lisa Kron with performances by the Blue Man Group and a presentation by Boomerang Theatre Company's Jennifer Larkin, Joe Whelski and Vinnie Penna.
- HONORARY AWARDS
The 2008 Artistic Achievement Award for significant artistic contribution to the Off-Off-Broadway community was presented by Olympia Dukakis to Judith Malina.
The 2008 Stewardship Award for significant contribution to the Off-Off-Broadway community through service, support and leadership was presented by Kirk Wood Bromley to the New York Theatre Experience- Martin Denton and Rochelle Denton.
The 2008 Caffe Cino Fellowship Award for consistent production of outstanding work, was presented by Leonard Jacobs and Akia to Boomerang Theatre Company.
- PRODUCTION AWARDS
| Award | Recipient | Production | Producer | Presenter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outstanding Ensemble | Elena Chang, Noshir Dalal, Jon Hoche, Kelley Rae O'Donnell, Melissa Paladino, Maureen Sebastian, Andrea Marie Smith, Paco Tolson, Temar Underwood | Fight Girl Battle World | Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company | Michael Dahlen & Bill Irwin |
| Outstanding Original Short Script | Aliza Shane | The Three Sillies | The Looking Glass Theatre | Tina Howe |
| Outstanding Original Full Length Script | Bekah Brunstetter | You May Go Now | Babel Theatre Project | Tina Howe |
| Outstanding Solo Performance | Andrea Caban | You Got Questions? I Got Answers! | Coyote REP Theatre Company | Desiree Burch |
| Outstanding Director | Edward Elefterion | The Night of Nosferatu | Rabbit Hole Ensemble | Isaac Byrne & Daniel Talbott |
| Outstanding Choreography/Movement | Qui Nguyen | Fight Girl Battle World | Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company | Rob Ashford |
| Outstanding Set Design | Sean Breault | Art of Memory | Company SoGoNo | Anna Louizos |
| Outstanding Lighting Design | Kevin Hardy | The Night of Nosferatu | Rabbit Hole Ensemble | Anne Militello |
| Outstanding Sound Design | Dan Bianchi | The Island of Dr. Moreau | Radiotheatre | Dan Moses Scheier |
| Outstanding Costume Design | Jessica Wegener | Fight Girl Battle World | Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company | Catherine Zuber |
| Outstanding Original Music | Dan Bianchi | The Island of Dr. Moreau | Radiotheatre | John Bucchino |
| Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role | Cameron J. Oro | The Accidental Patriot | The Stolen Chair Theatre Company | Louis Zorich |
| Outstanding Actress in a Leading Role | Stephanie Barton-Farcas | Elizabeth Rex | Nicu's Spoon | Louis Zorich |
| Outstanding Actor in a Featured Role | Rob Sheridan | The Two Lives of Napoleon Beazley | Incumbo Theater Company | Barrett Foa |
| Outstanding Actress in a Featured Role | Megan Byrne | No End of Blame | Potomac Theatre Project | Barrett Foa |
| Outstanding Performance Art Production | Removable Parts | Removable Parts | HERE Arts Center | David Cote |
| Outstanding Production of a Musical | Yank! A New Musical | Yank! A New Musical | The Gallery Players | Michael Berresse |
| Outstanding Production of a Play | Burn, Crave, Hold: The James Wilde Project | Burn, Crave, Hold: The James Wilde Project | Blessed Unrest | Edward Albee |
- Podcast of interviews with the presenters and nominees on Broadway Bullet
- Honorary Award Recipients article by Doug Strassler
- List of all of the artists and companies that were nominated for the 2008 awards
2007 IT Awards Recipients
The 2007 New York Innovative Theatre Awards were held on Monday, September 24 at the Fashion Institute of Technology's Haft Auditorium in New York City[6][7] and was attended by 750 artists and their guests. The event was hosted by Julie Halston with a presentation by Rising Phoenix Repertory's Elizabeth West.
- HONORARY AWARDS
The 2007 Artistic Achievement Award for significant artistic contribution to the Off-Off-Broadway community was presented by Mark Finley to Doric Wilson.
The 2007 Stewardship Award for significant contribution to the Off-Off-Broadway community through service, support and leadership was presented by Christine Quinn to Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York (A.R.T./New York).
The 2007 Caffe Cino Fellowship Award for consistent production of outstanding work, was presented by Leonard Jacobs and Paul Adams to Rising Phoenix Repertory.
- PRODUCTION AWARDS
| Award | Recipient | Production | Producer | Presenter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outstanding Ensemble | Boo Killebrew, Julia Lowrie Henderson, Ryan Purcell,
Max Rosenak, Phillip Taratula & Daniel Walker Stowell |
6969 | CollaborationTown, A Theatre Company Inc. | John Clancy & Elena Holy |
| Outstanding Original Short Script | Daniel Reitz | Rules of the Universe | Rising Phoenix Repertory | Gary Garrison |
| Outstanding Original Full Length Script | Saviana Stanescu | Waxing West | East Coast Artists | Gary Garrison |
| Outstanding Solo Performance | Mike Houston | The Ledge | eavesdrop | Nicky Paraiso |
| Outstanding Director | Daniel Talbott | Rules of the Universe | Rising Phoenix Repertory | Carl Andress |
| Outstanding Choreography/Movement | Dan Safer | Dancing Vs the Rat Experiment | La MaMa ETC in association with Witness Relocation | Christopher Gattelli & Ryan Duncan |
| Outstanding Set Design | George Allison | Picasso at the Lapin Agile | T. Schreiber Studio | Tobin Ost |
| Outstanding Lighting Design | Peter Hoerburger | The Present Perfect | The Operating Theater | Natasha Katz |
| Outstanding Sound Design | Ryan Maeker & Tim Schellenbaum | Dancing Vs the Rat Experiment | La MaMa ETC in association with Witness Relocation | Fitz Patton |
| Outstanding Costume Design | David Withrow | Bug Boy Blues | The Looking Glass Theatre | Susan Hilferty |
| Outstanding Original Music | Leanne Darling | The Landlord | Toy Box Theatre Company | Mel Marvin |
| Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role | Max Rosenak | 6969 | CollaborationTown, A Theatre Company Inc. | Kathleen Chalfant |
| Outstanding Actress in a Leading Role | Susan Louise O'Connor | the silent concerto | Packawallop Productions, Inc. | Kathleen Chalfant |
| Outstanding Actor in a Featured Role | Joe Plummer | As You Like It | poortom productions | Anika Noni Rose & Jenn Harris |
| Outstanding Actress in a Featured Role | Boo Killebrew | 6969 | CollaborationTown, A Theatre Company Inc. | Anika Noni Rose & Jenn Harris |
| Outstanding Performance Art Production | Dancing Vs the Rat Experiment | Dancing Vs the Rat Experiment | La MaMa ETC in association with Witness Relocation | Leigh Silverman |
| Outstanding Production of a Musical | Urinetown, The Musical | Urinetown, The Musical | The Gallery Players | Robert Lopez |
| Outstanding Production of a Play | Bouffon Glass Menajoree | Bouffon Glass Menajoree | Ten Directions | William M. Hoffman |
2006 IT Awards Recipients
The 2006 New York Innovative Theatre Awards were held on Monday, September 18[8] at the historic Cooper Union in New York City and was attended by 600 artists and their guests. The event was hosted by Charles Busch with a special presentation by Lisa Stevenson of ART/NY.
- HONORARY AWARDS
The 2006 Artistic Achievement Award for significant artistic contribution to the Off-Off-Broadway community was presented by Ben Vereen to Tom O'Horgan.
The 2006 Stewardship Award for significant contribution to the Off-Off-Broadway community through service, support and leadership was presented by William Russo and Tim Errickson to The Field.
The 2006 Caffe Cino Fellowship Award for consistent production of outstanding work includes a grant to be used toward an Off-Off-Broadway production, was presented by Leonard Jacobs to The Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company
- PRODUCTION AWARDS
| Award | Recipient | Production | Producer | Presenter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outstanding Ensemble | David Carr-Berry, Jared Culverhouse, Ellen David, Paul Fears, Andaye' Hill, Julian James, Gregory Porter Miller & Brian Schlanger | To Nineveh: A Modern Miracle | Working Man's Clothes | Henry Russell Bergstein |
| Outstanding Solo Performance | Margaux Laskey | size ate | size ate productions | Lypsinka (John Epperson) |
| Outstanding Actor In A Featured Role | Trey Gibbons | How I Learned To Drive | T. Schreiber Studio | Martha Plimpton |
| Outstanding Actress In A Featured Role | Summer Moore | Last Summer at Bluefish Cove | T. Schreiber Studio | Martha Plimpton |
| Outstanding Actor In A Lead Role | Greg Horton | The Singapore Mikado | Theater Ten Ten | Mary Louise Burke & Jason Kravits |
| Outstanding Actress In A Lead Role | Ellen David | To Nineveh: A Modern Miracle | Working Man's Clothes | Mary Louise Burke & Jason Kravits |
| Outstanding Choreography / Movement | Marius Hanford | Living Dead In Denmark | Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company | Jeff Calhoun |
| Outstanding Director | Isaac Byrne | To Nineveh: A Modern Miracle | Working Man's Clothes | Adam Rapp |
| Outstanding Set Design | Eddy Trotter | Love! Valour! Compassion! | T. Schreiber Studio | Alexander Dodge |
| Outstanding Lighting Design | Arthur Adair | The Emperor Jones | La MaMa, E.T.C. | Mary Louise Geiger |
| Outstanding Costume Design | Sidney Shannon | Iron Curtain | Prospect Theater Company | William Ivey Long |
| Outstanding Sound Design | Paul John DeSena | To Nineveh: A Modern Miracle | Working Man's Clothes | Mark Bennett |
| Outstanding Original Music | Brendan Connelly | Major Barbara | La MaMa, E.T.C. in association with Two-Headed Calf | Michael John LaChiusa |
| Outstanding Original Short Script | Vishakan Jeyakumar | Jaffna Mangoes | Desipina & Company | Ian Marshall & Jonathan Reuning |
| Outstanding Original Full-Length Script | Bekah Brunstetter | To Nineveh: A Modern Miracle | Working Man's Clothes | Ian Marshall & Jonathan Reuning |
| Outstanding Performance Art Production | Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind | Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind | New York Neo-Futurists | Lisa Kron |
| Outstanding Production of a Musical | Iron Curtain | Iron Curtain | Prospect Theater Company | Mary Testa |
| Outstanding Production of a Play | To Nineveh: A Modern Miracle | To Nineveh: A Modern Miracle | Working Man's Clothes | Lanford Wilson |
2005 IT Awards Recipients
The inaugural awards ceremony was held on Monday, September 19[9][10] at the Lucille Lortel Theatre and was attend by 300 nominees and guests. It was hosted by Charles Busch with a special presentation by Judith Haking and the opening number was performed by the cast of [title of show], Hunter Bell, Jeff Bowen, Susan Blackwell, Heidi Blickenstaff and Larry Pressgrove.
- HONORARY AWARDS
The 2005 Artistic Achievement Award for significant artistic contribution to the Off-Off-Broadway community was presented by Leonard Jacobs to Basil Twist.
The 2005 Stewardship Award for significant contribution to the Off-Off-Broadway community through service, support and leadership was presented by Tom O'Horgan to Ellen Stewart.
The 2005 Caffe Cino Fellowship Award for consistent production of outstanding work includes a grant to be used toward an Off-Off-Broadway production, was presented by Leonard Jacobs and Jeff Riebe to Inverse Theatre Company.
- PRODUCTION AWARDS
| Recipient | Production | Producer | Presenter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outstanding Ensemble | |||
| Catherine Jhung, Don Nahaku, Lethia Nall, Matthew Pendergast, A-men Rasheed, Tijuana Ricks, Antonio G. del Rosario, Debargo Sanyal, Ragini Shah, Sam Younis | Pulling the Lever | Rising Circle Theater Collective | Doric Wilson & Bob Heidi |
| Outstanding Solo Performance | |||
| James Scruggs | Disposable Men | HERE Arts Center | Julie Halston |
| Outstanding Actor In A Featured Role | |||
| Nicky Paraiso | Iphigenia, | LaMaMa E.T.C. in association with Sky Saver Productions | Dan Fogler |
| Outstanding Actress In A Featured Role | |||
| Sara Thigpen | Burning the Old Man | Boomerang Theatre Company | Dan Fogler |
| Outstanding Actor In A Lead Role | |||
| Troy Lavallee | Serenade & Philosopher Fox | East River Commedia and The Polish Cultural Institute of New York | Marian Seldes |
| Outstanding Actress In A Lead Role | IT'S A TIE | ||
| Carolyn Goelzer | Iphigenia | LaMaMa E.T.C. in association with Sky Saver Productions | Marian Seldes |
| Maria McConville | Honor part 2 | Drilling Company NY | Marian Seldes |
| Outstanding Choreography / Movement | |||
| Jennifer L. Mudge | It's Karate, Kid! The Musical | The Four Corners Project | Kathleen Marshall |
| Outstanding Director | |||
| Paul Bargetto | Serenade & Philosopher Fox | East River Commedia and The Polish Cultural Institute of New York | Erika Gould |
| Outstanding Set Design | |||
| Michael Allen | Masquerade | Ten Grand and a Burger | Heidi Ettinger |
| Outstanding Lighting Design | |||
| Daniel Ordower | Hazard County | Themantics Group | Brian MacDevitt |
| Outstanding Costume Design | |||
| Rob Eggers | Othello | Palehorse Productions | Gabriel Berry |
| Outstanding Sound Design | |||
| Quentin Chiappetta | Murder in the First | Invictus Theatre Company | Nevin Steinberg |
| Outstanding Original Music | |||
| Quentin Chiappetta | Murder in the First | Invictus Theatre Company | [title of show], Hunter Bell, Jeff Bowen & Susan Blackwell |
| Outstanding Original Short Script | |||
| P. Seth Bauer | First Time Out of Bounds | Drilling Company NY | Martin Denton & Rochelle Denton |
| Outstanding Original Full-Length Script | |||
| Kelly McAllister | Burning the Old Man | Boomerang Theatre Company | Martin Denton & Rochelle Denton |
| Outstanding Performance Art Production | |||
| all wear bowlers | HERE Arts Center | Penny Arcade | |
| Outstanding Production of a Musical | |||
| It's Karate, Kid! The Musical | The Four Corners Project | David Stone | |
| Outstanding Production of a Play | |||
| Serenade & Philosopher Fox | East River Commedia and The Polish Cultural Institute of New York | John Guare & Constance Congdon |
References
- ↑ 2011 Award Recipients Announced New York Innovative Theater Awards Official Site, September 21, 2010
- ↑ A Big Night for Small Theatre by Steven McElroy, New York Times, September 22, 2009
- ↑ Lee/gendary, Like You Like It, Mirto and Elfter Are 2009 IT Award Winners by Adam Hetrick, Playbill, September 21, 2009
- ↑ 2008 IT Award Winners Announced Brian Scott Lipton, TheatreMania, September 23, 2008
- ↑ Mac, Paley, Nguyen, Steggert, et al. Receive IT Awards Nominations Dan Bacalzo, TheatreMania, July 22, 2008
- ↑ IT Awards Honor Off-Off-Broadway, Backstage, September 25, 2007
- ↑ 2007 IT Award Winners Announced, Playbill, September 25, 2007
- ↑ All Those Awards New York Times, July 27, 2006
- ↑ Off-Off-Broadway Has IT by Steven McElroy, New York Times, August 8, 2005
- ↑ New York IT Award Nominees Announced by Adam Klasfeld, TheatreMania, July 20, 2005