Stage Managers to be recognized at I.T. Awards

New York’s Innovative Theatre Awards have announced that they will begin issuing an Outstanding Stage Manager Award.  The Off-Off Broadway awards may be the first in the US to recognize Stage Managers along with other members of the production team.

Beginning in January of 2009, as a part of their assignments IT Award judges were asked to evaluate how the technical elements of the production flowed together. Those scores will help inform the committee who will review applications and make the final decision. The application asks for examples of the Stage Manager’s organization and leadership.  Two letters of recommendation are also required from people who worked with the Stage Manager on the production.

The OSM (Outstanding Stage Manager) Committee is made of eight individuals that include stage managers as well as directors, actors, press, producers and crew. OSM Committe Chair, Stephanie Cox-Williams said “There are awards for directors, lighting designers, sound designers, set designers, actors, etc., but without a Stage Manager to put all of the pieces in motion, correctly and on time, those elements would not make a cohesive production.  The IT Awards, is taking a big step forward by recognizing the unsung heroes of the stage.”

Let’s hope other awards groups take the hint. While chances are good (based on their track record) that we won’t be seeing a Stage Management Tony Award for at least 20 years, it’s nice to see NYC finally leading the way in at least one thing related to theatre.

H/T to Nick Keenan for bringing this to my attention.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 17th, 2009 at 8:23 pm and is filed under Fun, General, Press Release, awards, history, movements, stagecraft in the news. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.