The New York Innovative Theatre Awards, a nonprofit organization that honors outstanding Off-Off-Broadway theatre, handed out its third annual accolades in an informal ceremony on Sept. 24. The recipients are chosen by a committee of judges and by audience voting.
Honorary awards, which are determined by application and peer committee, were presented to playwright Doric Wilson, the arts service organization Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York (A.R.T./NY), and Rising Phoenix Repertory.
Presenters included Kathleen Chalfant, New York City Speaker Christine Quinn, Leigh Silverman, Robert Lopez, William M. Hoffman, and Leonard Jacobs, Back Stage's national theatre editor (Back Stage was one of the sponsors of the event). Comedian-actor Julie Halston hosted the show, which took place at the Haft Auditorium at the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan.
Production of a Play: Bouffon Glass Menajoree, Ten Directions
Production of a Musical: Urinetown, The Musical, Gallery Players
Actor in a Lead Role: Max Rosenak (6969, CollaborationTown, A Theatre Company)
Actress in a Lead Role: Susan Louise O'Connor (the silent concerto, Packawallop Productions)
Actor in a Featured Role: Joe Plummer (As You Like It, Poortom Productions)
Actress in a Featured Role: Boo Killebrew (6969, CollaborationTown, A Theatre Company)
Ensemble: Boo Killebrew, Julia Lowrie Henderson, Ryan Purcell, Max Rosenak, Phillip Taratula, and Daniel Walker Stowell (6969, CollaborationTown, A Theatre Company)
Solo Performance: Mike Houston (The Ledge, Eavesdrop)
Director: Daniel Talbott (Rules of the Universe, Rising Phoenix Repertory)
Choreography/Movement: Dan Safer (Dancing Vs the Rat Experiment, La MaMa E.T.C. in association with Witness Relocation)
Set Design: George Allison (Picasso at the Lapin Agile, T. Schreiber Studio)
Lighting Design: Peter Hoerburger (The Present Perfect, The Operating Theatre)
Costume Design: David Withrow (Bug Boy Blues, The Looking Glass Theatre)
Sound Design: Ryan Maeker and Tim Schellenbaum (Dancing Vs the Rat Experiment, La MaMa E.T.C. in association with Witness Relocation)
Original Music: Leanne Darling (The Landlord, Toy Box Theatre Company)
Original Short Script: Daniel Reitz (Rules of the Universe, Rising Phoenix Repertory)
Original Full-Length Script: Saviana Stanescu (Waxing West, East Coast Artists)
Performance Art Production: Dancing Vs the Rat Experiment, La MaMa E.T.C. in association with Witness Relocation
Special Awards: Doric Wilson (Artistic Achievement Award), Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York (A.R.T./NY) (Stewardship Award), Rising Phoenix Repertory (Caffe Cino Fellowship Award)