The Village Voice has announced the judges, for the 1998-99 Village Voice OBIE Awards, which recognize excellence in Off-Broadway and Off- Off Broadway theatre. Awards are given each May.

Two critics from the newspaper, Michael Feingold and Alisa Solomon, will be flanked by Guest Judges: Liz Diamond (director), Mark Russell (head of P.S. 122), Dael Orlandersmith (solo performer) and Una Chaudhuri (Head of the NYU theatre department). Charles McNulty will serve as secretary to the committee, which is chaired by editor, Brian Parks.

The OBIE Awards were created soon after the inception of the Village Voice in 1955 "to publicly acknowledge and encourage the growing Off Broadway theatre movement."

Unlike other award ceremonies, the OBIEs have no nominations, and multiple productions or artists can win in a single category.

Because the award ceremony is still rather small-scaled, attendance is by invitation only. Information on the specific date for this year's OBIES is not yet available. -- By Sean McGrath