EW Magazine, a Baltimore, MD publication devoted to the African-American cultural scene, announced winners of its 3rd annual EW Theatre Awards, May 28. Though owned by the 105-year-old parent company, Afro American Newspaper, EW (which stands for Every Wednesday) doesn't concentrate solely on black theatre or performers, just productions in the Baltimore/Washington DC area. EW was founded in 1984 "as a means of presenting a lighter side to hard news." Editor Marc Warren started the EW Theatre Awards in 1995 "to recognize excellence in the theatre.

Regional and touring shows are counted, in such venues as the Morris A. Mechanic Theatre, the Kennedy Center, DC's National & Warner Theatres, and Baltimore's Lyric Opera House. The big touring winner was Chicago, winning seven awards (one more than the number of Tonys the Broadway musical took home June 1).

Here are the winners [in CAPS] of the 1997 EW Theatre Awards:
Special Awards Outstanding Achievement In Theatre: BARRY & FRAN WEISSLER, producers.
Outstanding Score For New Musical: ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER/JIM STEINMAN (Whistle Down The Wind).

Regional
Play: THE GLASS MENAGERIE, Center Stage.
Musical: SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, Arena Stage/Signature Company.
Director (Play): MARION MCCLINTON ( Seven Guitars, Center Stage) & TIM VASSEN ( Glass Menagerie, Center Stage).
Director (Musical): ERIC D. SCHAEAFFER ( Sunday In The Park With George, Arena Stage/Signature).
Actress (Play): HARRIETT D. FOY ( Seven Guitars), Center Stage.
Actor (Play): ROGER GUENVEUR SMITH ( A Huey P. Newton Story).
Actor (Musical): Mark Zimmerman ( Paper Moon, Ford's Theatre).
Featured Actress (Play): SARAH MARSHALL ( The Miser, Arena Stage) .
Featured Actor (Play): ROBERT DORFMAN ( Romeo & Juliet), Center Stage)
. Featured Actress (Musical): ARIEL HARRIS ( Paper Moon, Ford's Theatre).
Featured Actor (Musical): ROBERT LuPONE ( Triumph Of Love, Center Stage)
. Scenic Design (Play or Musical): TONY STRAIGES ( Galileo, Center Stage).
Costume Design (Play or Musical): CATHERINE ZUBER ( Triumph Of Love, Center Stage).

Touring Shows
Musical: CHICAGO.
Play: (no nominations).
Actress (Play): LIZAN MITCHELL & MICKI GRANT ( Having Our Say).
Actress (Musical): JASMINE GUY ( Chicago).
Actor (Play): (no nominations).
Featured Actor / Actress (Play): (no nominations).
Featured Actress (Musical): CAROL WOODS ( Chicago).
Director (Play): (no nominations).
Director (Musical): WALTER BOBBIE ( Chicago).
Choreography (Musical): ANN REINKING ( Chicago).
Scenic / Costume Design: (no nominations).
--By David Lefkowitz