Here's a list of theatre awards in 1997 that will be continuously updated as new honors are bestowed in 1998. Separate stories on most of these awards are located in the U.S. news section of Playbill On-Line.
NEW YORK
AMERICAN THEATRE WING DESIGN AWARDS (B'way, Off & Off-Off Broadway):
Presented at ATW Seminar, Oct. 23, 1997 at City University of NY's Graduate Center (West 42nd St).
ARTIOS AWARDS (for achievement in casting)
Announced Nov. 1997, 13th annual awards (1997) had Jay Binder & Arnold J. Mungioli/Mark Simon winning awards for Ragtime and The Last Night Of Ballyhoo, respectively.
Most of the categories are for film and ASTAIRE AWARDS (see TDF Astaire Awards)
BACK STAGE BISTRO AWARDS (for New York cabaret):
12th annual cabaret awards were presented March 3, 1997. For a list of winners, please see the news story, Back Stage Announces Bistro Awards For Cabaret Excellence. BERNARD B. JACOBS EXCELLENCE IN THEATRE AWARD:
Awarded to James M. Nederlander, Sept. 29, 1997.
DARYL ROTH CREATIVE SPIRIT AWARD (given by Vineyard Theatre & producer Daryl Roth to gifted theatre artist):
Announced May 13, 1997. Winner: director Mark Brokaw (How I Learned To Drive).
DISTINGUISHED LIFETIME SERVICE AWARD (For Touring Broadway) - (given by League Of American Theatres & Producers)
Given May 7, 1997 to Cameron Mackintosh.
DRAMA CRITICS CIRCLE: See "New York Drama Critics Circle" below.
DRAMA DESK AWARDS (for New York theatre):
Nominees announced April 28, 1997. Winners announced in May 18, 1997 ceremony at NY's Booth Theatre. See story in Theatre News. Musical: The Life; Play: How I Learned To Drive; Revivals: A Doll's House, Chicago. See story "Life, Chicago, Drive Win Drama Desk Awards in U.S. Theatre News.
DRAMA LEAGUE AWARDS (for Broadway and Off Broadway):
Nominations announced April 24, 1997, winners announced May 9, 1997 at Plaza Hotel. Please see story Recent Plays, Musicals Dominate Drama League Nominees. 1997 Winners: Chicago (revival), The Life (musical), Last Night Of Ballyhoo (play).
ENCORE MAGAZINE "TAKING OFF" AWARDS (for Off & Off-Off Broadway):
Announced April 18, 1997 - Best theatre company: Drama Dept.; playwright: Kenneth Longergan (This Is Our Youth); Musical: Violet. Awards given May 5, 1997 at NY's Cherry Lane Theatre.
FANY AWARDS:
(given by Friends Of NY Theatre; nominations announced May 2, 1997. Awarded June 8, 1997.) 1997 Winners: Musical - Steel Pier, Play - An American Daughter; Revival - Chicago.
GASSNER PLAYWRITING AWARD (see "John Gassner Playwriting Award")
GENIE AWARDS (presented by The Genesius Guild to acknowledge those who make a difference to the theatrical community at large).
Winners (announced April 1997): Julie Andrews, The Wooster Group, and Todd Alcott's A Pound Of Flesh. Awards bestowed at The Triad, 158 West 72nd St., NY, May 18, 1997.
GEORGE JEAN NATHAN AWARD
Announced Dec. 23, 1997: 1997 winners: NY Times critic Ben Brantley, Elinor Fuchs, Todd London.
GILMAN & GONZALEZ-FALLA MUSICAL THEATRE AWARDS (for achievement & promise in American musical theatre):
Awarded June 9, 1997, at Lincoln Center's Viviant Beaumont Room, NYC. Winners: Jason Robert Brown & Ray Leslee (Songs For A New World).
JAPAN MUSICAL AWARD (administered by the Japan Musical Awards Committee)
Nov. 21, 1997: honoree - Dale Wasserman, librettist of Man Of La Mancha.
JOHN GASSNER PLAYWRITING AWARD:
(Administered by the Outer Critics Circle, announced April 21, 1997): Leslie Ayvazian's Nine Armenians.
KLEBAN FOUNDATION AWARD: For "most promising theatre lyricist and librettist":
1997 winners: Michael Korie (lyrics), Brian Crawley (book).
LEAGUE OF AMERICAN THEATRES & PRODUCERS: (see Distinguished Lifetime Service Award)
LUCILLE LORTEL AWARDS (for Off-Broadway):
Announced April 8, 1997. Play: How I Learned To Drive; Musical: Violet; Revival: June Moon.
MAC (Manhattan Association of Cabarets And Clubs) AWARDS (for New York cabaret):
The 11th Annual MAC Award ceremony was held at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall March 31,1997. See story in Theatre News.
MCPHERSON, SCOTT (see Scott McPherson Award)
MR. ABBOTT AWARD (given by SDC for Lifetime Achievement)
1997 winner: Garson Kanin. Awarded Nov. 3 at NY's Copacabana Club. Also honored with SDC's "President's Award" were Chase Manhattan Bank & Jerry Herman.
NATIONAL CORPORATE THEATRE FUND CHAIRMAN'S AWARDS:
Winners announced April 1, 1997. Winners - actor Hal Holbrook, manager M. Edgar Rosenblum, and AT&T's Thomas C. Wajnert.
NEW VOICES IN AMERICAN THEATRE AWARD (presented by the William Inge Theatre Festival, KS):
Winners announced April 22, 1997 - Ouststanding newcomer - Joe DiPietro, author/lyricist of I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change; Distinguished Achievement - Neil Simon.
NEW YORK DRAMA CRITICS CIRCLE (Broadway and Off-Broadway):
Winners announced May 6, 1997: Violet as Best Musical; How I Learned To Drive as Best Play. Formal presentations May 12, 1997. For more awards and details see NY Drama Critics Circle Picks Drive, Violet & Skylight
OBIE AWARDS (see "Village Voice Obie Awards")
OOBR AWARDS (for Off-Off Broadway)
July 7, 1997: 3rd annual award, given by Off-Off-Broadway Magazine. Ceremony at NY's Cherry Lane Theatre.
OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN AWARD: (given by NY's York Theatre Company):
Announced May 8, 1997. Winner Stephen Schwartz. Ceremony: June 2, 1997.
OUTER CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD: (for Broadway & Off-Broadway; also see John Gassner Award)
Winners announced May 5, 1997; see story "Outer Critics Circle Award Winners Announced" in Theatre News. Winners: The Life; When Pigs Fly; Last Night of Ballyhoo; How I Learned To Drive, Chicago. Ceremony May 23, 1997 at Sardi's Restaurant, NYC.
RICHARD RODGERS AWARD (for Distinguished Service To The Performing Arts):
Announced April 14, 1997; awarded May 5, 1997 at NY's Hudson Theatre in Millennium Broadway Hotel. 1997 winner: Choreographer Bob Avian.
RICHARD RODGERS DEVELOPMENT AWARD:
For outstanding musical in development: The Ballad of Little Jo by Sarah Schlesinger and Mike Reid.
RODGERS, RICHARD AWARDS (see Richard Rodgers Award & Richard Rodgers Development Award)
SCOTT MCPHERSON AWARD (given by IL's Victory Gardens & Goodman Theatres to promote new works for the theatre)
1997 winners: Rebecca Gilman, Kristine Thatcher. Announced July 21, 1997.
SOCIETY OF STAGE DIRECTORS & CHOREOGRAPHERS FOUNDATION (see Mr. Abbott Award)
TDF ASTAIRE AWARDS: (for dance on Broadway):
1997 (tie) Ann Reinking & Bebe Neuwirth; Reinking also for choreography. Announced May 8. Awarded May 29, 1997 at Hudson Theatre, NYC.
THEATRE DEVELOPMENT FUND (see TDF)
THEATRE HALL OF FAME: Inductees announced early November. Ceremony: Jan. 26, 1998, Gershwin Theatre (where names of past winners are inscribed).
THEATRE WORLD AWARDS (for newcomers)
Announced May 19, 1997. Awarded May 29, 1997 at Roundabout Theatre. Administered by John Willis. No nominees. See story online. Special ensemble award: Skylight.
TONY AWARDS (for Broadway shows):
Deadline April 30, 1997. Nominees announced May 5, 1997. Awards announced at ceremony June 1, 1997 at Radio City Music Hall, hosted by Rosie O'Donnell. 1997 Winners: Titanic, A Doll's House, Chicago, The Last Night Of Ballyhoo.
(For other NY awards, see "Already Given" section below)
VILLAGE VOICE OBIE AWARDS (for off-Broadway shows):
No nominations. Winners announced at ceremony May 19, 1997 at Webster Hall, 125 East 11th St.
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REGIONAL THEATRE
AMERICAN THEATRE CRITICS ASSOCIATION (ATCA):
Award given April 5, 1997. Best Play: Jane Martin's Jack & Jill, along with Miller's Ride Down Mt. Morgan and Uhry's Last Night Of Ballyhoo. Osborn Award for emerging playwright given May 2, 1997 to Keith Glover Thunder Knocking At The Door.
ATCA (see American Theatre Critics Association)
THE BARRYMORE AWARDS (for Philadelphia theatre):
Nominations for 1996-97 season announced Sept. 9, 1997. Awards given Oct. 20,1997 at the Walnut Street Theatre. New Play: InterAct's Black Russian. For information call (212) 413-7150.
CARBONELL AWARDS (South Florida Critics Association):
22nd annual awards announced Oct. 27, 1997. New Work: Don't Stop The Carnival.
CONNECTICUT CRITICS CIRCLE (for Connecticut theatre):
Close-out date for consideration in late May; Winners announced June 10, 1997. Ceremony June 23, 1997. 1997 Winners: Play - Dealer's Choice (Long Wharf); Musical - Tommy (Candlewood).
DORA MAVOR MOORE AWARDS (for Toronto, Canadian Theatre):
Nominees announced Sept. 24, 1997; Awards given Sept. 29, 1997. Ragtime took 7 awards for Larger Theatre Division.
ELLIOT NORTON AWARDS (given by Boston Theatre Critics Association):
Winners announced June 9, 1997 at Boston Harbor Hotel ceremony. 1997 winners: Lifetime: Zoe Caldwell; Sustained Excellence: Christopher Plummer. (See story on-line).
EUGENE O'NEILL THEATRE CENTER (see "O'Neill Theatre Center")
Experimental theatre director Robert Wilson of the U.S. Won the $8,600 EUROPE PRIZE FOR THEATRE
Announced Jan. 5, 1997: Winner - Robert Wilson.
GOODMAN THEATRE (see Scott McPherson Award)
HELEN HAYES AWARDS (for Washington DC theatre):
Biggest winners: Signature Theatre's Passion & Studio Theatre's Two Trains Running. Nominations announced March 20. Awards announced/bestowed May 5, 1997 at JFK Center. For other winners and details, see story in Theatre News.
JEFF CITATIONS (for Chicago Theatre):
(see also Jeff Awards for Equity shows) Citations for non-Equity productions announced May 8 (for season April 1, 1996-March 31, 1997). Ceremony June 9, 1997. 1997 winner: Production - Kentucky Cycle (Pegasus Players) (also won 9 other awards).
JOSEPH JEFFERSON AWARDS (for Chicago theatre)
(see also non-Equity Jeff Citations). Nominees announced Sept. 24, 1997. Awards for Equity productions given at the North Shore Center For The Performing Arts (9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie), Nov. 10, for season running Aug. 1-July 31, 1997. Winners listed in U.S. Theatre News.
LEON RABIN AWARDS: (Given by Dallas Theatre League, TX)
Winners announced Oct. 30, 1997. New Play or Musical: After The Fair.
LOS ANGELES DRAMA CRITICS CIRCLE AWARDS (for L.A. and Orange County theatre):
Presented March 17, 1997. Outstanding Production award was shared by Breaking the Code and Eleemosynary. See news story Winners of L.A. Critics Awards, for the full list of winners.
NOBEL PRIZE FOR LITERATURE:
Announced Oct. 8, 1997. Winner: Dario Fo.
O'NEILL THEATRE CENTER - National Playwrights Conference Awards:
Brodkin, Kocher & Oliver Fellowships announced March 13. Please see the news story, O'Neill Center NPC Awards Announced.
OLIVIER AWARDS (for London theatre): Awards given Feb. 16, 1997. Best New Play: Stanley, Best New Musical: Martin Guerre; Best New Comedy: Art. See separate story for other winners.
OSBORN AWARD (for emerging playwright, see ATCA):
Keith Glover's (Thunder Knocking On The Door). Awarded at American Theatre Critics Association NY Mini-Meeting, May 2, 1997.
OVATION AWARDS (for L.A. Theatre):
Nominees announced Oct. 1, 1997. Awards announced Nov. 17, 1997 at Shubert Theatre in Century City. 1997: Ragtime won 8 awards.
PULITZER PRIZE (for American drama):
Deadline was March 1, 1997. Award announced April 7, 1997 at Columbia University. No award for drama bestowed for 1997.
RABIN AWARDS, LEON (see Leon Rabin Awards)
SAMMIE AWARDS (South Florida Theatre):
Sarasota & Manatee Counties Theatre Critics Awards, given mid-September 1997. Play: Beast On The Moon (Asolo); Musical: Ruthless (TheatreWorks).
VICTORY GARDENS THEATRE (see Scott McPherson Award)
-- By David Lefkowitz
