Passing Strange, Kitt, Beaty and Gravatt Among AUDELCO Award Winners

"The VIV" Awards are "the only formally established awards presented to the black theatre community," according to an announcement. Audience Development Committee, Inc. (AUDELCO) celebrated 35 years of Excellence in Black Theatre with this year's honors.

The event began with a 6 PM reception at the Harlem Stage/Aaron Davis Hall, Inc. followed by the 7:30 PM ceremony of awards and honors in the Marion Anderson Theatre.

In the Dramatic Production of the Year category, Obsidian Media Group's Black Man Rising (which also earned the Outstanding Ensemble Performance and Director honors) tied with Hadley Players' The Guest at Central Park West (which also took home prizes for Playwright and Lead Actor).

Special honors of acknowledgement and achievements for "Outstanding Pioneer Organizations – 35 Years and Over" were given to Roger Furman Theatre, Negro Ensemble Company, Richard Allen Center for Culture & Art, New Federal Theatre, National Black Theatre, Amas Musical Theatre, Black Spectrum Theatre, Billie Holiday Theatre and Frank Silvera's Writer's Workshop.

In addition special honors were presented to Jewel Kinch, Riverside Theatre, playwright Samm-Art Williams and Mary B. Davis, AUDELCO's Chair Emeritus and "Rising Star" Youth Theatre companies in New York City. The 2006-2007 theatre season nominees (*with winners in bold) are:

MUSICAL PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR