Thirty-three years ago they were called "The Maharams." Now they're simply titled the American Theatre Wing Design Awards, and they honor excellence in design Off-Broadway and Off-Off-design, as well as on Broadway. This, as opposed to the Wing's best known administration: the Tony Awards, which are solely for Broadway (with one regional theatre category).

For the Design Awards' 33rd year, 63 designers have been selected for their "Outstanding Artistry." Winners will receive honoraria and citations at a special seminar, Oct. 23, 2 PM, at City University of NY's Graduate Center (West 42nd St). Theatre critic Tish Dace and costumer/director Tony Walton will chair the Design Seminar, with a panel made up of award winners.

Here are the sixty-three 1997 nominees, chosen from designers on shows seen during the 1996-97 season:

Scenic Design:
John Lee Beatty; Bill Clarke; David Gallo/Jan Hartley; Markas Henry, Stewart Laing; Derek McLane; Andrea Paciotto/Sandro Tommasini/Mia Yoo; Robin Phillips/James Noone/Christina Poddubiuk; Tony Straiges; Tony Walton/Wendall K. Harrington (for Steel Pier); Akira Yoshimura; Robert Brill; F. David Cosier; David Gallo; James Leonard Joy; Thomas Lynch; James Noone; Neil Patel; James Schuette; Robin Wagner; Tony Walton (for The Importance Of Being Earnest).

Costume Design:
Jonathan Bixby; Laura Crow; Jane Greenwood; Michael Krass; William Ivey Long; Ann Roth; Sally Thomas; Catherine Zuber; the late Howard Crabtree; Judith Dolan, Anna Kiraly/Gabriella Simon; Stewart Laing; Martin Pakledinaz; Teresa Snider-Stein; Tony Walton. Lighting Design:
Ken Billington; Michael Chybowski; Paul Gallo; Allen Lee Hughes; Jean Kalman; the late Richard Nelson/David J. Lander; Richard Pilbrow; Mimi Jordan Sherin; Jennifer Tipton; Blake Burba; Beverly Emmons; Donald Holder; James F. Ingalls; Peter Kaczorowski; Dennis Parichy; Kenneth Posner; Howard Thies.

Noteworthy Unusual Effects:
Julie Archer (puppets, Peter & Wendy); James `JJ' Johnson/John Collins (sound, The Hairy Ape); Dan Moses Schreier (sound, God's Heart); Theodora Skipitares (design, Body Of Crime); David Van Tieghem (sound, A Question Of Mercy); Richard Foreman (design; Permanent Brain Damage); Giacomo Nottiani (mask, Geranos); Tim Shellenbaum (sound, Body Of Crime); Marc Anthony Thompson (sound, A Huey P. Newton Story); Darron L. West (sound, The Medium).

--By David Lefkowitz