The unique identity and purpose of different theater awards, the complex and probably exhausting process of managing and administering an annual awards ceremony and how it functions in stimulating the development of our theater culture. Come learn the history of some of our current theater awards and why each was created, the philosophies behind each, and their differences in terms of esthetics (if there are differences). What do they look for? What do they value? You will learn about eligibility, of course, and how the awards are run and produced. Should art even be competitive? Are awards healthy acknowledgments that offer artists something to aspire to? Isn't this inevitably subjective, or are there ever objective criteria to consider when choosing nominees and winners?  

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  PETER BREGER

  is an entertainment attorney, theatrical general manager, and producer who has represented theatre and independent film producers and investors, commercial and non-profit theatres, writers, directors, performers, talent agents and managers for over twenty-five years. He is a Tony-Nominated producer of Broadway, Off-Broadway and Regional Theatre. He owned and operated The Actors’ Playhouse in Greenwich Village, New York, for 12 years. He is the President of the Off-Broadway Alliance, a non-profit organization of Off-Broadway producers, general managers, theatrical artistic and executive directors, theatre-owners and operators, and publicity and marketing firms.
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  SHAY GINES

  graduated from the Actors Training Program at the University of Utah with a dual degree in theatre and marketing. She then made the smartest decision of her life and (despite her father’s wishes) choose to pursue a career in theatre. Since then she has done everything from spackling walls at the Pasadena Playhouse and running follow-spot for the Pioneer Theatre Company to serving as the Artist in Residence for Touchstone Theatre. She has performed in theatres of all sizes from 30 seats to 1,000 across the country, from L.A. to NYC. She is an award winning producer whose Off and Off-Off-Broadway shows include: Home Again Home Again Jiggity Jig, What the F**k?!, Hamlet and Muse of Fire. Shay was a Founding Member and the Producing Director for Esperance Theatre Company. She is currently one half of the producing team for Theatrical Fair, an active member of TOSOS II and of Emerging Artists Theatre Company where she also serves as an Associate Director.
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  SIMON SALTZMAN

  College education: Pace College, for Accounting and Business Law. Employed by both Roxy Theatre and Radio City Music Hall. Worked as Associate Producer for Producer Arnold Saint-Subber. (1968 - Gore Vidal's Weekend). Off Broadway producer: (1969 - Frank Gagliano's City Scene producer) Theatre Journalist and critic: Numerous newspapers including 10 years (1980-1990) North West New Jersey Daily Record. Recent history: Member of the Outer Critics Circle, President from 2001 to 2018, currently Vice President; Member of Drama Desk for almost twenty years. Member of the Executive Committee ATCA (American Theater Critics Association). Regular contributing critic (fifty years) for US 1 Newspaper, Princeton, N.J.; CurtainUp.com; (twenty years) plus blog Simon Seez. My interest in the theater began at an early age as my Dad was a professional musician and played in numerous pit orchestras for both film (when they had that) and stage plus had his own orchestra on the Cunard Lines. My mother worked for various designers who created hats for showgirls. I "pretend" I have seen every (not quite every) Broadway musical since Oklahoma in 1943 (five years old). My wife LucyAnn Saltzman passed away two years ago. She was head of the speech and public speaking (Theater Department) program at Drew University for twenty five years. My daughter Alice is currently Associate Head of the Stella Adler Acting School NYU. My son James is Manager of Classroom Services at UNC School of Medicine. Two out of three grandsons appear headed for careers in the theater. Uh oh.