There are several things we love around here.  We love the terrific Kathleen Warnock whose name pops up on THM from time to time because she is an amazing playwright, a fantastic person, and someone I’m proud to know.  Kathleen has that rare talent of being able to share her spirit in words that are raw and real – not overblown or over-dramatic.  And because of that she often makes me feel I know her so much better than I do.  But that’s her gift – and that’s our present.

We also love celebrating, and women … and celebrating women.  What better way to celebrate than with The Lilly Awards – named for Lillian Hellman and started in the Spring of 2010 as a way to honor the work of women in the American Theater.

Kathleen attended the Lilly Awards and noted … “There was a delicious tension in the air as the women spoke of the need for self-recognition and celebration. The adjective “angry” was batted around, like a balloon, or a badge of honor. I’ve found that the word “angry,” depending on who is applying it, is often used as a weapon against someone who has a legitimate concern…or by someone who is frightened of what’s being said or asked.”

For the full re-cap of Kathleen’s experience continue reading at her site.  Find out all about her wonderful evening, the things she saw, the people she shared her night with … and find out who actually received an award!

To keep up with The Lilly Awards you can follow them on Facebook.

Related Posts:

• A Woman For Every Day- 365 Women A Year: A Playwriting Project
• Call For Submissions: Putting The “BLE” In Combustible
• Spring EATFest 2011 – Something For Every Taste
• Women’s History Month: Celebrating Women In The Arts – Spotlight On Kathleen Warnock
• Cabaretion! The Innovative Theatre Foundation’s Gala Benefit Honors Christopher Durang

On Monday, May 17th, the New York Innovative Theatre Foundation will be bringing down the house with a fabulous fundraising benefit at Caroline’s on Broadway – Cabaretion!. There will be food, open bar, and a line-up hosted by Jackie Hoffman that includes Taylor Mac among many other awesome performers;  but to top it off, the NYITF is honoring playwright Christopher Durang! That’s some serious fun!

What makes this event special, besides the fact that it’s honoring one my favorite playwrights, is that this is the first gala fundraiser that the ITF has done. It’s important, I think, for the Off-Off-Broadway community to come together and support a foundation whose sole purpose for the past six years of its existence has been to appreciate, celebrate, nurture, and help Off-Off-Broadway theatre thrive. The Innovative Theatre Foundation created the IT Awards, which offers everyone from actors and directors to sound designers, playwrights and producers the opportunity to have their own amazing award ceremony, recognizing the brilliant work that is done on stages all around New York City every day. To quote their site, the Innovative Theatre Foundation was created in part because “…publicly recognizing excellence in Off-Off-Broadway will expand audience awareness and appreciation of the full New York theatre experience.”

Somehow they find a way to fund this wonderful event every year. Besides the actual awards ceremony itself, you also have work going on all year long: keeping track of all of the shows that are done (or, that are registered by the producers); sending out judges to see the shows; and also keeping track of the votes that come in from audience members. The phrase “…And don’t forget to vote for our show at the New York IT Awards!” at the beginning or end (or both) of a show is a familiar one, said over and over in the Off-Off Theatre Community.

So…come on out to Cabaretion! and enjoy the food and THREE HOURS OF OPEN BAR for only $45 … enjoy the shwanky atmosphere of Caroline’s … get some raffle tickets!!!!! … enjoy the entertainment (Jackie Hoffman and Taylor Mac are awesome), honor playwright Christopher Durang’s accomplishments, and celebrate one of the most important threads that holds the Off-Off Broadway Community together – because they sure celebrate us.

Buy your Gala tickets NOW online or call 212-757-4100.

Related Posts:

• Monday Night Was The IT!
• IT Awards 2010: Off-Off Broadway Celebrates Its Achievements At Their Nominee Announcement Party
• Kathleen Warnock Goes To The Lilly Awards
• Bold, Brave, Bawdy – BUSTED

When I came on to the staff of neighborbee in October of 2008 as the theatre columnist I had no idea that  just nine months later I’d be this immersed in the Off-Off Broadway community.  But here I am, 29 weeks, 32 shows and 25 reviews later … writing not just for this site but for The Fab Marquee as well (go check it out!) …  and thrilled to be part of a mechanism every week which (I hope) gets people off the couch, out of their homes and into these charming, cozy, sometimes unpredictably configured independent theatres.  I love knowing I play a part in helping to get audiences out there in order to watch amazingly talented performers break new ground with never-before-seen plays, or bring the classics alive again for a whole new generation of theatre-goers.  I’ve been lucky enough to see a bit of both in these last nine months and have enjoyed virtually every single performance I’ve reviewed.  And you know, even the clunkers have a charm all their own, and can sometimes stay with me far longer than expected, just like that other indispensable New York linchpin that can be an equal hit-or-miss: the pushcart hot dog.  But I digress.

On Monday night I attended the New York Innovative Theatre Awards 2009 Nominee Announcement celebration and was able to share in the joy of everyone who gives their life to The Theatre.  I mingled with actors, directors, designers of sound, stage and light, writers, publicists, musicians, other reviews, and all the plus ones (including my own) who help keep the first group afloat by supporting them emotionally, spiritually, and whatever-else-is-necessary-to-get-by-ly.

The New York Innovative Theatre Foundation was created to bring recognition to the great work being done in New York City’s Off-Off-Broadway, to honor its artistic heritage, and to provide a meeting ground for this extensive community. The organization advocates for Off-Off-Broadway and recognizes the unique and essential role it plays in contributing to American and global culture. The New York Innovative Theatre Foundation believes that publicly recognizing excellence in Off-Off-Broadway will expand audience awareness and appreciation of the full New York theatre experience.

To be able to stand shoulder to shoulder (or, in my case, shoulder to elbow … actors are TALL!) with these talented people was a real thrill for me, and I look forward to rejoining everyone at  the Fashion Institute on September 21st for the 5th Annual IT Awards Ceremony to be able to applaud the recipients in person.

This year’s nominees were selected from a pool of approximately 2,850 artists; nominees include 142 individual artists, 49 different productions and 38 theatre companies.  They are:

Outstanding Actor in  a Featured Role

Outstanding Actress in a Featured Role

Outstanding Actor in a Lead Role

Outstanding Actress in a Lead Role

Outstanding Ensemble

Outstanding Solo Performance

Outstanding Choreography/Movement

Outstanding Costume Design

Outstanding Lighting Design

Outstanding Sound Design

Outstanding Set Design

Outstanding Director

Outstanding Original Music

Outstanding Full-Length Script

Outstanding Original Short Script

Outstanding Performance Art Production

Cirque du Quoi?!? Human Flight Productions, Inc. & Gramily Entertainment
Creating Illusion soloNOVA Arts Festival
Miss America LaMaMa ETC in association with Split Britches
Dracula Radiotheatre
Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind New York Neo-Futurists
Traces soloNOVA Arts Festival

Outstanding Production of a Musical

Coming, Aphrodite! LaMaMa ETC in association with Watson Arts
Like You Like It The Gallery Players
Ragtime Astoria Performing Arts Center
The 103rd Annual Performance of Ruddigore, or The Witch’s Curse, Presented by Murgatroyd’s Hospital for Mental Rehabilitation, Ruddy Gore Maine Theater 1010
The Apple Sisters The Apple Sisters
The Who’s Tommy The Gallery Players

Related Posts:

• Cabaretion! The Innovative Theatre Foundation’s Gala Benefit Honors Christopher Durang
• Ye Elizabeths: Living Vicariously Because … (2012 Planet Connections Festivity)
• Kathleen Warnock Goes To The Lilly Awards
• Stinky Flowers, Sweet Thoughts
• IT Awards 2010: Off-Off Broadway Celebrates Its Achievements At Their Nominee Announcement Party