Are you a theater enthusiast, an experienced playwright, or a talented performer looking for recognition?
The Obie Awards is the perfect stage for both novice and seasoned artists. Thanks to a collaboration between The Village Voice and the American Theatre Wing, the Obie Awards celebrate the highest calibre of off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway theater to honor progressive work, support groundbreaking ideas and advance theatrical careers. The event is held every year in New York City, and prizes are given out for outstanding acting and performance, design/music, direction, playwriting, and special citations. Obie accepts applications from competent individuals regardless of where they live. The awards are given to encourage and recognize original performances, as well as to nurture and grow talents. The Obie Awards have given recognition to some of the most well-known playwrights and artists, such as Heidi Schreck, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Benj Pasek. For many years, the Obie awards were thought to be reserved for formal presentations. However, the awards were made informal to provide limitless opportunities for individuals worthy of recognition.
Most Obie Award winners received training at the actor’s studio, through moderated sessions, workshops, and readings. The Actor’s Studio is an important platform to foster creativity. It is an NGO whose members have been influential in many American theaters since World War II. It is one of the best training facilities for the Stanislavsky Method of Acting. The Method, developed by the organization’s founding artistic director Lee Strasberg, is a set of methods and exercises that revolutionized acting across the globe. Artists are encouraged to use their memory and emotional experience to prepare for a significant role. The place offers a conducive environment where actors collaborate without the pressure of commercial agents. Professional actors, directors, and playwrights can improve their craft and discover the range and depth of their talent with the aid of The Actors Studio.
The 66th Annual Obie Awards will take place in November 2022. The 2022 awards will be co-chaired by Obie-winning Director and Producing Artistic Leader David Mendizábal and veteran theatre critic Melissa Rose Bernardo. The judges’ panel includes actor & fight choreographer Dave Anzuelo, actor & playwright Becca Blackwell, scenic designer Wilson Chin, Obie-winning playwright Haruna Lee, theater critic & journalist Soraya McDonald, Obie-winning director & playwright Lisa Peterson, Obie-winning actor Heather Alicia Simms, and Obie-winning costume designer Kaye Voyce.
Article by: Jess Chen
