The Suzi Bass Awards, founded in 2003, celebrate outstanding work in live theatre and the artists who produce it, in the Atlanta area. Twenty-one professional theatres participate in the awards process. Each theatre season, the Suzi Bass Awards volunteer judges choose nominees and recipients in twenty-six performance categories.[1]
History
The Suzi Bass Awards is a not-for-profit corporation, whose mission is to celebrate and promote Atlanta professional theatre, through the evaluation and recognition of excellence.[1] Named for Suzi Bass, an accomplished local stage and screen actress and union organizer, who died from a brain tumor at the age of fifty-six, on May 17, 2002.[2] In 2003, Atlanta theater director and playwright, Gene-Gabriel Moore, put out a call for theater professionals interested in forming an awards program. A small group of industry professionals was formed to create an award that would encompass the professional theater industry in Atlanta. Moore advanced the development of the awards, until the year before his own death, in 2008. The playwright award is named for him.[3]
Awards
In addition to the annual awards for outstanding work in live theatre in Atlanta, the annual Spirit of Suzi Award honors a person or organization for their long-time dedication to Atlanta theatre. The Gene-Gabriel Moore Playwriting Award recognizes Atlanta's local playwrights through special notice of a recently produced play. The Audience Choice Award recognizes one theatre's entire season, through voting by the general public; and the Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes an individual or group with long-time volunteer contributions to a particular theatre.[1]
Judging panels
There are three Suzi Bass Award judging panels: recommending judges, play panel judges, and musical panel judges. The recommending judges panel is comprised of experienced Suzi Bass judges and representatives from the participating theatres. Five of those are randomly assigned to attend the opening night of eligible shows to determine if a show is Suzi recommended and whether the play or musical panel will attend. The recommending judges do not nominate or vote for the Suzi Bass Awards. The play and musical panels attend Suzi recommended shows after they are recommended by the recommending judges.[4]
Recognition
Backstage and Atlanta's NPR affiliate, WABE, have called the Suzi Bass Awards, "metro Atlanta's own version of the Tonys,[5] inspired in part by Chicago's Joseph Jefferson awards,"[3] while Playbill noted the awards "recognize achievement in professional theatre in Atlanta."[6] Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for the American theatre and 2005 recipient of the Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre,[7] recognizes the Suzi Bass Award, which "celebrates excellence in Metro Atlanta's professional theatre community."[8]
Notable awardees
Jasmine Guy, Robin Givens, and Kenny Leon are among the artists who have received nominations and subsequently won Suzi Bass Awards. Guy won for directing the best play ensemble for for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf which featured Givens.[9] Leon was nominated for his direction of Miss Evers' Boys as well as his performance in Blood Knot.[10]
The Suzi Bass Awards have also acknowledged several productions which performed in Atlanta, prior to opening on Broadway.[11][12]
In 2010, Tony Award winner,[13] Twyla Tharp won outstanding choreography for her work on the Atlanta premiere of the Broadway-bound Come Fly With Me.[14]
References
- 1 2 3 About Us. The Suzi Bass Awards, Inc. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
- ↑ Who is Suzi Bass? The Suzi Bass Awards, Inc. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
- 1 2 11th Annual Suzi Bass Awards Celebrate Atlanta's Best Theater Cathy H. Burroughs. Backstage. Oct. 21, 2015. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
- ↑ Judging Panels The Suzi Bass Awards, Inc. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
- ↑ Celebrating the Outstanding at the Suzi Bass Awards Myke Johns & John Lemley. WABE 90.1 FM. 2016. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
- ↑ Nominees for Suzi Bass Awards Announced; Ceremony Set for November Andrew Gans. Playbill. September 11, 2007. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
- ↑ Theatre Communications Group Theatre Communications Group. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
- ↑ Awards Listings. Suzi Bass Awards Theatre Communications Group. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
- ↑ 2009 Suzi Bass Award Winners The Suzi Bass Awards, Inc. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
- ↑ Jasmine Guy, Robin Givens, Kenny Leon, et. al. Receive Suzi Bass Award Nominations Andy Propst. TheaterMania.com. 1999–2016. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
- ↑ The Color Purple Wins Suzi Bass Award Andrew Gans. Playbill. Oct 24, 2005. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
- ↑ TUCK EVERLASTING Wins Big at Atlanta's 2015 Suzi Bass Awards; More Winners Announced November 3, 2015. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
- ↑ Twyla Tharp Search results Tony Awards 2015. Retrieved March 13, 2016
- ↑ Twyla Tharp, Lookingglass Alice Honored At 6th Annual Suzi Bass Awards BroadwayWorld.com. November 10, 2010. Retrieved March 13, 2016
External links