New York Innovative Theatre Awards

The New York Innovative Theatre Awards (also known as NYIT Awards and IT Awards) are accolades given annually by the New York Innovative Theatre Foundation, a not-for-profit arts organization founded in 2004, to honor individuals and organizations who have achieved artistic excellence in off-off-Broadway theatre.

New York Innovative Theatre Awards
Awarded for	Excellence in off-off-Broadway theatre
Country	United States
Presented by	New York Innovative Theatre Foundation
First awarded	September 19, 2005; 17 years ago (2005-09-19)
Website	www.nyitawards.com

Mission statement

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. We believe that publicly recognizing excellence in Off-Off-Broadway will expand audience awareness and appreciation of the full New York theatre experience.

The IT Awards is a not-for-profit arts organization supporting the Off-Off-Broadway community by:

• Celebrating and Recognizing extraordinary Off-Off-Broadway Theatre
• Strengthening the community and collective identity of Off-Off-Broadway
• Honoring the artistic heritage of Off-Off-Broadway
• Advancing public interest in and understanding of Off-Off-Broadway and the theatrical arts in general

IT Foundation Personnel

This organization was founded in 2004 by Jason Bowcutt, Shay Gines and Nick Micozzi.

STAFF: Shay Gines, Executive Director; Nick Micozzi, Executive Director; Akia, Company Manager; Christopher Borg, Communications & Outreach; Hillary Cohen, Judge Wrangler; Desmond Dutcher, Judge Coordinator; Doug Strassler, Update Editor; Morgan Lindsay Tachco, Community Services Manager; Katie Rosin, Public Relations

BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Jason Bowcutt, Roman Feeser, Shay Gines, Benjamin Hodges, Bob Lee, Roger LeFevre, Leone Rendon de Litt, Nick Micozzi, Linda S. Nelson

ALUMNI STAFF/BOARD: Michael Michell, Board President; Tim Pinckney, Board Member; Nancy Kim, Members Coordinator; Emily Sandack, Update Editor

Judging System

The awards are selected based on a peer evaluation system that includes adjudication from 3 assigned Off-Off-Broadway artists as well as the average of audience votes.

The judging system is a direct result of the endeavour to provide opportunities for artists to see each other's work and create a venue for them to become familiar with other Off-Off-Broadway companies and artists, some of which they might otherwise never know.

In 2008 a video was created to detail this process and can be viewed on YouTube.

Additional programs

The IT Awards authored a book entitled Producing Off-Off-Broadway which will be published by United Stages in 2007.^{[needs update]}

2011 IT Awards Recipients

The 2011 New York Innovative Theatre Awards were held on Monday, September 19 at Cooper Union's Great Hall in New York City and was attended by 800 artists and their guests. The event was hosted by comedian Harrison Greenbaum, directed by Tom Wojtunik and a presentation by the Flux Theatre Ensemble. Presenters included Susan Stroman, Jay O. Sanders, David Henry Hwang, John Glover, Shirley Knight, and John Patrick Shanley.^[1]

2009 IT Awards Recipients

^[2][3] The 2009 New York Innovative Theatre Awards were held on Monday, September 21 at New World Stages in New York City and was attended by 750 artists and their guests. The event was hosted by Julie Halston with script contributions by Matthew Freeman, opening number performed by Scott Williams and directed by Christopher Borg and a presentation by The Brick Theater Company.

• HONORARY AWARDS

The 2009 Artistic Achievement Award for significant artistic contribution to the Off-Off-Broadway community was presented by Nilo Cruz to Maria Irene Fornes.

The 2009 Stewardship Award for significant contribution to the Off-Off-Broadway community through service, support and leadership was presented by Commissioner of Cultural Affairs Kate D. Levin to Harriet Taub and Materials for the Arts.

The 2009 Caffe Cino Fellowship Award for consistent production of outstanding work, was presented by Ben Hodges and Jeff Riebe to The Brick Theater.

• PRODUCTION AWARDS

Award	Recipient	Production	Producer	Presenter
Outstanding Ensemble	Christopher Borg, Jeffrey Cranor, Kevin R. Free & Eevin Hartsough	(Not) Just A Day Like Any Other	New York Neo-Futurists	Charles Busch
Outstanding Original Short Script	Nico Vreeland	The Interview, Elephants on Parade 2009	EBE Ensemble	Bekah Brunstetter
Outstanding Original Full Length Script	Nat Cassidy	The Reckoning of Kit & Little Boots	The Gallery Players in association with Engine37	Bekah Brunstetter
Outstanding Solo Performance	Jeff Grow	Creating Illusion!	soloNOVA Arts Festival	James Scruggs
Outstanding Director	Suzi Takahashi	Lee/gendary	HERE Arts Center	Austin Pendleton
Outstanding Choreography/Movement	Austin McCormick	The Judgment of Paris	Company XIV	Casey Nicholaw
Outstanding Set Design	Michael P. Kramer	Ragtime	Astoria Performing Arts Center	Loy Arcenas
Outstanding Lighting Design	Bruce Steinberg	Blue Before Morning	terraNOVA Collective	Beverly Emmons
Outstanding Sound Design	Asa Wember	Angel Eaters	Flux Theatre Ensemble	Jeremy Lee
Outstanding Costume Design	Michelle Beshaw	The Very Sad Story of Ethel & Julius	GOH Productions	Constance Hoffman
Outstanding Original Music	Kimmy Gatewood, Andy Hertz, Rebekka Johnson, Sarah Lowe & Jeff Solomon	The Apple Sisters	The Apple Sisters	Andrew Lippa
Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role	Julian Elfer	Twelfth Night, or What You Will	T. Schreiber Studio	Kevin Chamberlin
Outstanding Actress in a Leading Role	Elyse Mirto	Any Day Now	Writer's Forum at Manhattan Theatre Source	Kevin Chamberlin
Outstanding Actor in a Featured Role	William Apps IV	Amerissiah	The Amoralists Theatre Company	Jackie Hoffman
Outstanding Actress in a Featured Role	Constance Parng	Lee/gendary	HERE Arts Center	Jackie Hoffman
Outstanding Performance Art Production	Creating Illusion	Creating Illusion	soloNOVA Arts Festival	Taylor Mac
Outstanding Production of a Musical	Like You Like It	Like You Like It	The Gallery Players	Elizabeth Swados
Outstanding Production of a Play	Lee/gendary	Lee/gendary	HERE Arts Center	Magie Dominic and Bob Dahdah
Outstanding Stage Manager Award	Jillian Zeman	Ragtime	Astoria Performing Arts Center	Tom Wojtunik and Taryn Drongowski

1. Full web broadcast of the ceremony with blog commentary by Aaron Riccio.
2. Podcast of backstage interviews with the presenters and recipients by Michael Gilboe on Broadway Bullet
3. List of all of the artists and companies that were nominated for the 2009 awards

2008 IT Awards Recipients

The 2008 New York Innovative Theatre Awards were held on Monday, September 22^[4][5] at the Fashion Institute of Technology's Haft Auditorium in New York City and was attended by 750 artists and their guests. The event was hosted by Lisa Kron with performances by the Blue Man Group and a presentation by Boomerang Theatre Company's Jennifer Larkin, Joe Whelski and Vinnie Penna.

• HONORARY AWARDS

The 2008 Artistic Achievement Award for significant artistic contribution to the Off-Off-Broadway community was presented by Olympia Dukakis to Judith Malina.

The 2008 Stewardship Award for significant contribution to the Off-Off-Broadway community through service, support and leadership was presented by Kirk Wood Bromley to the New York Theatre Experience- Martin Denton and Rochelle Denton.

The 2008 Caffe Cino Fellowship Award for consistent production of outstanding work, was presented by Leonard Jacobs and Akia to Boomerang Theatre Company.

• PRODUCTION AWARDS

Award	Recipient	Production	Producer	Presenter
Outstanding Ensemble	Elena Chang, Noshir Dalal, Jon Hoche, Kelley Rae O'Donnell, Melissa Paladino, Maureen Sebastian, Andrea Marie Smith, Paco Tolson, Temar Underwood	Fight Girl Battle World	Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company	Michael Dahlen & Bill Irwin
Outstanding Original Short Script	Aliza Shane	The Three Sillies	The Looking Glass Theatre	Tina Howe
Outstanding Original Full Length Script	Bekah Brunstetter	You May Go Now	Babel Theatre Project	Tina Howe
Outstanding Solo Performance	Andrea Caban	You Got Questions? I Got Answers!	Coyote REP Theatre Company	Desiree Burch
Outstanding Director	Edward Elefterion	The Night of Nosferatu	Rabbit Hole Ensemble	Isaac Byrne & Daniel Talbott
Outstanding Choreography/Movement	Qui Nguyen	Fight Girl Battle World	Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company	Rob Ashford
Outstanding Set Design	Sean Breault	Art of Memory	Company SoGoNo	Anna Louizos
Outstanding Lighting Design	Kevin Hardy	The Night of Nosferatu	Rabbit Hole Ensemble	Anne Militello
Outstanding Sound Design	Dan Bianchi	The Island of Dr. Moreau	Radiotheatre	Dan Moses Scheier
Outstanding Costume Design	Jessica Wegener	Fight Girl Battle World	Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company	Catherine Zuber
Outstanding Original Music	Dan Bianchi	The Island of Dr. Moreau	Radiotheatre	John Bucchino
Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role	Cameron J. Oro	The Accidental Patriot	The Stolen Chair Theatre Company	Louis Zorich
Outstanding Actress in a Leading Role	Stephanie Barton-Farcas	Elizabeth Rex	Nicu's Spoon	Louis Zorich
Outstanding Actor in a Featured Role	Rob Sheridan	The Two Lives of Napoleon Beazley	Incumbo Theater Company	Barrett Foa
Outstanding Actress in a Featured Role	Megan Byrne	No End of Blame	Potomac Theatre Project	Barrett Foa
Outstanding Performance Art Production	Removable Parts	Removable Parts	HERE Arts Center	David Cote
Outstanding Production of a Musical	Yank! A New Musical	Yank! A New Musical	The Gallery Players	Michael Berresse
Outstanding Production of a Play	Burn, Crave, Hold: The James Wilde Project	Burn, Crave, Hold: The James Wilde Project	Blessed Unrest	Edward Albee

1. Podcast of interviews with the presenters and nominees on Broadway Bullet
2. Honorary Award Recipients article by Doug Strassler
3. List of all of the artists and companies that were nominated for the 2008 awards

2007 IT Awards Recipients

The 2007 New York Innovative Theatre Awards were held on Monday, September 24 at the Fashion Institute of Technology's Haft Auditorium in New York City^[6][7] and was attended by 750 artists and their guests. The event was hosted by Julie Halston with a presentation by Rising Phoenix Repertory's Elizabeth West.

• HONORARY AWARDS

The 2007 Artistic Achievement Award for significant artistic contribution to the Off-Off-Broadway community was presented by Mark Finley to Doric Wilson.

The 2007 Stewardship Award for significant contribution to the Off-Off-Broadway community through service, support and leadership was presented by Christine Quinn to Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York (A.R.T./New York).

The 2007 Caffe Cino Fellowship Award for consistent production of outstanding work, was presented by Leonard Jacobs and Paul Adams to Rising Phoenix Repertory.

• PRODUCTION AWARDS

Award	Recipient	Production	Producer	Presenter
Outstanding Ensemble	Boo Killebrew, Julia Lowrie Henderson, Ryan Purcell, Max Rosenak, Phillip Taratula & Daniel Walker Stowell	6969	CollaborationTown, A Theatre Company Inc.	John Clancy & Elena Holy
Outstanding Original Short Script	Daniel Reitz	Rules of the Universe	Rising Phoenix Repertory	Gary Garrison
Outstanding Original Full Length Script	Saviana Stanescu	Waxing West	East Coast Artists	Gary Garrison
Outstanding Solo Performance	Mike Houston	The Ledge	eavesdrop	Nicky Paraiso
Outstanding Director	Daniel Talbott	Rules of the Universe	Rising Phoenix Repertory	Carl Andress
Outstanding Choreography/Movement	Dan Safer	Dancing Vs the Rat Experiment	La MaMa ETC in association with Witness Relocation	Christopher Gattelli & Ryan Duncan
Outstanding Set Design	George Allison	Picasso at the Lapin Agile	T. Schreiber Studio	Tobin Ost
Outstanding Lighting Design	Peter Hoerburger	The Present Perfect	The Operating Theater	Natasha Katz
Outstanding Sound Design	Ryan Maeker & Tim Schellenbaum	Dancing Vs the Rat Experiment	La MaMa ETC in association with Witness Relocation	Fitz Patton
Outstanding Costume Design	David Withrow	Bug Boy Blues	The Looking Glass Theatre	Susan Hilferty
Outstanding Original Music	Leanne Darling	The Landlord	Toy Box Theatre Company	Mel Marvin
Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role	Max Rosenak	6969	CollaborationTown, A Theatre Company Inc.	Kathleen Chalfant
Outstanding Actress in a Leading Role	Susan Louise O'Connor	the silent concerto	Packawallop Productions, Inc.	Kathleen Chalfant
Outstanding Actor in a Featured Role	Joe Plummer	As You Like It	poortom productions	Anika Noni Rose & Jenn Harris
Outstanding Actress in a Featured Role	Boo Killebrew	6969	CollaborationTown, A Theatre Company Inc.	Anika Noni Rose & Jenn Harris
Outstanding Performance Art Production	Dancing Vs the Rat Experiment	Dancing Vs the Rat Experiment	La MaMa ETC in association with Witness Relocation	Leigh Silverman
Outstanding Production of a Musical	Urinetown, The Musical	Urinetown, The Musical	The Gallery Players	Robert Lopez
Outstanding Production of a Play	Bouffon Glass Menajoree	Bouffon Glass Menajoree	Ten Directions	William M. Hoffman

2006 IT Awards Recipients

The 2006 New York Innovative Theatre Awards were held on Monday, September 18^[8] at the historic Cooper Union in New York City and was attended by 600 artists and their guests. The event was hosted by Charles Busch with a special presentation by Lisa Stevenson of ART/NY.

• HONORARY AWARDS

The 2006 Artistic Achievement Award for significant artistic contribution to the Off-Off-Broadway community was presented by Ben Vereen to Tom O'Horgan.

The 2006 Stewardship Award for significant contribution to the Off-Off-Broadway community through service, support and leadership was presented by William Russo and Tim Errickson to The Field.

The 2006 Caffe Cino Fellowship Award for consistent production of outstanding work includes a grant to be used toward an Off-Off-Broadway production, was presented by Leonard Jacobs to The Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company

• PRODUCTION AWARDS

Award	Recipient	Production	Producer	Presenter
Outstanding Ensemble	David Carr-Berry, Jared Culverhouse, Ellen David, Paul Fears, Andaye' Hill, Julian James, Gregory Porter Miller & Brian Schlanger	To Nineveh: A Modern Miracle	Working Man's Clothes	Henry Russell Bergstein
Outstanding Solo Performance	Margaux Laskey	size ate	size ate productions	Lypsinka (John Epperson)
Outstanding Actor In A Featured Role	Trey Gibbons	How I Learned To Drive	T. Schreiber Studio	Martha Plimpton
Outstanding Actress In A Featured Role	Summer Moore	Last Summer at Bluefish Cove	T. Schreiber Studio	Martha Plimpton
Outstanding Actor In A Lead Role	Greg Horton	The Singapore Mikado	Theater Ten Ten	Mary Louise Burke & Jason Kravits
Outstanding Actress In A Lead Role	Ellen David	To Nineveh: A Modern Miracle	Working Man's Clothes	Mary Louise Burke & Jason Kravits
Outstanding Choreography / Movement	Marius Hanford	Living Dead In Denmark	Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company	Jeff Calhoun
Outstanding Director	Isaac Byrne	To Nineveh: A Modern Miracle	Working Man's Clothes	Adam Rapp
Outstanding Set Design	Eddy Trotter	Love! Valour! Compassion!	T. Schreiber Studio	Alexander Dodge
Outstanding Lighting Design	Arthur Adair	The Emperor Jones	La MaMa, E.T.C.	Mary Louise Geiger
Outstanding Costume Design	Sidney Shannon	Iron Curtain	Prospect Theater Company	William Ivey Long
Outstanding Sound Design	Paul John DeSena	To Nineveh: A Modern Miracle	Working Man's Clothes	Mark Bennett
Outstanding Original Music	Brendan Connelly	Major Barbara	La MaMa, E.T.C. in association with Two-Headed Calf	Michael John LaChiusa
Outstanding Original Short Script	Vishakan Jeyakumar	Jaffna Mangoes	Desipina & Company	Ian Marshall & Jonathan Reuning
Outstanding Original Full-Length Script	Bekah Brunstetter	To Nineveh: A Modern Miracle	Working Man's Clothes	Ian Marshall & Jonathan Reuning
Outstanding Performance Art Production	Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind	Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind	New York Neo-Futurists	Lisa Kron
Outstanding Production of a Musical	Iron Curtain	Iron Curtain	Prospect Theater Company	Mary Testa
Outstanding Production of a Play	To Nineveh: A Modern Miracle	To Nineveh: A Modern Miracle	Working Man's Clothes	Lanford Wilson

2005 IT Awards Recipients

The inaugural awards ceremony was held on Monday, September 19^[9][10] at the Lucille Lortel Theatre and was attend by 300 nominees and guests. It was hosted by Charles Busch with a special presentation by Judith Haking and the opening number was performed by the cast of [title of show], Hunter Bell, Jeff Bowen, Susan Blackwell, Heidi Blickenstaff and Larry Pressgrove.

• HONORARY AWARDS

The 2005 Artistic Achievement Award for significant artistic contribution to the Off-Off-Broadway community was presented by Leonard Jacobs to Basil Twist.

The 2005 Stewardship Award for significant contribution to the Off-Off-Broadway community through service, support and leadership was presented by Tom O'Horgan to Ellen Stewart.

The 2005 Caffe Cino Fellowship Award for consistent production of outstanding work includes a grant to be used toward an Off-Off-Broadway production, was presented by Leonard Jacobs and Jeff Riebe to Inverse Theatre Company.

• PRODUCTION AWARDS

Recipient	Production	Producer	Presenter
Outstanding Ensemble
Catherine Jhung, Don Nahaku, Lethia Nall, Matthew Pendergast, A-men Rasheed, Tijuana Ricks, Antonio G. del Rosario, Debargo Sanyal, Ragini Shah, Sam Younis	Pulling the Lever	Rising Circle Theater Collective	Doric Wilson & Bob Heidi
Outstanding Solo Performance
James Scruggs	Disposable Men		Julie Halston
Outstanding Actor In A Featured Role
Nicky Paraiso	Iphigenia,	LaMaMa E.T.C. in association with Sky Saver Productions	Dan Fogler
Outstanding Actress In A Featured Role
Sara Thigpen	Burning the Old Man	Boomerang Theatre Company	Dan Fogler
Outstanding Actor In A Lead Role
Troy Lavallee	Serenade & Philosopher Fox	East River Commedia and The Polish Cultural Institute of New York	Marian Seldes
Outstanding Actress In A Lead Role	IT'S A TIE
Carolyn Goelzer	Iphigenia	LaMaMa E.T.C. in association with Sky Saver Productions	Marian Seldes
Maria McConville	Honor part 2	Drilling Company NY	Marian Seldes
Outstanding Choreography / Movement
Jennifer L. Mudge	It's Karate, Kid! The Musical	The Four Corners Project	Kathleen Marshall
Outstanding Director
Paul Bargetto	Serenade & Philosopher Fox	East River Commedia and The Polish Cultural Institute of New York	Erika Gould
Outstanding Set Design
Michael Allen	Masquerade	Ten Grand and a Burger	Heidi Ettinger
Outstanding Lighting Design
Daniel Ordower	Hazard County	Themantics Group	Brian MacDevitt
Outstanding Costume Design
Rob Eggers	Othello	Palehorse Productions	Gabriel Berry
Outstanding Sound Design
Quentin Chiappetta	Murder in the First	Invictus Theatre Company	Nevin Steinberg
Outstanding Original Music
Quentin Chiappetta	Murder in the First	Invictus Theatre Company	[title of show], Hunter Bell, Jeff Bowen & Susan Blackwell
Outstanding Original Short Script
P. Seth Bauer	First Time Out of Bounds	Drilling Company NY	Martin Denton & Rochelle Denton
Outstanding Original Full-Length Script
Kelly McAllister	Burning the Old Man	Boomerang Theatre Company	Martin Denton & Rochelle Denton
Outstanding Performance Art Production
all wear bowlers			Penny Arcade
Outstanding Production of a Musical
It's Karate, Kid! The Musical		The Four Corners Project	David Stone
Outstanding Production of a Play
Serenade & Philosopher Fox		East River Commedia and The Polish Cultural Institute of New York	John Guare & Constance Congdon

References

1. 2011 Award Recipients Announced New York Innovative Theater Awards Official Site, September 21, 2010
2. A Big Night for Small Theatre by Steven McElroy, New York Times, September 22, 2009
3. Lee/gendary, Like You Like It, Mirto and Elfter Are 2009 IT Award Winners by Adam Hetrick, Playbill, September 21, 2009
4. 2008 IT Award Winners Announced Brian Scott Lipton, TheaterMania, September 23, 2008
5. Mac, Paley, Nguyen, Steggert, et al. Receive IT Awards Nominations Dan Bacalzo, TheaterMania, July 22, 2008
6. IT Awards Honor Off-Off-Broadway, Backstage, September 25, 2007
7. 2007 IT Award Winners Announced, Playbill, September 25, 2007
8. All Those Awards New York Times, July 27, 2006
9. Off-Off-Broadway Has IT by Steven McElroy, New York Times, August 8, 2005
10. New York IT Award Nominees Announced by Adam Klasfeld, TheaterMania, July 20, 2005

External links

• Official website