Producer Daryl Roth has announced this year's recipient of the 2010 Creative Spirit Award: Tony Award Nominee David Pittu (LoveMusik). The Creative Spirit Award presented annually, honors a gifted theatre artist and provides them with support as they develop new work.
At a recent presentation, Ms. Roth commented, "Throughout my life I have been touched by quality in the theatre and that has inspired me to establish The Daryl Roth Creative Spirit Award. I am constantly in awe of the wealth of talent in the theatre community... people who have extraordinary vision, dedication, energy and spirit for doing what they love, creating and bringing theatre to life for so many of us to enjoy. To be moved by an actor's performance, a playwright's words, a director's vision, a composer's score, a designer's conception - has the unique ability to enhance our lives, challenge the mind and nurture the soul. It is my wish to offer a worthy recipient the incentive, sustenance and encouragement to nurture their creative spirit." She went on to add, "For this I am extremely pleased and delighted to honor the very talented David Pittu with the 2010 Creative Spirit Award."
David Pittu is an award-winning actor, writer and director who has worked extensively on and off-Broadway as well as in film and television. He is best known for his Tony-nominated performances in the Hal Prince/Alfred Uhry musical LoveMusik (in which he played Bertolt Brecht and received and Outer Critics' Circle Award) and the Mark Twain comedy Is He Dead?, scoring a comedic turn in multiple roles. He received the 2009 St. Clare Bayfield Award (given annually to a single Shakespearean performance) for his work as Feste in Twelfth Night at the Delacorte in Central Park. In 2008 he was the writer, lyricist, co-director and star of What's That Smell: The Music of Jacob Sterling (nominated for an Outer Critics' Award, Best Off-Broadway musical), included in both the New York Times and Entertainment Weekly 10 Best Lists in Theater that year. His other New York theater credits include Equivocation (Lortel, OCC noms), The Coast of Utopia, Of Thee I Sing at Encores!, Stuff Happens (Drama Desk, Outstanding Ensemble), Celebration and the Room (Lortel, Drama Desk noms), Never Gonna Dance and The Fourth Wall. He directed two George S. Kaufman revivals--Once in a Lifetime and The Butter and Egg Man--both at the Atlantic, where he is a company member. David Pittu grew up in Fairfield, Connecticut and attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.
The Daryl Roth Creative Spirit Award was established 15 years ago and celebrates the development of new works in an artistic environment. The first annual Creative Spirit Award was given to Michael Mayer in 1996. Since then, the award has been given to Mark Brokaw, 1997; Sinan Unel, 1998; Steven Williford, 1998; Sybille Pearson, 1998; G.W. Mercier, 1999; Edwin Sanchez, 2000; Debra Monk, 2000; Kia Corthron, 2001; Michael Wilson, 2002; Karen Hartman, 2003; Musical Theatre Works, 2004; New Dramatists, 2002, 2004-2010; LAByrinth Theatre, 2007-2010; Anika Noni Rose, 2009; Jeremy Alan Richards, 2009; and David Pittu, 2010.
Photo Credit: Peter James Zielinski
