Charles Busch to Host IT Awards; O'Horgan Among Honorees

The IT Awards (New York Innovative Theatre Awards), the organization dedicated to celebrating Off-Off-Broadway, has announced its the 2006 Honorary Award Recipients. Hosted by Charles Busch (Pyscho Beach Party, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife), the IT Awards will be announcing the 2006 award recipients in a ceremony on Monday, September 18th.
 
In addition to the traditional awards, there are 3 honorary awards presented to outstanding individuals and organizations.
 
Ben Vereen (Wicked, Pippin) will present The 2006 Artistic Achievement Award to Tom O'Horgan. The Artistic Achievement Award is presented to an individual who has made a significant artistic contribution to the Off-Off-Broadway community. "The name Tom O'Horgan is synonymous with the Off-Off-Broadway theatre movement. As director of new works, O'Horgan was partially responsible for the early success of Ellen Stewart's LaMama ETC. He helped to shepherd such playwrights as Lanford Wilson, Jean Claude Van Italie, Sam Shepard, and more. He revolutionized American musical theatre with his productions of Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar.  His influences continue to be seen in theatres around the world," state press materials.

The 2006 Stewardship Award will be presented to The Field. The Stewardship Award is presented to an individual or organization demonstrating a significant contribution through service, support and leadership to the Off-Off-Broadway community. "For 20 years, The Field has helped independent performing artists create new artwork, manage their careers and develop long-range strategies for sustaining a life in the arts.  The Field offers an array of artists' services including peer feedback workshops, performance opportunities, space grants, creative retreats, the resource center and a full curriculum of career workshops."
 
The 2006 Caffe Cino Fellowship Award will be presented to the Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company. The Caffe Cino Fellowship Award is presented to an Off-Off-Broadway theatre company that consistently produces outstanding work. This award also includes a grant to be used toward an Off-Off-Broadway production." The Vampire Cowboys is a nonprofit theatre company with a mission to create new works based in stage combat and dark comedy with a comic book flare that explores complex subject matters. Vampire Cowboys actively pursues the mating of different genres (film noir, teenage comedies, horror, sci-fi, etc.) and theatrical styles (musicals, dance, movement, etc.) to create an eclectic structure to tell its stories."
  
The IT Awards are given annually to honor individuals and organizations who have achieved artistic excellence in Off-Off-Broadway theatre. The New York IT Awards recognizes the unique and essential role Off-Off-Broadway plays in contributing to American and global culture, and believes that publicly recognizing excellence in Off-Off-Broadway theatre will expand audience awareness and appreciation of the full New York theatre experience.
 
Visit www.nyitawards.com for more information.