Kristina Wong Selected To Receive Award Which Was Renamed To Honor Dorothy And Richard E. Sherwood

Since 1996, Center Theatre Group has recognized and celebrated local theatre artists with the Richard E. Sherwood Award. In 2018 Dorothy Sherwood, Richard's wife and fellow champion of innovative and adventurous theatre artists passed away. To honor the passion and dedication of both patrons of the arts, the award has been renamed the Dorothy and Richard E. Sherwood Award.

The recipient of the 2019 Dorothy and Richard E. Sherwood Award announced at the 2019 Ovation Awards is Kristina Wong. The $10,000 award aims to cultivate theatre artists who are working in Los Angeles at a catalytic moment in their career -- artists that push the formal and aesthetic boundaries and demonstrate a dedication to improve their respective artistic fields. The two additional finalists, Bruce Lemon and Marike Splint, will receive a $2,000 honorarium.

"My mother was an avid supporter of the arts in Los Angeles. She was particularly devoted to the Center Theatre Group, where she and my father enjoyed the best of contemporary theatre for decades," said Ben Sherwood. "She was deeply interested in young theatre artists and championed innovative and adventurous new work, which is why she first established an award in her husband Richard's name to encourage and support emerging theatre artists with exceptional talent. My sister Elizabeth and I hope to honor this legacy with the Dorothy and Richard E. Sherwood Award that will now carry both of their names."

Center Theatre Group Artistic Director Michael Ritchie added, "This gift is somewhat unique in Los Angeles in that it gives artists funds to do whatever they want or need; it supports their vision, without parameters or restrictions, at a crucial point in their careers. We are grateful to the Sherwood family for their generosity, which will allow us to continue to make an impact on Los Angeles theatre in the memory of two people who devoted so much of their lives to our community. Los Angeles has lost an important supporter of the arts, but in renaming the Sherwood Award to honor Dorothy as well as Richard, we're ensuring that their contributions are not forgotten."