Contact Info:
Black Theater Alliance
Awards, Inc.
412 E. 43rd St. #305
Chicago, IL. 60653
773-624-5729
btaainc@hotmail.com





BTAA
The Black Theater Alliance Awards, Inc.(BTAA) was founded in 1995, by Vincent Williams who serves as president of the organization. BTAA is a 501(c)(3), not-for-profit entity, founded to honor African Americans who achieve excellence in theater, dance and all areas of the performing and technical arts in the Chicagoland area.

BTAA presents an annual awards ceremony, a professional upbeat program featuring performances from the nominated season.

BTAA's award statuette features a gold plated oval star mounted on a black marble base. According to BTAA founder and president Vincent Williams, "the star symbolizes excellence and the power of hope that our awardees give to our community, which is also represented by the black marble base." The categories of achievement range from performing to the technical aspects of theater. Also, BTAA administers an Award of Merit to a special honoree that has made a significant contribution to the world of the performing arts.





Vincent Williams conceived and collaborated with David Barr and Mamie Till-Mobley in creating The State of Mississippi v. Emmett Till. A native of Chicago, Illinois, Vincent is an actor, singer and producer. As an actor, Vincent has performed in such plays as Godspell, Pippin, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Wiz, Guys and Dolls, Applause, and Once On This Island. Vincent’s stage manager credits are A Soldier’s Play, The Amen Corner, Sophisticated Ladies, and One Monkey Don’t Stop No Show. Vincent has earned a B.A. degree in Arts and Entertainment Media Management from Columbia College Chicago. Vincent has also served as a panel member for the Illinois Arts Council.

Vincent founded the Black Theater Alliance Awards, Inc., in 1995 and has produced and presented an annual awards presentation to honor and recognize excellence by African American performing and technical artists in theater, dance and all areas of the performing arts. Vincent is the recipient of WKKC’s Critic’s Corner Fine Arts Award for his work with the Black Theater Alliance Awards. Inc.



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Ira Aldridge (b.1807-d.1867) is considered the first African American Shakespearean actor to become an accomplished actor in a foreign country. Ira Aldridge was born a free black man to poor parents in New York City, and developed an interest in rhetoric from the African Free School. Having been denied the opportunity to perform on a mainstream professional stage in the United States. Mr. Aldridge became the first of a long line of African American artist to immigrate to Europe to find outlets for their talents. He performed more than forty roles in his lifetime, including seven of Shakespeare's heroes, proving that a black man was capable of delivering a classic performance of the utmost standard. Black Theater Alliance Awards, Inc., Founder and President, Vincent Williams states, "We are proud to name our awards after Ira Aldridge, he is a trailblazer, a man whose contributions were world renowned, and he should be remembered in the theater community."








The 15th Annual Black Theater Alliance/Ira Aldridge Awards, Inc.

Date: Monday, October 5, 2009

Time: 7pm - 3-course plated dinner; 8pm - Awards Presentation

Place: Crowne Plaza Chicago Metro Hotel
           733 West Madison
           Chicago, Illinois 60661

Nominations to be announced Monday, August 3, 2009.








2008 Lifetime Achievement Award Honoree

Arthur Mitchell
Founder and Artistic Director



Arthur Mitchell is known around the world as an accomplished artistic director, astute educator, talented choreographer and extraordinary dancer. Born in New York City on March 27, 1934, he began his dance training at New York City's High School of the Performing Arts, where he was the first male student to win the coveted Annual Dance Award.

Mitchell continued his classical training when he received a full scholarship to the School of American Ballet. In 1955, he was the first African-American male to become a permanent member of a major ballet company when he joined the New York City Ballet.

During his fifteen-year career with the New York City Ballet, Mitchell rose quickly to the rank of Principal Dancer and electrified audiences with his performances in a broad spectrum of roles. Mitchell is best known for two roles choreographed especially for him by the late George Balanchine; the "Pas de Deux" from Agon and the lighthearted "Puck" in A Midsummer Night's Dream. He also performed in nightclubs, on Broadway, in film, and on television. Mitchell was also a popular guest artist in the United States and abroad.

In 1966, Mitchell was asked to organize the American Negro Dance Company, which represented the United States at the first World Festival of Negro Arts in Senegal. In 1967, at the request of the United States International Association, he founded the National Ballet Company of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro.

Upon learning of the death of The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1968, Mitchell was inspired to provide children especially those living in Harlem with the opportunity to study dance. During the summer of 1968, he began teaching classes in a remodeled garage. In 1969, with financial assistance from Mrs. Alva B. Gimbel and the Ford Foundation, Mitchell founded Dance Theatre of Harlem with his mentor and ballet instructor Karel Shook.

As a professional dance company and a school of the allied arts, the continued expansion of Dance Theatre of Harlem into a multi-cultural institution has attracted thousands of professional dancers and students from around the world. Arthur Mitchell adds to the legacy every day as Dance Theatre of Harlem's Artistic Director.

Selected Choreographic Works
1998 South African Suite 1993 Bach Passacaglia (DTH) 1989 John Henry (DTH)
1986 Lucy (music video) 1984 Porgy and Bess (Metropolitan Opera) 1976 Spiritual Suite (DTH)
1975 Manifestations (DTH) 1971 Rhythmetron (DTH) 1971 Fete Noire (DTH)
1970 Tones (DTH)


 





On Thursday, June 26, 2008, Arthur Mitchell, 2008 BTAA
Lifetime Achievement Award Honoree granted this interview


Vincent: What set you on your path to a life in the arts?
Mr. Mitchell: When one went to school in the old days, they had guidance counselors. In junior high school we had a class party; the guidance counselor saw me doing the social dances and said I should try out for the High School of Performing Arts. I had seen all the musicals and heard of the great dancers but at that time I never thought of dance as a career. An old vaudevillian helped me put together a tap dance routine. I auditioned at the High School of Performing Arts and they accepted me in the school. That was my formal beginning to becoming a dancer.

Vincent: What would you consider to be high points in your life/career?
Mr. Mitchell: It is very difficult to say what all the high points are in my life because my life is not over! My nature is that I’m always going to do better; it’s a never ending process.

Many things come to mind, not necessarily in chronological order, such as:
  • The very first performance of Dance Theatre of Harlem at the Anta Theatre in 1969. It was the first realization of eight black girls doing Mr. Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco. To actually see it happen was amazing.

  • Winning the scholarship in 1952 to the School of American Ballet, the official school of New York City Ballet. I also won a scholarship to Bennington College, which was an all girls’ school. I was the first male to win a scholarship there and my dream was to go college but I realized if I wanted to be a professional dancer I should take the scholarship to the School of American Ballet, which is what I did.

  • Receiving a telegram while in Europe with John Butler’s American Dance Theater asking me to come back and join New York City Ballet, making me the first African American to join a major ballet company in the United States of America as a permanent member. Also, dancing on opening night with New York City Ballet in Russia in 1962; they had never seen a black man dance classical ballet and the audiences just went insane.

  • The day Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated. I was getting on a plane at Idlewild Airport to go to Brazil to start a company and said to myself, “you know Mitchell, this is really stupid. Why are you going to Brazil when there are so many problems in America? Put your money where your mouth is.” So I decided to go back into the community where I was born, which was Harlem and start a school. I did go to Brazil and start the first national Brazilian ballet company, a symphony and an opera, and I helped design and build the first opera house in Bahia, Brazil.

  • When Dance Theatre of Harlem broke the 30-year cultural ban in South Africa was definitely a high point for me. Mr. Mandela attended our performance and came backstage with tears in his eyes and it just tore me apart. It was in 1992 and apartheid was still in place but we went. I had never toured in Africa before. We travelled to South Africa in three groups; most of the Company came over on the third lap. We were at the airport waiting for the company and as the plane landed, the Sun was setting, the background was beautiful and a South African chorus was waiting at the steps of the plane to welcome the Company to Africa. It was overwhelming and a very emotional experience. Everyone was crying. It was just magical because you must remember, we had never been in a country where black people are the majority and it was like coming home. Something happened that touched the core of all of us; something inside of us just nodded because you hear about where you come from but you never can really identify and it was just unbelievable. I can’t begin to really adequately describe to you what it was like.

  • While in South Africa, I had the opportunity to go to the Cape of Good Hope, the passageway for slave ships. I sat on top of a mountain and thought to myself “my God, do you believe all the people and all the history that has gone on in this place and here we are performing for these people … sharing knowledge in a country that is the seed of the world because everything came from Africa.”

  • In 1984 Dance Theatre of Harlem performed the flag exchange ceremony with Seoul, Korea for the Olympics and it was awesome. They asked our dancers to perform and when we walked into the Olympic Stadium it was so much energy and dynamism, it seemed like I was going back through history. I understood what it must have felt like during the Roman games to experience thousands of people participating in the pageantry and ceremony; it was amazing the pride you feel. It was unbelievable.

    Vincent: I could imagine.
    Mr. Mitchell: November 1955 is also a high-point for me; it was my very first performance with New York City Ballet. When they asked me to join the company I said to Mr. Balanchine “I don’t want any publicity that says Negro breaks barrier. Let me join the company and whatever I get, I get on my hard work and talent.” So no one knew I was making my debut and I danced in the fourth movement of Western Symphony with Mr. Balanchine’s wife Tanaquil Le Clercq. You can’t imagine the response from the audience when I danced out on the stage with Tanaquil on my arm. You read about these kind of events in history, but to be a part of it, to hear people screaming, yelling and making these epithets. It was a shock to the system. I always danced for my family, for my people, for the art form of dance and I said “Well Lord, don’t leave me now” and by the end I got a standing ovation. It is something I’ll never forget.

    Vincent: Who are your heroes?
    Mr. Mitchell: There are physical heroes, there are psychological heroes, and there are spiritual heroes, who are the ones I feel are guiding me, because I do believe in past lives. I’m back on the earthplane, in this particular body but I bring with me the knowledge and information that has been passed on for centuries.

    I was fortunate to have great geniuses of the 21st century as my teachers, and that would be Mr. Karel Shook, who was my mentor and teacher; Mr. George Balanchine; Mr. Lincoln Kirstein; Malcolm X; Dr. King; Mahatma Gandhi; Mr. Mandela. I learned from all of these people who had all the odds against them; I said if they can do it so can I. I used them as my role models.

    Vincent: What up and coming artist do you admire right now?
    Mr. Mitchell: Oh, it’s very hard to say but again, naturally I am going to say all of the artists (dancers, technicians, staff, faculty, Board members) from Dance Theatre of Harlem because we still are breaking barriers and breaking down stereotypical concepts of who we are and what we can do. I admire anyone making in-roads in society to show regardless of race, class, creed, or color, it’s the quality of what you do that is most important.

    Vincent: What is your greatest indulgence?
    Mr. Mitchell: Storytelling. People say I am innately very serious because I am a man on a mission. Personally, clothes are my greatest indulgence. Elegance is inherent to the man whether he or she is a courtier of Louis IVX’s court or a Watusi warrior. At Dance Theatre of Harlem, we put that concept in the dancer’s being, to express whether they were on or off-stage. I believe it is always important to dress well.

    Vincent: Hello.
    Mr. Mitchell: You understand what I’m saying.

    Vincent: What motivates you?
    Mr. Mitchell: Talent and young people. We start them at three years old at Dance Theatre of Harlem. We say we audition them but actually it’s a placement class and you see three-year old kids walking in with purpose and focus. It is mind-boggling. I have a wonderful relationship with young people. Being a typical Aries, they like me and I like them, so this whole thing just builds - all this energy - and it creates an atmosphere of sharing with each other. They feed me and I feed them. We end up having a wonderful time; together we create a wonderful energy.

    Vincent: Explain the different advantages in being a dancer/performing artist who is African American today as opposed to the days of yesteryear? Have we overcome?
    Mr. Mitchell: Well, the thing is we never have overcome in the sense of equal opportunity for everyone; but the thing is, it is part of our strength having to strive in order to get better. I never used the crutch that I’m African American. I am a man who happens to be black, not a black man.

    Vincent: What gave you the inspiration to create Dance Theatre of Harlem? Give us the history?
    Mr. Mitchell: The assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King. I’m one of the rare people who was born in New York City and I grew up in Harlem during the World War II and the riots of Harlem, so what I had already experienced the thing I did not want to see happen again when Dr. King was assassinated, in the community where I was born. I decided I had to go back where I’m from and give something positive. Get young people off the street; not through violence but through positive energy to help them take all that pent-up anger, hate, and emotion and turn it into something that feeds the body that allows you to improve as a dancer and as an artist. Then it comes out in a positive way rather than negative.

    Vincent: What in your view makes a good choreographer of dance? What must they possess?
    Mr. Mitchell: It’s not just one individual trait. Everybody comes from a different point of view. Sometimes you may be inspired by an individual who dances; you may be inspired by music; you may be inspired by a situation. It’s how you take the inspiration and use it to develop your artistry. All these things come together and make you a leader. One of the strongest things you must possess is a concrete belief in yourself and what you are doing, against all odds, because even though everyone says they want change, when you try to make a change, people run the other way. So you must have belief in yourself. I always say “my eye is on the sparrow”. It’s the aloneness of the long distance runner, not loneliness; that’s another thing. It’s the aloneness because when you are leading the pack, the only person you are competing against is yourself. In the final analysis you have to compete with yourself and keep your eye on the sparrow so regardless what anyone tells you - how much they love you, like you, hate you, or fear you – you must know what you have to do and do it.

    Vincent: In comparing and contrasting dance today and yesteryear please talk about the gone heroes of the past in the world of dance who laid the foundation, and the upcoming styles and artist?
    Mr. Mitchell: There isn’t just one style; your eclecticism is your strength, not a weakness. I often think of an incredible dancer like Janet Collins, whom most people don’t even know. She was one of the first black dancers and she danced with the Metropolitan Opera. I don’t see anyone today who moves with her speed. Or the Nicholas Brothers; who do you see dancing today who can do what those guys did? Look at Miss Katherine Dunham; look at Josephine Baker, who has the sleekness and the style of Madame Baker? They set the ground rules for all of us today. There was a dancer in the 20’s called Snakehips; all those things you see today are part of what they did as dancers. All those techniques come together and makes the artist of today because it breaks down the lines or barriers that say, I’m a jazz dancer or I’m a tap dancer or I’m a modern dancer or I’m a ballet dancer. You’ve got to be a good dance artist and dance all of the styles, which is dance theatre.

    Vincent: The quote “Using the arts to ignite the mind”. Can you expound on that a bit?
    Mr. Mitchell: It’s one of my favorite sayings. I feel anyone who does not have the arts in their life is living in a desert.

    Vincent: Absolutely.
    Mr. Mitchell: In America we perceive art as entertainment. In most other countries it’s part of their religion, part o their being. So consequently the arts ignite the mind, it gives the possibility to dream and to hope and in these times that we are living in where technology abounds, you have to have hope, which comes from having the arts in your life. Something has to save the soul and the human being and that’s what the arts will do.

    Vincent: I’m a Substitute teacher and I remember this student who had a behavior problem. They were rehearsing for a Black History Month program, and I saw how well he moved and picked up these dance moves. So I told the coordinator of the program…put him with dance…it will help his behavior problem (pull it out of him).
    Mr. Mitchell: Right. From the very first lesson you take in dance, you realize you will get out of it what you put into it: skills that will get you through life. Through dance you will get a sense of discipline and focus and that awareness makes everything around you better, clearer, sharper. You talk better, sit better, you dress better. You are living not just existing.

    Vincent: They may not want to be a professional dancer, but it’s going to help them some other ways in their life.
    Mr. Mitchell: Many of the students who come to Dance Theatre of Harlem may not turn out to be professional dancers. But, they are getting the discipline and the focus to achieve whatever they want to achieve. You’ll be surprised as I travel the world, the number of people who come to me and say, ‘Mr. Mitchell you don’t know me but you came to my school or community and because of the dance discipline you gave me I am now a doctor, a lawyer, a singer, a dancer, an artist.’ It’s amazing how every little drop you can put into the psyche eventually gives you a full bucket of knowledge.

    Vincent: In celebrating the upcoming 40th anniversary of Dance Theatre of Harlem what thoughts do you have (reflecting)? What would you have done over again?
    Mr. Mitchell: I always understood ‘first a school’ and out of that would come a company. In hindsight, I would have had a greater awareness of the financials because it takes finances to sustain a school and a company.

    But, at first I didn’t realize it would last 40 years. People ask me where do I get all this energy and I say it’s my other brother. I tell people I initially started in the womb as twins and came out as one. I keep saying “my life” but I am here with a mission. My goal, through the arts, is that every opportunity be given to every child regardless of race, class, creed or color, and this is why the arts are so wonderful because either you hit the high C or you don’t hit the high C. That’s a universal common denominator towards excellence. So those things are what I believe in and live by. I’m a very spiritual person and I want people to do unto me as I do unto them. If we all did that, it would make the world a better place.

    Vincent: Of all the ballets that you have created, which is your favorite? Why?
    Mr. Mitchell: It’s very hard to say what’s my favorite and why. But, I think one of the greatest roles made for me by the great George Balanchine, with music by Igor Stravinsky, was the pas de deux in Agon, which is still considered among the most difficult ballets to dance by any company in the world. It help define the look and the style for neoclassical dance in the world today. So that was one of the things that really created a benchmark for neoclassical dance, and it was done 50 years ago on December 1st, 1957. A well known dance critic came up to me and said, “Arthur what are you doing for the 50th?” I said, “50th what?” He said, “Agon, the role created for you and you danced it”. I couldn’t believe it had been fifty years and I’m still walking around and talking!

    Vincent: Absolutely. Now what about ballets that you have created?
    Mr. Mitchell: I would say my favorites are Fete Noir, and Manifestations, the story of Adam and Eve that I choreographed in 1970 but it still works today. It was interesting when putting the ballet together, the most difficult thing was deciding what to do with the apple! {We both laugh}
    That bite into that apple has caused all of my trouble. {We are laughing} I got to thinking: I got Adam and I got Eve and where am I going to put this damn apple. {more laughter} That was really quite difficult.

    There is another ballet Holberg Suite that I choreographed for young dancers and it is still a benchmark for young artists to work in the neoclassical style and built on the Balanchine technique. My favorite pas de deux I choreographed is The Greatest. I took the theme song from Muhammad Ali’s movie, “The Greatest”, with the words “I believe children are the future. Teach them well and let them lead the way”. I choreographed a classical pas de deux, but did it in modern dress. We would go into a public school with 3,000 kids and they will sit there and start singing the song because they are familiar with it. To see it danced classically by African American ballerinas blows their mind because many of them have never seen a black woman dance classically on pointe.

    Vincent: The school system really doesn’t realize what the arts can do. Still don’t realize. It’s really sad.
    Mr. Mitchell: Yes, and it should be arts education not arts in education. The arts should be integrated in the curriculum. There are the three “r’s”, reading, writing and arithmetic and we say the fourth “r” is the arts, which encapsulates the other three.

    Vincent: What projects are you currently working on?
    Mr. Mitchell: We are working on activities in honor of our 40th Anniversary, which begins on February 11, 2009. I love to teach and I’m creating a syllabus to codify the Dance Theatre of Harlem technique, the style which is uniquely ours and which adds another dimension to neoclassical ballet. I tell my dancers that I don’t want them to be classical because that’s an affectation. I want them to be classic and then they are unique.

    Vincent: I like that.
    Mr. Mitchell: Thank you.

    Vincent: If you could talk to God, what would you say?
    Mr. Mitchell: If I could talk to him… I talk to him all the time {we both laugh}. Actually, I remember our first conversation: I said “Why me?” {we both laugh} I expected this big voice to come down and say “That’s the way it is, my son.”

    What happens in my life is whenever I want to make a point something unusual happens and it becomes visible right in front of me and I say “there’s my answer.” The Lord works in strange ways and people are always looking for miracles; they expect the whole mountain to disappear. Everyday there are thousands of little miracles, you just have to see them.

    Vincent: As in a Luther Vandross song “Little Miracles Happen Everyday”.
    Mr. Mitchell: Yes! If I’m trying to make a point, something will happen that emphasizes and improves my point, and I just say, “thank you.”

    Vincent: Mr. Mitchell, thank you for your time and I’ll see you in September at the
    14th Annual Black Theater Alliance/Ira Aldridge Awards.






2008 BTAA Nominees

The Board-of-Directors must see all eligible productions. Plays produced between August 1st and July 31st of the performing arts season are eligible for consideration. Nominee selection occurs during the first week of August of the theater and dance season. Nominations are announced via website and media. The recipient of the award in each category is voted on by the Board-of-Directors in September. The sealed envelopes that contain the winner in each category are given to the President the night of the awards.



denotes recipient

Category 1
The Negro Ensemble Company Award
Best Play (Drama or Comedy)
Checkmates- eta Creative Arts Foundation
She Calls Up The Sun- MPAACT
The Talented Tenth – Congo Square Theatre Company

Category 2
Best Play (Musical or Revue)
I Am Who I Am - The Story of Teddy Pendergrass – Black Ensemble Theater
Nefertiti – A Concert of Music and Dance – Deeply Rooted Productions
Sounds So Good Makes You Wanna Holler – Old School vs. Nu Skool – Black Ensemble Theater

Category 3
Best Revival of a Play
Get Ready – eta Creative Arts Foundation
Good Black – eta Creative Arts Foundation
MiLK - MPAACT

Category 4
The Lorraine Hansberry Award
Best Writing of a Play
Ifa Bayeza – The Ballad of Emmett Till – Goodman Theatre
Dawn Bless & Rueben Echoles – Sounds So Good Makes You Wanna Holler…- Black Ensemble
Addae Moon – She Calls Up The Sun - MPAACT
Nilaja Sun – No Child…- Lookingglass
Jackie Taylor – I Am Who I Am – The Story of Teddy Pendergrass – Black Ensemble Theater

Category 5
Best Ensemble
Gee’s Bend – Northlight Theatre
Get Ready – eta Creative Arts Foundation
Jitney – Pegasus Players
Sounds So Good Makes You Wanna Holler – Old School vs. Nu Skool – Black Ensemble Theater
The Talented Tenth – Congo Square Theatre Company

Category 6
The Lloyd Richards Award
Best Direction of a Play (Drama or Comedy)
Aaron Todd Douglas – The Talented Tenth – Congo Square Theatre Company
Ron OJ Parson – Bourbon At The Border – eclipse theatre company
Edward D. Richardson – Good Black – eta Creative Arts Foundation
Chuck Smith – Gee’s Bend – Northlight Theatre
Jonathan Wilson – Jitney – Pegasus Players

Category 7
Best Direction of a Play (Musical or Revue)
Rueben Echoles – Sounds So Good Makes You Wanna Holler… - Black Ensemble Theater
Kevin Iega Jeff – Nefertiti – A Concert of Music and Dance – Deeply Rooted Productions
Jackie Taylor – I Am Who I Am – The Story of Teddy Pendergrass – Black Ensemble Theater

Category 8
The Duke Ellington Award
Best Musical Direction
Paul Cotton – Creole – Infusion Theater Company
Tory O. Davis – Black Nativity – Congo Square Theatre Company
Jimmy Tillman – I Am Who I Am – The Story of Teddy Pendergrass – Black Ensemble Theater
Jimmy Tillman – Sounds So Good Makes You Wanna Holler – Old School vs. Nu Skool - BET

Category 9
Most Promising Actor
Phillip James Brannon
Brandon Jackson
Kelvin Roston, Jr.
Demond Stylz
Austin Talley

Category 10
Most Promising Actress
Cynthia Chambers
Kristy Johnson
Dawn Pryor
Symphony Sanders
Ebony Wimbs

Category 11
The Harry Belafonte Award
Best Performance In An Ensemble (Actor)
Ray Baker- Jitney – Pegasus Players
Joseph Anthony Byrd – The Ballad of Emmett Till – Goodman Theatre
Ron Conner – The Talented Tenth – Congo Square Theatre Company
John Steven Crowley – Gee’s Bend – Northlight
John Wesley – The Ballad of Emmett Till – Goodman Theatre
Alfred H. Wilson- Jitney – Pegasus Players

Category 12
The Ethel Waters Award
Best Performance In An Ensemble (Actress)
Caren Blackmore – MiLK - MPAACT
Tracey Bonner – The Talented Tenth – Congo Square Theatre Company
Bakesta King – The Talented Tenth – Congo Square Theatre Company
Ericka Ratcliff – The Talented Tenth – Congo Square Theatre Company
Charlette Speigner – Gee’s Bend - Northlight
Jacqueline Williams – Gee’s Bend- Northlight

Category 13
Best Lighting Design
Shepsu Aakhu – Beneath A Dark Sky- MPAACT
Joseph Giovanetti- She Calls Up The Sun - MPAACT
Benny Gomes – The Talented Tenth – Congo Square Theatre Company
Denise Karczewski – I Am Who I Am – The Story of Teddy Pendergrass – Black Ensemble
Arthur Reese – Good Black – eta Creative Arts Foundation

Category 14
Best Sound Design
Ray Nardelli – Elmina’s Kitchen – Congo Square Theatre Company
Soul of Black Folk – Beneath a Dark Sky- MPAACT
Rick Sims – The Talented Tenth – Congo Square Theatre Company
Ron White – Sounds So Good Makes You Wanna Holler – Old School vs. Nu Skool - BET

Category 15
Best Set Design
Shepsu Aakhu – MiLK – MPAACT
Timothy Mann- Black Nativity – Congo Square Theatre Company
Robert Martin – Porgy and Bess: The Opera – Fleetwood Jourdain Theatre
Nick Mozak – Elmina’s Kitchen – Congo Square Theatre Company
Erica Lee Vaughn – Checkmates – eta Creative Arts Foundation

Category 16
Best Costume Design
Barbara Abernathy & Glendar Howard – I Am Who I Am – The Story of Teddy Pendergrass – BET
Najwa Dance Corps – Rhythm & Passion – Najwa Dance Corps
Christine Pascual – The Talented Tenth- Congo Square Theatre Company
Michael Alan Stein – Nefertiti – A Concert of Music and Dance – Deeply Rooted Productions
Sharlet Webb – Good Black- eta Creative Arts Foundation

Category 17
Best Solo Performance in a Play
Inda Craig Galvan – Neat – Illinois Theatre Center
Capathia Jenkins – (mis)Understanding Mammy: The Hattie McDaniel Story – Chicago Humanities Festival
Nilaja Sun – No Child… - Lookingglass
Reggie Watts – Disinformation – Museum of Contemporary Art

Category 18
The Sammy Davis. Jr. Award
Best Leading Actor In a Play (Musical or Revue)
Donald Barnes – This Far By Faith – eta Creative Arts Foundation
Parrish Collier- Ain’t Misbehavin – Goodman Theatre
John Steven Crowley – Ain’t Misbehavin – Goodman Theatre
Kalind Haynes – Black Nativity – Congo Square Theatre Company
Kevin McILvaine- I Am Who I Am – The Story of Teddy Pendergrass – Black Ensemble Theater

Category 19
The Lena Horne Award
Best Leading Actress In a Play (Musical or Revue)
E. Faye Butler – Ain’t Misbehavin – Goodman Theatre
E. Faye Butler – Ella - Northlight
Lina Kernan – Ain’t Misbehavin - Goodman Theatre
Rhonda Preston – I Am Who I Am – The Story of Teddy Pendergrass – Black Ensemble Theater
Alexis Rogers – Ain’t Misbehavin – Goodman Theatre

Category 20
The Bill Bojangles Robinson Award
Best Featured Actor in a Play (Musical or Revue)
Michael Jones- The Wiz – Jedlicka Performing Arts Center
David Simmons – Sounds So Good Makes You Wanna Holler – Old School vs. Nu Skool - BET
Rashawn Thompson- I Am Who I Am – The Story of Teddy Pendergrass – Black Ensemble
Erick David Townsend – The Wiz – Jedlicka Peforming Arts Center
Magellan Watts – Sounds So Good Makes You Wanna Holler – Old School vs. Nu Skool - BET

Category 21
The Eartha Kitt Award
Best Featured Actress in a Play (Musical or Revue)
Rashada Dawan – Sounds So Good Makes You Wanna Holler – Old School vs. Nu Skool - BET
Monique Desiree – The Wiz – Jedlicka Performing Arts Center
Kristy Johnson – I Am Who I Am – The Story of Teddy Pendergrass – Black Ensemble Theater
Dawn Mitchell – I Am Who I Am – The Story of Teddy Pendergrass – Black Ensemble Theater
Malkia Stampley – Black Nativity – Congo Square Theatre Company

Category 22
The Sidney Poitier Award
Best Leading Actor In a Play (Drama or Comedy)
Anthony Fleming lll – A Big Blue Nail - Victory Gardens Theater
Anthony Irons – Elmina’s Kitchen – Congo Square Theatre Company
Osiris Khepera – Defiance - Next Theatre Company
James Vincent Meredith – The Crucible - Steppenwolf
Sean Nix – This Is How It Goes – Profiles Theatre
Keir Thirus – Checkmates – eta Creative Arts Foundation

Category 23
The Ruby Dee Award
Best Leading Actress In A Play (Drama or Comedy)
Tie - Karen Aldridge – The Cook – Goodman Theatre
Pat Bowie – The First Breeze of Summer – Court Theatre
Tie - Lynette Mance – Bourbon At The Border – eclipse theatre company
Shadana Patterson – Creole – Infusion Theatre Company
Tamberla Perry – She Calls Up The Sun - MPAACT
Regina Whitehead-Mays – Good Black- eta Creative Arts Foundation

Category 24
The Ossie Davis Award
Best Featured Actor In A Play (Drama or Comedy)
Abu Ansari – Creole – Infusion Theatre Company
K. Todd Freeman – Carter’s Way - Steppenwolf
Jon Michael Hill- Superior Donuts - Steppenwolf
Kenneth Johnson- Good Black – eta Creative Arts Foundation
Taj McCord – The First Breeze of Summer – Court Theatre
J.J. McCormick – Bourbon At The Border – eclipse theatre company

Category 25
The Hattie McDaniel Award
Best Featured Actress In A Play (Drama or Comedy)
Alana Arenas – The Crucible - Steppenwolf
Joslyn Jones – Bourbon At The Border – eclipse theatre company
Ora Jones – Carter’s Way - Steppenwolf
Cynthia Kaye McWilliams – The First Breeze of Summer – Court Theatre
Samara Smith – A Devil In God’s House – Tiny Production
Frances Wilkerson – Creole – Infusion Theatre Company

Category 26
Best Performance In A Music/Dance Program (Resident)
Gesel Mason – No Less Black – Link’s Hall and Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago
Poet Ugochi Nwaogwugwu – Death Toll & Scattered Seeds – Najwa Dance Corps
Eugene Peabody – brinkofnada – Dance Chicago 2007
Yhadna – Remote Control – Najwa Dance Corps

Category 27
Best Performance In A Music/Dance Program (Non-Resident)
Clifton Brown – Firebird - Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Amos J. Machanic, Jr. – Reflections In D – Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Desmond Richardson – Solo – Complexions Contemporary Ballet
Matthew Rushing – I Wanna Be Ready – Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Glenn Allen Sims – Love Stories – Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

Category 28
Best Performance In A Play (Non-Resident)
Corey Glover – Jesus Christ Superstar – Nicholas Howey for Troikastar, LLC.
Kristen Alexzander Griffith – Rent – On Tour, LLC.
Anwar F. Robinson – Rent – On Tour, LLC.
Jennifer Colby Talton – Rent – On Tour, LLC.

Category 29
Best Choreography In A Play
Gary Abbott & Kevin Iega Jeff – Nefertiti – A Concert of Music and Dance – Deeply Rooted Prod.
Rueben Echoles – Sounds So Good Makes You Wanna Holler – Old School vs. Nu Skool - BET
Kimosha P. Murphy – Creole – Infusion Theatre Company
Lisa Johnson-Willingham – Ain’t Misbehavin – Goodman Theatre

Category 30
The Katherine Dunham Award
Best Choreography In A Music/Dance Program (Resident)
Diedre Dawkins & Kwame Opare – Suite Nina – Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago
Tre Dumas – What Time Is It? – Dance Chicago 2007
Christopher McCray – b-sides Act1 – Corpo Dance Company
HHC, Suave, & Karlo Familara – Multiple Dimensions – Dance Chicago 2007
Kyle Vincent Terry – Destructible Daytrip – Chicago Dance Crash

Category 31
The Alvin Ailey Award
Best Choreography In A Music/Dance Program (Non-Resident)
Camille A. Brown – The Groove To Nobody’s Business – Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Garth Fagan – Prelude – Garth Fagan Dance
Christopher Huggins – Pyrokenesis – Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago
Bill T. Jones & Janet Wong – Chapel/Chapter – Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company
Dwight Rhoden – Pretty Gritty Suite – Complexions Contemporary Ballet




Complete List of Black Theater Alliance Award Recipients
1995 to Present


The Black Theater Alliance Awards, Inc. has decided to name each winning category
after our legendary African American performers who have paved the way in theater,
film, dance, and all areas of the performing arts, and who have also helped to break
down the barriers, and opened the doors in spite of extreme adversity for up and coming
artist of today to thrive and survive.

 <![endif]>


Shepsu Aakhu's "Trouble The Water", produced by MPAACT



The cast of Congo Square Theatre Company's production of "Joe Turners Come And Gone".


The Negro Ensemble Company Award
In 1967, actor Robert Hooks, playwright Douglas Turner Ward, and theater manager Gerald Krone founded the Negro Ensemble Company (NEC), the catalyst for this project was the 1959 production of "A Raisin in the Sun". Prior to the 1960's there were virtually no outlets for the wealth of black theatrical talent in America. NEC was created to concentrate primarily on themes of black life. Since its founding the NEC has produced more than two hundred new plays among them; The River Niger, which won a Tony Award for Best Play of the Year in 1974 , A Soldiers Play, Zooman and the Sign, Ceremonies In Dark Old Men, Day of Absence, and The Dutchman.

YEAR

Best Play (Drama or Comedy)

1995

Stoops- eta Creative Arts Foundations

1996

Urban Transitions: Loose Blossoms! - eta Creative Arts Foundation

1997

Flyin' West - Onyx Theatre Ensemble

1998

Let Me Live - Goodman Studio/Onyx Theatre Ensemble

1999

The Dreamers - eta Creative Arts Foundation

2000

TIE - From Grassroots To Glory: The Anthology Of Gospel 2 - New Age Theater

&
The Journal of Ordinary Thought"- The Chicago Theater Company

2001

Before It Hits Home - Congo Square Theater Company

Outstanding Stage Production

2002

Ali - Congo Square Theater Company

Best Production (Drama or Comedy)

2003

Cut Flowers - The Chicago Theatre Company and The Noble Fool Theater Company

2004 SOST-MPAACT
2005 Seven Guitars – Congo Square Theatre Company
2006 Stickfly – Congo Square Theatre Company
2007 TIE - Joe Turner’s Come And Gone - Congo Square Theatre Company
&
Trouble The Water – MPAACT
2008 The Talented Tenth - Congo Square Theatre Company






Cast of "Memphis Soul: The Story of Stax Records", produced by The Black Ensemble Theater.

YEAR

Best Play (Musical or Revue)

1995

Doo Wop Shoo Bop- Black Ensemble Theater

1996

Train Is Comin’- The Chicago Theater Company

1997

This Far By Faith - eta Creative Arts Foundation

1998

Chicago's Golden Soul - The Black Ensemble Theater

Best Production (Musical or Revue)

2003

Howlin' At The Moon - The Black Ensemble Theater

2004 Eyes - eta Creative Arts Foundation
2005 At Last:A Tribute To Etta James - The Black Ensemble Theater
2006 Nina Simone: The High Priestess Speaks - The Black Ensemble Theater
2007 Memphis Soul: The Story of Stax Records - Black Ensemble Theater
2008 Sounds So Good Makes You Wanna Holler - Old School vs. Nu Skool - Black Ensemble Theater





YEAR

Best Revival of a Play

1999

Train Is Comin’- The Chicago Theatre Company

2008

Good Black - eta Creative Arts Foundation






"An Evening of Deeply Rooted Dance featuring Roberta Flack". Pictured: Elaina Anderson - Deeply Rooted Productions.

YEAR

Best Music/Dance Concert

1999

An Evening of Deeply Rooted Dance featuring Roberta Flack- Deeply Rooted Productions





(L to R) Jacqueline Williams, Anthony Fleming-Best Featured Actor(Drama or Comedy), and A.C.Smith in "Fences". Directed by Ron OJ Parson.

Best Direction(Drama or Comedy)
Foster Williams, Alfred H. Wilson, J.J. McCormick, Ray Baker, and Taj McCord in August Wilson's "Jitney". Directed by Jonathan Wilson, and produced by Pegasus Players.
The Lloyd Richards Award
Lloyd Richards (1923 - 2006), born in Toronto, Canada, directed A Raisin in the Sun (1959), and received a Tony Award for directing August Wilson's Fences. Was dean of the prestigious Yale University School of Drama from 1979 to 1991.

YEAR

Best Direction (Drama or Comedy)

1995

Runako Jahi - Stoops - eta Creative Arts Foundation

1996

Tazewell Thompson - Black Star Line - The Goodman Theatre

1997

Chuck Smith - Ma' Rainey's Black Bottom -The Goodman Theatre

1998

Jonathan Wilson - Coming Of The Hurricane - Organic Touchstone

1999

Marion McClinton - Jitney - The Goodman Theatre

2000

Charles Michael Moore - In The Wine Time - eta

2001

Anthony Amiri Edwards - Before It Hits Home - Congo Square Theater Company

2002

Cheryl Lynn Bruce - From The Mississippi Delta - Congo Square Theater Company

2003

Douglas Alan-Mann - Cut Flowers - The Chicago Theater Company and The Noble Fool Theater

2004 Derrick Sanders - The House That Jack Built - Congo Square Theatre Company
2005 Derrick Sanders - Seven Guitars - Congo Square Theatre Company
2006 Ron OJ Parson - Fences - Court Theater
2007 Derrick Sanders - Joe Turner’s Come And Gone - Congo Square Theatre Company
2008 Jonathan Wilson - Jitney - Pegasus Players






The featured players of "Play On!" directed by Sheldon Epps, and produced by the Goodman Theatre.

YEAR

Best Direction (Musical or Revue)

1995

Jackie Taylor - Doo Wop Shoo Bop - Black Ensemble Theater

1996

Delia Gray - Train Is Comin’ - The Chicago Theater Company

1997

Jackie Taylor - The Otis Redding Story - Black Ensemble Theater

1998

Sheldon Epps - Play On!- The Goodman Theatre

2003

Jackie Taylor - Howlin' At The Moon - The Black Ensemble Theater

2004 Runako Jahi - Eyes - eta
2006 Ebony Joy and Jackie Taylor - Nina Simone: The High Priestess Speaks - Black Ensemble Theater
2007 Jackie Taylor - Memphis Soul:The Story of Stax Records - Black Ensemble Theater
2008 Kevin Iega Jeff - Nefertiti - A Concert of Music and Dance - Deeply Rooted Productions






The full cast ensemble of "Pill Hill", directed by Douglas Alan-Mann and produced by The Chicago Theater Company.

YEAR

Best Direction (Ensemble)

1997

Lisa Duncan- Do Lord Remember Me - The Chicago Theatre Company

1998

Ron O.J. Parson- Let Me Live - Goodman/Onyx Theatre

1999

Douglas Alan-Mann- Pill Hill - The Chicago Theatre Company

2007

Kamesha Jackson- Stoops - eta Creative Arts Foundation





The Cast of "Blaxploitation 2", produced by MPAACT.

The Target Community Relations Award

Target- Minneapolis based Target serves guests at 1,648 stores in 47 states nationwide. Since 1946, the corporation has invested five percent of its income in the community it serves. Target (NYSE:TGT) gives more than $3 million a week to its local communities through grants and special programs. Target partners with nonprofit organizations, guests and team members to help meet community needs. The Black Theater Alliance Awards, Inc. salutes Target.

YEAR

Best Ensemble Acting

1995

MiLK- MPAACT Productions

1996

East Texas Hot Links- Onyx Theatre Ensemble

1997

Transformations- Goodman Studio Theatre

1998

Let Me Live- Goodman Studio/Onyx Theatre Ensemble

1999

The Sovereign State of the Boogedy Boogedy- Victory Gardens Theatre

2000

For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/ When The Rainbow Is Enuf- The Journeymen

2002

Five Guys Named Moe- Drury Lane Evergreen Park

2003

Cut Flowers - The Chicago Theatre Company and The Noble Theater

2004 Crowns - The Goodman Theatre
2005 Seven Guitars - Congo Square Theatre Company
2006 Fences - Court Theatre
2007 Blaxploitation 2 - MPAACT
2008 Jitney - Pegasus Players






The Cast of "Shoes" written by Gloria Bond Clunie, and produced by The Victory Gardens Theater. Pictured L-R Warren Jackson, Jacqueline Williams, Ora Jones, Linara Washington and Tory Davis.
The Lorraine Hansberry Award
Lorraine Hansberry (1930 - 1965), playwright and painter, whose play A Raisin in the Sun (1959) was the first drama by a black woman to be produced on Broadway.

YEAR

Best Writing (Original or Adaptation)

1995

Crystal Rhodes - Stoops - eta Creative Arts Foundation

1996

Marcia L. Leslie - The Trial of One Short Sighted Black Woman vs. Mammy Louise and Safreeta Mae - eta Creative Arts Foundation

1997

David Barr - The Death of the Black Jesus - The Chicago Theater Company

1998

Keith Glover - Coming of the Hurricane - Organic Touchstone Theatre

1998

OyamO - Let Me Live - Goodman Studio/Onyx Theatre

1999

Shepsu Aakhu - The Abesha Conspiracy - MPAACT Production

1999

Christina Harley - The Dreamers - eta Creative Arts Foundation

2000

Charles Smith - Knock Me A Kiss - Victory Gardens Theater

2002

S.M. Shephard-Massat-Waiting To Be Invited - Victory Gardens Theater

2003

Gavin Lawrence - Cut Flowers - The Chicago Theater Company and The Noble Fool Theater.

2004 Javon Johnson - The House That Jack Built - Congo Square Theatre Company
2005 Gloria Bond Clunie - Shoes - Victory Gardens Theater
2006 TIE - Lydia R. Diamond - Voyeurs DeVenus - Chicago Dramatists
&
Regina Taylor - The Dreams of Sarah Breedlove - The Goodman Theatre
2007 Shepsu Aakhu - Trouble The Water - MPAACT



The August Wilson Award
August Wilson ( April 27, 1945 – October 2, 2005), was an American playwright. His literary legacy is the ten play series, the century cycle, for which he received two Pulitzer Prizes for Drama. Each is set in a different decade, depicting the comic and tragic aspects of the African American experience in the twentieth century. In 1968, Mr. Wilson co-founded the Black Horizon Theater with Rob Penny. His plays includes Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Fences, Joe Turner's Come And Gone, The Piano Lesson, Two Trains Running, Seven Guitars, Jitney, King Hedley II, Gem of the Ocean, and Radio Golf.

YEAR

Best Writing of a Play (Musical/Adaptation)

1995

Joe Plummer and Jaye T. Stewart - Get Ready - eta Creative Arts Foundation

1996

Charles Smith - Black Star Line - The Goodman Theatre

1997

Jackie Taylor and Jimmy Tillman - The Otis Redding Story - Black Ensemble Theater

1998

Ossie Davis & Hy Gilbert - Bingo Long and his Traveling All-Stars and Motor Kings - DreamStreet Theater

2003

Kirsten Childs - The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin - Apple Tree Theatre

2004 Marion J. Caffey - Cookin' at The Cookery: The Life and Times of Alberta Hunter - Northlight Theatre
2007 David Barr III - Memphis Soul: The Story of Stax Records - Black Ensemble Theater
2008 Jackie Taylor - I Am Who I Am - The Story of Teddy Pendergrass - Black Ensemble Theater





Clarence Gilyard (Best Leading Actor in a Play (Drama or Comedy) as the Teacher in "My Children, My Africa", produced by Victory Gardens Theater and Gilyard Productions.



The Sidney Poitier Award
Sidney Poitier (1927- Present), born in Miami, Florida, starred in A Raisin in the Sun in 1959 on Broadway, and was the first African American to win the Academy Award in a leading role in 1963, for his performance in the film Lillies of the Field.

YEAR

Best Leading Actor In A Play (Drama or Comedy)

1995

Darryl Alan Reed - Vivisections From The Blown Mind - Goodman Theater

1996

Charles Michael Moore - Urban Transitions: Loose Blossoms! - eta

1997

Harry J. Lennix - Ma' Rainey's Black Bottom - Goodman Theater

1998

Douglas Alan-Mann - A Red Death - The Chicago Theatre Company

1999

Byron Stewart - Conversations With A Diva - A Real Read/ Bailiwick Theatre

2000

Morrocco Omari - Knock Me A Kiss - Victory Gardens Theater

2001

Javon Johnson - Before It Hits Home - Congo Square Theater Company

2002

Michael Hargrove - Will He Bop, Will He Drop - National Pastime Theater

2003

J. David Shanks - Kiwi Black - MPAACT

2004 TIE - K. Todd Freeman - Top Dog/Under Dog - Steppenwolf Theatre
&
Anthony Irons - King of Coons - Congo Square Theatre Company
2005 Kenn E. Head - Seven Guitars - Congo Square Theatre Company
2006 TIE - Ethan Henry - Kingdom - eta Creative Arts Foundation
&
A.C. Smith - Fences - Court Theatre
2007 Clarence Gilyard - My Children, My Africa - Victory Gardens Green House Theater and Gilyard Productions, LLC.
2008 James Vincent Meredith - The Crucible - Steppenwolf






Rick Stone (Best Leading Actor in a Musical) for his performance in "Memphis Soul: The Story of Stax Records", produced by The Black Ensemble Theater.



Best Leading Actor In A Play (Musical or Revue) Kevin MclLvaine as Teddy Pendergrass in "I Am Who I Am - The Story of Teddy Pendergrass". Produced by Black Ensemble Theater.
The Sammy Davis Jr. Award
Sammy Davis, Jr. (1925 - 1990), singer, dancer, and actor. Sammy starred in Golden Boy on Broadway, and was often called "the world's greatest entertainer".

YEAR

Best Leading Actor In A Play(Musical or Revue)

1995

John S. Crowley - Doo Wop Shoo Bop - The Black Ensemble Theater

1996

Kenny Davis –Sammy: The Sammy Davis, Jr. Story - The Black Ensemble Theater

1997

Vince Harris - The Otis Redding Story - The Black Ensemble Theater

1998

Lawrence Walden - A Tribute To Mr. B. - The Black Ensemble Theater

2000

Ty Perry - The Life - Circle Theatre

2002

McKinley Johnson - Being Beautiful - Bailiwick Repertory Theater

2003

Chester M. Gregory - The Jackie Wilson Story - The Black Ensemble Theater

2004 Tony Duwon - The House That Rocked - The Black Ensemble Theater
2007 Rick Stone - Memphis Soul:The Story of Stax Records - Black Ensemble Theater
2008 Kevin McILvaine - I Am Who I Am - The Story of Teddy Pendergrass - The Black Ensemble Theater






Beethoven Oden(sitting in chair) and the (Best Featured Actor in a Play) in "My Children, My Africa", produced by Victory Gardens Theater and Gilyard Productions



Best Featured Actor in a Play (Drama or Comedy)
(L to R) Jon Michael Hill and Michael McKeon in "Superior Donuts". Produced by
Steppenwolf Theatre Company.
The Ossie Davis Award
Ossie Davis (1917- 2005), writer, actor, activist, and director. A Howard University alumni, wrote and starred in Purlie Victorious, that was turned into a movie, then Tony award winning Broadway musical. Married to actress Ruby Dee, both starred in Purlie Victorious and A Raisin In The Sun on Broadway. Both made their film debuts in the 1950 film No Way Out with friend Sidney Poitier.

YEAR

Best Featured Actor In A Play(Drama or Comedy)

1995

Christopher Brown - Northstar - Victory Gardens Theater

1996

Allan Louis- Black Star Line - The Goodman Theatre

1997

Tim Edward Rhoze - Ma Rainey's Black Bottom- The Goodman Theatre

1998

Dexter Zollicoffer - Blues For An Alabama Sky - The Goodman Theatre

1999

Phillip Edward Van Lear - Are You Now or Have You Ever Been? - Next Theatre Company

2000

Kenn E. Head - Voice of Good Hope - Victory Gardens Theater

2001

Willie B. Goodson - Before It Hits Home - Congo Square Theatre Company

2002

E. Milton Wheeler - Jesus Hopped The "A" Train - Seppenwolf Garage Theatre

2003

TIE - Ernest Perry Jr. - Five Rooms of Furniture - Organic Theater Company

&
Ronnel Taylor - Cut Flowers - The Chicago Theater Company and The Noble Fool Theater.
2004 Will Sims ll - The House That Jack Built - Congo Square Theatre Company
2005 Osiris Khepera - Relevant Hearsay…Stories from 57 - MPAACT
2006 TIE - Anthony Fleming - Fences - Court Theatre
&
Taj McCord - Two Trains Running - Pegasus Players
2007 Beethoven Oden - My Children, My Africa - Victory Gardens Green House Theater
2008 Jon Michael Hill - Superior Donuts - Steppenwolf






The cast of "The Wiz" with Gerald Richardson as the Tinman (Best Featured Actor in a Musical), produced by White Horse Theater Company



Best Featured Actor In A Play (Musical or Revue) Rashawn Thompson as the younger Teddy Pendergrass in "I AM Who I Am - The Story of Teddy Pendergrass". Produced by
Black Ensemble Theater.
The Bill Bojangles Robinson Award
Bill "Bojangles" Robinson (1878 - 1949), tap dancer and actor. Bojangles was widely hailed "king of the tap dancers". Robinson's early years was spent performing in the genre called "vaudeville". Starred on Broadway in the 1930's and then films.

YEAR

Best Featured Actor In A Play(Musical or Revue)

1995

Vince Harris – Doo Wop Shoo Bop- The Black Ensemble Theater

1996

Keith Steward – Get Ready – eta Creative Arts Foundation

1997

Kevin McILvaine – This Far By Faith – eta Creative Arts Foundation

1998

Andre De Shields – Play On! – The Goodman Theatre

2000

Percy Littleton – Stones – Bailiwick Repertory Theater

2003

Dwight L. Neal - Howlin' At The Moon - The Black Ensemble Theater

2004 James Earl Jones II - Eyes - eta
2007 Gerald Richardson - The Wiz - White Horse Theatre Company
2008 Rashawn Thompson - I Am Who I Am - The Story of Teddy Pendergrass - Black Ensemble Theater






(L to R) Terrance Watts and Taylar (Best Leading Actress in a Play (Drama or Comedy) in a scene from "Blues For An Alabama Sky".



Best Leading Actress In A Play (Drama or Comedy) Karen Aldridge as Gladys in "The Cook". Produced by The Goodman Theatre
The Ruby Dee Award
Ruby Dee (1924 - Present), actress, writer, and activist. An alumni of Hunter College, broke ground in 1965 as the first black woman to play lead roles in the Shakespeare Festival. Has been nominated seven times for Emmy Awards, and was a winner for the t.v. movie Decoration Day. Highly respected and noted for her performance in Alice Childress's Wedding Band. Married to actor Ossie Davis for 55 years both considered natural treasures.

YEAR

Best Leading Actress In A Play (Drama or Comedy)

1995

Lydia Diamond - Faith And The Good Thing - Chicago Theatre Company

1996

Nambi E. Kelley - Coffee Will Make You Black - City Lit Theatre

1997

Ora Jones - Seeking The Genesis - The Goodman Studio

1998

Jacqueline Williams - Blues For An Alabama Sky - Goodman Theatre

1999

Tina Marie Wright - The Dreamers - eta Creative Arts Foundation

2000

Cheryl Lynn Bruce - Voice Of Good Hope - Victory Gardens Theater

2001

Libya Pugh - The Piano Lesson - Congo Square Theatre Company

2002

Lynn M. House - The Gift Horse - The Goodman Theatre

2003

Carolyn Nelson - Whispers Want To Holler - eta Creative Arts Foundation

2004 Karen Aldridge - Proof - The Goodman Theatre
2005 Velma Austin - Intimate Apparel - Steppenwolf Theatre Company
2006 L. Scott Caldwell - The Dreams of Sarah Breedlove - The Goodman Theatre
2007 Taylar - Blues For An Alabama Sky - eclipse theatre company
2008 TIE - Karen Aldridge - The Cook - Goodman Theatre Company
&
Lynette Mance - Bourbon At The Border - eclipse theatre company






Ernestine Jackson, Best Leading Actress in a Play (Musical or Revue) for her performance in Cookin' at The Cookery: The Life and Times of Alberta Hunter, produced by Northlight Theatre.



Best Leading Actress In A Play (Musical or Revue) E. Faye Butler as Ella Fitzgerald in "Ella". Produced by Northlight Theatre.
The Lena Horne Award
Lena Horne (1917 - Present), actress and singer. Lena broke boundaries in film and theatre as an actress in the 1940's. Lena Horne received a special Tony Award in 1981 for distinguished achievement in theatre for her one-woman Broadway hit Lena Horne: The Lady and her Music.

YEAR

Best Leading Actress In A Play(Musical or Revue)

1995

Kelli Rich - Doo Wop Shoo Bop - The Black Ensemble Theater

1996

Roxiana Fugua - Me And Miss D. - The Black Ensemble Theater

1997

Somatta McKeever - The Divine One(A Sarah Vaughan Revue) - The Black Ensemble Theater

1998

Audrey Queen Roy - Wang Dang Doodle(The Life Story of KoKo Taylor - The Black Ensemble Theater

2000

E. Faye Butler - Dinah Was - Northlight Theatre

2002

Atia Austin - Under Your Spell: A Tribute To Phyllis Hyman - Legacy Cultural Theater

2003

Joyce Faison - Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill - The Chicago Theater Company

2004 Ernestine Jackson - Cookin' at The Cookery: The Life and Times of Alberta Hunter - Northlight Theatre
2007 Vikki Omega Stokes - Don’t Shed A Tear: The Story of Billie Holiday - Black Ensemble Theater
2008 E. Faye Butler - Ella - Northlight





(Lto R): Anthony Irons and Ericka Ratcliff (Best Featured Actress in a play) in a scene from "The African Company presents Richard III".



Best Featured Actress In A Play (Drama or Comedy) Cynthia Kaye McWilliams and Taj McCord in a scene from "The First Breeze of Summer". Produced by Court Theatre.
The Hattie McDaniel Award
Hattie McDaniel (1895 - 1952), the first African American to receive an Academy Award in 1939, for her performance in the classic film Gone With The Wind.

YEAR

Best Featured Actress In A Play(Drama or Comedy)

1995

Lisa Biggs - Faith And The Good Thing - The Chicago Theatre Company

1996

E. Faye Butler - Crumbs From The Table Of Joy - Steppenwolf Theatre

1997

Tie - Felicia Fields - Ma Rainey's Black Bottom - The Goodman Theatre

&
Paulette McDaniels – Flyin’ West - Onyx Theatre Ensemble

1998

Bridgett R. Williams - Lifting - eta Creative Arts Foundation

1999

Celeste Williams - Eastville - Writers Theater Chicago

2000

LeShay Tomlinson - Knock Me A Kiss - Victory Gardens Theater

2001

Ira Carol McGill - Before It Hits Home - Congo Square Theatre Company

2002

Taron Patton - From The Mississippi Delta - Congo Square Theatre Company

2003

Chavez Ravine - Daughters of the Mock - Congo Square Theatre Company

2004 Inda Craig-Galvan - Sundown Names And Night Gone Things - The Chicago Theatre Co.
2005 TaRon Patton - Seven Guitars - Congo Square Theatre Company
2006 TIE - Ella Joyce - Crumbs From The Table Of Joy - The Goodman Theatre
&
Nikki E. Walker - The Dreams of Sarah Breedlove - Goodman Theatre
2007 Ericka Ratcliff - The African Company Presents Richard lll - Congo Square Theatre Company
2008 Cynthia Kaye McWilliams - The First Breeze of Summer - Court Theatre






Janice Lorraine, Best Featured Actress in a Play(Musical or Revue) for her performance in "Cookin at the Cookery: The Life and Times of Alberta Hunter", produced by Northlight Theatre.
The Eartha Kitt Award
Eartha Kitt (1928 - 2008), started out as a dancer with the Katherine Dunham Dance Troupe. Eartha then branched out to a luminous career in theatre, film, and t.v.

YEAR

Best Featured Actress In A Play(Musical or Revue)

1995

Cynthia Jackson - Get Ready - eta Creative Arts Foundation

1996

Greta Oglesby - Train Is Comin’ - The Chicago Theatre Company

1997

Sue Conway - This Far By Faith - eta Creative Arts Foundation

1998

Tonya Pinkins - Play On! - The Goodman Theatre

2000

Carla Hargrove - Dinah Was - Northlight Theater

2003

Stephanie Booth - Howlin' At The Moon - The Black Ensemble Theater

2004 Janice Lorraine - Cookin' at The Cookery: The Life and Times of Alberta Hunter - Northlight Theatre
2007 Bethany Thomas - The Life - Bohemian Theatre Company
2008 Monique Desiree - The Wiz - Jedlicka Performing Arts Center






(L to R) Johathan Keaton (Best Actor In An Ensemble) and Eddie Jordan III in the Apollo Morrocco scene from "Blaxploitation 2".
The Harry Belafonte Award
Harry Belafonte (1927 - Present), born in New York City. Actor, Singer, and Political Activist. Starred on broadway, had a very successful million-selling recording career. Won an Emmy Award for his television special An Evening With Harry Belafonte.

YEAR

Best Performance In An Ensemble (Actor)

1995

Adrian Byrd - The Little Tommy Parker's Celebrated Colored Minstrel Show - The Chicago Theatre Company

1996

Tie - Earl Fox - The Trial of One Short Sighted Black Woman vs. Mammy Louise and Safreeta Mae - eta Creative Arts Foundation

&
Michael Williams - East Texas Hotlinks - Onyx Theatre

1997

Tie - Daniel J. Bryant - Do Lord Remember Me - The Chicago Theatre Company

&
Clifton Williams - The Death of The Black Jesus - The Chicago Theatre Company

1998

Craig Boyd - Let Me Live - Goodman Studio/Onyx Theatre

1999

Woody Bolar - Pill Hill - The Chicago Theatre Company

2006

Allen Gilmore - Fabulation, or the Re-Education of Undine - Next Theatre Company

2007

Jonathan Keaton - Blaxploitation 2 - MPAACT

2008

Ron Conner - The Talented Tenth - Congo Square Theatre Company





The Ethel Waters Award
Ethel Waters (1896 - 1977), singer and actress. Started her career in the black vaudeville circuit, became known as "Sweet Mama Stringbean". A broadway recording and film star, who received 2 Academy Award nominations in 1949 for Pinky and in 1951 for A Member of the Wedding.

YEAR

Best Performance In An Ensemble (Actress)

1995

Taron C. Patton - Stoops - eta Creative Arts Foundation

1996

Linda Marie Bright - Home - The Chicago Theatre Company

1997

Greta Oglesby - Do Lord Remember Me - Congo Square Theatre Company

1998

Kimberly He’bert – Shakin The Mess Outta Misery - The Chicago Theatre Company

1999

Margo Moorer - Oo-Bla-Dee - The Goodman Theatre

2006

Jacqueline Williams - Fabulation, or The Re-Education of Undine - Next Theatre Company

2007

Tamberla Perry - Blaxploitation 2 - MPAACT

2008

Charlette Speigner - Gee's Bend - Northlight



 

The Denzel Washington Award

Denzel Washington (December 28, 1954 – Present), Mr. Washington made his professional acting debut in the 1977 made-for-television movie Wilma. His big break came in the movie Carbon Copy (1981). He co-starred in the television series St. Elsewhere from 1982 to 1988. Some of his film credits include A Soldier's Play, Cry Freedom, Glory, Malcolm X, Philadelphia, Training Day, American Gangster just to name a few. Mr. Washington has been awarded two Academy Awards for his film acting.

YEAR

Most Promising Actor

1999

Francois Battiste

2006

Corey Cantrell

2007

Keir Thirus

2008

Phillip James Brannon



The Phylicia Rashad Award

Phylicia Rashad (June 19, 1948 – Present), Ms. Rashad is a Tony Award winning actress, best known for her role as Clair Huxtable in the 1980's television series The Cosby Show. Ms. Rashad's early stage credits begin with The Negro Ensemble Company. Her broadway credits include The Wiz, Dreamgirls, and A Raisin In The Sun. In 2004, Ms. Rashad became the first African American actress to win the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play, for her role in the revival of A Raisin In The Sun.

YEAR

Most Promising Actress

1999

LeShay Thomlinson

2006

Corvet Williams

2007

Genn Jackson

2008

Kristy Johnson







Jacques C. Smith, Best Performance By An Actor In A Musical for his performance in "Purlie" Produced by The Goodman Theatre.







Yahdina U'Deen - Best Performance By An Actress In A Musical in "Nina Simone: The High Priestess Speaks." Produced by the
Black Ensemble Theater.

The Ben Vereen Award

Ben Vereen (October 10, 1946 – Present), is an American actor, dancer, and singer. Mr. Vereen graduated from Manhattan's High School of the Performing Arts. He was nominated for a Tony Award for Jesus Christ Superstar in 1972, and won a Tony Award for his performance in Pippin in 1973. Notable film roles include Funny Lady and All That Jazz, but is probably best known for his role as Chicken George Moore in Roots. Did you know that Mr. Vereen was originally considered for the role of The Scarecrow in The Wiz.

YEAR

Best Performance By An Actor In A Musical

1999

Brian E. Smith - One Mo’ Time - Fleetwood Jourdain Theatre

2005

Rueben Echols - At Last: A Tribute To Etta James - The Black Ensemble Theater

2006

Jacques C. Smith - Purlie - The Goodman Theatre













The Diahann Carroll Award
Diahann Carroll (1935-Present) - Diahann Carroll is by far one of our most revered celebrities. She is an artist who has excelled in every genre of the entertainment industry. She won a Tony Award in 1962 for her performance in "No Strings", an Oscar nomination for "Claudine", and an Emmy nomination for the television show "Julia". Diahann Carroll is a true trailblazer.

YEAR

Best Performance By An Actress In A Musical

1999

LaTonya Beachum – Mahalia! - Black Ensemble Theater

2005

Yahdina U’Deen – Somebody Say Amen: Great Women of Gospel – The Black Ensemble Theater

2006

Yhadina U'Deen - Nina Simone: The High Priestess Speaks - The Black Ensemble Theatre






Pictured: Pierre Lockett, Best Performance In A Music/Dance Concert (Resident) for his performance in "Touch Me", produced by The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago.
The Sam Cooke Award
Sam Cooke (January 22, 1931 – December 11, 1964), was an American gospel, R&B, soul, and pop singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. He is considered to be the pioneer and founder of soul music. Mr. Cooke had 29 Top 40 hits in the U.S. between 1957 and 1965. Major hits "You Send Me", "Chain Gang", "Wonderful World", "Bring It On Home To Me", and "A Change Is Gonna Come" are some of his most popular songs. He also took an active part in the American Civil Rights Movement.

YEAR

Best Performance In A Music/Dance Concert (Resident)

1998

Amaniyea Payne - Fat Tuesday And All That Jazz - Muntu Dance Theater

1999

Pierre Lockett - Touch Me - The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago

2001

Sarita Smith Childs - Shanequa's World - Dance Chicago 2000

2002

Oscar Triple Blak Lester - Something About Africa - Najwa Dance Corp.

2003

Jimmy Payne, Jr. - Dedication To My Father - Dance Chicago 2002

2004

Oscar "Triple Blak" Lester - "What If Jesus Came Back" - Najwa Dance Corp.

2005

Armen Ra - Chains and Whips from Tell It Like it Is - Najwa Dance Corps

2007

Brotha Blanks - The Burning Bush - Najwa Dance Corps

2008

Eugene Peabody - brink of nada - Dance Chicago 2007






The Andre' DeShields Award
Andre' DeShields (January 12, 1946 – Present), Mr. De Shields graduated from The University of Wisconsin-Madison with a B.A. degree and received a Masters of Arts Degree from New York University's Gallatin School of Individualized Study where he presently serves as Adjunct Professor. In 1975, De Shields was cast in the title role of The Wiz. Additional Broadway credits include Ain't Misbehavin', the Duke Ellington Revue Play On!, The Full Monty, and Pymate. DeShields won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Achievement for his performance in the 1982, NBC broadcast of Ain't Misbehavin'.

YEAR

Best Performance In A Play or Music/Dance Concert (Non-Resident)

1996

Lizan Mitchell - Having Our Say - Briar Street Theater

1997

Jasmine Guy - Chicago - Frankel Productions

1997

Darrian Ford- Smokey Joe's Cafe - Shubert Theater

1998

Vickilyn Reynolds - Bring In The Noise, Bring In The Funk - Shubert Theater

1999

Hinton Battle - Ragtime - Livent, Inc.

1999

Stephanie Mills - Ragtime - Livent, Inc.

2001

Savion Glover - Foot Notes:The Concert - Columbia Artists Theatricals/ Maniacter, Inc.

2002

Victor Trent Cook, Rodrick Dixon and Thomas Young - Three Mo' Tenors - Theatricals Concepts

2003

Savion Glover - Bring In Da' Noise, Bring In Da' Funk - Columbia Artists Theatricals

2005

DeWayne L. Woods - Sing Hallelujah! - Passion Productions

2008

Clifton Brown - Firebird - Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Corey Glover - Jesus Christ Superstar - Nicholas Howey for Troikastor, LLC


The Bert Williams Award

Bert Williams (November 12, 1875 – March 4, 1922), was the pre-eminent black entertainer of his era and one of the most popular comedians for all audiences of his time.  He was by far the best-selling black recording artist before 1920.  Williams was a key figure in the development of African American music. In an era when racial inequality and stereotyping were an accepted part of life, he became the first African American to take a lead role on the Broadway stage.  W.C. Fields described him as "the funniest man I ever saw, and the saddest man I ever knew."

YEAR

Best Solo Performance in a Play

2008 Nilaja Sun No Child..... Lookingglass




The Duke Ellington Award
Edward Kennedy (Duke) Ellington (1899 - 1975), was one of America's greatest composers. An orchestra leader, pianist, and composer, he wrote more than 2,000 works, most notable ones are; Mood Indigo, Solitude, and Sophisticated Ladies.

YEAR

Best Musical Direction

1995

Jimmy Tillman - Doo Wop Shoo Bop - Black Ensemble Theater

1996

George Paco Patterson, Jimmy Tillman, and Tom Tom 99 –Sammy: The Sammy Davis, Jr. Story - The Black Ensemble Theater

1997

Jimmy Tillman - The Otis Redding Story - The Black Ensemble Theater

1998

Luther Henderson - Play On! - The Goodman Theatre

1999

Coleridge Taylor-Perkinson- Oo-Bla-Dee - The Goodman Theatre

2000

Garrett David Cope - Purlie - Heads Like Bricks Productions

2001

Ron Walters Jr. - Could It Be Magic... - Mercury Theater

2003

Jimmy Tillman - Howlin' At The Moon - The Black Ensemble Theater

2004 Robert Reddrick - The House That Rocked - The Black Ensemble Theatre
2005 Robert Reddrick - At Last: A Tribute To Etta James - The Black Ensemble Theater
2006 Jimmy Tillman - Nina Simone: The High Priestess Speaks - The Black Ensemble Theater
2007 Jimmy Tillman - Memphis Soul:The Story of Stax Records - Black Ensemble Theater
2008 Jimmy Tillman - Sounds So Good Makes You Wanna Holler - Old School vs. Nu Skool - Black Ensemble Theater





The Scott Joplin Award
Scott Joplin (1867 - 1917), a composer. Born in Linden, Texas, and known as "the king of ragtime", wrote and published some 60 compositions. His composition of The Entertainer, was used as the theme in the Academy Award winning film The Sting.

YEAR

Best Original Song

1995

Success - from Steppers Ball written By Phyllis Curtwright - eta Creative Arts Foundation

1996

No Award Given.

1997

No Time To Give Up - from This Far By Faith, written by Marylene Whitehead and Rufus Hill - eta Creative Arts Foundation

1998

Will There Ever Be A Bronzeville For Me from Don't Get Around Much Anymore, written by Vince Willis and Okoro Harold Johnson - eta Creative Arts Foundation

1999

Thank You For Today from Sing Sister Sing, written by Walter Thomas - eta Creative Arts Foundation

2003

The Battlefield of Love from Kiwi Black, written by Poh'ro - MPAACT



































































Derick K. Grant in "Imagine Tap". Produced by Great Lake Productions and Cari Shein

The Katherine Dunham
and
Alvin Ailey Award
Katherine Dunham (1909 - 2006), dancer and choreographer. Born in Chicago, Illinois called the matriarch of black dance and introduced groundbreaking forms of movement. Appeared in and choreographed the stage and film versions of Cabin In The Sky.
Alvin Ailey (1931 - 1989), dancer and choreographer. Born in Rogers, Texas, a highly respected choreographer, studied under Katherine Dunham and Lester Horton. Formed the Alvin Ailey Dance Company in 1959. Choreographed more than 50 ballets, most notable are Revelations and Cry.

YEAR

Best Choreography In A Play or Music/Dance Concert

1995

Kenny Ingram - Dreamgirls - Marriott's Lincolnshire Theatre

1996

Kevin Iega Jeff - Church Of Nations - Deeply Rooted Productions

1997

Eva D. and Jackie Taylor - The Otis Redding Story - Black Ensemble Theatre

1997

Joel Hall and Nancy Teinowitz - Nuts and Bolts - Joel Hall Dancers

1998

Mercedes Ellington - Play On! - The Goodman Theatre

1998

Arthur Hall and Amaniyea Payne - Fat Tuesday And All That Jazz - Muntu Dance Theater

1999

Talley Beatty (Posthumously) - Month Of Sundays - Dance Chicago '98

1999

Randy Duncan - Can't Take This Away - Dance Chicago '98

1999

Geoffrey Holder - The Prodigal Prince - Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre

2000

Joel Hall - Y2 Day - Dance Chicago '99

2000

Randy Duncan - Once On This Island - Apple Tree Theater

2000

Ron K. Brown - Grace - Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

2001

Van Collins - 3/5 - Dance Chicago 2000

2001

Rennie Harris - Rome and Jewels - MCA Performances

2002

Christopher Huggins - Enemy Behind The Gates – Philadanco!

2002

Gary Abbott and Kevin Iega Jeff - Move! - Deeply Rooted Productions

2003

Lisa Johnson - Willingham - New Beginnings, Overcoming Old Lessons - Dance Chicago 2002

2003

Garth Fagan - The Lion King - Disney

2004 Ray Mercer - That Anticipatory Feeling - Dance Chicago 2003
2004 Alvin Ailey(posthumously)- Night Creature - Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
2005 Mike Malone - Black Nativity - Congo Square Theatre Company
2005 Robert Battle, Rennie Harris and Judith Jamison - Love Stories - Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
2006 Christopher M. McCray - Ghost Play - Chicago Dance Crash
2006 Derick K. Grant - Imagine Tap - Great Lake Productions, Inc., Imagine Tap Company LLC and Cari Shein
2006 Kenneth Lee Roberson - Purlie - Goodman Theatre
2007 Lisa Johnson Willingham - Trouble The Water - MPAACT
2007 Idy Ciss - Dekkal Thiossane (Rebirth of Culture) - Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago
2007 George Faison - If This Hat Could Talk - Van Jo Productions and West Vision Entertainment
2008 Christopher Huggins - Pyrokenesis - - Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago
2008 Diedre Dawkins & Kwame Opare - Suite Nina - Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago
2008 Rueben Echoles- Sounds So Good Makes You Wanna Holler - Old School vs. Nu Skool - Black Ensemble Theater





YEAR

Best Lighting Design

1995

Darryl Goodman, Sr. - Stoops - eta Creative Arts Foundation

1996

Darryl Goodman, Sr. - The Temple - eta Creative Arts Foundation

1997

Kathy A. Perkins- Seeking The Genesis - The Goodman Studio

1998

Kathy A. Perkins - Let Me Live - Goodman/Onyx

1999

Denise Karczewski - Indigo Blues - The Black Ensemble Theater

2002

Kathy A. Perkins - From The Mississippi Delta - Congo Square Theatre Company

2003

Edith Jones - Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill - The Chicago Theater Company

2004 Darryl Goodman, Sr. - Eyes - eta
2005 Kathy Perkins - Black Nativity - Congo Square Theatre Company
2006 Benny Gomes - Deep Azure - Congo Square Theatre Company
2007 Arthur Reese - Bedtime Story - eta Creative Arts Foundation
2008 Shepsu Aakhu - Beneath A Dark Sky - MPAACT



YEAR

Outstanding Technical Design

2001

Gwen Godwin - Stereotyped - Dance Chicago 2000



YEAR

Best Costume Design

1995

Michael Alan Stein - Stoops - eta Creative Arts Foundation

1996

Vaune Blalock and Harry Detry - Woloba - Muntu Dance Theatre

1997

Vaune Blalock - Rites and Rituals - Muntu Dance Theatre

1998

Vaune Blalock and Amaniyea Payne - Fat Tuesday And All That Jazz - Muntu Dance Theatre

1999

Ouinton de Alexander - Song Diva - Q and E Productions

2000

Birgit Rattenborg Wise- Knock Me A Kiss - Victory Gardens Theater

2001

Karen L. Wells - Every Time I Feel The Spirit - Pegasus Players

2003

Virgil C. Sanner - The Jackie Wilson Story - The Black Ensemble Theater

2004 Karen L. Wells - Sundown Names And Night Gone Things - The Chicago Theater Company
2005 Christine Pascual - Seven Guitars - Congo Square Theatre Company
2006 Paul Tazewell - Purlie - The Goodman Theatre
2007 Christine Pascual - Joe Turner’s Come And Gone - Congo Square Theatre Company
2008 Michael Alan Stein - Nefertiti - A Concert of Music and Dance - Deeply Rooted Productions





YEAR

Best Set Design

1995

Dorian Sylvain - Stoops - eta Creative Arts Foundation

1996

Robert C. Martin - Unjustifiable Acts - The Goodman Studio

1997

Lori Fong – Flyin’ West - Onyx Theatre Ensemble

1998

Lori Fong - Let Me Live - Goodman/Onyx

1999

Robert C. Martin - The Dreamers - eta Creative Arts Foundation

2000

Heather Graff - Doo Lister's Blues - New Onyx Theatre Company

2002

Logan Shunmugam - Playboy Of The West Indies - Congo Square Theatre Company

2003

Reginald B. Wilson - Whispers Want To Holler - eta Creative Arts Foundation

2004 Patrick Kerwin - The House That Jack Built - Congo Square Theatre Company
2005 Jack Magaw - Seven Guitars - Congo Square Theatre Company
2006 Dustin Efrid - Stickfly - Congo Square Theatre Company
2007 Reginald B. Wilson - Bedtime Story - eta Creative Arts Foundation
2008 Nick Mozak - Elmina's Kitchen - Congo Square Theatre Company





YEAR

Best Sound Design

1996

Ron White- Sammy: The Sammy Davis, Jr. Story - The Black Ensemble Theater

1997

Corbiere Boynes - Do Lord Remember Me - The Chicago Theatre Company

1998

Larry Nance - Shakin' The Mess Outta Misery - The Chicago Theatre Company

1999

Mark Anthony Thompson - A Huey P. Newton Story - MCA Performances

2003

Ministers of the New Super Heavy Funk - Kiwi Black - MPAACT

2004 Joseph Plummer - The State of Mississippi…And The Face of Emmett Till - Pegasus Players
2005 Joseph Plummer - Black Nativity - Congo Square Theater Company
2006 Chaos and Disorder - Blaxploitation: The Remix - MPAACT
2007 Chaos and Disorder - Blaxploitation 2 - MPAACT
2008 Ron White - Sounds So Good Makes You Wanna Holler - Old School vs. Nu Skool - Black Ensemble Theater











Chuck Smith and André De Shields

Annually the Black Theater Alliance Awards, Inc. presents a Lifetime Achievement Award to a special honoree who has achieved success or made significant contributions to theater, dance, film, and other mediums in the world of the performing arts.

YEAR

Black Theater Alliance Award of Merit Honorees

1995

Abena Joan Brown, Co-Founder and President of eta Creative Arts Foundation

1996

Jackie Taylor, Founder and Artistic Director of the Black Ensemble Theater

1997

Chuck Smith, Artistic Associate, The Goodman Theatre

1998

Val Gray Ward, Founder and Artistic Director of Kuumba Theatre

1999

Joel Hall, Founder and Artistic Director of The Joel Hall Dancers

2002

Lawrence-Hilton Jacobs, Actor, Writer, and Producer

2003

Dr. Margaret Burroughs, Founder of The DuSable Museum of African American History

2003

Julian Swain, Legendary Actor, Dancer and Choreographer

2004

Runako Jahi - Artistic Director of eta Creative Foundation.

2005

André De Shields - Actor, Singer and Dancer

2006

Ben Vereen - Actor, Singer and Dancer

2007

Robert Hooks - Actor, Producer, and Political Activist

2008

Arthur Mitchell - Founder and Artistic Director of Dance Theater of Harlem






Vincent Williams and Earl Calloway
At the Seventh Annual Black Theater Alliance/Ira Aldridge Awards, BTAA presented plaques to 10 Chicago personalities who have helped to promote African-Americans in the performing arts. BTAA inducted them as Millennium Honorees in a presentation held on Monday, September 17, 2001 at the DuSable Museum of African American History.

2001 BTAA Millennium Honorees

Jerry Butler, R & B Legend and Commissioner of Cook County

Earl Calloway, Fine Arts Editor, The Chicago Daily Defender

Bill Campbell, Host of Chicagoing - Channel 7/WLS-TV

Gloria Bond Clunie, Playwright in Residence, Victory Gardens Theater

Darryl Dennard, Host of Minority Business Report and Chairperson of WKKC Radio

Bonnie DeShong, Radio Personality, WVAZ/V-103

Irma P. Hall, Theater and Film Actress, star of "Soul Food"

Najwa I, Founder, Choreographer and Artistic Director of Najwa Dance Corps

Vanessa Truvillion, Dancer and Business Manager, The Joel Hall Dancers

Walter Whitman, Founder and Director of The Soul Children of Chicago




The 14th Annual
Black Theater Alliance
Ira Aldridge Awards
Monday, September 29, 2008
The Fairmont Chicago

Pictures by Billy Smith
n-focus@comcast.net


Vincent Williams, President The Black Theater Alliance Awards



Deonne Wright, Secretary



Earl Calloway, Member



Table 7 - Enjoying Reception



Frances Wilkerson - Nominee



Joel Hall, Artistic Director of The Joel Hall Dancers and Center give Keynote Address



A very supportive BTAA crowd.



Keir Thirus, nominee serves as a presenter.



Michael Alan Stein accepting award for Best Costume Design.



Jackie Taylor's Victory Walk.



Rashawn Thompson accepts award.



Jon Michael Hill accepting award.



Karen Aldridge accepting award.



A big cheer for Rueben Echoles.



K. Todd Freeman serves as a presenter



Osiris Khepera serves as a presenter



Paunika Jones dancing "Firebird" in honor of Arthur Mitchell.



The BTAA Brothers with Arthur Mitchell (L to R): Homer Bryant, Arthur Mitchell, Vincent Williams, Joel Hall, Darryl Dennard, Runako Jahi, Kevin McILvaine, Earl Calloway, and unidentified.



"Sounds So Good-Makes You Wanna Holler" cast. Best Play (Musical or Revue) The Black Ensemble Theater.



Victoria Brady closes the BTA Awards with the song "Rise Up Sheperd And Follow."



2008 Table of Awards



Valorie Harris, Treasurer and Robert Barnett, Member



Toney Hall, Member, and Vincent Williams



Ifa Bayeza reads Program Book



Joslyn Jones, Nominee and Guest



Darryl Dennard, BTA Awards Host



Jon Michael Hill and K. Todd Freeman-Steppenwolf Brothers



Kristy Johnson accepting award for Most Promising Actress



Jackie Taylor accepting award for Best Writing of a Musical Play



Gary Abbott of Deeply Rooted Productions accepts Best Direction of a Musical Award for Kevin Iega Jeff.



Kashuna performs her comedy for the audience.



Ron Conner accepting award.



E. Faye Butler accepting award.



Rueben Echoles accepting award.



Kevin McILvaine accepting award.



Arthur Mitchell accepting The Lifetime Achievement Award.



Attendees view a career highlights montage about Arthur Mitchell's career.



(L to R): Homer Bryant, Arthur Mitchell, and Pierre Lockett.



Arthur Mitchell and Abena Joan Brown of eta Creative Arts Foundation, Inc.



Daniel Bryant, Taron Patton, Ron Conner, and Ray Baker Best Play (Drama or Comedy) "The Talented Tenth" Congo Square Theater Company.



James Vincent Meredith (James came to awards when ended after his rehearsal) and Vincent Williams.





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