New York Independent Theater Awards Explained

New York Independent Theater Awards
Awarded For:	Excellence in Off-Off-Broadway theatre
Presenter:	The League of Independent Theater
Country:	United States
Website:	Official Website

The New York Independent Theater Awards (also known as NYIT Awards and IT Awards) are accolades given annually by The League of Independent Theater to honor individuals and organizations who have achieved artistic excellence in Off-Off-Broadway theatre.

The awards - created by The New York Innovative Theatre Foundation in 2004 - were formerly known as “The New York Innovative Theatre Awards”. They were renamed in 2022 upon the Foundation's merger with The League of Independent Theater, who now administer the awards.^[1]

History

The New York Innovative Theatre Foundation was created in 2004 by Jason Bowcutt, Shay Gines and Nick Micozzi to bring recognition to artistic output and heritage of New York City's Off-Off-Broadway community.^[2] The organization advocated for Off-Off-Broadway and recognized the unique and essential role it plays in contributing to American and global culture.

In 2022, the foundation merged with The League of Independent Theater, with the awards renamed The New York Independent Theater Awards.^[3]

Categories

Competitive Awards

• Outstanding Ensemble
• Outstanding Solo Performance
• Outstanding Actor In A Lead Role
• Outstanding Actress In A Lead Role
• Outstanding Actor In A Featured Role
• Outstanding Actress In A Featured Role
• Outstanding Choreography / Movement
• Outstanding Director
• Outstanding Set Design
• Outstanding Lighting Design
• Outstanding Costume Design
• Outstanding Sound Design
• Outstanding Original Music
• Outstanding Original Short Script
• Outstanding Original Full-Length Script
• Outstanding Performance Art Production
• Outstanding Production of a Musical
• Outstanding Production of a Play

Honorary Awards

• The Artistic Achievement Award - for significant artistic contribution to the Off-Off-Broadway community.
• The Ellen Stewart Award - for significant contribution to the Off-Off-Broadway community through service, support and leadership.
• The Caffe Cino Fellowship Award - for consistent production of outstanding work.
• The Outstanding Stage Manager Award.
• The Indie Theater Champion Award - for advancing the independent theater community through positive social justice actions during the past year.
• The Doric Wilson Independent Playwright Award - for commitment to independent theater.

Ceremony

See also: List of NYIT Awards ceremonies.

Season	Awards ceremony	Location	Awards ceremony host(s)
2004–05	Sept. 19, 2005^[4]	Lucille Lortel Theatre	Charles Busch
2005–06	Sept. 18, 2006 ^[5]	Cooper Union
2006–07	Sept. 24, 2007^[6]	Fashion Institute of Technology	Julie Halston
2007–08	Sept. 22, 2008^[7]	Fashion Institute of Technology	Lisa Kron
2008–09	Sept. 21, 2009^[8]	New World Stages	Julie Halston
2009–10	Sept 20, 2010^[9]	Cooper Union	Lisa Kron
2010–11	Sept. 19, 2011^[10]	Cooper Union	Harrison Greenbaum
2011–12	Sept. 24, 2012^[11]	Kaye Playhouse	Harrison Greenbaum
2012–13	Sept. 30, 2013^[12]	Baruch Performing Arts Center	Harrison Greenbaum
2013–14	Sept. 24, 2014^[13]	Baruch Performing Arts Center	Jason Kravits
2014–15	Sept. 21, 2015^[14]	Baruch Performing Arts Center	Jason Kravits
2015–16	Sept 26. 2016^[15]	Kaye Playhouse	Jason Kravits
2016–17	Sept. 25, 2017^[16]	Gerald Lynch Theater	Jason Kravits
2017–18	Sept. 24, 2018^[17]	Centennial Memorial Theatre	Becca Blackwell
2018–19	Sept. 16, 2019^[18]	Centennial Memorial Theatre	Bradford Scobie
2019–20	Did not occur due to COVID-19 Pandemic
2020–21	Nov. 14, 2021^[19]	Kraine Theater	Shalewa Sharpe and Courtney Fearrington
2021–22	Did not occur^[20]
2022–23	June 26, 2023^[21]	Brooklyn Art Haus	Shalewa Sharpe

External links

• *Official Website

Notes and References

1. Web site: LIT-NYIT Awards . The League of Independent Theatres . 10 September 2023.
2. Web site: Jacobs . Leonard . Obies, Tonys: Move Over . Backstage . 11 September 2023.
3. Web site: New York Innovative Theatre Awards Becomes New York Independent Theater Awards in Merger with the League of Independent Theater . League of Independent Theater . 11 September 2023.
4. Web site: 2005 Innovative Theatre (IT) Awards Presented at Lortel . Theatermania . 11 September 2023.
5. Web site: Charles Busch to host theater awards . The Advocate . 11 September 2023.
6. Web site: Julie Halston, Host for Awards . The New York Times . 11 September 2023.
7. Web site: Kron to Host 2008 Innovative Theatre Awards Tonight, 9/22 . BroadwayWorld . 11 September 2023.
8. Web site: 2009 IT Award Winners Announced . Backstage . 11 September 2023.
9. Web site: 2010 IT Awards Presented Sept. 20; Lisa Kron Hosts . Playbill . 11 September 2023.
10. Web site: Innovative Theatre Awards Held Sept. 19; Susan Stroman and John Patrick Shanley Are Presenters . Playbill . 11 September 2023.
11. Web site: 2012 IT Awards Ceremony Celebrates Outstanding Off-Off Broadway Achievement . StageBuzz . 11 September 2023.
12. Web site: New York Innovative Theatre Foundation Announces 2013 IT Award Nominees . TheaterMania . 11 September 2023.
13. Web site: 2014 New York Innovative Theatre Awards Presented . TheaterMania . 11 September 2023.
14. Web site: Jason Kravits Returning to Host 2015 IT Awards . BroadwayWorld . 11 September 2023.
15. Web site: 2016 Recipients Announced for New York Innovative Theatre Awards . BroadwayWorld . 11 September 2023.
16. Web site: Winners Announced for 13th Annual New York Innovative Theatre Awards! . BroadwayWorld . 11 September 2023.
17. Web site: The New York Innovation Theatre Foundation Announces The Recipients Of The 2018 IT Awards . BroadwayWorld . 11 September 2023.
18. Web site: Photo Flash: Inside The 2019 New York Innovative Theatre Awards . BroadwayWorld . 11 September 2023.
19. Web site: The New York Innovative Theatre Awards Announce 2021 Honorary Awards Ceremony . BroadwayWorld . 11 September 2023.
20. Web site: Update About the Status of This Year’s Awards . New York Independent Theater Awards . 11 September 2023.
21. Web site: The 2023 New York Independent Theater Awards are HERE! . League of Independent Theatres . 11 September 2023.