New York Innovation Theatre Awards Honor Peggy Shaw & Lois Weaver

On Monday, September 25, The New York Innovative Theatre Foundation, the organization who for the past 13 years has been dedicated to celebrating Off-Off-Broadway, will present four honorary awards along side the 26 awards for outstanding achievement in theater.

These awards will be presented at the 13th Annual New York Innovative Theatre Awards Ceremony. They include the Caff� Cino Fellowship Award to Retro Productions; the Ellen Stewart Award to Crystal Field (Theater for a New City); the Artistic Achievement Award to Peggy Shaw and Lois Weaver; and the Doric Wilson Independent Playwright Award to J.Stephen Brantley.

The Caffe Cino Fellowship Award, named in honor of the legendary Caffe Cino, is presented to an Off-Off-Broadway theater company that consistently produces outstanding work. This award also includes a grant to be used toward an Off-Off-Broadway production. This year's recipient is Retro Productions.

"Retro Productions winning the Caff� Cino Fellowship Award means the world to me as the founder of the company because the Cino exemplifies the best of what Off-Off-Broadway has to offer," said Producing Artist Director Heather Cunningham. "To be told by our peers that we are one of the companies currently working in the community today who consistently provide audiences with exceptional work is the epitome of high praise and is incredibly thrilling."

The Ellen Stewart Award, named in honor of LaMaMa's Ellen Stewart, is presented to an individual or organization demonstrating a significant contribution to the Off-Off-Broadway community through service, support and leadership. This year's award recognizes Crystal Field, Artistic Director of Theatre for the New City.

Said Field, "Off-Off-Broadway is the Breeding Ground of New American Theater. It is a place where new ideas, philosophies, political and social truths can form, grow and Flourish. As our new theater artists shed their blood in the service of Art, Off-Off-Broadway gives back to them, the nourishment they need, to continue in their pursuit to save our planet, sociologically, psychologically, and with total fulfillment of our sensibilities."

The Artistic Achievement Award is presented to an individual(s) who has made a significant artistic contribution to the Off-Off-Broadway community. Peggy Shaw and Lois Weaver, founding members of Split Britches and WOW (Women's One World) Caf�, are this year's recipients. They are both renowned international theater artists and advocates who champion human rights and stage performances illuminating women's experiences with feminist and lesbian themes.

Doric Wilson Independent Playwright Award, named in honor of playwright and activist Doric Wilson, is presented to a playwright whose work has been produced Off-Off-Broadway and embodies the daring spirit of Doric Wilson.

"It's a tremendous honor to receive an award named after an artist as fearless and uncompromising as Doric Wilson," said J.Stephen Brantley. "As someone driven to respond to the turbulence in our world at a time when it feels like the very right to do so is in jeopardy, I look to Doric's example of what theater artists can do to excite and empower their communities. I'm so proud to play a small part in his legacy."

These awards will be presented on Monday, September 25 at the 13th Annual New York Innovative Theatre Awards Ceremony at the Gerald Lynch Theatre located in the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, 524 West 59th Street, New York, NY 10019. Tickets are $29.

For tickets, visit nyitawards.com/shop. To watch the awards online, visit www.nyitawards.com/live