USITT > Activities > Awards

USITT recognizes excellence and significant contributions in the performing arts and entertainment industry, in the areas of design and technology, through a variety of awards. These awards can honor individuals and/or organizations.

Awards for Achievement by Individuals or Organizations

These awards honor established professionals and theatre-based organizations throughout the world.

• The USITT Award, the highest honor given by USITT, recognizes a lifetime contribution to the performing arts community.
• The Thomas DeGaetani Award honors a lifetime contribution to the performing arts in a particular region of the country, generally in the location of the Annual Conference & Stage Expo.
• The Joel E. Rubin Founder's Award is given to a USITT member in recognition of outstanding and continued service to the Institute.
• Distinguished Achievement Awards honor individuals who have established a career record of achievement in a specific field of expertise in any area of design or technology in the entertainment industry.
• Honorary Lifetime Member Awards This small but very distinguished group of individuals have been recognized for providing "a lifetime of continuous service to the Institute".
• Special Citations recognize outstanding achievement in any area of the performing arts by an individual or an organization.
• International Health & Safety Awards recognize outstanding contributions toward heath and safety in the performing arts community.
• The Rising Star Award recognizes artistic achievement in the areas of scenic, lighting, sound, and projection design, or the convergence of these design disciplines by a young professional.

Awards for Authors and Publications

These awards honor authors of major publications in design and technology for the performing arts and distinguished articles in TD&T.

• Golden Pen Award honors an outstanding publication in the field of design and production for the performing arts.
• The Herbert D. Greggs Awards promote innovative, in-depth writing about theatre design and technology in TD&T. Merit awards are also given.

Architecture Awards

The USITT Architecture Awards Program recognize excellence in the design of large and small projects for old and new theatres. Both merit and honor awards are given for projects completed in the prior ten years.

Architectural and Theatre Students "Ideal Theatre" Design Competition
Competition to bring together future theatre professionals and theatre designers to develop an understanding of the complexity of issues needed to design the "Ideal Theatre".

Awards for Young Designers and Technicians in the Performing Arts

These awards, commonly referred to within USITT as the YD&T Awards, bring recognition and support to young designers and technicians at the beginning of their careers. Recipients must be completing or have completed a bachelors or advanced degree within two years from an accredited college or university in North America.

• KM Fabrics, Inc. Technical Production Award is for graduate students in technical direction or production management.
• Robert E. Cohen Award for Sound Achievement is for graduate students in sound.
• The Award for Lighting Design, sponsored by Barbizon Lighting Company is for graduate students in lighting.
• The Award for Scene Design, sponsored by Rose Brand Theatrical Fabrics, Fabrications, and Supplies, is for graduate students in scene design.
• Zelma H. Weisfeld Costume Design & Technology Award is for graduate students in costume design or costume technology.
• Golden Hammer Scenic Technology Award is for graduate students in stage engineering, shop management, scene painting, scenery or properties construction, and craft.
• The Makeup Design Award, sponsored by Kryolan, is for graduate students in makeup design.
• The Award for Stage Managment, sponsored by Clear-Com Intercom Systems, is for undergraduate or graduate students pursuing a degreee in Stage Management.
• W. Oren Parker Scene Design Award, sponsored by Stage Decoration and Supplies, Inc., is for undergraduate students in scenic design.
• The Award for Lighting Design, sponsored by Stage Technology, is for undergraduate students in lighting.

Awards for International Travel

The Individual/Professional International Travel Award provides USITT members funding for advanced research and education that require international travel.

The Student International Travel Award provides funds for students to travel to international exhibitions, including the Prague Quadrennial, and for theatre-based research.

Awards for Exhibitions

The Awards for Exhibitions are juried competitions recognize excellence in technical theatre, design, and backstage skills.

• Tech Expo, aka Theatre Technology Exhibition, adjudicates presentations of creative solutions to technical problems in all technical-theatre areas.
• Design Expo, aka Design Exposition, is a juried exhibit of costume, scenery, lighting, and sound design by students, educators, and working professionals.
• Tech Olympics is a competition for students in backstage theatre skills.