Chita Rivera, Drama League, Other Awards

Winners of the Chita Rivera, Drama League and awards presented by Actors Equity Foundation were recently announced. On Mon. May 20, the Chita Rivera Awards for outstanding dance and choregraphy in theater and film were presented at NYU's Skirball Hall (site of the Drama Desks on June 10).

BROADWAY

OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY IN A BROADWAY SHOW: TIE – Camille A Brown, Hell’s Kitchen; Jesse Robb and Shana Carroll, Water for Elephants

Isabella McCalla and Antoine Boissereau
in Water for Elephants.
Credit: Matthew Murphy

OUTSTANDING DANCER IN A BROADWAY SHOW: Antoine Boissereau, Water For Elephants; Tilly Evans-Kreuger, The Outsiders

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE IN A BROADWAY SHOW: Illinoise

FILM AND DOCUMENTARY

OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY IN A THEATRICAL RELEASE: Barbie, Jennifer White

OUTSTANDING DIRECTION OF A DANCE DOCUMENTARY: Lift, David Petersen

SPECIAL AWARDS

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Bernadette Peters

VANGUARD AWARD: Phil LaDuca

DOUGLAS AND ETHEL WATT CRITICS’ CHOICE AWARD: Mayte Natalio.

Drama League Awards: The Drama League Awards were presented on May 17 at the Ziegfeld Ballroom. Here is a list of winners:

Sarah Paulsen in
Appropriate.
Credit: Joan Marcus

Outstanding Production of a Play
WINNER - Stereophonic

Outstanding Revival of a Play
WINNER - Appropriate

Outstanding Production of a Musical
WINNER - Hell's Kitchen

Outstanding Revival of a Musical
WINNER - Merrily We Roll Along

Outstanding Direction of a Play
Winner - Daniel Aukin, Stereophonic

Outstanding Direction of a Musical
WINNER - Maria Friedman, Merrily We Roll Along

Distinguished Performance
WINNER-- Sarah Paulsen, Appropriate

The Drama League also bestowed non-competitive special recognitions at the 2024 ceremony. Jonathan Groff received the Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theater Award, with Schele Williams receiving the Founders Award for Excellence in Directing, Jessica Lange the Contribution to the Theater Award, and Kandi Burruss the Gratitude Award.

Equity Foundation Awards: In addition to all these end-of-season accolades, there is a group of awards which have been largely overlooked: the Actors' Equity Foundation Awards, three sets of prizes given for outstanding performances. 

Kecia Lewis and Maleah Joi Moon
in Hell's Kitchen
Credit: Marc J. Franklin

The Richard Seff Award, established in 2003 for a male and female character actor 50 years old or older who has been a member of the Actors’ Equity for 25 years or longer, is awarded to Kecia Lewis (Miss Liza Jane in Hell’s Kitchen), and Ciaran O’Reilly (S.B. “Screwballs” O’Donnell in Philadelphia, Here I Come!). (Lewis won the Lortel Award and the Outer Critics Circle Award and is nominated for a Tony.)

The Clarence Derwent Award, established in 1945, for the two most promising performances of the season is given to Hannah Cruz (Inez Milholland in Suffs and Robin in The Connector) and Andrew Durand (Elmer in Dead Outlaw).

The Joseph Callaway Award, established in 1989, is for the two best performances in a classical play. Ironically, the winners were in two separate production of the same play. The winners are Marin Ireland (Sonya in O’Henry Productions’ Loft production of Uncle Vanya) and Jonathan Hadary (Waffles in Lincoln Center Theatre’s Uncle Vanya).

The Foundation will hold a ceremony to present these awards on June 24 in New York City.

The members of the judges panel included Joe Dziemianowicz of New York Theatre Guide, Adam Feldman of Time Out New York, Elysa Gardner of New York Sun and New York Stage Review;,Harry Haun of the Observer, Kobi Kassal of Theatrely, and Frank Scheck of Hollywood Reporter and New York Stage Review.