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Column
Awards
Guidelines, Eligibility, and
Procedures
EDUCATIONAL THEATER ELIGIBILITY
The Column Awards respects the training Colleges and
Universities provide and believes competition at that level distracts from
the emphasis of training.
The Column Awards encourages Colleges and Universities to
participate in the American College Theatre Festival.
Thus productions from Colleges & Universities will no longer
be allowed to be placed in any of the "Non-Equity" categories. Instead the
Board has created a new award specifically for educational theater.
The Column Awards will place on the ballot one production
(play or musical) of a College or University's choosing for a special award
to be voted on by all voters.
Any college or University in the DFW metroplex is allowed to
nominate one production. The Chairman of the school's Drama/Theater Dept or
appointed official from that school are the ONLY individuals who may submit
a production. Students and/or faculty are NOT allowed to nominate. Only the
Chairman or appointed official may submit.
There are no restrictions to what production the College /
University wishes to place on the ballot. The new award/category will be:
Outstanding Production by a College or University
CHILDREN'S THEATRE ELIGIBILITY
The Column Awards respects the training Children and Youth
Theatre provide and believes competition at that level distracts from the
emphasis of training.
The Column Awards encourages High Schools to participate in
the University Interscholastic League of Texas.
Theatres producing shows using youth / child actors as an
extension of a school or training program are NOT eligible to be on the
Ballot. However, professional Theatres producing works for young audiences
using adult actors are eligible.
MAINSTAGE/SECONDARY SPACE PRODUCTIONS
All shows produced by a theatre company should meet the 5
performance guidelines to be placed on the Ballot. If a theatre has a
secondary space and produces shows in that space for the required 5
performances, it is eligible under the primary theatre's name or a new name
for the secondary space.
PUPPET THEATRE
The Column Awards believes Puppet Theatre to be a respected
and viable form of entertainment. For purposes of The Column Awards,
productions using puppets must have actors onstage and seen manipulating the
puppet to be considered a production eligible for placement on the Ballot.
In other words, think AVENUE Q. You clearly see the actor's faces & bodies
in that production.
REVIVALS
Productions that are revived must have a 7 year waiting
period, from said first production, before the show is eligible for
placement on the ballot. Shows that are revived are NOT eligible until the
8th year of production (as a point of clarification, this includes Christmas
shows.) A revival, for purposes of this guideline, is defined as a show
produced by the theatre with the same OR different cast or production staff.
EXAMPLE: If your Theater company produces A CHRISTMAS CAROL,
it can only be eligible for this year and cannot be eligible for the next 7
years. After the 7th year, then it can be deemed eligible again.
ORIGINAL MUSICAL / PLAY WITH MUSIC DIFFERENTIATION
Shows considered to be Original Musicals must meet ALL of
the following requirements. Should ALL requirements are NOT met here, then
the show becomes eligible in the Play category.
-
Original Musicals must have six (6) or more original
songs/numbers specifically written for the book of said musical. Three
(3) of the songs must be solos specifically composed to express
emotions/ subtext /characterization of one of the roles within the
piece.
-
Original Musicals CANNOT contain songs/numbers from
previously published or composed musicals–including but not limited to
Music Catalogues from recording artists. All songs/numbers must have
been specifically composed for the piece.
-
Original Musicals must have six (6) or more
choreographed dance numbers, INCLUDING two (2) solos and two (2) full
company numbers. All dance numbers must be specifically created solely
for the piece.
-
Original Musicals must meet the five (5) performance
requirement established for all shows for eligibility. Show styles NOT
considered Original Musicals include but are not limited to: Dance
Concerts, Dance Recitals, student directed shows / special theater
projects, benefits / fundraisers, concerts or musical workshops.
-
Original Musicals for consideration for placement on the
ballot must be attended by at least one (1) member of The Column Awards
Board of Directors for verification of eligibility. Should no member of
the Board of Directors attend a performance, then the theatre has the
right to produce a DVD / Video copy of the piece for review by the Board
of Directors. Deadline for receipt will be the first day of December
(Dec. 1.) A decision to the theatre will be made no less than 2 weeks
from receipt of copy.
******* FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
*******
CAN I MYSELF NOMINATE ANYONE FOR A COLUMN AWARD?
ANSWER: No. To be nominated it has to come from the Artistic Director
producer, or Director of said production. They are the ones who will fill
out the original ballot that is sent to them by their theater liasion.
That form and its names is what is placed on the Round One
ballot. It is from those selections within the Round one ballot in which you
can "nominate" someone. Write ins are not allowed on the master ballot.
However, ANYONE can nominate an individual for the BEN
BRETTELL Award, the KATHLEEN FREEMAN Award, and the RUDY SEPPY Award. Please
look on our website to see what those three awards are created for.
NOTE: It is the SOLE responsiblity of that Director/Artistic
Director to fill out the form and return it back to their theater liasion.
If it is NOT returned, then that production will NOT be eligible.
We had several problems arise last year regarding
Directors/etc. not returning the forms back, causing their productions to be
left out of Column Awards consideration.
PLEASE NOTE: Even if you are not a fan or supporter of The
Column Awards, your cast, production staff, and crew might be big
supporters. Thus it is VERY unfair of not allowing them to particpate in The
Column Awards due to your personal feelings. So we sincerely hope you will
submit your form allowing your company to particpate.
********************
IS JOHN GARCIA OR HIS BOARD ELIGIBLE FOR AWARDS
CONSIDERATION?
ANSWER: Since its creation, John Garcia has NEVER been eligible for Column
Award consideration. Since he is the founder/creator of the organization, it
would be quite unethical and unprofessional to allow himself to be eligible
for an award he created. However, ANY production that Mr. Garcia was
involved in as actor is still eligible for consideration. He himself is the
only individual from said production that is NOT eligible.
Regarding the Board of Directors eligiblity: All Board
members are eligible for consideration for an award as is the productions
they are involved in.
********************
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EQUITY AND NON-EQUITY?
ANSWER: THE COLUMN Awards are divided into two distinct
classifications, equity and non equity.
To be eligible for EQUITY classification, your production
must have at least one (1) equity contract offered and signed. This can be
either an acting or technical contact (i.e. Stage Manager).
If there are NO equity contracts and NO equity performers in
your production-then that production will be listed in the NON EQUITY
classification.
The thought and reason for this distinction was so that we
honor ALL theater companies. THE COLUMN Awards strongly believe that the
same passion, dedication, and commitment goes into both equity and
non-equity shows. Thus we strive to include and honor our smaller companies
as well, not just the larger Theater companies. Remember- Unity is the key
here.
********************
HOW DOES ONE GET NOMINATED?
ANSWER: Any Theater Company in the Dallas-Fort Worth
metroplex is eligible if the following guidelines have been established:
-
The production(s) that are submitted must have been
performed and produced in the calendar year that is set up by the Column
Awards Board of Directors and its Executive Director.
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Said production must run in their regular season. It
CANNOT be productions that were performed in festivals, stage readings,
special series, benefit shows, fund raisers, or one night only events.
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Said production must run at least five public
performances.
-
Said production MUST be listed on their official
websites, brochures, and other assorted publicity materials. These tools
are used as verification by THE COLUMN Awards Board of Directors, the
Executive Director/Producer, and Theater Liaisons.
-
In the case(s) of DOUBLE CASTING or UNDERSTUDIES, then
ONLY the "Opening night" cast performers can be eligible in the role(s)
that they performed on "Opening night".
Within the organization all Board members are assigned
Theater companies & become their Theater Liaison. They are the "go to
person" between the Board and said Theater company. To see which Board
member is your theater liaison, please view our website and look under
"theater liaisons".
The board liaisons will be sending out nomination ballots to
ONLY the following: Artistic Directors, Directors, and/or Producers of those
ELIGIBLE companies and productions.
These Artistic Directors, Producers, and/or Directors would
then put ALL eligible performers/designers/production staff in the
appropriate categories on the ballot.
This means they have SOLE control of where to put down
individual performances in what categories they deemed fit in regards to
that person's role on stage. The Board of Directors and Executive Director/
Producer had NO SAY in this. This was totally left at the discretion of the
director, etc.
Artistic Directors, Producers, and/or Directors were allowed
to list the ENTIRE cast in whatever categories they felt was appropriate.
However, when it comes to large casts (i.e. ensembles), not
everyone can be listed. Thus, when it comes to ensembles, the Artistic
Director, Producer, and/or Director would then decide which (if any)
ensemble members are deemed eligible in the "Featured" categories.
********************
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE?
ANSWER: ONLY and ONLY those who are registered subscribers
to THE COLUMN are eligible to vote. However, you had to a subscriber prior
to the deadline. NO EXCEPTIONS. One of the privileges and immense
responsibility of being a Column subscriber is the right to vote.
********************
CAN ANYONE ON THE BOARD SEE WHO OR WHAT I VOTED FOR?
ANSWER: NO. That is a DEFINITE no. Not a single person that
serves on the Board of Directors OR the Executive Director/Producer has ANY
access whatsoever into the official voting ballot.
They are very determined to keep your voting PRIVATE. So
again-they have NO access into the system to see how you or anyone else
voted.
Everyone is assigned a "voting code" when voting
begins-which means your actual name or email address is NOT visible
whatsoever when voting. Only the Director of the ballot design/tabulation
has access to the voting codes-NO ONE ELSE DOES. Thus your voting selections
are kept completely confidential.
Also, with over 10,000 subscribers it is impossible to
connect email address to the votes. Mainly because it is done with numbers
and codes-NOT with indiviual email accounts. Thus your vote will ALWAYS
remain private!
********************
WHAT IS ROUND ONE VOTING AND ROUND TWO VOTING?
ANSWER: ROUND ONE voting is when every ELIGIBLE name, show,
etc. is listed on the ballot. It's the first ballot that contains EVERY
actor, designer, show, etc. that was provided by the Theater Companies.
The ballot for ROUND ONE is lengthy due to the overwhelming
array of choices you have to choose from. So be prepared.
After the cut off date for ROUND ONE VOTING concludes, that
weekend the Ballot Design team will tabulate ALL the votes.
The SIX (6) individuals, shows, etc. in EACH category that
has the HIGHEST amount of votes will then become OFFICIAL nominees for the
10th Annual Column Awards.
It's just like the Academy Awards. They get a ballot in the
mail with all the eligible films, performances, etc. for the calendar year.
They then vote on that ballot. After that Price-Waterhouse Accounting firm
will tabulate those ballots, and the five individuals/movies, etc. that have
the highest amount of votes become the final five nominees for the Oscar.
THE COLUMN Awards are the same, except we have six nominees instead of five.
At this point the Ballot Design and Tabulating team will
meet with the Executive Director/Producer and two Board of Directors in a
closed meeting to let them know who the final nominees are.
A spanking new ballot listing the final six nominees is
posted for voting again by the entire subscriber base, this is called ROUND
TWO. In this round you can only vote for ONE person in each category. The
winners are not announced until the big night, March 23, 2009.
********************
WHAT ARE "THE COLUMN" AWARDS?
ANSWER: After the birth and first year of THE COLUMN, the
editor/ founder of THE COLUMN (John Garcia) that for "fun", he pick and
announce his own personal picks for the best in DFW Theater.
This "first" ceremony was actually just a special issue of
THE COLUMN sent out to the readers. After that issue, many people commented
on how that should be turned into an actual ceremony.
Plus how much fun would it be to bring the ENTIRE theater
community together for one night to celebrate, laugh, cry, and honor the
ENTIRE Dallas-Fort Worth theater community?
ALL thespians, designers, directors, musical directors,
choreographers, etc. work ALL over the metroplex. We go everywhere to work
in the art we all love so much: theater. We are ALL connected somehow. So
why not honor the ENTIRE metroplex, not just Dallas? Why not have a great
night that brings all of us together like a big ole family reunion?!
Then came the idea of donating money to a charity-thus came
our connection to BROADWAY CARES/EQUITY FIGHTS AIDS.
It was these tiny seeds that began the birth and creation of
THE COLUMN Awards Organization.
Over the next two years Garcia gathered a group of close
friends and they worked like insane, hyperactive bees in creating the very
first Gala at the Plaza Theater in Garland.
However, Garcia no longer picked his own choices, but
instead left it all up to the COLUMN subscribers to vote. Thus it fell to
the hands and voices of THE COLUMN subscribers to choose the best in DFW
Theater.
The Board of Directors serving today contains a group of
dedicated, immensely talented, and highly qualified individuals that do outstanding work each year. They believe in THE COLUMN Awards primary goal:
To honor excellence in Theater within the entire Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
This board contains the hardest working group of people who are determined
to make this organization as professional as possible.
THE COLUMN AWARDS has
achieved the following recognition:
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THE COLUMN Awards in 2006 was voted BEST LOCAL AWARDS
SHOW by the DALLAS OBSERVER.
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THE COLUMN Awards is the ONLY Awards organization in the
ENTIRE United States that donate all their proceeds (after operating
expenses) to BC/EFA.
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THE COLUMN Awards has been recognized by EQUITY News,
PLAYBILL, THE DALLAS VOICE, DALLAS MAGAZINE, BROADWAY.COM,
BROADWAYWORLD.COM, TALKINBROADWAY.COM, BROADWAYSTARS.COM, and BC/EFA.
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THE COLUMN Awards for the last three years have been
named as major contributors in the Angel Campaign of BC/EFA.
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In 2007 THE COLUMN Awards became a 501C Organization.
With all this recognition THE COLUMN Awards have been
extremely grateful and lucky to have major stars from the worlds of
Broadway, Film, and Television attend the gala as Guest stars and
performers.
Past guest stars have included Anthony Rapp (Original "Mark"
in Broadway's RENT); Michael Urie (SAG nominee, UGLY BETTY); Christian
Campbell (TRICK, BOOK OF DANIEL); Stephanie D'Abruzzo (Tony Nominee for
AVENUE Q); George Wendt (CHEERS, Emmy winner); and Richard Thomas (WALTONS,
Emmy winner); Tony winner Wilson J. Heredia (Original "Angel" in RENT); and
Jai Rodriguez (Bravo's QUEER EYE FOR THE STRAIGHT GUY).
Other celebrities sent personal letters
of support
and congratulations to THE COLUMN Awards as well, such as two time Tony
Award winner and Broadway legend Chita Rivera, 2007 Tony Award winner
Christine Ebersole (GREY GARDENS), and Golden Globe/Emmy/SAG winner, America
Ferrera (UGLY BETTY).
In past years if you have been nominated for a
COLUMN Award, or been one of those lucky few that now possess a crystal COLUMN
Award. Remember that you were voted for by your peers. Those who work in front
and behind the curtain have deemed your work worthy of this honor.
THE COLUMN also has hundreds of subscribers who are just
die-hard fans and supporters of theater. So you are also being nominated and
honored by the very people who sit in the audience admiring your work on
stage, or your direction, or design elements, and so on.
Since that first year we have constantly changed, evolved,
and learned from our highs and lows within the organization. This brings us to
this year's Column Awards!
If you have any questions, etc. please refer them to the
Executive Director/Producer at:
thecolumnbyjohngarica@yahoo.com
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