The Stage Management Association (SMA)1 is calling for nominations for the 2011 National Stage Management Awards. Administrated by the SMA and sponsored by The Stage, the National Stage Management Awards are awarded annually to extraordinary stage managers – individuals, or teams.Nominees do not have to be SMA members, and anyone can nominate who has worked with or witnessed the work of an outstanding stage manager – nominators in the past have included actors, producers, directors, production managers, fellow stage managers, designers, playwrights and audience members.
Stage managers, or teams, can be nominated for a single tour de force or a season’s work or even for a consistent outstanding contribution over a period of time or with a particular company.
‘I am always staggered by the achievements of those who win, or indeed those who are nominated for, these awards’, says Catherine Comerford, Managing Director of the Stage, ‘The Stage is proud to be associated with these awards which it has been sponsoring for the last 13 years.’
‘This is a rare chance for stage managers to be acknowledged for the creative contribution they make to shows throughout the year, up and down the country, quietly from behind the scenes,’ comments Barbara Eifler, Executive Director of the Stage Management Association. ‘We hope to top last year’s record number of nominations. It is fantastic to see how many colleagues and employers recognise the outstanding quality of their stage management.’
Last year, the Stage Manager of the Year category was won by Sarah Lynch, Company Stage Manager for Druid Theatre, based in Ireland; and the Stage Management Team of the Year were David Nelson, Bryan Lawrence, Hazel Price, Jess Banks and Stuart Hillman, touring the UK with Quadrophenia in 2009. Richard Pilbrow, founder of Theatre Projects, presented the Awards at a ceremony at the Royal Horticultural Halls during the ABTT Theatre Show.
The deadline for submissions for this year’s awards is Friday 6th May. Forms can be downloaded from www.stagemanagementassociation.co.uk or requested from admin@stagemanagementassociation.co.uk or 020-7403-7999.