2008 AATE AWARDS
Request for Member Nominations

It is our pleasure to open the nominations for the 2008 AATE General, Book, and Play Awards.  This is your chance to recognize the high quality work being done in our field by individuals and organizations.

The AATE Awards Process is member driven and gives recipients national recognition for the outstanding work that they do to further AATE's mission on a daily basis.  The variety of awards is representative of the wide scope of our membership and honors individuals and organizations (from within and outside of our organization and profession) as they create meaning for generations to come.  Recipients represent the best of our field and inspire others with the outstanding work, commitment, and dedication that make us proud to count them among our colleagues and allies.  I encourage you to take part in recognizing and honoring those who go the extra mile to create a better tomorrow for those that we serve.

In keeping with the letter and spirit of all equal opportunity and civil rights laws, the American Alliance for Theatre and Education embraces diversity and encourages inclusion of all races, social classes, ages, genders, religions, sexual orientations, national origins, and abilities.

Ë How to nominate for the Book & Play Awards:

• Member Nomination Procedure: 
• Send the Title, Author/Playwright, and Publisher information of the book or play to the Awards Chair.  Please include the publishing date.
• The Publisher will be contacted by the Awards Chair to second the nomination and to provide the six copies of the book or play for the committee.

• Submission Dates:       Deadline for all Member Nominations – November 15, 2007

                                                      Deadline for all Publisher’s Nominations – February 15, 2008

• Submit Member Nominations to Overall Awards Chair:

ªªª Publisher Nomination Procedure:  Established Publishers will receive a request for nominations in the Fall and must send SIX Copies of each book or play nominated, a letter of intent, and a packing slip directly to the appropriate Awards Coordinator:

Ì  Distinguished Book & Play Award Descriptions

DISTINGUISHED BOOK AWARD:  Honors an author and publisher for the outstanding book relating to any aspect of the field published during the past calendar year (January through December).  The book should be one in which the scholarship or resources of the field is enhanced by its publication.  Criteria may include, but are not limited to, logic and consistency of organization, thoroughness of topic coverage, writing style, philosophy and approach; and appropriateness for intended audience.

DISTINGUISHED PLAY AWARDS:  Honors the playwright(s) and publisher(s) of the most outstanding plays for young people published during the past calendar year (January through December) in three categories:
A) Plays primarily for middle school and secondary age audiences;
B) Plays primarily for pre-K and elementary age audiences.
C) Adaptations from existing children's literature - can be for either age audience.
The successful script should demonstrate superiority in execution, delineation of characters, theatricality, and appropriateness of style.  Selected scripts should respect young people's understandings and abilities, providing them with perspectives on their own experiences while enhancing their imagination and emotional growth.

            Ë How to nominate for the General Awards:
                           

• Nomination Packets:  Please compile SIX (6) nomination packets.  A nomination packet must include the following (not to exceed twenty (20) pages per packet):
• Completed nomination form (Hard copy can be found in this flyer or a soft copy version of the form is available on the AATE website www.aate.com).
• Current vitae of the nominee and an outline or brief description of nominee's outstanding achievements.
• Three letters of support (one support letter must be written by an AATE member).
• Relevant supporting materials (not to exceed six additional pages – 8 1/2" x 11" – one side only).

• Submission Dates:  Nomination packets will be accepted until February 15,2008

• Submit Packets to General Awards Chair:

                                                                                         
ªªª All nominations must include SIX (6) COMPLETE COPIES of each packet submitted.  Incomplete nominations may disqualify your nominee.  Nomination materials cannot be returned.

Ì  General Award Descriptions

ANN FLAGG MULTICULTURAL AWARD:  Honors an individual, organization, institution or company making significant contributions to the field of theatre/drama for youth or arts education dealing with multicultural issues and/or reaching diverse audiences and constituencies.  This award is open to persons of any ethnic, racial or cultural background and to non-members of AATE.

BARBARA SALISBURY WILLS AWARD:  Honors a member of the American Alliance for Theatre and Education for long-term and sustained service to the organization.

CAMPTON BELL LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD:  Honors an individual for a lifetime of outstanding contributions to the field.

CHARLOTTE B. CHORPENNING PLAYWRIGHT AWARD:  Honors a nationally known writer of outstanding plays for children.  This award recognizes the body of work and not one particular play.

CREATIVE DRAMA AWARD:  Honors a person or persons for outstanding achievement and service as a creative drama specialist.  Creative drama is concerned with the inner creative and social growth of young people which does not in itself lead to a production for audience.  Nominees must be members of AATE.

DINA REES EVANS THEATRE IN OUR SCHOOLS AWARD: Honors exemplary programs and individuals in support of Theatre In Our Schools, a project of AATE.  It is named in honor of Dina Rees Evans who was a secondary school educator, director of Cain Park Theatre and one of the founders of the national Secondary School Theatre Association.  Starting in 1996, two categories were instituted: one for a state program, the other for an individual effort.

F. LOREN WINSHIP SECONDARY SCHOOL THEATRE AWARD:  Honors an individual or organization for long-term outstanding contributions to the mission of secondary school theatre.  Given in honor of those pioneer educators in high school theatre who established the secondary school theatre movement in the United States.

JOHN C. BARNER TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARD:  Honors an individual member of AATE who is currently teaching Theatre on the secondary school level and who has developed an exemplary program.

LIN WRIGHT SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARDS:  Honors persons who have established special programs, developed experimental works, made distinctive educational contributions or provided meritorious service thus furthering theatre and drama for young people.  This award recognizes and supports these unique contributions of artists, educators, and advocates wherever they are found.  THREE AWARDS may be given annually.

MONTE MEACHAM AWARD:  Honors a person or organization outside AATE for outstanding contributions to children's theatre.

SARA SPENCER ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD:  Honors artistic theatre practice of long duration and wide recognition.  It may be granted to an established theatre for sustained and exceptional achievement or to an individual who has accomplished meritorious achievement in the field of theatre for young audiences.

YOUTH THEATRE DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR:  Honors an individual for outstanding achievement as a director in Youth Theatre.  Recipient should serve as a model of excellence and innovation as an artistic, education, and or management director in a theatre in which some or all of the performers are young people.

ZETA PHI ETA-WINIFRED WARD AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING NEW CHILDREN'S THEATRE COMPANY:  Given by Zeta Phi Eta, a national arts fraternity, it honors a theatre company serving young audiences which has been in operation at least two full years, but not more than five years.  The company must have attained a high level of artistic production, sound management practices, and must have stimulated community interest in its endeavors.  Nominees must be organizational members of AATE.

2008 AATE GENERAL AWARDS NOMINATION FORM

Nomination deadline: February 15, 2008
This form (six copies) accompanies other nomination materials.
See General Award Nomination information for details.

ARE YOU A MEMBER OF AATE?     Yes    No 
IS THE NOMINEE AWARE OF THE NOMINATION?      Yes    No 

SUPPORTING THE NOMINATION**

**Three letters of support, one from an AATE member, must be included in your nomination packet.  Remember to include 6 copies of each letter, as well as 6 copies of this form and other materials.