Playwright-director David Mamet and playwright Emily Mann are the leading theatre representatives from a larger group of directors, writers and producers who are scheduled to receive Christopher Awards later this month, Playbill On-Line has learned.

The Christopher Awards recognize "creative works that express the highest values of the human spirit," and go to writers, directors and producers, not actors. They are intended to recognize the creative people behind the scenes in movies, television and books.

This year, the awards will be presented on Feb. 24 at the Time-Life Building in New York. The 50-year-old award program is run by the Christophers, a New York City group that was founded by a Catholic priest.

David Mamet will be honored in the feature film category for directing and writing the screen adaptation for Terence Rattigan's play, The Winslow Boys.

Emily Mann, the artistic director at the McCarter Theatre in New Jersey will be honored for her screenplay, "Having Our Say," which aired on CBS. Last year's Christopher Award winners were Maya Angelou for the film "Down in the Delta" and Steven Spielberg for "Saving Private Ryan." Spielberg has won several Christopher Awards, for "Amistad," "Schnidler's List," " Empire of the Sun" and the "Color Purple."

-- By Murdoch McBride