Eichelberger was the trail-blazing New York performance artist who died in 1990 at the age of 55. An Obie-winner, Eichelberger trained with Charles Ludlam's Ridiculous Theatrical Company and later worked on his own, writing nearly 40 plays portraying women such Jocasta, Medea, Nefertiti, Clytemnestra, and Lucrezia Borgia.

The honor is a commissioning award given "to an artist or group that exemplifies Ethyl's larger-than-life style and generosity of spirit; who embodies Ethyl's multi-talented artistic virtuosity, bridging worlds and inspiring those around them."

Julie Atlas Muz is a performance artist, dancer and choreographer. A 2004 Whitney Biennial artist, her works include I Am The Moon and You Are The Man On Me, which premiered at P.S. 122 in November 2004, and her staging of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring at Dance Theatre Workshop.

P.S. 122 also announced that it will launch this year the Spalding Gray Award, "a special commission created in his honor by Performance Space 122 and UCLA Live, for emerging writer/performers who realize (or hold the promise to realize) both parts of Spalding’s legacy and demonstrate fearless innovation of theatrical form."

The first Spalding Gray Award recipient will be announced on May 4 at Performance Space 122’s Spring Gala and will receive a full production in the upcoming seasons at P.S. 122 and UCLA Live.