On Nov. 19, the 29th Annual Vivian Robinson AUDELCO Recognition Awards for Excellence in Black Theatre were given in Harlem, New York, with Hope Clarke, Ruby Dee and Charles Randolph-Wright (and his multi-winning play, Blue) among the better-known recipients.

Vivian Robinson established AUDELCO (Audience Development Committee) as a non-profit membership organization in 1973. At the time, the AUDELCO awards were the only awards ceremony to celebrate the accomplishments of African Americans in the fields of theatre and dance. The principal mission of the AUDELCO Awards is to enhance a comprehension of the arts in African-American communities. The AUDELCO Awards also aim to generate new audiences for non-profit theatre companies and to ensure better public relations.

This year's ceremony, "Replanting the Seed," was co-hosted by playwright/director Micki Grant and director/actor Rome Neal. Recipients of the Outstanding Pioneer Awards included William B. Branch, Lex Monson and Beatrice Winde. Charis M. Wilson received the Rising Star Award and The Board of Director Award was given to Samm-Art Williams. These are the nominees for the 29th Annual AUDELCO Recognition Awards. The winners are in bold:

DIRECTOR/MUSICAL PRODUCTION
Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj - JAMAICA
Anthony Sloan - OYA

CHOREOGRAPHER
Hope Clark - A PROPHET AMONG THEM
Rajendra Ramoon Maharej - JAMAICA
Obediah Wright - OYA PLAYWRIGHT
Michael Bradford - LIVING IN THE WIND
Suzan-Lori Parks - TOPDOG/UNDERDOG
John Henry Redwood - NO NIGGERS, NO JEWS, NO DOGS
Bridgett A. Wimberly - SAINT LUCY'S EYES
Charles Randolph-Wright - BLUE

SUPPORTING ACTOR
Al Freeman, Jr. - CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Nathan Hinton - LIVING IN THE WIND
Arnold Pinnix - RHINOCEROS
Isaiah Whitlock, Jr. - A LESSON BEFORE DYING

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Yevette Ganier - BREATH, BOOM
Ellen Holly - CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Keesha Sharp - LIVING IN THE WIND
Beatrice Winde - A LESSON BEFORE DYING

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL/FEMALE
Diane Dixon - JAMAICA
Macheisha Ensley - JAMAICA
Aixa Kendricks - OYA

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL/MALE
Rodney Gilbert - JAMAICA
Lloyd Goodman - JAMAICA
Tobias Truvillan - OYA

OUTSTANDING MUSICAL DIRECTOR
Mike Smith - JAMAICA
Vanessa A. Wright - OYA

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE
A PROPHET AMONG THEM
BLUE
DINNER AT MANSE
REALITY
TOPDOG/UNDERDOG

SOLO PERFORMANCE (tie)
Stephanie Berry - SHANEEQUA CHRONICLES
Rubin Santiago Hudson - LACKAWANA BLUES
Will Power - THE GATHERING
Regina Taylor - URBAN ZULU MAMBO

MUSICAL PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR
JAMAICA
OYA

LEAD ACTOR
Willis Burks, II - SAINT LUCYS EYES
Chad Coleman - LIVING IN THE WIND
Arthur French - THE RIVER NIGER
Marcus Naylor - NO NIGGERS, NO JEWS, NO DOGS

LEAD ACTRESS
Debbie Blackwell Cook - THE RIVER NIGER
Ruby Dee - SAINT LUCY'S EYES
Sally Stewart - LIVING IN THE WIND
Elizabeth Vandike - NO NIGGERS, NO JEWS, NO DOGS

DRAMATIC PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR
BLUE
LIVING IN THE WIND
NO NIGGERS, NO JEWS, NO DOGS
SAINT LUCY'S EYES
TOPDOG/UNDERDOG

LIGHTING DESIGN (tie)
Jane Cox - A LESSON BEFORE DYING
Michael Gilliam - BLUE
Chad McAver - LIVING IN THE WIND
Jane Reisman - SAINT LUCYS EYES
Ann G. Wrightson - NO NIGGERS, NO JEWS, NO DOGS

SET DESIGN
Beowulf Borritt - SAINT LUCY'S EYES
Michael Brown - NO NIGGERS, NO JEWS, NO DOGS
Troy Hourie - RHINOCEROS
James Leonard Joy - BLUE
Christopher Thomas - NATIVE SON

COSTUME DESIGN
Debra Bauer - BLUE
Marcel Christian - JAMAICA
Christine Field - NO NIGGERS, NO JEWS, NO DOGS
Kimberly Glennon - HAMLET
Helen L. Simmons LIVING IN THE WIND

SOUND DESIGN
Paul Bolger - WAIT UNTIL DARK
Kurt Eric Fischer - BLUE
Eileen Tague - NO NIGGERS, NO JEWS, NO DOGS
Michael Wimberly - SAINT LUCY'S EYES
David D. Wright - LIVING IN THE WIND

DIRECTOR/DRAMATIC PRODUCTION
Billie Allen - SAINT LUCY'S EYES
Sheldon Epps - BLUE
Israel Hicks - NO NIGGERS, NO JEWS, NO DODS
Reggie Life - LIVING IN THE WIND
George C. Wolfe - TOPDOG/UNDERDOG

*

The awards ceremony was held at Windows on Harlem, at 163 West 125th Street.

- by Chris Reichheld and Steve Luber