Ira Bernstein, Schuyler G. Chapin, Merle Debuskey, Julie Hughes, David Lindsay-Abaire, Shirley Rich, Bill Schelble and Sister Francesca Thompson are new additions to this season's Tony Awards Nominating Committee.

The Administration Committee of the American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards announced the 2002-2003 Tony Awards Nominating Committee July 9. The Committee, which is comprised of 29 members, attends all productions that open within the season and then meet on a date designated by the Administration Committee to determine the Tony nominees for that season.

The 2002-2003 Tony Awards Nominating Committee includes Maureen Anderman, actress; Price Berkley, publisher; Ira Bernstein, general manager; Robert Callely, administrator; Schuyler G. Chapin, cultural executive; Veronica Claypool, managing director; Betty Corwin, theatre archivist; Gretchen Cryer, composer; Jim Dale; actor; Merle Debuskey, press representative; David Marshall Grant, actor; Micki Grant, composer/lyricist; Julie Hughes, casting director; Betty Jacobs, script consultant, Robert Kamlot, general manager; Louise Kerz, historian; David Lindsay-Abaire, playwright; Theodore Mann, producer/director; Gilbert Parker, agent; Shirley Rich, casting director; David Richards, journalist; Aubrey Reuben, photographer; Arthur Rubin, producer; Judith Rubin, arts executive; Bill Schelble, press representative; Meg Simon, casting director; Sister Francesca Thompson, arts educator; Rosemarie Tischler, casting director; and Jon Wilner, producer.

Those members from the 2001-2002 Nominating Committee who are not returning include John Cunningham, Jerry Dominus, Carol Hall, Sheldon Harnick, Peter Neufeld, Arnold Weinstein and George White.

—By Andrew Gans