Obie Award facts for kids

The Obie Awards are special honors given each year to talented people and groups in theater. These awards celebrate plays and performances that happen in smaller, more experimental theaters in New York City. These theaters are known as off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway.

The awards started in 1956. They were first given out by The Village Voice newspaper. Since 2014, the American Theatre Wing has also helped present and manage the Obie Awards. Many people think the Obie Awards are the highest honor for off-Broadway shows. They are like the Tony Awards but for smaller, independent theater productions.

What are the Obie Awards?

Julie Bovasso, Shelley Winters and Jason Robards at the first Obie Awards in 1956.

The Obie Awards were created by a theater critic named Jerry Tallmer and the publisher of The Village Voice, Edwin (Ed) Fancher. They wanted to recognize great work happening outside of the big Broadway theaters. The very first Obie Awards ceremony took place in 1956 at Helen Gee's cafe.

At first, only off-Broadway shows could win. These are professional theaters that are smaller than Broadway theaters. In 1964, off-off-Broadway shows also became eligible. These are even smaller, often experimental, and sometimes non-union productions.

Unlike many other awards, the Obie Awards don't have many fixed categories. For example, all winning actors and actresses are simply in one group called "Performance." There are no announced nominees before the winners are revealed. Awards have been given for acting, directing, best production, and special achievements. Not every award is given out every year.

The Village Voice also used to give out Obie grants to theater companies. These grants helped support new and creative theater work. There is also a special award called the Ross Wetzsteon Grant. It is named after a former theater editor and helps theaters that support new and innovative plays.

In September 2014, the American Theatre Wing joined The Village Voice to help present the awards. By 2021, the American Theatre Wing became the only presenter of the Obie Awards.

Award Categories

The Obie Awards recognize many different parts of theater. Here are some of the types of awards given:

• Distinguished Performance by an Actress
• Distinguished Performance by an Actor
• Distinguished Performance by an Ensemble (for a group of actors)
• Sustained Achievement Award (for long-term excellence)
• Best New American Theatre Work Award
• Playwriting Award
• Design Award (for sets, costumes, lights, etc.)
• Special Citations (for unique or outstanding contributions)
• Obie Grants (financial support for theater companies)
• The Ross Wetzsteon Award (for theaters that support new plays)

Ceremony History

The Obie Awards ceremonies have been held in many different places over the years. Famous actors and directors often host the event. Here are some of the hosts and venues from recent years:

The 2021 and 2022 Obie Awards were not held separately due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, the 2023 ceremony honored productions from the 2020–21, 2021–22, and 2022–23 theater seasons all together.

Notable Winners

Many talented people have won Obie Awards. Here are a few examples of notable winners from different years:

2000s

• 2000: Cynthia Hopkins (Performance), Maria Irene Fornes (Special Citation), Susan Hilferty (Costume Design).
• 2001: Brian d'Arcy James (Performance), Ruben Santiago-Hudson (Special Citation), Justin Vivian Bond (Special Citation).
• 2002: Kevin Adams (Lighting Design), Tony Kushner (Playwriting).
• 2003: Mac Wellman (Lifetime Achievement), Mos Def (Performance), Edward Norton (Performance), Denis O'Hare (Performance).
• 2004: Viola Davis (Performance), Sarah Jones (Performance), Jefferson Mays (Performance).
• 2005: Cherry Jones (Performance), Caryl Churchill (Playwriting), Lynn Nottage (Playwriting).
• 2006: Dana Ivey (Performance), Christine Ebersole (Performance).
• 2007: Young Jean Lee (Obie Grant), Lin-Manuel Miranda (Music and Lyrics for In the Heights).
• 2008: Adrienne Kennedy (Lifetime Achievement), Kate Mulgrew (Performance), David Henry Hwang (Playwriting).
• 2009: Lynn Nottage (Best American Play for Ruined), Stephen Sondheim (Music and Lyrics).

2010s

• 2010: Sam Gold (Directing), Reed Birney (Performance).
• 2011: Laurie Metcalf (Performance), Leigh Silverman (Directing).
• 2012: Steven Hoggett, Martin Lowe, John Tiffany (Special Citations for Once).
• 2013: Dave Malloy and Rachel Chavkin (Special Citations for Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812), Annie Baker (Playwriting for The Flick).
• 2014: Sydney Lucas (Performance for Fun Home), Sonya Tayeh (Choreography).
• 2015: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Alex Lacamoire, Thomas Kail, Andy Blankenbuehler (Best New American Theatre Work for Hamilton).
• 2016: Steven Levenson, Benj Pasek, Justin Paul (Musical Theatre Award for Dear Evan Hansen), Ben Platt (Performance), Lupita Nyong'o (Performance).
• 2017: Lynn Nottage (Playwriting for Sweat), J.T. Rogers (Playwriting for Oslo).
• 2018: Rajiv Joseph (Best New American Play), Will Swenson (Performance), Jessica Hecht (Performance), Billy Crudup (Performance).
• 2019: Heidi Schreck (Best New American Play for What the Constitution Means to Me).

2020s

• 2020: Many winners were recognized for writing, directing, performance, and design. Notable winners included Will Arbery (Writing for Heroes of the Fourth Turning), Michael R. Jackson (Writing for A Strange Loop), JoAnne Akalaitis (Directing), Kenny Leon (Directing), Liza Colón-Zayas (Performance), Elizabeth Rodriguez (Performance), Deirdre O'Connell (Performance). The National Black Theatre and Page 73 received Institutional Recognition. Michael Feingold received the first Michael Feingold Award for his service to theater.
• 2023: This ceremony honored productions from three seasons. Winners included Sanaz Toossi (Best New American Play for English), Martyna Majok (Writing), Saheem Ali (Sustained Excellence in Direction), Stephanie Berry (Performance), Lizan Mitchell (Performance), Kara Young (Performance), Ping Chong (Lifetime Achievement), Anne Bogart (Lifetime Achievement).
• 2024: Winners included Ryan J. Haddad (Best New American Play for Dark Disabled Stories), Hansol Jung (Writing), Bruce Norris (Writing), William Jackson Harper (Performance), Maryann Plunkett (Performance), Peggy Shaw and Lois Weaver (Lifetime Achievement).

Grants

The Obie Awards also give out special grants to help theater companies and artists.

Obie Grants

These grants are given each year to selected theater companies to support their work. Some past recipients include:

• Intar (1985)
• Mabou Mines (1986)
• The Living Theater (1989)
• Dixon Place (1990)
• Nuyorican Poets Cafe (1993)
• HERE Arts Center (1994)
• Soho Rep (2001)
• The Civilians (2004)
• Young Jean Lee (2007)
• Metropolitan Playhouse (2011)
• Bushwick Starr (2012)
• Irish Repertory Theatre (2017)
• WP Theater (2019)
• The Sol Project (2023)
• Breaking the Binary Theatre Company (2024)

Ross Wetzsteon Award

This grant is named after a former theater editor. It gives money to theaters that help develop new and creative plays. Some past recipients include:

• Vineyard Theatre (1998)
• Dixon Place (1999)
• Theatre For A New Audience (2001, 2017)
• PS 122 (2002)
• St. Ann's Warehouse (2004)
• Soho Repertory Theater (2006)
• HERE Arts Center (2009)
• Ars Nova (2015)
• Ma-Yi Theater Company (2018)
• Classical Theatre of Harlem (2023)
• Under the Radar Festival (2024)

See also

In Spanish: Premios Obie para niños

• Lucille Lortel Awards
• Drama Desk Awards
• Drama League Award
• Outer Critics Circle Awards