On Monday, November 6th 2023, the Stage Managers’ Association presented its annual Del Hughes Awards for Lifetime Achievement in the Art of Stage Management at the National Opera Center Marc A. Scorca Hall in NYC. The distinguished 2023 honorees are theatrical production stage managers John M. Atherlay and Gwen Gilliam, and opera production stage manager Brett Finley. In addition to these Lifetime Achievement Awards, the SMA honored Elynmarie Kazle with The Founders Award.
This year’s Special Recognition Awards celebrated honorees who are steadfast advocates for and uplift the stage management industry past, present and future. Robert J. Bruyr strengthened stage managers’ position in Actors’ Equity and provided decades of dedicated leadership for stage managers. The organization Broadway & Beyond: Access for Stage Managers of Color, founded by Lisa Dawn Cave, Beverly Jenkins, Jimmie Lee Smith and Kenneth J. McGee, has created a resource to open doors of opportunity for stage managers and raised their voices in service of equity, diversity, and inclusion in the stage management profession.
The Host and Chair for the event was Cheryl Mintz, joining as the Co-Host was Arthur E. Lewis, and Guest Speakers included Ira Mont, Henry Reynolds, Rick Steiger, Andrew Feigin, and Bill Hare. The event team included Co-Chair and Virtual Director Matthew Stern, Virtual Stage Manager Alison Cote, Robert I. Sutherland-Cohen, John Concannon, Bill Hare, Robert Mills, and Nicole Nilsson.
Honorees are chosen each February from nominations submitted by industry members.
The SMA thanks Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS for their leading sponsorship of the event.
Photo Credit: Robert I. Sutherland-Cohen
Learn more about the Stage Managers’ Association at www.stagemanagers.org
Check out the Stage & Event Management Bootcamp at LDI 2023