The Suzi Bass Awards

Celebrating Atlanta’s Professional Theatres

Frequently Asked Questions
Text Box: The Suzi Bass Awards P.O. Box 550468 Atlanta GA 30355 Email: SuziAwards@comcast.net Text Box: Participating Theatres: 2008—2009 Season 7 Stages Actor’s Express Alliance Theatre ART Station Aurora Theatre Center Theatre of the MJCCA Georgia Ensemble Theatre Georgia Shakespeare Horizon Theatre New American Shakespeare Tavern Synchronicity Performance Group Theatre in the Square Theatrical Outfit True Colors Theatre Company

What can I do to help the Suzi Awards?

 

Donate:

Our biggest issues are financial, at the moment.  The cost of producing the events and purchasing the awards are around $20,000 a year.  In addition, we need to rent an office space and hire at least one staff person to take care of the day-to-day administrative tasks, fundraising and planning.  At the moment The Suzi Bass Awards is run by an all-volunteer Board of Directors, and a volunteer judging coordinator.

 

Donations will help us reimburse non-contribution expenses already incurred, implement our government, corporate and foundation fundraising plans, and move into the next phase of our growth.

 

Become a Member:

Membership does create a small amount of revenue, but more importantly, it shows community support for the mission of The Suzi Bass Awards.  We’ll point to the number of Members when we seek funding from other entities.

 

Membership is a bit unusual in the non-profit world, and works like a stockholder in the corporate sector.  Our members “own” the Suzi Bass Awards, and contribute at the annual Members’ Meeting by electing the Board of Directors and voting on the policies of the corporation.  If you want to have a say in how the Suzi Awards promotes Atlanta theatre, becoming a member is the most effective way.

 

In addition to corporation voting privileges, Membership perks include a snazzy membership lapel pin, instant notice of Suzi Eligible shows, special events and invitations, and soon-to-be-announced discounts around Atlanta.

Do you need volunteers?

 

YOU BET!  If you live around Atlanta and would like to help make the awards happen by donating time or services, we would love to hear from you.  Just email SuziAwards@comcast.net.

How do I request Suzi Judges for my show?

 

Just send an email to SuziAwards@comcast.net requesting a Guidelines Packet.  If your theatre meets the eligibility criteria, fill out the Consideration form and submit it 30 days prior to the opening performance.  The Suzi Awards will contact you about scheduling judges.  That’s all there is to it!
Text Box: What does “Suzi Eligible” mean? Five judges see submitted shows on opening night, then each judge scores the production’s elements. The scores are averaged for each judge, then for all five judges. Based on those scores and according to the published formula, the judging chair determines whether the show is designated “Suzi Eligible.” “Suzi Eligible” means the production is eligible for nomination at the end of the season. The rest of the judging panel is then required to see the show before it closes. Also, a “Suzi Eligible” designation means that the producing theatre is required to provide a complimentary ticket for each of the 22-25 judges on the panel. At the end of the season, all elements in each Eligible production are put on the Nominating Ballot and the Panel Judges pick their top five in each category. Then those Nominated go onto the Final Ballot, which is again voted by the full Panel.

What’s the formula for getting a Suzi Eligible designation?

 

All 5 Recommending judges score each element in the show, then those scores are averaged together, based on Award Categories , for each judge.   Then the five judges’ scores are averaged to get a “production score.”   That score must be in the 80th percentile or better for the show to receive a Suzi Eligible designation.

 

This process accomplishes several things:

   - It assures the theatre-going audience that a Suzi Eligible indicates a certain overall quality in the production, and will help the Eligible designation become a stronger marketing tool for the production receiving it.  

   - It reserves a theatre’s commitment of complimentary tickets to shows that are more likely to have elements that will garner a Suzi Nomination.

   - It protects the organization’s volunteer judges from spending valuable resources (time, expenses) on productions that are not strong contenders for Nominations.

If a show isn’t designated as Suzi Eligible, does that mean the judges didn’t like it?

 

Not at all. 

 

The judges see over 50 shows a season, and the designation helps the panel focus its energies on shows with elements that have a higher probability of making it into Nomination at the end of the season. 

 

The Suzi Awards Judge Panels are looking for Outstanding design, direction, and performances.  There are enjoyable, thought-provoking and high-quality shows that don’t receive a designation.  The lack of a designation certainly should not keep anyone from seeing a show. 

 

Our designation also ensures that theatre companies are not incurring the cost of  over 25 complimentary tickets for shows not likely to make it into Nomination in at least one of twenty categories. 

How do I apply to become a Suzi Panel Judge?

 

Between May 1 and June 15 we accept judge applications.  Just send an email to SuziAwards@comcast.net requesting one, then fill it out and return it to us.  The Judging Committee of the Board of Directors reviews all applications and chooses the panel for the coming year.

 

Potential judges should have:

   1) extensive experience with the professional theatre, either as a career 

       theatre artist, administrator, or a long-time audience member

   2) a degree or extensive study in theatre or related disciplines

   3) a current position as an educator in theatre arts

   4) some combination of the above

 

Those chosen to serve on a Judging Panel commit to seeing all shows in their panel (Play or Musical) that are designated as Suzi Recommended.  Judges serve a maximum of three years on a panel.

What are the eligibility criteria for producers?

 

The main criteria for submitting shows are:

  - a minimum of 12 performances, excluding previews

  - a minimum average pay of $100 per week of rehearsal and performance for      

        actors and stage managers (payable in any number of installments, either

        on 1099 or W-2)

  - the Suzi Awards currently does not consider educational theatre, family  

       theatre, improv or non-scripted shows, performance art, opera or

       dance.

Why don’t you consider Family, Youth or Children’s Theatre?

 

Atlanta has some amazing professional children’s and family theatre. We hope to add a panel for these shows in the near future.  Since we are a new organization, we wanted to take it slowly to ensure the organization’s continued existence.  Plays and Musicals for adult audiences seemed to be the most logical starting point.

 

Also, a judging panel should include at least some of the intended audience.  We think the best Judging Panel for this type of production would be a mixture of children and adults.  It is also logical to create a judging panel for Children’s theatre as a part of our education and outreach programs.  Plans for developing and funding those programs are in the works.

What about puppetry?

 

Puppetry is a complicated combination of performance and technical proficiency, and a very specialized form of theatre.  To include it without proper judge education or consideration of its unique characteristics may be a disservice to the fine puppetry artists in Atlanta.

 

The only way we can include puppetry is in the regular performance categories.  It is difficult to judge full puppet shows against human actor/characters, but at the moment it is the best we can do.  We’re happy to hear your thoughts on the matter!

 

 

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