The 64th annual Obie Awards will present Lifetime Achievement Awards to two artistic directors of Off-Broadway theatre companies: New York Theatre Workshop’s James C. Nicola and Theatre for a New Audience’s Jeffrey Horowitz. The ceremony celebrates the best of the Off- and Off-Off-Broadway. It will take place May 20 at Terminal 5 hosted by Rachel Bloom.
Nicola has been the Artistic Director of New York Theatre Workshop since 1988. Under his guidance, NYTW has remained steadfast to its founding commitment of nurturing emerging, mid-career and established theatre artists and promoting collaboration and bold experimentation with theatrical forms. Mr. Nicola initiated an extensive series of workshop opportunities that have continued for 25 years, including summer residencies and fellowships for artists representing a broad spectrum of cultures and backgrounds
Horowitz began his career in theatre as an actor and has appeared on Broadway, Off-Broadway and in regional theatre. Horowitz graduated Cum Laude from the University of California, Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. He then trained as an actor for three years at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. In 1979, he founded Theatre for a New Audience, whose cornerstone is Shakespeare. Horowitz has produced twenty-four of Shakespeare’s plays, Greek, Jacobean and Italian classical drama and contemporary classics by Harley Granville-Barker and Edward Bond.
The Obies are presented by the American Theatre Wing and the Village Voice. Michael Feingold will chair a judges panel for this year’s awards that also includes Arin Arbus, Rachel Hauck, Riccardo Hernandez, Rajiv Joseph, Kecia Lewis, and Jesse Oxfeld.