The League of Professional Theatre Women’s Annual Theatre Women Awards: Cricket S. Meyers On Empowering Future Women Designers

“There are too few women in theatre, and too few women studying design. They walk away before they get a chance to get established. We must welcome them and we must take a professional stand with them to minimize the brutal atmosphere for any young artist. We must share and inspire them, and help them to push through those difficult years as they master their art.” Sound designer Cricket S. Meyers who received the Ruth Morley Design Award, given to an outstanding theatrical designer in honor of costume designer Ruth Morley.

The League of Professional Theatre Women’s annual Theatre Women Awards were inspiring. Hosted by actor, writer, and performance artist Florencia Lozano,, the awards were presented by Jocelyn Bioh (Phylicia Rashad, Lifetime Achievement Award), Ceila Keenan-Bolger (Adrienne Campbell-Holt, LPTW Lucille Lortel Award), Roma Torre (Linda Winer, LPTW Special Award), Karen Kandel (Emily Joy Weiner, Josephine Abady Award), Marshall Jones III and Wayne Maugans (Rohina Malik, Lee Reynolds Award), and Shelley Butler (Cricket S. Myers, Ruth Morley Award).

“We are the only award dedicated to honoring the theatrical work of women and their contributions to the field, across all disciplines,” said LPTW co-president Kelli Lynn Harrison.

The League of Professional Theatre Women (a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization) has been championing women and leading the gender parity conversation in the professional theatre for over 35 years. Since its founding, the LPTW’s membership has grown to 500+ members of theatre artists and practitioners of all backgrounds, across multiple disciplines, working in the commercial and non-profit sectors. To promote visibility and increase opportunities for women in the field, the LPTW spearheads events, public programming, advocacy projects, media, and publications that celebrate industry luminaries, preserve the legacy of historic visionaries, raise awareness of the importance of nurturing women’s voices, and shine a spotlight on the imperative of striving for gender parity and fostering a diversity of expression, both in the theatre world and the world at large. To find out more about how you can support its endeavors, please visit www.theatrewomen.org.