AUDELCO, the Audience Development Committee, Inc., was established in 1973 by Vivian Robinson to honor excellence in African American theatre in New York City.
AUDELCO presents the Vivian Robinson/AUDELCO Recognition Awards (also known as Viv awards) annually. The awards were created to promote "recognition, understanding, and awareness of the arts in the African-American community."
The AUDELCO awards recognize the following Off-Broadway and Off-Off Broadway: Productions by African-American companies Productions written and/or directed by African-Americans African-American actors in productions
Description AUDELCO has an office in Harlem, and the current president is Jacqueline Jeffries. The board of directors includes: Tony Peterson (2nd Vice-President), Ralph Carter (3rd Vice-President), Linda Armstrong (secretary), and Cherine Anderson, A. Curtis Farrow, Bambi Jones, Donna M. Mills, Mary Seymour, Dale Ricardo Shields, Terrence Spivey, and Mary B. Davis as the Chair Emeritus. The organization has thousands of members, a newsletter, and an African-American theater collection including books, photographs, slides, and scripts, as well as an extensive clippings on file of African-American theatre.
History A year after its founding, the Awards were designated to more specific roles in the design and production of shows such as scenic, lighting, and costume design, choreography, acting, and directing. In 1975, the Awards moved to focus on accomplishments made in particular productions. Three years later, in 1978, the rules to be nominated for an AUDELCO Award became more concrete.
The AUDELCO awards recognize productions by professional, not-for-profit theater organizations that have existed for at least two years and have had a minimum of 500 hours of rehearsal, performance, and/or training. Productions have to be performed over 12 times within the year (September 1 through August 31). Workshop productions and works-in-progress are not eligible for the awards.
These guidelines are still followed today and those nominated for Awards are chosen by a committee. In order to qualify to be a committee member, one must see an average of 100 shows in a year. Once the committee is selected, only five nominations can be considered for each category of the Awards.
AUDELCO typically hosts the award ceremony annually; however in 1996, there were no individual awards presented due to the founder Vivian Robinson passing away just a few months prior that September.Gener, Randy. "The Theater Fan." The Village Voice, Dec 17 1996, p. 89. ProQuest. Web. 19 Nov. 2020 .
Select awards Previous AUDELCO awardees include: Marsha Stephanie Blake, Chadwick Boseman, Viola Davis, George Faison, André Holland, Sanaa Lathan, Barbara Montgomery, Anika Noni Rose, André De Shields, Denzel Washington, and many others. +AUDELCO Recognition Awards (1974)NameCategoryYearShirley PrendergastLighting Design1974Joseph GandyScenic Design1974Judy Dearing ParksCostume Design1974Helaine HeadStage Management1974Aduke AremuProducing1974Milo TimmonsChoreography1974Howard RobertsMusical Direction1974Shauneille PerryDirecting1974Richard WesleyPlaywrighting1974Barbara MontgomeryActing1974Dick Anthony WilliamsActing1974
+AUDELCO Recognition Awards (1975-1981, '83, '85, '87-'89, '95-'04, '06, '09-Present)Ards, Angela. "Theater in the Round." The Village Voice, Dec 09 1997, p. 107. ProQuest. Web. 19 Nov. 2020 .D.J.R. BRUCKNER. "The Stage: 'Memories,' A Comedy." New York Times (1923-Current file), Nov 26 1987, p. 1. ProQuest. Web. 19 Nov. 2020 .NameCategoryProductionYearSandra RossLighting DesignWaiting for Mongo1975Joseph GandyScenic DesignCotillion1975Judy Dearing ParksCostume DesignBlack Picture Show, Taking of Miss Janie, and Cotillion1975Woodie King, Jr.ProducingCotillion1975Rod RodgersProducerProdigal Sister1975Bill GunnPlaywrightBlack Picture Show1975Robbie McCauleySupporting ActressTaking of Miss Janie1975Kirk KirkseySupporting ActorTaking of Miss Janie1975Zaida ColesLead ActressCotillion1975Dick Anthony WilliamsLead ActorBlack Picture Show1975Sandra RossLighting DesignEden1976Joseph GandyScenic DesignFat Tuesday1976Woodie King, Jr. Producerfor colored girls...1976Joseph PappProducerfor colored girls...1976Bolani Costume DesignSoljourney into Truth1976Regge LifeDirectorHail, Hail the Gangs1976Deborah AllenChoreographyMondongo1976Ntozake ShangePlaywrightfor colored girls...1976Barbara MontgomerySupporting ActressEden1976Lou MeyersSupporting ActorFat Tuesday1976Trazana BeverlyLead Actressfor colored girls...1976Graham BrownLead ActorEden1976Shirley Prendergast Lighting DesignUnfinished Women...1977Tim Phillips Scenic DesignWinti Train1977Edna WatsonCostume DesignMacbeth 1977Bill DukeDirectorUnfinished Women...1977Talley BeattyChoreographyAlice1977Richard WesleyPlaywrightThe Last Street Play1977Rosanna Carter Supporting ActressUnfinished Women...1977Leonard Jackson Supporting ActorMacbeth1977Brenda BrownLead Musical Actress Young, Gifted, & Broke1977Mikell PinkneyLead Musical Actor Young, Gifted, & Broke1977Gloria FosterLead ActressAgamemnon1977Richard GantLead ActorSoledad Tetrad1977Sandra RossLighting DesignThe Amen Corner1978Ronald WalkerScenic DesignThe River Niger1978Karen PerryCostume DesignBirdland1978Richard GantPlay DirectorThe Island1978Glenda DickersonMusical DirectorMagic & Lions1978Otis A. Salid ChoreographyHigh John de Conquer1978Ivey McCrayPlaywrightRun'ners1978Pamela PoitierSupporting ActressRun'ners1978Flo WileySupporting ActressSandra Lane1978Charles BrownSupporting ActorCockfight1978Suavae MitchellSupporting ActorThe River Niger1978Celestine DeSaussureLead Musical Actress High John de Conquer1978Reginald VelJohnsonLead Musical Actor Birdland1978Marc PrimusMusical CreatorHigh John de Conquer1978Frances FosterLead ActressDo Lord Remember Me1978Helmar Augustus CooperLead ActorThe River Niger1978Tim PhillipsLighting DesignInacent Black and the Five Brothers1979Felix E. CochrenScenic DesignInacent Black and the Five Brothers1979Felix E. CochrenCostume DesignThe Vampire and the Dentist1979Mikell PinkneyPlay DirectorInacent Black and the Five Brothers1979Mical WhitakerMusical DirectorSimply Heavenly1979Dianne McIntyreChoreographyspell #71979A. Marcus HemphillPlaywrightInacent Black and the Five Brothers1979Mary AliceSupporting ActressSecond Thoughts1979Robert ChristianSupporting ActorCoriolanus1979Noble Lee LesterLead Musical Actor Simply Heavenly1979Grenoldo FrazierMusical CreatorThem Niggars Went Thataway1979Warren BurdineMusical CreatorThem Niggars Went Thataway1979Starletta DuPoisLead ActressMary Goldstein and the Author1979Barbara MontgomeryLead ActressNevis Mountain Dew1979Glynn TurmanLead ActorRaisin in the Sun1979Marvin WatkinsLighting DesignOn Midnight, Friday the 13th1980Roger FurmanScenic DesignOn Midnight, Friday the 13th1980Bernard JohnsonCostume DesignThe More You Get The More You Want1980Dean IrbyPlay DirectorHome1980Ron Stacker ThompsonMusical DirectorDunbar1980Otis A. SalidChoreographyThe More You Get The More You Want1980Samm-Art Williams PlaywrightHome1980Brenda DenmarkSupporting ActressMiss Ann Don't Cry No More1980Adolph CaesarSupporting ActorLa Grima Del Diablo1980Dyane HarveyLead Musical Actress Dunbar1980Jeffery V. ThompsonLead Musical Actor The More You Get The More You Want1980AyannaMusical CreatorDunbar1980Ron Stacker ThompsonMusical CreatorDunbar1980Quitman Fludd IIIMusical CreatorDunbar1980Lonnie HewittMusical CreatorDunbar1980Paul E. SmithMusical CreatorDunbar1980Gloria FosterLead ActressMother Courage and Her Children1980Clarence Williams IIILead ActorSuspenders1980Melody BealLighting DesignRashomon1981Robert EdmondsScenic DesignWhen the Chickens Come Home to Roost1981Judy Dearing Costume DesignSteal Away1981Allie WoodsPlay DirectorWhen the Chickens Come Home to Roost1981Charles TurnerMusical DirectorBessie Smith, Empress of the Blues1981Charles MooreChoreographyBlack Nativity1981Charles FullerPlaywrightZooman and the Sign1981Laurence HolderPlaywrightWhen the Chickens Come Home to Roost1981Carol Mitchell-SmithSupporting ActressOne Monkey Don't Stop No Show1981Herb DownerSupporting ActorThe Trial of Dr. Beck1981Ebony Jo-AnnLead Musical ActressBessie Smith, Empress of the Blues1981Paul Carter HarrisonMusical CreatorTabernacle1981Thom FosterMusical CreatorTabernacle1981Ernie McClintockMusical CreatorTabernacle1981Phylicia Ayers-AllenLead ActressZora1981Denzel WashingtonLead ActorWhen the Chickens Come Home to Roost1981Lee ChamberlinLead ActressHospice1983Timothy SimonsonLead ActorThe Trial of Adam Clayton Powell Jr.1983Ruth BrownLead Musical ActressChampeen1983Sandra Reaves-PhillipsLead Musical ActressChampeen1983Melvin Van PeeblesMusical CreatorChampeen1983Melvin Van PeeblesMusical DirectorChampeen1983Bruce HawkinsLead Musical ActorChampeen1983Louis JohnsonChoreographyChampeen1983Pearl CleagePlaywrightHospice1983Frances FosterPlay DirectorHospice1983Bette HowardPlay DirectorParting1983Llewellyn HarrisonScenic DesignHospice1983Zebedee CollinsLighting DesignJesse and the Games1983Tim PhillipsLighting DesignThe Trials and Tribulations of Staggerlee Brown1983Garland Lee Thompson Jr.Sound DesignJesse and the Games1983Felix E. CochrenCostume DesignThe Trials and Tribulations of Staggerlee Brown1983P.J. GibsonPlaywrightLong Time Since Yesterday1985Bette HowardPlay DirectorLong Time Since Yesterday1985Sheryle R. JonesChoreographyFlat Street Sa'day Nite1985Lenga TooksMusical CreatorFlat Street Sa'day Nite1985Patricia A. ClementLead Musical ActressFlat Street Sa'day Nite1985Steve BeckhamLead Musical ActorFlat Street Sa'day Nite1985Antonio FargasLead ActorToussaint: Angel-Warrior in Haiti1985Anthony F. ChaseSupporting ActorToussaint: Angel-Warrior in Haiti1985Ira L. JeffriesPlaywrightOdessa1985Cherron HoyeLead ActressOdessa1985Betty VaughnSupporting ActressOdessa1985Shauneille PerryMusical DirectorCelebration1985Cheryl Hilliard-HewittLead Musical ActressThe Legacy1987Tunde SamuelLead Musical ActorThe Legacy1987David D. WrightMusical DirectorThe Legacy1987Essene RLead ActressBlack Medea1987Mari Nobles Da SilvaChoreographyBlack Medea1987Bonnie DevlinMusical CreatorBlack Medea1987A. Dean IrbyMusical DirectorBoogie Woogie and Booker T1987LaTanya RichardsonSupporting ActressBoogie Woogie and Booker T1987Judy DearingCostume DesignBoogie Woogie and Booker T1987Charles McClennahanScenic DesignBoogie Woogie and Booker T1987George C. WolfePlaywrightThe Colored Museum1987Dick Anthony WilliamsLead ActorThe Meeting1987Lee ChamberlainMusical CreatorStruttin''' |1988 |- |Lee Chamberlain |Musical Director |Struttin|1988 |- |Jillian C. Hamilton |Lead Musical Actress |Struttin''' |1988 |- |Roumel Reaux |Lead Musical Actor