The New York Independent Theater Awards (formerly known as the New York Innovative Theatre Awards) are accolades given annually by The League of Independent Theater to honor individuals and organizations who have achieved artistic excellence in Off-Off-Broadway theatre.
The awards were created by The New York Innovative Theatre Foundation in 2004. They were renamed in 2023 upon the Foundation's merger with The League of Independent Theater, who now administer the awards.
2005 Awards
The inaugural awards ceremony was held on Monday, September 19Off-Off-Broadway Has IT by Steven McElroy, New York Times, August 8, 2005New York IT Award Nominees Announced by Adam Klasfeld, TheaterMania, July 20, 2005 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre. It was hosted by Charles Busch, with a special presentation by Judith Haking. The opening number was performed by the cast of [title of show], Hunter Bell, Jeff Bowen, Susan Blackwell, Heidi Blickenstaff and Larry Pressgrove.
Competitive Awards
Award Recipient Production Producer/Theatre Outstanding Ensemble Catherine Jhung, Don Nahaku, Lethia Nall, Matthew Pendergast, A-men Rasheed, Tijuana Ricks, Antonio G. del Rosario, Debargo Sanyal, Ragini Shah, Sam Younis Pulling the Lever Rising Circle Theater CollectiveOutstanding Solo Performance James Scruggs Disposable Men HERE Arts CenterOutstanding Actor In A Featured Role Nicky Paraiso Iphigenia LaMaMa E.T.C. in association with Sky Saver ProductionsOutstanding Actress In A Featured Role Sara Thigpen Burning the Old Man Boomerang Theatre Company Outstanding Actor In A Lead Role Troy Lavallee Serenade & Philosopher Fox The Polish Cultural Institute of New YorkOutstanding Actress In A Lead Role (tie) Carolyn Goelzer Iphigenia LaMaMa E.T.C. in association with Sky Saver Productions Maria McConville Honor part 2 Drilling Company NY Outstanding Choreography / Movement Jennifer L. Mudge It's Karate, Kid! The Musical The Four Corners ProjectOutstanding Director Paul Bargetto Serenade & Philosopher Fox The Polish Cultural Institute of New YorkOutstanding Set Design Michael Allen Masquerade Ten Grand and a BurgerOutstanding Lighting Design Daniel Ordower Hazard County Themantics GroupOutstanding Costume Design Rob Eggers Othello Palehorse ProductionsOutstanding Sound Design Quentin Chiappetta Murder in the First Invictus Theatre CompanyOutstanding Original Music Quentin Chiappetta Murder in the First Invictus Theatre CompanyOutstanding Original Short Script P. Seth Bauer First Time Out of Bounds Drilling Company NYOutstanding Original Full-Length Script Kelly McAllister Burning the Old Man Boomerang Theatre CompanyOutstanding Performance Art Production all wear bowlers HERE Arts Center Outstanding Production of a Musical It's Karate, Kid! The Musical The Four Corners ProjectOutstanding Production of a Play Serenade & Philosopher Fox The Polish Cultural Institute of New York
Honorary Awards
Award Recipient Artistic Achievement Award Basil Twist Stewardship Award Ellen Stewart Caffe Cino Fellowship Award Jeff Riebe
2006 Awards
The 2006 New York Innovative Theatre Awards were held on Monday, September 18All Those Awards New York Times, July 27, 2006 at Cooper Union in New York City. The event was hosted by Charles Busch, with a special presentation by Lisa Stevenson.
Competitive Awards
Award Recipient Production Producer Outstanding Ensemble David Carr-Berry, Jared Culverhouse, Ellen David, Paul Fears, Andaye' Hill, Julian James, Gregory Porter Miller & Brian Schlanger To Nineveh: A Modern Miracle Working Man's Clothes Outstanding Solo Performance Margaux Laskey size ate size ate productions Outstanding Actor In A Featured Role Trey Gibbons How I Learned To Drive T. Schreiber Studio Outstanding Actress In A Featured Role Summer Moore Last Summer at Bluefish Cove T. Schreiber Studio Outstanding Actor In A Lead Role Greg Horton The Singapore Mikado Theater Ten Ten Outstanding Actress In A Lead Role Ellen David To Nineveh: A Modern Miracle Working Man's Clothes Outstanding Choreography / Movement Marius Hanford Living Dead In Denmark Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company Outstanding Director Isaac Byrne To Nineveh: A Modern Miracle Working Man's Clothes Outstanding Set Design Eddy Trotter Love! Valour! Compassion! T. Schreiber Studio Outstanding Lighting Design Arthur Adair The Emperor Jones La MaMa, E.T.C. Outstanding Costume Design Sidney Shannon Iron Curtain Prospect Theater Company Outstanding Sound Design Paul John DeSena To Nineveh: A Modern Miracle Working Man's Clothes Outstanding Original Music Brendan Connelly Major Barbara La MaMa, E.T.C. in association with Two-Headed Calf Outstanding Original Short Script Vishakan Jeyakumar Jaffna Mangoes Desipina & Company Outstanding Original Full-Length Script Bekah Brunstetter To Nineveh: A Modern Miracle Working Man's Clothes Outstanding Performance Art Production Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind New York Neo-Futurists Outstanding Production of a Musical Iron Curtain Iron Curtain Prospect Theater Company Outstanding Production of a Play To Nineveh: A Modern Miracle To Nineveh: A Modern Miracle Working Man's Clothes
Honorary Awards
Award Recipient Artistic Achievement Award Tom O'Horgan Stewardship Award The Field Caffe Cino Fellowship Award The Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company
2007 Awards The 2007 New York Innovative Theatre Awards were held on Monday, September 24 at the Fashion Institute of Technology's Haft Auditorium in New York City.IT Awards Honor Off-Off-Broadway, Backstage, September 25, 20072007 IT Award Winners Announced, Playbill, September 25, 2007 The event was hosted by Julie Halston, with a presentation by Rising Phoenix Repertory's Elizabeth West.
Competitive Awards
Award Recipient Production Producer Outstanding Ensemble Boo Killebrew, Julia Lowrie Henderson, Ryan Purcell, Max Rosenak, Phillip Taratula & Daniel Walker Stowell 6969 CollaborationTown, A Theatre Company Inc. Outstanding Original Short Script Daniel Reitz Rules of the Universe Rising Phoenix Repertory Outstanding Original Full Length Script Saviana Stanescu Waxing West East Coast Artists] Outstanding Solo Performance Mike Houston The Ledge eavesdrop Outstanding Director Daniel Talbott Rules of the Universe Rising Phoenix Repertory Outstanding Choreography/Movement Dan Safer Dancing Vs the Rat Experiment La MaMa ETC in association with Witness Relocation Outstanding Set Design George Allison Picasso at the Lapin Agile T. Schreiber Studio Outstanding Lighting Design Peter Hoerburger The Present Perfect The Operating Theater Outstanding Sound Design Ryan Maeker & Tim Schellenbaum Dancing Vs the Rat ExperimentLa MaMa ETC in association with Witness Relocation] Outstanding Costume Design David Withrow Bug Boy Blues The Looking Glass Theatre Outstanding Original Music Leanne Darling The Landlord Toy Box Theatre Company Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role Max Rosenak 6969 CollaborationTown, A Theatre Company Inc. Outstanding Actress in a Leading Role Susan Louise O'Connor the silent concerto Packawallop Productions, Inc. Outstanding Actor in a Featured Role Joe Plummer As You Like It poortom productions Outstanding Actress in a Featured Role Boo Killebrew 6969 CollaborationTown, A Theatre Company Inc.] Outstanding Performance Art Production Dancing Vs the Rat Experiment Dancing Vs the Rat Experiment La MaMa ETC in association with Witness Relocation Outstanding Production of a Musical Urinetown, The Musical Urinetown, The Musical The Gallery Players Outstanding Production of a Play Bouffon Glass Menajoree Bouffon Glass Menajoree Ten Directions
Honorary Awards
Award Recipient Artistic Achievement Award Doric Wilson Stewardship Award Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York Caffe Cino Fellowship Award Rising Phoenix Repertory
2008 Awards The 2008 New York Innovative Theatre Awards were held on Monday, September 222008 IT Award Winners Announced Brian Scott Lipton, TheaterMania, September 23, 2008Mac, Paley, Nguyen, Steggert, et al. Receive IT Awards Nominations Dan Bacalzo, TheaterMania, July 22, 2008 at the Fashion Institute of Technology's Haft Auditorium in New York City. The event was hosted by Lisa Kron, with performances by the Blue Man Group, and a presentation by Boomerang Theatre Company's Jennifer Larkin, Joe Whelski and Vinnie Penna.
Competitive Awards
Award Recipient Production Producer Outstanding Ensemble Elena Chang, Noshir Dalal, Jon Hoche, Kelley Rae O'Donnell, Melissa Paladino, Maureen Sebastian, Andrea Marie Smith, Paco Tolson, Temar Underwood Fight Girl Battle World Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company Outstanding Original Short Script Aliza Shane The Three Sillies The Looking Glass Theatre Outstanding Original Full Length Script Bekah Brunstetter You May Go Now Babel Theatre Project Outstanding Solo Performance Andrea Caban You Got Questions? I Got Answers! Coyote REP Theatre Company Outstanding Director Edward Elefterion The Night of Nosferatu Rabbit Hole Ensemble Outstanding Choreography/Movement Qui Nguyen Fight Girl Battle World Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company Outstanding Set Design Sean Breault Art of Memory Company SoGoNo Outstanding Lighting Design Kevin Hardy The Night of Nosferatu Rabbit Hole Ensemble Outstanding Sound Design Dan Bianchi The Island of Dr. Moreau Radiotheatre Outstanding Costume Design Jessica Wegener Fight Girl Battle World Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company Outstanding Original Music Dan Bianchi The Island of Dr. Moreau Radiotheatre Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role Cameron J. Oro The Accidental Patriot The Stolen Chair Theatre Company Outstanding Actress in a Leading Role Stephanie Barton-Farcas Elizabeth Rex Nicu's Spoon Outstanding Actor in a Featured Role Rob Sheridan The Two Lives of Napoleon Beazley Incumbo Theater Company Outstanding Actress in a Featured Role Megan Byrne No End of Blame Potomac Theatre Project Outstanding Performance Art Production Removable Parts Removable Parts HERE Arts Center Outstanding Production of a Musical Yank! A New Musical Yank! A New Musical The Gallery Players Outstanding Production of a Play Burn, Crave, Hold: The James Wilde Project Burn, Crave, Hold: The James Wilde Project Blessed Unrest
Podcast of interviews with the presenters and nominees on Broadway Bullet
Honorary Awards
Award Recipient Artistic Achievement Award Judith Malina Stewardship Award The New York Theatre Experience, Martin & Rochelle Denton Caffe Cino Fellowship Award Boomerang Theatre Company
2009 Awards
Competitive Awards