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November 16, 2004
Actors’ Equity Foundation Announces Deadline Extended To March 18, 2005 Actors’ Equity Association is pleased to announce a newly created award available to Equity Membership Candidates. The Roger Sturtevant Musical Theatre Award, given under the auspices of the Actors' Equity Foundation, is available to current Equity Membership Candidates (EMC) who have demonstrated outstanding abilities in the musical theatre field. The award, consisting of a $1,000 check and a certificate, is presented to one male and one female EMC based on a videotape audition, written recommendations, and a completed application. A panel including actor/members of the Actors' Equity Foundation and members of the Casting Society of America will choose the recipients of the award and will announce the winners each April. The judging panel strictly adheres to the principles of non-traditional casting and actively encourages actors of all cultural backgrounds to apply. The award was started by the family of noted casting director, Roger Sturtevant, who passed away on June 29, 2003. Jane Sturtevant Johnson notes, “Inspired by the many expressions of gratitude and heartfelt appreciation, we are proud and happy to announce the establishment of an award in Roger’s name to be given to talented new actors and actresses in the musical theatre.” In love with the theater from an early age, Roger began a show business career as box office treasurer (and sometimes as casting director) for summer theaters in the northeast, including the New London Barn Playhouse in New Hampshire and the Pocono Playhouse in Mountainhome, PA. On Broadway he served as assistant treasurer in several theater box offices, including the Winter Garden during the original run of FOLLIES, his favorite musical. Roger began his 30-year casting career as an associate at Circle in the Square. In 1975 he began working at Ogilvy & Mather Advertising Agency in the commercial casting department. From 1979 to 1981 he joined Pat McCorkle and cast the NBC soap "The Doctors", as well as regional theater and independent productions, and films. He later moved to Bates Worldwide to become its voice-over casting director in New York. A renowned record collector, Roger had a collection of albums, tapes, discs, and related books which comprised a history of American music, and particularly the Broadway musical in the 20th century. He was regarded as a “walking encyclopedia” of theater and music and was often a source of factual inquiries for The Museum of the City of New York, major television networks, producers, authors, editors, performers and musicians from around the world. Roger was an avid world traveler and is fondly remembered as the organizer of a popular, annual theater trip to London, sometimes involving more than 50 friends and their families. He was widely known and appreciated for his commitment to actors and actresses from their first audition onward. As many have said, “Roger believed in me, so I believed in myself.” Tax deductible donations to the award in honor of Roger’s legacy may be made by sending a check made out to the “Actors’ Equity Foundation” to:
c/o Actors’ Equity Foundation 165 W. 46th Street New York, NY 10036 The Actors’ Equity Foundation, Inc. is a 501C(3) organization incorporated in the State of New York. It is the charitable arm of the Actors’ Equity Association and is supported through donor contributions. The Foundation provides assistance to actors in need and grants to non-profit theatre companies throughout the United States. In addition, the Foundation administers a number of awards that have been endowed over the years as well as the newly instituted Roger Sturtevant Musical Theatre Award.
Click here to view all the Equity Awards.
David Lotz
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