The American Place Theatre

Awards & Recognition:
50 Years of Voices Worth Hearing

“Seriousness of purpose, professional skills, faith in the theatre as an instrument for understanding as well as ornamenting life, and the gaiety of spirit which should be associated with all the arts combine to make work with The American Place Theatre a truly satisfying experience.”
-Robert Penn Warren

Awards to The American Place Theatre

• Village Voice OBIE Awards: Several dozen including a grant and citation for “uncompromising commitment to unconventional and daring plays” – 1982
• AUDELCO Awards for excellence in Black Theatre: “Williams & Walker” by Vincent Smith, “Ground People” by Leslie Lee, “Zora Neale Hurston” by Laurence Holder, and “Fly” by Joseph Edward
• The New England Theatre Conference Special Award for pioneering in the aiding and encouragement of the craft of playwriting for writers in other literary fields
• The Margo Jones Award – 1966

Awards to Wynn Handman

• Village Voice OBIE Award for “Sustained Achievement” – 1999
• League of Off-Broadway Theatre: Lucille Lortel Life Time Achievement Award – 1993
• Actors’ Equity Association Rosetta Le Noire Award “in recognition of artistic contribution to the universality of the human experience” – 1994
• Two AUDELCO Awards for Excellence in Black Theatre, as best director for “Zora Neale Hurston” and “Fly”
• Carnegie Mellon: Commitment to Playwriting Award – 1996
• The Working Theatre: Sanford Meisner Service Award for recognition of his leadership in disseminating the arts to working people – 1998
• Alumni Association of the City College of New York: The Townsend Harris Medal “in recognition of his distinguished contributions to his chosen field of work and the welfare of his fellow men”