During each Chicagoland theatrical season, from September to June, the BTAA Board will attend Chicagoland theatres, within a 60-mile range, to adjudicate theatrical productions.

BTAA will judge plays, musicals, dance concerts, and operas.  This includes Equity & non-Equity productions. (This includes productions at local churches and organizations that are not theatre companies.)  National touring shows are ineligible for nominations.  BTAA categories include Best Play, Best Musical, Best Lead Actress and Actor, Best Director, Best Musical Director, Best Original Book of a Musical, Best Costume, Set, and Lighting Designers, Best Sound, Best Score, Best Choreographer, and A Lifetime Achievement Award.

Each August, BTAA will have its Annual Meeting (to review all Board notes and suggestions for nominations from the previous season/year).

In September, through all types of media and special public relations, BTAA will announce all nominees from the previous year. In October, BTAA will hold its Annual Awards Ceremony and announce the BTAA Winners (in all categories, from the previous year).  

Action Items

• Three Judges will attend Chicagoland theatres and nominate candidates for theatrical excellence categories. Alternate Judges will be available if needed.
• Any Judge with a connection to a theatre company and/or a theatrical production that is being considered for a BTAA Award must forfeit their right to critique that production. An alternate Judge will take on that responsibility.  It is the Judge’s duty to let BTAA know of any conflicts.  Not making these conflicts apparent to the committee in advance of the season or prior to adjudicating a production is a reason for dismissal from the BTAA Board.
• Each theatre company/production will receive at least two months to two weeks’ notice of a Judges’ request to attend (and review) their production.
• Three Judges will adjudicate productions during times and dates provided by theatre staff. (This includes a maximum of two comp tickets.) If BTAA needs more than two tickets, BTAA will purchase the additional tickets.)
• Each Judge will be given BTAA guidelines to assess productions. Guidelines will contain comments/notes and score sections. Judges maintain their notes and nominations until the end of the theatre season when official nominees will be chosen and winners selected.
• Theatres/productions will be informed of its nomination, without specific names or categories, on the night of or by the following day of the BTAA Judge’s visit.
• Judges are not allowed to discuss productions with anyone during the season.

April 13, 2024