New York Independent Theater Awards

The New York Independent Theater Awards (also known as NYIT Awards and IT 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.

New York Independent Theater Awards
Awarded for	Excellence in Off-Off-Broadway theatre
Country	United States
Presented by	The League of Independent Theater
First award	September 19, 2005; 19 years ago (2005-09-19)
Website	Official Website

The awards - created by The New York Innovative Theatre Foundation in 2004 - were formerly known as “The New York Innovative Theatre Awards”. They were renamed in 2022 upon the Foundation's merger with The League of Independent Theater, who now administer the awards.^[1]

History

The New York Innovative Theatre Foundation was created in 2004 by Jason Bowcutt, Shay Gines and Nick Micozzi to bring recognition to artistic output and heritage of New York City's Off-Off-Broadway community.^[2] The organization advocated for Off-Off-Broadway and recognized the unique and essential role it plays in contributing to American and global culture.

In 2022, the foundation merged with The League of Independent Theater, with the awards renamed The New York Independent Theater Awards.^[3]

Categories

Competitive Awards

• Outstanding Ensemble
• Outstanding Solo Performance
• Outstanding Actor In A Lead Role
• Outstanding Actress In A Lead Role
• Outstanding Actor In A Featured Role
• Outstanding Actress In A Featured Role
• Outstanding Choreography / Movement
• Outstanding Director
• Outstanding Set Design
• Outstanding Lighting Design
• Outstanding Costume Design
• Outstanding Sound Design
• Outstanding Original Music
• Outstanding Original Short Script
• Outstanding Original Full-Length Script
• Outstanding Performance Art Production
• Outstanding Production of a Musical
• Outstanding Production of a Play

Honorary Awards

• The Artistic Achievement Award - for significant artistic contribution to the Off-Off-Broadway community.
• The Ellen Stewart Award - for significant contribution to the Off-Off-Broadway community through service, support and leadership.
• The Caffe Cino Fellowship Award - for consistent production of outstanding work.
• The Outstanding Stage Manager Award.
• The Indie Theater Champion Award - for advancing the independent theater community through positive social justice actions during the past year.
• The Doric Wilson Independent Playwright Award - for commitment to independent theater.

Ceremony

See also: List of NYIT Awards ceremonies

Season	Awards ceremony	Location	Awards ceremony host(s)
2004–05	Sept. 19, 2005[4]	Lucille Lortel Theatre	Charles Busch
2005–06	Sept. 18, 2006 [5]	Cooper Union	Charles Busch
2006–07	Sept. 24, 2007[6]	Fashion Institute of Technology	Julie Halston
2007–08	Sept. 22, 2008[7]	Fashion Institute of Technology	Lisa Kron
2008–09	Sept. 21, 2009[8]	New World Stages	Julie Halston
2009–10	Sept 20, 2010[9]	Cooper Union	Lisa Kron
2010–11	Sept. 19, 2011[10]	Cooper Union	Harrison Greenbaum
2011–12	Sept. 24, 2012[11]	Kaye Playhouse	Harrison Greenbaum
2012–13	Sept. 30, 2013[12]	Baruch Performing Arts Center	Harrison Greenbaum
2013–14	Sept. 24, 2014[13]	Baruch Performing Arts Center	Jason Kravits
2014–15	Sept. 21, 2015[14]	Baruch Performing Arts Center	Jason Kravits
2015–16	Sept 26. 2016[15]	Kaye Playhouse	Jason Kravits
2016–17	Sept. 25, 2017[16]	Gerald Lynch Theater	Jason Kravits
2017–18	Sept. 24, 2018[17]	Centennial Memorial Theatre	Becca Blackwell
2018–19	Sept. 16, 2019[18]	Centennial Memorial Theatre	Bradford Scobie
2019–20	Did not occur due to COVID-19 Pandemic
2020–21	Nov. 14, 2021[19]	Kraine Theater	Shalewa Sharpe and Courtney Fearrington
2021–22	Did not occur[20]
2022–23	June 26, 2023[21]	Brooklyn Art Haus	Shalewa Sharpe
2023–24	Sept. 9, 2024[22]	Brooklyn Art Haus