I. What Are the Suzi Bass Awards?
The Suzi Bass Awards annually recognize excellence in Atlanta’s professional theatre community through a structured, peer-based judging process. The Awards celebrate outstanding productions, artists, and organizations that contribute to a vibrant, professional theatre ecosystem in the greater Atlanta area.
The Suzi Bass Awards exist to promote professional standards, encourage artistic excellence, and support a diverse and sustainable theatre community. The Awards consist of performance and production awards selected by trained Judges and eligible organization members. The Awards also recognize individuals and organizations through special awards selected by organization members, Board members, and/or the public.
A list of the performance awards for 2025–2026 is attached as Addendum A, and a list of the special awards that may be recognized for 2025–2026 is attached as Addendum B.
II. Purpose and Scope of the Guidelines
These Guidelines, Processes, and Standards (“Guidelines”) govern eligibility, participation requirements, judging procedures, and awards determination for productions submitted for consideration during the applicable judging season.
The Guidelines are intended to:
- Ensure fair, consistent, and transparent evaluation of eligible productions and artists
- Provide clear expectations for participating theatres and Judges
- Support the integrity and credibility of the Suzi Bass Awards
These Guidelines apply to all participating theatres, productions, artists, and Judges unless otherwise specified.
Governance and Authority
The Board of Directors appoints a Judging Committee in accordance with the Bylaws of the Suzi Bass Awards, Inc.
The Judging Committee administers the organization’s awards judging process in accordance with the Suzi Bass Awards Guidelines, Processes, and Standards and, in its administrative capacity, provides periodic reports to the Board of Directors regarding the composition, training, and operation of the judging program.
The Judging Committee is responsible for administering the awards evaluation process, including selecting, managing, educating, and supporting Judges; developing judging schedules; and creating scoring tools, documentation, and procedures necessary to conduct the awards process.
The Judging Committee may develop and propose Judging Guidelines, Processes, and Standards. All such Guidelines, Processes, and Standards, and any substantive revisions thereto, must be reviewed, modified as appropriate, and approved by the Board of Directors prior to implementation.
The Board of Directors retains oversight responsibility for the Judging Committee but shall not participate in, direct, or influence individual artistic evaluations or award determinations, unless the Board is specifically requested to provide input in these approved Guidelines.
Editorial and organizational updates that do not affect substantive standards may be made by the Judging Committee, with notice to the Board of Directors.
In the event of any conflict between these Guidelines and the Bylaws of the Suzi Bass Awards, Inc., the Bylaws shall control.
These Guidelines apply to productions opening during the 2025–2026 judging season, which runs from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, unless otherwise stated.
Unless explicitly noted, revisions to the Guidelines take effect at the start of a judging season and do not apply retroactively.
III. Production Eligibility Requirements
A. Eligible Producing Companies
Producing companies must be professional theatre organizations, whether for-profit or not-for-profit, and must legally acquire the rights to present the production.
Productions must be presented within the Atlanta Metropolitan Area. Theatres located outside the core five counties of Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett may be considered with approval of the Judging Committee.
B. Eligible Productions
To qualify for consideration, a production must meet the minimum performance and run requirements established by the Suzi Bass Awards.
Opera, performance art, or community theatre will not be considered for Suzi Bass Awards. Productions by participating theatres that are play readings or workshops, book musicals performed “in concert,” or performances that are unscripted and/or substantially improvisational will not be considered for Suzi Bass Awards.
Qualifying productions must have a minimum of nine (9) performances over three (3) weeks, exclusive of previews, for which complimentary tickets are made available to Suzi Judges.
For runs of at least nine (9) performances that occur over fewer than three weeks, the Judging Committee may approve judging if the producing company allows Judges to reserve tickets before the run opens and before a Suzi Recommended determination is made. If a production is ultimately not recommended, the producer may reclaim unused Judge tickets or allow Judges to attend as a courtesy.
Producing companies will provide a last-seat guarantee to Suzi Judges for any performance that is not fully sold out, to maximize Judges’ ability to attend Suzi Recommended productions.
C. Compensation Requirements (“Suzi Minimum”)
For a production to qualify for consideration, the producing company must compensate directors, performers, and the stage manager at no less than the established Suzi Minimum, currently $150 per week for rehearsals and performances.
If requested, producing companies must provide documentation of amounts paid to production artists.
The Suzi Minimum may be increased no more frequently than every three years. The current and anticipated minimums are:
- 2025–2026: $150 per week
- 2026–2027: TBD
- 2027–2028: TBD
- 2028–2029: TBD
D. Performer and Artist Eligibility
To be eligible for Suzi Awards consideration, a performer must perform the role at the performances attended by Suzi Opening Weekend Judges and must appear in at least the minimum number of performances required for eligibility.
If scheduled cast changes will occur during a run, the Suzi Awards must be notified promptly so that judging panels may be informed of limited viewing opportunities.
A performer who is otherwise eligible but is repeating a role for which they have previously won a Suzi Award is not eligible for consideration in that role, regardless of category placement.
Eligibility for elements previously nominated for a Suzi Award will be determined on a case-by-case basis by the Judging Committee. Elements or work that won a Suzi Award for a prior production will not be considered in remounted productions.
E. Remounts and Revivals
Remounts and revivals opening less than seven (7) years after the closing of the previous production are not eligible for Suzi Awards consideration.
Annually produced works may be considered once every seven (7) years, regardless of changes in cast or production elements.
For theatres specializing in a limited canon, such as Shakespeare, the remount eligibility period is reduced to four (4) years.
A remount opening more than four (4) but fewer than seven (7) years after the prior production, and featuring substantial changes to cast or artistic team, may be submitted for Judging Committee consideration. Substantial changes are defined as meeting two of the following three criteria:
- Fifty percent (50%) or more of the cast has changed
- A new director is engaged
- At least two design elements are new
In no event will a remount opening fewer than four (4) years after the previous production be considered, regardless of changes.
F. Commercially Enhanced Productions
Productions that are commercially enhanced or “Broadway-bound” are not eligible for Suzi Awards consideration. The scale and professional composition of these productions create outsized competition and typically involve artists who are not regular participants in Atlanta’s professional theatre community.
IV. Obligations of Producing Theatres
A. Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Requirements (Baseline)
Producing theatres must meet the following baseline Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) requirements for productions to be eligible for consideration:
- If the organization has a Board of Directors, the Board must include at least 30% people of color by June 30, 2026.
- Producers must hold an EDI discussion at the beginning of the rehearsal period to address potential issues such as hair, makeup, costumes, microphones, lighting, mobility, off-stage tasks, storyline themes, trauma, casting, dramaturgy, and related concerns.
- Producers must hold at least two anti-bias training sessions for all organizational participants prior to the applicable deadline. The Suzi Bass Awards may make some trainings available at no charge.
- Producers must encourage staff, interns, artists, and Board members to complete the Suzi EDI Self-ID form.
- Producers must submit required theatre-level and production-level EDI forms listing personnel involved in each production, when such forms become available.
Productions that meet these baseline EDI requirements and are designated as Suzi Recommended are eligible for individual awards.
Additional EDI standards required for Outstanding Production awards are detailed in Addendum C.
B. Youth and Intern Casting Requirements
The Suzi Bass Awards recognize the value of education and apprenticeship in theatre. To maintain an equitable playing field across productions of varying budget levels, the following limitations apply:
- No more than 30% of a cast may consist of unpaid or underpaid adult interns. Any unpaid or underpaid intern in a principal role is not eligible for individual acting awards but may be considered in ensemble categories.
- Children or youth ensemble performers in non-principal roles may be unpaid or underpaid without restriction on percentage of the full cast. These performers are not eligible for individual or ensemble award categories.
- Under no circumstances will a production be considered for Suzi Awards if a youth ensemble performs as part of a tuition-based class or paid performance program.
C. Truthful Representation and Compliance
By participating in the Suzi Bass Awards, producing companies affirm their responsibility to fulfill all legal and contractual obligations related to the production.
All Consideration Forms, Production Programs, and promotional materials must accurately and truthfully reflect the creators of the production, including playwrights, composers, directors, designers, performers, and musicians. Materials must disclose when creative elements are based on another artist’s work.
In cases of willful omission or false information, the Judging Committee reserves the right to exclude a production from some or all nominating ballot categories.
D. Cross-Marketing and Promotion
Participating theatres agree to support promotion of the Suzi Bass Awards by displaying provided signage in theatre lobbies and participating in promotional opportunities throughout the season, particularly in the lead-up to the Awards Event.
Promotional activities may include, but are not limited to, lobby displays, program inserts, website links, email communications, and subscriber newsletters.
E. Complimentary Judge Tickets
Producing companies requesting consideration agree to comply with the Suzi Awards process for providing complimentary tickets to Judges.
Specific procedures for notification and ticket accommodation are outlined in the Submission and Judging Procedures section of these Guidelines.
V. The Judging Process
A. Judging Season
The Suzi Awards judging season follows the typical theatre season. For the 2025–2026 cycle, the judging season runs from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.
Productions opening during the judging season are eligible for consideration for awards presented the following November. Companies operating on a calendar-year season may have productions split between judging cycles.
B. Submission Process
B.1 Consideration Request
It is the responsibility of each participating theatre to submit production information using the Suzi Awards Consideration Request Form.
Information requested includes:
- Producing company and contact information
- Title and playwright or composer
- Venue and run dates (exclusive of previews)
- Performance schedule and number of performances
- Award categories sought, including Social Justice or World Premiere consideration, where applicable
The Consideration Request Form must be submitted at least sixty (60) days prior to opening. If a theatre fails to meet this deadline, the production may still be judged if the Judging Coordinators determine that sufficient performances remain to allow judging panels to attend.
Producing companies must notify the Suzi Awards office of any additions to or changes in production schedules as soon as such changes are known.
B.2 Production Personnel Form
At least thirty (30) days prior to opening, producing companies must submit the Production Personnel Form, which includes the names of directors, designers, performers, and other creative personnel, and indicates whether performers should be judged individually or as an ensemble.
If there are any changes to the cast or creative team during the run, the producing company must notify the Judging Coordinators as soon as possible.
C. Opening Weekend Judging
As many as nine (9) Opening Weekend Judges from the appropriate panel will attend performances during the opening weekend of a production.
Judges make their own reservations with the theatre’s box office or administrative staff. Productions opening on a Saturday will have their first two performance days considered their Opening Weekend.
Judges attend independently and do not confer with one another before submitting scores.
D. Scoring Methodology
Judges score individual elements of a production using the standardized Judges’ Scoring Rubric (Addendum D).
Scores are submitted to the Judging Coordinators for verification of attendance and tabulation.
In addition to scoring, each Opening Weekend Judge must answer the verification question:
“Do you think this production should be Suzi Recommended?”
A “yes” response indicates that the Judge believes the production contains elements likely to receive a Suzi nomination. Judges may, but are not required to, identify those elements.
E. Suzi Recommended Determination
Individual Judges’ scores are tabulated into a show score for each Opening Weekend Judge and averaged to obtain a recommending score for the production.
A production may be designated Suzi Recommended based on:
- Meeting the established recommendation thresholds, or
- Exceptionally high scoring of a single production element, as determined by the Judging Coordinators.
Judges are not informed when a Suzi Recommended determination is based on a single-element exception.
Producing companies are notified as soon as possible whether a production has been designated Suzi Recommended.
F. Panel Judging
For Suzi Recommended productions, Judges on the appropriate panel attend additional performances and score elements using the same rubric as Opening Weekend Judges.
Judges submit scoresheets within forty-eight (48) hours of attendance. These submissions serve as verification of a Judge’s participation.
Social Justice productions follow additional judging procedures as outlined in Addendum E, and World Premiere productions follow additional judging procedures as outlined in Addendum F.
VI. Nominations, Voting, and Awards
A. Nomination Eligibility
At the conclusion of the judging season, productions and artists are eligible for nomination consideration based on participation and attendance requirements established by the Suzi Bass Awards.
Judges whose attendance falls below the required minimum may be excused from panel discussions and voting; however, their submitted scores for eligible productions remain part of the tabulated averages.
Only productions designated as Suzi Recommended are eligible to participate in year-end nomination discussions and voting.
B. Panel Deliberations
Each judging panel meets, either in person or virtually, to discuss eligible categories and arrive at a consensus for nominees.
Panels review:
- Individual Judges’ scores
- Panel averages
- Overall rankings within each award category
Panel discussions are conducted to determine the nominees for each category, including principal, featured 10 nominees, ensemble, design, direction and production awards.
C. Final Ballot and Voting
Following panel deliberations, nominees are placed on the Final Ballot.
A panel-specific Final Ballot is sent to each Judge. Judges may vote in every category and must indicate how many nominees they saw in each category. Votes are counted only from Judges who saw at least 80% of the nominees in a category.
Votes are tabulated from:
- Judging panel ballots, and
- Eligible Suzi Bass Awards Members voting as a bloc (“Member’s Choice”).
Member votes are combined with panel votes and tabulated together as an additional Judge on each panel. Members are not subject to attendance or scorebook requirements.
In the event of a tie, additional balloting may occur. Where fewer than three eligible entries exist in a category, an award recipient must receive at least 60% of first-place votes to receive the award.
D. Nominee and Award Announcements
A public event is held thirty (30) to sixty (60) days prior to the Awards Ceremony to announce nominees in each category.
The Suzi Bass Awards Ceremony is held in November following the end of each judging season.
Award recipients are notified and recognized in accordance with Suzi Bass Awards procedures.
VII. Judge Qualifications and Terms
Panel Judges are chosen after application to the Suzi Awards Judging Committee.
Because there are more productions of plays than musicals or Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA), the number of Judges per panel will be:
- Play: 25–35 Judges
- Musical: 15–20 Judges
- Theatre for Young Audiences: 10–15 Judges
- World Premiere: 15–20 Judges
- Social Justice: 15–20 Judges
Judges agree to an initial commitment of one year, with additional terms dependent upon fulfillment of duties and compliance with the Suzi Awards Standards of Conduct attached as Addendum G. Judges may serve up to three consecutive terms on a panel before being rotated off that panel for at least one year.
Panel Judges are chosen based on their practical evaluation, academic background or career in theatre, significant professional experience, a history of theatre involvement, and/or extensive consistent theatre attendance in Atlanta and other major theatre centers.
Appointed Panel Judges commit to:
- Serve as a representative of the Suzi Bass Awards while attending productions as a Judge and reflect the integrity and professionalism of the Awards;
- Diligently check email or voicemail for messages from the Judging Co-Coordinators;
- Communicate with the Judging Co-Coordinators in a timely manner and provide scoresheets for Suzi Recommended productions;
- Attend as many Suzi Recommended productions applicable to their panel as possible (40% minimum);
- Understand the judging process, score productions, and vote ballots based on objective consideration of the artists and their work; and
- Abide by the Suzi Awards Standards of Conduct and disclose any potential conflicts of interest.
All Suzi Judges are unpaid. They volunteer their time and provide their own transportation to productions. Although costs for travel and parking are not regularly reimbursed, such costs may be deductible as a 501(c)(3) charitable contribution. Beginning in 2021–2022, the Suzi Awards established a transportation reimbursement program for Judges who need assistance to be able to participate as a Suzi Award Judge.
Potential Panel Judges may apply at any time through the application form at: https://www.thesuzis.org/get-involved/judging/. To be considered for the upcoming Judging Panel selection, applications must be received by April 30.
Addendum A: Categories of Performance and Production Awards (2025–2026)
- Production – Play
- Director – Play
- Principal Performer – Play (10 nominees and 2 winners)
- Featured Performer – Play (10 nominees and 2 winners)
- Ensemble – Play
- Costume Design – Play
- Lighting Design – Play
- Projection Design – Play
- Scenic Design – Play
- Sound Design – Play
- Production – Musical
- Director – Musical
- Music Direction
- Choreography
- Principal Performer – Musical (10 nominees and 2 winners)
- Featured Performer – Musical (10 nominees and 2 winners
- Ensemble – Musical
- Costume Design – Musical
- Lighting Design – Musical
- Projection Design – Musical
- Scenic Design – Musical
- Sound Design – Musical
- Production – TYA
- Direction – TYA
- Performance – TYA
- Design – TYA
- New Work – TYA
- World Premiere Production (Play or Musical)
- Social Justice Production (Play or Musical)
Addendum B: Possible Special Awards for 2025–2026
Spirit of Suzi Bass Award
Recognizes a person or organization whose work reflects the values and spirit of Suzi Bass and demonstrates sustained commitment to professional theatre in Atlanta.
Each season, the Suzi Awards Board of Directors solicits nominations from the professional theatre community. The Board will choose a recipient of the Spirit of Suzi Award from among those nominated. The Spirit Award will be presented, and the recipient profiled during the Suzi Awards Event in November. The recipient will be a person or organization that demonstrates qualities reflecting Suzi Bass herself. Such qualities might include:
- Dedication to increasing the level of professionalism in the Atlanta Theatre Community;
- Selfless service to the Atlanta theatrical community through the development and support of theatre companies, professional artists, students of theatre, or new audiences;
- Consistent striving to better the working conditions of theatre artists, the support of audiences for theatre, or the environment for a strong and vibrant theatre community;
- True commitment to the joy of theatre as an avenue for self-expression, community empowerment, global connection, or cultural enrichment;
- Dedication to the belief that theatre can make a difference in Atlanta, and Atlanta theatre can make a difference in the world.
Volunteer of the Year Award
Recognizes long-term, intensive, or extraordinary volunteer service to a Suzi Participating Theatre.
Each season the current Voting Members of the Suzi Bass Awards will vote to award a special prize to a person from the greater Atlanta theatre community. This award is intended to recognize the long-term, intensive, or extraordinary work of a volunteer for a Suzi Participating Theatre. Nominees for this award will have contributed significant time and talent to their chosen organization. Since the support of volunteers is so vital to the functioning of theatre organizations in the Atlanta community, this award strives to recognize the contribution of all volunteers by highlighting a few.
- Nominations for the Volunteer of the Year Award are submitted by the Administrative Personnel of Participating Theatres using the Special Award Consideration Form.
- Possible examples:
- A long-time volunteer who fills a staff position that must otherwise be budgeted;
- A dedicated board or committee member who has personally spearheaded a successful major campaign or initiative;
- A volunteer who has remained consistently involved through difficult times or over a long period;
- A volunteer that your audiences or staff have come to recognize as part of your organization, and who actively contributes to your successful operation.
Since volunteer jobs are as varied as those that fill them, the possibilities are endless!
- Each organization may nominate one volunteer each year (an individual or a couple) by submitting a written statement of 250 words or less and a photograph. Those submitted for the Volunteer of the Year award will be highlighted at the Nomination Announcement Event and on the Suzi Facebook Page.
- Before the Awards Event in November, a ballot with nominating statements will be sent to the Voting Members of the Suzi Awards, who will determine a winner. (Any tie will be re-balloted, resulting in only one winner each year.) Members will vote by internet/email only, and the results will be confidential.
- The Volunteer Award may be presented at an opening night or other special event at the nominating theatre, and the winner recognized during the Suzi Awards Event in November.
- Previous Volunteer of the Year winners may not be re-nominated for a period of ten (10) years.
Callboard Award
- Recognizes the work of a stage manager, technical crew member, front-of-house staff member, or production staff member whose contributions fall outside standard award categories.
- Each season, the current Voting Members of the Suzi Bass Awards will award a special prize to a person from the greater Atlanta theatre community. This award is intended to recognize the work of a stage manager or other technical crew, front of house staff, or production staff of a Suzi Participating Theatre. Anyone working on a production but not fitting into regular “Suzi” categories may be nominated by any Suzi Member, or by the administration of a participating theatre.
- Nomination is submitted through a written statement of 250 words or less and a photograph, along with a Special Awards nomination form. Those submitted for the Callboard Award will be highlighted on the Suzi Facebook page. Before the awards event in November, a ballot with nominating statements will be sent to the Voting Members of the Suzi Awards, and tabulated results will be confidential.
(Any tie will be re-balloted, resulting in no more than one winner each year.)
Lifetime Achievement Award
Recognizes an outstanding body of work by a theatre artist, playwright, or producer whose career has had a significant and lasting impact on the Atlanta theatre community.
From time to time the Board of Directors of the Suzi Bass Awards may choose to recognize a member of the Metro Atlanta theatre community with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
- Unlike the Spirit of Suzi Bass Award, which focuses on a person or organization which demonstrates qualities embodied by Suzi Bass herself, this Award will focus on a body of work having a significant and long-term effect on the theatre community.
- Anyone may submit candidates for this award to any organizational staff or Board Member. Please include a short statement about the candidate’s achievements. Candidates should be brought before the Board in sufficient time to research their body of work.
- The Recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award will be notified prior to the Awards Ceremony in November, and the award may be presented at a connected theatre or organizational event, with a profile and announcement at the Suzi Awards Ceremony.
Anyone may submit a nomination for the four special awards above by filling out the form available from admin@thesuzis.org.
With each form, we request that you “make a case” for why your nominee is a great choice. We will share this information with the appropriate group choosing the award. We may use part of your nomination wording on the Suzi website or Facebook and Twitter platforms, for promotional purposes.
Gene-Gabriel Moore Playwriting Award
Recognizes a locally written play produced during the applicable season, as evaluated by a designated committee of theatre professionals.
Named in honor of a founder of the Suzi Bass Awards, and continuing in memory of his enthusiastic support of local playwrights, this award is currently an inscribed plaque. A committee of local theatre professionals, scholars and playwrights will read plays by local playwrights which have been produced in the current season and submitted to the committee as set out below.
To qualify for the Playwriting Award, the play must be:
- Written or co-written by a playwright/composer whose professional residence is the Atlanta Metro Area;
- Given a full production by a local theatre (no readings, staged readings or concert versions);
- Submitted for judging consideration no later than July 31 after the season in which it is produced, using the form available on the web at http://Thesuzis.org. This includes sending a digital copy of the final production script to judging@thesuzis.org.
- Released by the playwright to share among the Playwriting Award Committee for the sole purpose of judging for the award.
- Productions of plays submitted for the GGM Award need not be eligible for consideration in the Suzi Performance Awards.
- Plays submitted for the GGM Award need not be premieres, nor need they be produced by a Suzi Participating Theatre.
Audience Choice Award for Outstanding Season
Recognizes an outstanding overall season by a Suzi Participating Theatre, as determined by public voting through designated donation-based mechanisms.
The public will choose this award to recognize an outstanding overall season by a Suzi Participating Theatre.
- Voting for this award is open year-round and closes the day before the Awards Event.
- The winner of the Audience Choice Award will be announced at the Awards Ceremony, and the Award and prize money will be presented at a subsequent opening night or special event at the winning theatre.
- Voting will occur through links on the Suzi Awards website. Voting/donation links will be placed on participating theatre pages, as well as the Audience Choice voting page, with $1 designating one vote. There is no limit to the number of votes a person may cast, or the number of times they may vote.
- Tabulation of votes will involve a formula combining total votes per theatre company and the number of individuals voting for that company.
- Each theatre will receive 50% of the proceeds raised by their voters.
- The winner of the Audience Choice Award each year will be provided with graphics and verbiage for use in promoting the Award to their constituents and the public. However, this award is not a “Suzi” and should not be confused with the regular Performance Awards.
- Nomination and submission procedures for Special Awards are administered by the Suzi Bass Awards staff and committees, as applicable.
Addendum C: EDI Standards for Outstanding Production Production Awards
Scope and Applicability
This Addendum applies only to productions seeking consideration for awards recognizing outstanding overall production, including Outstanding Play, Outstanding Musical, Outstanding TYA Production, Outstanding World Premiere, and Outstanding Social Justice Production.
Productions not seeking consideration for these awards remain subject only to the baseline EDI requirements set forth in the Guidelines.
Enhanced EDI Standards
Producing theatres seeking Outstanding Production consideration must meet additional EDI standards related to:
- Specific production elements, including casting, creative teams, and artistic leadership;
- Industry access and opportunities for historically underrepresented artists and professionals;
- Marketing, publicity, and community outreach, including inclusive audience engagement; and
- Cultural competency and social justice, including thoughtful engagement with content, context, and community impact.
Producing organizations must review their Board, staff, and production personnel to identify homogenous groups and assess representation across multiple dimensions, including but not limited to race, gender, age, sexual orientation, and disability.
Producing theatres must identify areas where the organization can take steps to become more equitable, diverse, and inclusive, including through cross-cultural exchange, non-traditional mentoring, skill development, relationship building, and allyship.
Only productions that meet both the baseline EDI requirements and the enhanced standards set forth in this Addendum are eligible for Outstanding Production awards.
Addendum D: Judges' Scoring Rubric
Scope
This Addendum contains the standardized scoring rubric used by Suzi Judges to evaluate productions and individual elements.
Scoring Methodology
The rubric provides:
- Category-specific evaluation questions;
- Scoring on a 10-point scale with decimal precision;
- Separate scoring for principal and featured performers; and
- Evaluation of non-award categories relevant to overall production quality, including technical execution and ensemble work.
Individual scores are aggregated in accordance with the tabulation procedures set forth in the Judging Guidelines to determine Suzi Recommended status, nominations, and awards.
Addendum E: Social Justice Production Guidelines
Scope
This Addendum applies only to productions submitted for consideration for the Outstanding Social Justice Production award.
Eligibility and Judging
Productions submitted for Social Justice consideration are judged by both:
- The appropriate Play or Musical Panel; and
- The Social Justice Panel.
Only the Social Justice Panel votes in the Outstanding Social Justice Production category.
Eligibility requirements, submission procedures, and evaluation standards for Social Justice productions are governed by the principles and processes set forth in the Judging Guidelines and this Addendum.
Addendum F: World Premiere Award Guidelines
Scope
This Addendum applies only to productions seeking consideration for the World Premiere Award and does not affect baseline eligibility or judging for other award categories.
Eligibility
To be eligible for consideration:
- The production must be a new play or musical receiving its first full professional production;
- The production must meet baseline eligibility requirements set forth in the Judging Guidelines.
Submission and Judging
World Premiere productions must be submitted using the applicable Consideration Request Form.
World Premiere productions are judged by both:
- The appropriate Play or Musical Panel; and
- The World Premiere Panel.
Only the World Premiere Panel votes in the World Premiere Award category.