KATHRYN V. LAMKEY AWARD

On March 11, 2019, Actors’ Equity awarded four recipients with its Kathryn V. Lamkey (“Kathy”) Awards during the annual Spirit: A Celebration of Diversity event. This honor takes place in Chicago and is presented by Equity’s Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Committee in collaboration with Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

Actors' Equity Association presented five recipients with the Kathryn V. Lamkey ("Kathy") Award during its annual Spirit, A Celebration of Diversity on March 12, 2018, at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier, in a ceremony hosted by Sharriese Hamilton.

This year, Actors' Equity Association honored Ron Himes, Esther Grisham Grimm, and Emjoy Gavino with the Kathryn V. Lamkey ("Kathy") Award during its annual Spirit, A Celebration of Diversity on March 24, 2017, at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier.

This celebration of spirit, pride, and accomplishment included the presentation of the Kathryn V. Lamkey Award. Named after the longtime Central Regional Director, this special honor is awarded to an individual and/or organization that helps to maintain and enforce Equity’s goals of diversity and inclusion. The four incredible recipients included Chicago Shakespeare Theater Founder and Artistic Director Barbara Gaines and Executive Director Criss Henderson; Goodman Theatre Resident Director Chuck Smith; and Goodman Theatre Resident Artistic Associate Henry Godinez.

The annual Spirit: A Celebration of Diversity event, which honors individuals, theater companies, and organizations that provide opportunities for members of color to audition and work in Chicago and in the Central Region, was held on March 16, 2015. The ceremony was hosted at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier, where the 2015 Kathryn V. Lamkey Award (“Kathy”) was presented to Ellen Alberding, president of the Joyce Foundation.

The Central Region's annual Spirit, A Celebration of Diversity event was hosted – in grand style – by the renowned Chicago Shakespeare Theatre on March 10, 2014 at Navy Pier. The annual Kathryn V. Lamkey Award (or “The Kathy”), which honors two area members for their dedication and commitment to furthering the union’s goals for social change and inclusion, was presented to long-time members E. Faye Butler and Tom Joyce.

The Kathryn V. Lamkey Award, named after the recently retired Central Regional Director and presented annually at the Spirit Celebration, honors those individuals and/or organizations that continue to open doors to all types of opportunities for Central Region Members of Color. Two long past due Kathryn V. Lamkey Awards were presented at this year’s celebration. One award went to Director, Theatre Instructor and Producer Sandy Shinner. The other went to Director, Playwright and Silk Road Rising Founder and Artistic Director Jamil Khoury.

The first award went to Steppenwolf Theatre’s Casting Director and Associate Artistic Director Erica Daniels for her ongoing commitment to audition (and cast) against type and for consistently finding work for the disabled actor. The second award went to Steppenwolf Theatre’s Director of Audience Experience Evan Hatfield for his creativity in finding methods to better the theatre experience for persons with disabilities. The third award went to Lois Weisberg for her outstanding career and work as Chicago’s Commissioner of Cultural Affairs, a position that she gloriously held from 1989 to 2011.

EEOC Co-Chairs Cheryl Lynn Bruce and E. Faye Butler presented the 2011 Spirit Recognition Award to Court Theatre’s Cree Rankin for his educational outreach work and his ongoing commitment to minority-based theatre, and to Joyce Foundation Senior Program Officer Michelle T. Boone, for her minority-based theatre mentorship, and her campaign for minority-based theatre leadership training. Central Regional Director Kathryn V. Lamkey received a special Spirit Recognition Award. Ms. Lamkey, for over 24 years, has placed a high priority on racial understanding, support, and the creation of opportunities (nationally) for Producers and members of color.

Central Region independent directors William "Bill" Brown, Frank Galati, Ron "OJ" Parson and Russ Tutterow received the Central Regional Equal Employment Opportunity Committee's 2010 Spirit Recognition Award at Equity's annual observation of Black History Month at the Goodman Theatre on Monday, March 15, 2010. The presentation was part of the Committee's Spirit, a Celebration of Diversity program honoring members of color and Central Region theatres whose mission is to present work that is by, for and about diverse racial and ethnic groups as well as women, seniors, the disabled and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) communities. Wydetta Carter and Ron Keaton made the presentation in the absence of Committee Co-Chairs Cheryl Lynn Bruce and E. Faye Butler, who were both working out-of-town.

Equity's 2009 Spirit Recognition Award, given to institutions that "have made non-traditional casting a way of life," has gone to the Court Theatre. The award was accepted by Artistic Director Charles Newell.

The Central Region Equal Employment Opportunity Committee (EEOC) presented the annual Spirit, A Celebration of Diversity reception on February 25, 2008. The event, which honored Actors of color and minority-focused Central Region theatres, was hosted by the Goodman Theatre.