ROSETTA LENOIRE AWARD
The Rosetta LeNoire Award was established by Actors' Equity Association's Council on December 13, 1988 in order to recognize those members that adhere to the union's policy regarding non-traditional casting, increasing diversity within the theatre, but were unrecognized for efforts in this arena. The award was named in honor of actress Rosetta LeNoire, not only because of her body of work in the theatre, but for her work with the then-titled Actors' Equity Association's Ethnic Minorities Committee as well as for founding the AMAS Repertory Theatre Company, an organization dedicated to maintaining an "interracial company" of actors.
2019 - Call for Nominations
The Rosetta LeNoire Award, named for the noted actor and theatrical producer Rosetta LeNoire, is given in recognition of outstanding artistic contributions made by either an individual or institution to the universality of the human experience in the American theatre.
2018 – Lin-Manuel Miranda
Actors’ Equity Association has named Lin-Manuel Miranda the recipient of the 2018 Rosetta LeNoire Award. The award, established in 1988, is given for outstanding artistic contributions to the universality of human experience in American theatre.
2017 - Joseph Haj and the Guthrie Theater and Ten Thousand Things Theater
Joseph Haj & The Guthrie Theater and Ten Thousand Things Theater Named Co-Recipients of 2017 Rosetta LeNoire Award
Equity award recognizes outstanding artistic contributions to the universality of the human experience in American Theatre.
2016 – E. Faye Butler
The 2016 Rosetta LeNoire Award goes to Equity's own E. Faye Butler.
2015 – Weston Playhouse Theatre Company
Vermont’s Weston Playhouse Theatre Company earns the 2015 Rosetta LeNoire Award.
2014 – The San Francisco Mime Troupe
Ralph Remington, Mary McColl; San Francisco Mime Troupe members: Keiko Shimosato, Lisa Hori-Garcia, Velina Brown, Michael Gene Sullivan, Councilor Doug Carfae
2013 – Christine Toy Johnson
Christine Toy Johnson, a highly-respected actor/writer/producer, Equity Council member and advocate for diversity and inclusion in the entertainment industry, has been named the recipient of AEA's prestigious 2013 Rosetta LeNoire Award. The Award will be presented at Association's Eastern Regional Membership meeting on Friday April 12, 2013 in New York City.
2012 – InterAct Theatre Company
InterAct Theatre Company, an Actors' Equity Small Professional Theatre in Philadelphia, PA, has been named the recipient of AEA's prestigious 2012 Rosetta LeNoire Award. The Award will be presented to InterAct's Founding/Producing Director Seth Rozin at Association's Eastern Regional Membership meeting on Friday April 13, 2013 in New York City.
2011 – The Shakespeare Center Of Los Angeles
On Friday April 8, 2011, the Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles (SCLA) received Actors' Equity Association's 2011 Rosetta LeNoire Award. The Award was presented in a special ceremony to SCLA Founder and Artistic Director, Ben Donenberg, during the Western Membership meeting in Los Angeles.
2010 – Jackie Taylor
Jackie Taylor, the Founder and Executive Director of Chicago's Black Ensemble Theater, has been named the recipient of Actors' Equity Association's (Equity) 2010 Rosetta LeNoire Award. The Award will be presented on May 3, 2010 as part of Equity's Central Regional Board Meeting at the Union's Chicago office.
2009 – Bethune Theatredanse
Actors' Equity Association will present its 2009 Rosetta LeNoire Award to Bethune Theatredanse, on Friday, April 3, 2009 at the Equity Membership Meeting in Hollywood, CA. Named for famed actress/producer and civil rights activist Rosetta LeNoire, the Award is given annually by Equity's combined regional Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Committees to recognize outstanding contributions made to the "universality of the human experience in the American Theatre" through either non-traditional or affirmative casting. Past recipients include Detroit Repertory Theatre, the National Asian-American Theatre Company, Milwaukee Rep, Deaf West and La Mama ETC.
2008 – Detroit Repertory Theatre
Actors' Equity's Central Regional Board and EEO Committee presented the 2008 Rosetta LeNoire Award to Detroit Repertory Theatre on Monday, May 5, 2008 at Equity's Chicago offices. Named for the famed and beloved Actress and Producer, the Rosetta LeNoire Award recognizes outstanding contributions made to the "universality of the human experience in the American Theatre" through either non-traditional or affirmative casting.
2007 – Willie Boston
Willie Boston, Equity's Equal Employment Opportunity Business Representative from 1991 to 2007, received three standing ovations when he returned to accept the Rosetta LeNoire Award at the Eastern Regional Membership Meeting on Friday, April 13, 2007.
2006 – Mia Katigbak and National Asian-American Theatre Company
Equity's prestigious Rosetta LeNoire Award has been given to Mia Katigbak, co-founder and Artistic Director of the National Asian-American Theatre Company (NAATCO). The award, created by Actors' Equity Association in 1988 to honor Ms. LeNoire's contribution to the American theatre, was presented at the Union's April 7 General Membership meeting held in New York City.
2005 – Woodie King, Jr and the New Federal Theatre
Actors’ Equity has awarded its Rosetta LeNoire Award to producer/director Woodie King, Jr., and the New Federal Theatre. The prestigious Award was presented on Friday, April 8, 2005 at Equity’s membership meeting in New York City.
2004 – Kitty Lunn, Infinity Dance Theatre
Non-Traditional Dance Company and its Wheelchair-Mobile Actor/Dancer Founder Are Hailed for Making Strides in Personifying Diversity
2003 – Deaf West Theatre and North Shore Music Theatre
It is with great pride and joy that we acknowledged two theatres this year with the Rosetta LeNoire Award for "excellence in artistic contributions to the universality of the human spirit." Awards were presented at membership meetings in Los Angeles and New York on April 4, 2003 to Deaf West Theatre of Los Angeles and North Shore Music Theatre of Beverly, Massachusetts. Here are profiles of the two recipients.
1989 – 2002 Recipients
1989 Rosetta LeNoire
1990 Mixed Blood Theatre, Minneapolis
1991 Milwaukee Repertory Theatre
1992 Joseph Papp & the New York Shakespeare Festival
1993 Crossroads Theatre, New Brunswick
1994 Wynn Handman and The American Place Theatre
1995 Philip Rose
1996 Ellen Stewart, artistic director, La MaMa E.T.C.
1997 Walter J. Turnbull, Boys Choir of Harlem
1998 Sacramento Light Opera Association
1999 Dennis Zacek and Marcelle McVay, Victory Gardens Theatre
2000 Wheelock Family Theatre, Boston MA
2001 Sharon Jensen, The Non-Traditional Casting Project/Doug Mann, The Chicago Theatre Company
2002 Eric Krebs