Abrons Awarded an Obie!
By Chelsea Jupin
For the second consecutive year, the Abrons Arts Center was recognized at the 60th Annual Obie Awards Ceremony, held on May 18th at Webster Hall. The Obie Awards, given annually by The Village Voice, recognize excellence in Off-Broadway and Off-Off Broadway theater.
An Obie was presented for Lippy, co-presented by the Abrons and the Irish Arts Center last fall. Lippy opened at the Abrons Playhouse to critical acclaim after sold-out runs in Dublin and Edinburgh; the accolade also comes fast on the heels of last year’s Obie award for the Abrons Arts Center.
“We are delighted that the Obie committee has honored Dead Centre’s production of Lippy with this award,” said Jay Wegman, Artistic Director of the Abrons Arts Center, who received the awards, along with representatives from the Irish Arts Center and Dead Centre. “It’s been a pleasure to partner with the Irish Arts Center in bringing this exceptional work to the Abrons’ Playhouse stage.”
In 2014, the Abrons received its first ever Obie, the Ross Wetzsteon Award, presented to a theater that nurtures innovative new plays and artists.
Abrons Arts Center is celebrating the centennial of its historic Playhouse with a dynamic season of world and New York City premieres by vanguard artists who epitomize the Playhouse’s legacy to excite, enrage, and astound. This includes upcoming performances of Nik: A Tribute to the Legacy of Alwin Nikolais and Will Rawls’ Settlement House. Abrons Arts Center is also offering the opportunity to name a seat in the Playhouse to allow audience members to participate in the history and future of the Playhouse for years to come.
