The eligibility criteria for The Guild Awards were created through many discussions with various prominent voices within our theatrical community. These criteria intend to represent our specific theatrical landscape and nurture growth for our artists and theater organizations alike!

Theater Company/Production Eligibility Requirements

RESIDENT COMPANIES

  • Theater Company must be located within a 50 mile radius of RDU Airport
  • Theater company must be a registered 501(c)3, fiscally sponsored organization, or a commercial entity
  • At least 50% of all elements are developed, contracted and produced specifically for a theater in the defined geographic boundaries *elements that are not produced specifically for submitted production are not eligible for awards consideration – i.e. set/costume rental packages

CO-PRODUCTIONS

  • A production created by two or more Eligible Theatres, performed in one or more locations within the eligible geographic boundaries will be considered a Co-Production and judged as one production, with awards recognition for all the Eligible Theatres involved.
  • When two companies within the eligible geographic boundaries co-produce, but only one of the companies is an Eligible Theatre, the joint production must still meet the performance and single-location requirements, although either company’s performance location will be acceptable. But only the Eligible Theatre may be an awards recipient.
  • A production created by an Eligible Theatre with a theatre outside the eligible geographic boundaries will be considered eligible, subject to all other applicable criteria, whether or not its first performance takes place within the eligible boundaries. In this case both theaters are eligible for awards recognition.
  • All participants must set production dates before the first production goes into rehearsal; playbills and marketing materials at each theatre must credit all the productions.

Presented Productions*

*Presented Productions are INELIGIBLE at this time – Presented Productions are defined as productions in which the theatre company has contributed limited artistic input and/or 50% of all elements are developed, contracted and produced SPECIFICALLY for one or more theaters OUTSIDE the eligible geographic boundaries.

Virtual Productions*

*Virtual Productions are INELIGIBLE

SUBMITTING A PRODUCTION

A theater must submit a production to be judged no later than 4 weeks before opening night.

*Stay tuned for submission form!

 

CAST MEMBERS

Only the cast members of the original opening night cast are eligible for consideration.

 

LEGAL RIGHTS

“Professional” or “Amateur” legal rights to produce submitted production must be obtained when applicable to be eligible.

 

Awards Categories

Professional Status:

  • If a theater company operates under a continuous agreement with Actors Equity Association, then all productions are eligible for professional consideration* *does not include “Special Appearance” or “Guest Artist” contracts
  • With no AEA agreement, a theater company must pay at least 75% of all cast members and at least 75% of all off-stage personnel at least $50 a week OR $200 or more for the entirety of the production to be considered for professional categories
  • Legal Rights – a theater company must obtain legal “professional” rights to produce a submitted show when applicable
  • Length of Run – A professional production must have at least 6 performances in a single location

Non-Professional Awards Categories

  • Theater companies who compensate less than 75% of cast members and less than 75% of offstage personnel regardless of payscale of paid artists are considered for Non-Professional awards categories
  • Legal Rights – a theater company must obtain legal “amateur” rights to produce a submitted show when applicable
  • Length of Run – a Non-Professional production must have at least 6 performances in a single location