Member Milestones

Ernie Schier inducted into Theater Hall of Fame

Ernie Schier (1918-99), ATCA co-founder, director of the National Critics Institute, “Schier of the Inquirer,” dramaturg and mentor, was inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame on Nov. 13, along with an induction class of actors Audra McDonald, Marin Mazzie and Matthew Broderick, playwrights Tina Howe and Arthur Kopit and producersOskar Eustis andDaryl Roth. Ernie’s induction...

JOEL MARKOWITZ | Washington DC

Joel lost his battle with ALS on November 7 in the presence of his family. Joel was an enthusiastic proponent of theatre at each level — amateur and professional, big or small. He founded the website DC Metro Theater Arts which gave an outlet to dozens of...

ANGELIKA JENSEN | San Antonio, TX

Member Angelica Jensen has let us know the sad news that her husband of thirty years died last month. The following is excerpted from his obituary: “Robert ‘Bob’ Brown was born in New York City on January 16, 1930. He passed away peacefully on September 9, 2017,...

WEI-HUAN CHEN | Houston, TX

Wei-Huan Chen of the Houston Chronicle was recently recognized for his work covering “Nixon in China.” According to the jury committee, “The HGO production employed the use of yellowface and stereotypical representations of Chinese people. Wei’s writing on the controversial aspects was a departure from traditional opera coverage in...

JAY HANDELMAN | Sarasota, FL

The Society of Professional Journalists Florida Pro announced winners of the 23rd annual Sunshine State Awards to recognize quality journalism in the best tradition of our profession for the calendar year of 2016. ATCA member and Foundation President Jay Handelman earned first place in Beat Reporting – Arts for...

IRENE BACKALENICK | Bridgeport, CT

On the cusp of 96, member Irene Backalenick (nytheaterscene.com) writes: “I no longer get to theater as often as I once did, though I still occasionally review. I have, however, turned to a new genre - poetry - and have recently had my first two books of...

CHARLES GIULIANO | North Adams, MA

Charles is the founder of Berkshire Fine Arts which covers all aspects of the arts in the Berkshires. Last week he published Gloucester Poems: Nugents of Rockport. Charles writes, “The project started in the 1980s during an annual commute from Palm Beach to Mom’s home in Gloucester. What...

RICK PENDER | Cincinnati, OH

Rick received a first place award in the Greater Cincinnati Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists presentation of their 2017 Excellence in Journalism awards. The category was “Written Communication – Best Arts/Entertainment Critique.” It was in recognition of a collection of his “Curtain Call” columns for...

LYNN ROSEN | Bellingham, WA

Congrats to Lynn Rosen and her husband Steve Giordano for the release of the third edition of their book Camping Washington. The guide covers more than 300 public campgrounds in the Pacific Northwest state. Steve wrote and photographed the first two editions, and Lynn joined him...

JOHN ANGELL GRANT | Palo Alto, CA

T.S. Eliot’s high-profile writing career lasted more than 60 years. In 1948, he won a Nobel Prize for poetry that many think the finest of the twentieth century. About half way through this prestigious literary career, however, the poet shifted his creative efforts to drama...