Press Releases

Foundation ATCA elects new board and officers

New York — The Foundation of the American Theatre Critics Association held its annual meeting on Aug. 9 and elected new members to the board and a slate of officers. Jay Handelman of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune was re-elected as president, and he begins his 10th...

ATCA Edward Medina Prize applications open through August 31, 2022

Edward Medina NEW YORK — The American Theatre Critics Association announces that entries are open for the inaugural Edward Medina Prize for Excellence in Cultural Criticism. The deadline for applications is August 31, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. This new award is for theater critics and journalists in...

Billy McEntee is named first ATCA Helbing Program recipient

Billy McEntee. Photo by Jake White. NEW YORK—The American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA) and Foundation ATCA have announced the first recipient of the ATCA Helbing fellowship for LGBTQ+ theater writers. Members of the Helbing Committee reviewed applications submitted from January through April of 2022 and selected...

2022-2023 Executive Committee election and leadership results

New York — ATCA Executive Committee Leadership ratification after the June 2022 electronic election took place during the July 11, 2022 monthly meeting. Installation of leadership and membership of various ATCA committees will be finalized soon. The 2022 Executive Committee electronic voting process opened on June...

Chiara Atik wins 2022 Steinberg/ATCA Award for “Poor Clare”

Chiara Atikl (she/her) NEW YORK – Playwright Chiara Atik has won the 2022 Harold and Mimi Steinberg / American Theatre Critics Association New Play Award for her play “Poor Clare.” The Steinberg/ATCA Award, which carries a $25,000 cash prize, recognizes an outstanding script that premiered professional outside...

Finalists Named for 2022 Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award

NEW YORK -- The American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA) has selected five finalists for the 2022 Harold and Mimi Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award, recognizing playwrights of the best scripts that premiered professionally outside of New York City in 2021. “Despite all the difficulties theaters faced during...

Helbing Mentorship Program applications open January 15, 2022

NEW YORK – Beginning January 15, 2022, applications will be accepted  for the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA) and Foundation ATCA Helbing mentorship program for LGBTQIA+ arts writers. From January 15, 2022 at noon EST through April 30, 2022 at midnight EST, applications will be accepted...

ATCA Announces Helbing Mentorship Program

NEW YORK--The American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA) and Foundation ATCA have announced the creation of a mentorship program for LGBTQIA+ writers. Named for the late Terry Helbing, a pioneer in Gay Theater during the 1970s and 1980s, the program has been designed to encourage the...

Foundation re-elects Handelman president and raises Osborn award

New York — At its annual meeting held on Zoom on August 18, 2021, the Foundation of the American Theatre Critics re-elected Jay Handelman as president for a ninth term. Handelman previously served four three-year terms as an ATCA board member and four years as...

J. Nicole Brooks wins 2021 Steinberg/ATCA Award for “Her Honor, Jane Byrne”

J. Nicole Brooks NEW YORK – Playwright J. Nicole Brooks has won the 2021 Harold and Mimi Steinberg / American Theatre Critics Association New Play Award for their play “Her Honor, Jane Byrne.”The Steinberg/ATCA Award, which carries a $25,000 cash prize, recognizes an outstanding script that premiered professional outside...