I. What Are the Suzi Bass Awards?
The Suzi Bass Awards annually recognize excellence in Atlanta’s professional theatre community through a structured, peer-based judging process. The Awards celebrate outstanding productions, artists, and organizations that contribute to a vibrant professional theatre community in the greater Atlanta area.
The Awards consist of performance and production awards selected through the judging process described in these Guidelines and special awards selected as provided in Addendum B.
The performance and production award categories are listed in Addendum A.
II. Purpose and Scope
These Judging Guidelines, Processes, and Standards (“Guidelines”) govern eligibility, participation requirements, judging procedures, nominations, voting, and awards determination for productions submitted for consideration during the applicable judging season.
These Guidelines apply to participating theatres, productions, artists, and Judges unless otherwise specified.
The judging season runs from July 1 through June 30.
These Guidelines apply to the 2025–2026 and 2026–2027 judging seasons, subject to any substantive revisions approved by the Board of Directors.
Unless explicitly stated otherwise, substantive revisions take effect at the beginning of a judging season and do not apply retroactively.
III. Roles and Responsibilities
The Board of Directors is responsible for the governance and oversight of the Suzi Bass Awards and approves the eligibility requirements, judging criteria, program standards, including EDI standards, and Judging Guidelines governing the awards program.
The Judging Committee administers the judging program in accordance with these Board-approved Guidelines, including selecting, managing, educating, and supporting Judges; developing judging schedules; and creating the scoring tools, documentation, and procedures necessary to conduct the awards process. The Judging Committee may recommend revisions or improvements to the Board.
Judges are responsible for the artistic evaluation of eligible productions and for determining nominations and award recipients in accordance with these Guidelines. Neither the Board nor the Judging Committee, acting in its administrative capacity, directs or controls individual artistic judgments or award outcomes
IV. Obligations of Producing Theatres
IV. Governance and Authority
The Board of Directors appoints the Judging Committee in accordance with the Bylaws of the Suzi Bass Awards, Inc.
The Judging Committee may develop and propose Judging Guidelines, Processes, and Standards. All substantive Guidelines and revisions must be reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors before implementation.
Editorial and organizational updates that do not affect substantive standards may be made by the Judging Committee with notice to the Board.
In the event of a conflict between these Guidelines and the Bylaws of the Suzi Bass Awards, Inc., the Bylaws control.
V. Production Eligibility Requirements
A. Eligible Producing Companies
Producing companies must be professional theatre organizations, whether for-profit or not-for-profit, and must legally acquire the rights to present the production.
Productions must be presented within the Atlanta Metropolitan Area. Theatres located outside the core five counties of Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett may be considered with approval of the Judging Committee.
B. Eligible Productions
Opera, performance art, community theatre, play readings or workshops, book musicals performed in concert, and performances that are unscripted or substantially improvisational are not eligible for Suzi Bass Awards consideration.
Qualifying productions must have a minimum of nine performances over three weeks, exclusive of previews, for which complimentary tickets are made available to Suzi Judges.
For runs of at least nine performances occurring over fewer than three weeks, the Judging Committee may approve judging if the producing company allows Judges to reserve tickets before the run opens and before a Suzi Recommended determination is made. If the production is not recommended, the producer may reclaim unused Judge tickets or allow Judges to attend as a courtesy.
Producing companies must provide a last-seat guarantee to Suzi Judges for any performance that is not fully sold out.
C. Compensation Requirements — Suzi Minimum
For a production to qualify for consideration, the producing company must compensate directors, performers, and the stage manager at no less than the applicable Suzi Minimum for rehearsals and performances.
- 2025–2026: $150 per week
- 2026–2027: $200 per week
Producing companies must provide documentation of compensation if requested.
The Suzi Minimum may be increased no more frequently than every three years.
D. Performer and Artist Eligibility
To be eligible for Suzi Awards consideration, a performer must perform the role at the performances attended by Opening Weekend Judges and must appear in at least the minimum number of performances required for eligibility.
If scheduled cast changes will occur during a run, the Suzi Bass Awards must be notified promptly so that Judges may be informed of limited viewing opportunities.
A performer who is otherwise eligible but is repeating a role for which the performer previously won a Suzi Award is not eligible for consideration in that role.
Eligibility of elements previously nominated for a Suzi Award will be determined on a case-by-case basis by the Judging Committee.
Elements or work that previously won a Suzi Award are not eligible for consideration in remounted productions.
E. Remounts and Revivals
Remounts and revivals opening fewer than seven years after the closing of the previous production are not eligible except as provided below.
Annually produced works may be considered once every seven years, regardless of changes in cast or production elements.
For theatres specializing in a limited canon, such as Shakespeare, the eligibility period is four years.
A remount opening more than four but fewer than seven years after the prior production may be considered by the Judging Committee if at least two of the following three criteria are met:
- At least 50% of the cast has changed;
- A new director is engaged; or
- At least two design elements are new.
A remount opening fewer than four years after the previous production is not eligible regardless of changes.
F. Commercially Enhanced Productions
Commercially enhanced or “Broadway-bound” productions are not eligible for Suzi Bass Awards consideration.
VI. Obligations of Producing Theatres
A. Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Requirements
Producing theatres must meet the following baseline Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion requirements for productions to be eligible for consideration:
- If the organization has a Board of Directors, the Board must include at least 30% people of color by the applicable deadline.
- Producers must hold an EDI discussion at the beginning of the rehearsal period addressing applicable production issues, including hair, makeup, costumes, microphones, lighting, mobility, off-stage tasks, storyline themes, trauma, casting, dramaturgy, and related concerns.
- Producers must hold at least two anti-bias training sessions for organizational participants before the applicable deadline.
- Producers must encourage staff, interns, artists, and Board members to complete the Suzi EDI Self-ID form.
- Producers must submit required theatre-level and production-level EDI forms when available.
Productions meeting these baseline EDI requirements and designated Suzi Recommended are eligible for individual awards.
Additional EDI requirements for Outstanding Production awards are set forth in Addendum C.
B. Youth and Intern Casting
No more than 30% of a cast may consist of unpaid or underpaid adult interns.
An unpaid or underpaid adult intern in a principal role is not eligible for an individual acting award but may be considered in an ensemble category.
Children or youth ensemble performers in non-principal roles may be unpaid or underpaid without restriction on percentage of the cast. These performers are not eligible for individual or ensemble award categories.
A production is not eligible for Suzi Bass Awards consideration if a youth ensemble performs as part of a tuition-based class or paid performance program.
C. Truthful Representation and Compliance
Participating producing companies are responsible for fulfilling all legal and contractual obligations relating to their productions.
Consideration Forms, Production Programs, and promotional materials must accurately identify the creators of the production, including playwrights, composers, directors, designers, performers, and musicians. Materials must disclose when creative elements are based on another artist’s work.
Willful omission or submission of false information may result in exclusion of a production from one or more award categories.
D. Cross-Marketing and Promotion
Participating theatres agree to support promotion of the Suzi Bass Awards by displaying provided signage and participating in reasonable promotional opportunities throughout the season, particularly in connection with the Awards Ceremony.
E. Complimentary Judge Tickets
Producing companies requesting consideration must provide complimentary tickets to Judges in accordance with these Guidelines and applicable judging procedures.
VII. The Judging Process
A. Judging Season
The Suzi Bass Awards judging season runs from July 1 through June 30.
Productions opening during a judging season are considered for awards presented following the conclusion of that season.
B. Submission Process
1. Consideration Request
Each participating theatre is responsible for submitting production information using the Suzi Bass Awards Consideration Request Form.
The form must include the requested information concerning the production, including the producing company, title and playwright or composer, venue, run dates, performance schedule, and award categories sought.
The Consideration Request Form must be submitted at least 60 days before opening. A late submission may be accepted if the Judging Committee determines that sufficient performances remain to permit the required judging.
Producing companies must notify the Judging Committee promptly of additions or changes to production schedules.
2. Production Personnel Form
At least 30 days before opening, producing companies must submit the Production Personnel Form identifying directors, designers, performers, and other creative personnel and indicating whether performers are to be judged individually or as an ensemble.
Changes in cast or creative personnel must be reported promptly to the Judging Committee.
C. Opening Weekend Judging
Opening Weekend Judges from the appropriate panel attend performances during the opening weekend of a production.
Productions opening on a Saturday have their first two performance days considered their Opening Weekend.
Opening Weekend Judges make their own reservations and attend independently.
Judges may not confer with one another about the production before submitting their scores and recommendation votes.
D. Scoring and Recommendation Vote
Opening Weekend Judges evaluate eligible elements of the production using the standardized Judges’ Scoring Rubric in Addendum D.
Scores are submitted in accordance with procedures administered by the Judging Committee.
Each Opening Weekend Judge also votes Yes or No on whether the production should be Suzi Recommended and receive full-panel evaluation.
A Judge may vote Yes based on the production as a whole or on any individual eligible element the Judge believes warrants consideration.
E. Suzi Recommended Determination
Opening Weekend Judges’ Yes/No recommendation votes determine whether a production is designated Suzi Recommended in accordance with the applicable recommendation standard.
Producing companies are notified as soon as practicable whether a production has been designated Suzi Recommended.
Only Suzi Recommended productions proceed to full-panel judging.
F. Full-Panel Judging
For Suzi Recommended productions, Judges on the appropriate panel attend additional performances and score eligible elements using the standardized Judges’ Scoring Rubric.
Judges submit scoresheets within 48 hours after attendance. Submission of the scoresheet verifies the Judge’s participation.
Social Justice productions follow the additional judging procedures in Addendum E.
World Premiere productions follow the additional judging procedures in Addendum F.
VIII. Nominations, Voting, and Awards
A. Nomination Eligibility
Only Suzi Recommended productions are eligible for year-end nomination consideration.
Scores submitted by Judges throughout the season remain part of the cumulative scoring record.
B. End-of-Season Nomination Process
At the conclusion of the judging season, each judging panel meets to consider potential nominees in the applicable award categories.
Cumulative average scores in each category provide the starting point for consideration.
The panel discusses potential nominees and determines the nominees in each category based on the cumulative scores and panel discussion.
Panel deliberations are confidential.
C. Final Ballot and Voting
Following the nomination process, nominees are placed on the Final Ballot.
A panel-specific Final Ballot is sent to each eligible Judge.
Judges may vote in every category in which they have seen at least 80% of the nominees.
Final Judge ballots are tabulated to determine award recipients.
In the event of a tie, additional balloting may occur.
Where fewer than three eligible entries exist in a category, an award recipient must receive at least 60% of first-place votes for the award to be presented.
D. Nominee and Award Announcements
Nominees are publicly announced before the annual Awards Ceremony.
Award recipients are announced and recognized at the Suzi Bass Awards Ceremony following the conclusion of the judging season.
IX. Judge Qualifications and Terms
Panel Judges are selected through an application process administered by the Judging Committee.
The anticipated number of Judges on each panel is:
- Play: 25–35 Judges
- Musical: 15–20 Judges
- Theatre for Young Audiences: 10–15 Judges
- World Premiere: 15–20 Judges
- Social Justice: 15–20 Judges
Judges are selected based on qualifications that may include practical evaluation experience, academic background or professional experience in theatre, significant professional experience, a history of theatre involvement, and extensive and consistent theatre attendance in Atlanta and other major theatre centers.
Judges make an initial commitment of one year. Additional terms depend upon fulfillment of their responsibilities and compliance with applicable Suzi Bass Awards Standards of Conduct.
Judges may serve up to three consecutive terms on a panel before rotating off that panel for at least one year.
Judges must:
- Conduct themselves professionally when acting as representatives of the Suzi Bass Awards;
- Maintain timely communication with the Judging Committee;
- Submit required scoresheets and ballots;
- Attend at least 40% of the Suzi Recommended productions applicable to their panel;
- Understand and follow the judging process and evaluate productions independently; and
- Comply with applicable Standards of Conduct and Conflict of Interest requirements.
All Suzi Judges are unpaid. Judges volunteer their time and provide their own transportation to productions.
Travel and parking expenses are not routinely reimbursed. The Suzi Bass Awards maintains a transportation reimbursement program for Judges who require assistance in order to participate.
Potential Judges may apply at any time through the Judge application on the Suzi Bass Awards website. Applications for consideration for the following judging season should be received by April 30.
ADDENDUM A: Performance and Production Awards
Addendum A: Categories of Performance and Production Awards (2025–2026)
- Production – Play
- Director – Play
- Principal Performer – Play (10 nominees and 2 winners)
- Featured Performer – Play (10 nominees and 2 winners)
- Ensemble – Play
- Costume Design – Play
- Lighting Design – Play
- Projection Design – Play
- Scenic Design – Play
- Sound Design – Play
- Production – Musical
- Director – Musical
- Music Direction
- Choreography
- Principal Performer – Musical (10 nominees and 2 winners)
- Featured Performer – Musical (10 nominees and 2 winners
- Ensemble – Musical
- Costume Design – Musical
- Lighting Design – Musical
- Projection Design – Musical
- Scenic Design – Musical
- Sound Design – Musical
- Production – TYA
- Direction – TYA
- Performance – TYA
- Design – TYA
- New Work – TYA
- World Premiere Production (Play or Musical)
- Social Justice Production (Play or Musical)
ADDENDUM B: Special Awards
Spirit of Suzi Bass Award
The Spirit of Suzi Bass Award recognizes a person or organization whose work reflects the values and spirit of Suzi Bass and demonstrates sustained commitment to professional theatre in Atlanta.
Nominations are solicited from the professional theatre community.
The recipient is selected by the Board of Directors.
Volunteer of the Year Award
The Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes extraordinary volunteer service to a participating theatre.
Each participating theatre may nominate one volunteer, or a couple who volunteer together. A previous recipient may not be nominated again for ten years.
The recipient is selected by the Board of Directors.
Callboard Award
The Callboard Award recognizes an individual whose outstanding contribution to a participating theatre falls outside the categories ordinarily recognized by the Suzi Bass Awards. Eligible individuals may include stage managers, technical crew members, front-of-house personnel, and other production personnel.
Each participating theatre may submit one nominee.
The recipient is selected by the Board of Directors.
Lifetime Achievement Award
The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an outstanding body of work by a theatre artist, playwright, producer, or other theatre professional whose career has had a significant and lasting impact on the Atlanta theatre community.
The recipient is selected by the Board of Directors.
Gene-Gabriel Moore Playwriting Award
The Gene-Gabriel Moore Playwriting Award recognizes a locally written play produced during the applicable season.
To qualify, the work must:
- Be written or co-written by a playwright or composer whose professional residence is the Atlanta Metropolitan Area;
- Receive a full production by a local theatre rather than a reading, staged reading, or concert version;
- Be submitted for consideration no later than July 31 following the season in which it was produced;
- Include a digital copy of the final production script; and
- Be released by the playwright for review by the Playwriting Award Committee solely for purposes of judging the award.
Productions submitted for this award need not otherwise be eligible for Suzi Performance Awards, need not be premieres, and need not be produced by a participating theatre.
The award is determined by a designated committee of theatre professionals, scholars, and playwrights.
Audience Choice Award for Outstanding Season
The Audience Choice Award recognizes the overall season of a participating theatre through public voting conducted under procedures established by the Suzi Bass Awards.
Voting is open throughout the applicable period and closes before the annual Awards Ceremony.
Voting occurs through designated Suzi Bass Awards voting mechanisms.
The Audience Choice Award is separate from the judged Suzi Performance and Production Award
Addendum C: EDI Standards for Outstanding Production Production Awards
This Addendum applies only to productions seeking consideration for Outstanding Play, Outstanding Musical, Outstanding TYA Production, Outstanding World Premiere, or Outstanding Social Justice Production.
Productions not seeking an Outstanding Production award remain subject to the baseline EDI requirements in these Guidelines.
In addition to the baseline requirements, producing theatres seeking an Outstanding Production award must meet applicable enhanced EDI standards addressing:
- Casting, creative teams, and artistic leadership;
- Access and opportunities for historically underrepresented artists and professionals;
- Marketing, publicity, community outreach, and inclusive audience engagement; and
- Cultural competency and engagement with content, context, and community impact.
Producing organizations must review Board, staff, and production personnel representation and identify homogenous groups across relevant dimensions of diversity.
Producing organizations must identify areas in which steps can be taken to increase equity, diversity, inclusion, access, and opportunity.
Only productions meeting both the baseline EDI requirements and the enhanced requirements of this Addendum are eligible for Outstanding Production awards.
Addendum D: Judges' Scoring Rubric
Judges evaluate productions and eligible individual elements using the standardized Suzi Bass Awards Judges’ Scoring Rubric.
The rubric includes:
- Category-specific evaluation criteria;
- A 10-point scoring scale permitting decimal scores;
- Separate evaluation of principal and featured performers; and
- Evaluation of production elements relevant to the applicable award categories.
Scores submitted throughout the season form the cumulative scoring record used in the nomination process.
Addendum E: Social Justice Production Guidelines
Productions submitted for Social Justice consideration are judged by:
- The appropriate Play or Musical Panel; and
- The Social Justice Panel.
Only the Social Justice Panel determines nominees and votes in the Outstanding Social Justice Production category.
Social Justice productions remain subject to all other applicable eligibility and judging requirements in these Guidelines.
Addendum F: World Premiere Award Guidelines
To qualify for World Premiere consideration:
- The production must be a new play or musical receiving its first full professional production; and
- The production must meet the applicable eligibility requirements in these Guidelines.
World Premiere productions are judged by:
- The appropriate Play or Musical Panel; and
- The World Premiere Panel.
Only the World Premiere Panel determines nominees and votes in the World Premiere Production category.