LAByrinth Theater Company Honored with Otto Award, 5/22

LAByrinth Theater Company (Co-Artistic Directors Philip Seymour Hoffman and John Ortiz and Executive Director Steve Asher) will be honored at the Eighth Annual Otto Renee Castillo Awards for Political Theatre in a ceremony tonight, May 22nd, at the All Stars Project's Performing Arts & Education Center (543 West 42nd Street).

This theatre award was conceived by Fred Newman, retired artistic director of New York City's Castillo Theatre, which produces and sponsors the annual award ceremony. "Newman wanted to create an honor that would call attention to the cultural work being done by the many dedicated and talented writers, directors and theatre companies that see theatre as part of a process of social change," according to press notes. "Here in the theatre capital of the world, political and cutting-edge theatre still take place on the fringe, even while that work serves as an incubator, energizing our broader theatre community," says Diane Stiles, the Castillo Theatre's Managing Director and the Executive Producer of the Ottos.

The "Otto" is named after the Guatemalan poet, Otto Rene Castillo, who was murdered by that country's military junta in 1968. It is the only award in the United States that recognizes the achievement of individuals and theatre companies, who conceive, produce and foster the development of innovative and socially challenging political theatre. The award is an original sculpture newly designed each year by the noted Brazilian-born contemporary artist and stage designer, Sheila Goloborotko.

Other 2006 Otto recipients include Sue Ellen Case, Double Edge Theatre, The Foundry Theatre, Pregones Theatre and Douglas Turner Ward. Past award recipients have included Kathleen Chalfant, Robert Wilson, Laurie Anderson, the San Francisco Mime Troupe, the Steppenwolf Theater and Joseph Chaikin.

LAByrinth was founded in 1992 by a group of actors who wanted to create new plays that truly reflected their heritage and experiences. The Company is an inclusive, multicultural ensemble whose work celebrates the diversity of its New York City home. Under the leadership of Co-Artistic Directors John Ortiz and Philip Seymour Hoffman, LAByrinth has won multiple honors, awards and international acclaim and its plays have been published, translated and produced across the U.S. and abroad. Now in its 14th Season, LAB has developed hundreds of plays and has staged 42 World Premiere productions here in New York City.

For more information, please visit www.labtheater.org.