South Florida's Silver Palm Awards Presented on Monday

The South Florida Silver Palm Theatre Awards, founded six years ago to honor theatrical excellence in South Florida, will present the coveted award on Monday, December 2nd, to 20 individuals on the 20th Anniversary of the founding of the South Florida Theatre League.

"The Silver Palm Awards are presented annually to those who've made an outstanding or unique contribution to the South Florida Theatre," explained Silver Palm Awards Executive Committee Chairman Tony Finstrom. "There are no nominees, no winners or losers, and no limit to the number of citations given in any 'category,' though there really are no official categories."

The awards are determined by a vote of the South Florida Theatre Press Corp, who Finstrom drafts each year into submitting recommendations for outstanding contributions to South Florida Theatre.

Finstrom (a playwright), Becon TV talk show host Iris Acker, and South Florida International Press Club President and Florida Media News/ENV Magazine critic Ron Levitt compose the Silver Palm Executive Committee, who receive the recommendations from South Florida journalists and theatre critics, then tally the votes and draw up the final list of recipients.

This year's Silver Palm Advisory Council consisted of Christine Dolen (The Miami Herald), Bill Hirschman (FloridaTheaterOnStage.com, and FloridaWeekly.com), John Thomason (New Times, and Boca Raton Magazine), Skip Sheffield (Boca Raton Tribune, Atlantic Avenue Magazine, and L.A.'s Realize Magazine), John Lariviere (TalkinBroadway.com), J.W. Arnold (South Florida Gay News), Roger Martin (MiamiArtzine.com), Richard Cameron (Theatre Chat at examiner.com, and www.BroadwayGlobal.org), Mary Damiano (BroadwayWorld.Com, FloridaTheaterOnStage.com, and South Florida Gay News), and Michelle F. Solomon.(MiamiArtzine.com, and FloridaTheaterOnStage.com).

Silver Palm Awards have been presented to over 70 individuals and/or groups during the previous five theatre seasons, and the "2012-2013 Season" consisted of shows that opened between September 1st, 2012 and August 31st, 2013.

This year the awards presentation will be held during the annual Theatre League Holiday Party at STACHE, a 1920s drinking den located at 109 SW Second Ave. in downtown Fort Lauderdale from 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM. The party is open to the public, but there is a $25 admission charge. Theatre League members attend free of charge. Call League Executive Director Andie Arthur for reservations, and further information, at 954-557-0778.

For more information on South Florida's Silver Palm Theatre Awards, go to: http://www.silverpalmawards.com.