The Welders Win Aniello Award for Outstanding Emerging Theatre Company

The Welders-Washington's only playwrights' collective devoted exclusively to developing and producing new plays-has received the John Aniello Award for Outstanding Emerging Theater Company. Presented at theatreWashington's Helen Hayes Awards ceremony, the award recognizes and encourages the efforts of companies who are just getting started yet have produced a body of work that is new, daring, and groundbreaking.

"To receive this award is an incredible honor," said Jojo Ruf, The Welders' Executive and Creative Director. "Having the support of theatreWashington, our peers, and theater goers means the world to us. And being recognized for our innovative mission-to pass The Welders on to a new generation of theater artists-is especially gratifying. We're thrilled to share and pass along this recognition to the next generation of Welders."

The award is named in honor and memory of John Aniello, an avid theatergoer and longtime mentor to Washington's emerging theater artists.

Said Welders' Artistic Director Gwydion Suilebhan: "We just closed our final production, and this was a thrilling moment for us. It's a great way to cap off our three-year run as founders of the company."

Along with Ruf and Suilebhan, Welders' playwrights Bob Bartlett, Renee Calarco, Allyson Currin, and Caleen Sinnette Jennings will have written, developed, and produced five new plays over the course of three years. After their term is complete in summer of 2016, the five playwrights will give The Welders' operations to a new generation of playwrights.

The official handover of the company will take place at the company's annual Annual Weld on July 31, 2016.