Adelheid Roosen of The Netherlands Names 2017 LPTW Gilder/Coigney International Theatre Award Recipient

On Friday, March 31, 2017, The League of Professional Theatre Women (LPTW), a not-for-profit organization committed to promoting visibility and increasing opportunities for women in the professional theatre, made a special announcement at their annual 2017 Awards Celebration, Adelheid Roosen of The Netherlands has been chosen to receive the 2017 LPTW Gilder/Coigney International Theatre Award.

This announcement was made by co-president Lisa Rothe, in addition to recognizing the talents of six outstanding women: Carol Hall, Linda Cho, Lilieana Blain-Cruz, Liesl Tommy, Jess Chayes and Emily Simoness. The awards were hosted by Tamara Tunie, at The TimesCenter (242 West 41st Street), with the Big Mingle happening directly after at Sardi's (234 West 44th Street, 2nd floor). Photos from the event are available here.

Roosen's work is best described as multidimensional social sculpture. Utilizing primarily theatrical methods, she creates performances and installations in places of great social vulnerability. The source of her creation is the development of an individual's uncultivated capacity for empathy in relation to 'the other'. In 2009 Roosen received the Amsterdam Prize for her trans-boundary contribution to the arts and a second Proscenium prize in 2012 for her oeuvre. The Humanist Society awarded her the Van Praag Prize in 2015 because "... she is, through her art, an indefatigable advocate of a world where compassion towards humanity is given a second chance..." This year she was asked to join the prestigious Academy for the Arts. Roosen has taught at the Amsterdam School for Drama & Contemporary Music Theatre for the last 30 years. where she also serves on the artistic board.

About the LPTW Gilder/Coigney International Theatre Award
The LPTW Gilder/Coigney International Theatre Award was established in 2011 in honor of Rosamond Gilder and Martha Coigney, two legendary theatre women whose work on the international stage proved that theatre knows no international boundaries. Presented every three years, this Award acknowledges the exceptional work of theatre women around the world and aims to make a difference in the life and career of an international woman theatre artist. Odile Gakire Katese from Rwanda was the inaugural recipient of the G/C Award in 2011. Patricia Ariza from Colombia received the award in 2014.

20 women theatre artists from 15 countries were nominated on the basis of work demonstrating artistic excellence and support of women's work and issues, and which inspires and educates across cultures. Awardee Adelheid Roosen was chosen from a group of six finalists that also included: Lina Attel (Jordan), Jalila Baccar (Tunisia), Mihaela Dr?gan (Romania), Natalia Kaliada (Belarus), and Jesusa Rodriguez (Mexico).

The other nominees are: Abir Aly (Egypt), Sarah Berger (England), Patricia Benecke (Germany), Sabina Berman (Mexico), Kate Cherry (Australia), Drenia Frederick (St. Lucia), Elena Gremina (Russia), Brigitte Helbling (Switzerland), Carmina Narro (Mexico), Julia Pascal (England), Marwa Radwan Mohamed (Egypt), Nan Van Houte (The Netherlands), Ilire Vinca (Kosovo), and Linda Wise (France).

The G/C Award includes a $1000 cash prize and all travel expenses to New York City for the recipient to be honored. A series of special events surround the award ceremony to showcase the winner's work, to provide artistic and professional networking opportunities, and to celebrate all of the nominees. The 2017 Award will be presented on October 23, 2017 at the Martin E. Segal Theatre Center/CUNY. Other Award Week events, including a celebration of all the Nominees, will be planned over the next few months.

About the League of Professional Theatre Women
The League of Professional Theatre Women (LPTW) is a not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) organization. It presents numerous events each year as part of its mission to promote visibility and increase opportunities for women in the field. None of its work is possible without generous philanthropic support. The League is celebrating its 31st anniversary and boasts a membership of nearly 500 women representing a diversity of theatre professionals in both the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors. League members are actors, administrators, agents, arrangers, casting directors, choreographers, company managers, composers, critics, designers, directors, dramaturgs, dramatists, educators, general managers, historians, journalists, librettists, lyricists, press agents, playwrights, producers, stage managers, and theatre technicians. www.theatrewomen.org

The International Committee of the LPTW was formed in 2003 to broaden members' awareness of other cultures and promote opportunities for theatre exchange and collaboration between women working in the U.S. and abroad. We recruit and cultivate international affiliates and host and support them when they come to the U.S. We also encourage and provide support for the formation of LPTW chapters in affiliates' home countries and facilitate dialogue and advocacy for women in theatre across borders.

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center at The Graduate Center, CUNY occupies a place unlike any other organization in New York City: in the space between public arts presenter, academic publisher, and research institute. For more than fifteen years, The Segal Center has bridged the academic and professional performing arts communities, fostering dialogue between playwrights, directors, designers, choreographers, filmmakers, critics, and academics from New York and around the world. (www.thesegalcenter.org).

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