Independent Shakespeare ReceivesPaul Robeson Citation Award

INDEPENDENT SHAKESPEARE CO. has been named the 2018 recipient of the Paul Robeson AWARD by Actors' Equity Foundation and Actors' Equity Association. The award was presented at the Association's National Membership Meeting in Los Angeles on October 15, 2018.

The Paul Robeson Citation Award honors individuals or organizations that best exemplify and practice the principles to which Robeson devoted his life: commitment to the freedom of expression and conscience, belief in the Artist's responsibility to society and respect for the individual and dedication and concern for service to all humankind. The award was first presented to Robeson himself in 1971. Subsequent recipients include: Paul Robeson; Maya Angelou; Harry Belafonte; Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee; James Earl Jones; Athol Fugard; Lena Horne; Joseph Papp; Sidney Poitier; Pete Seeger; Baayork Lee, Artists Striving To End Poverty (ASTEP) and its founder Mary-Mitchell Campbell, and Jamal Joseph. Independent Shakespeare Co. is only the second organization to receive this honor.

Comments ISC artistic director Melissa Chalsma, "Receiving the Robeson Award is such an honor! It is gratifying that AEA recognizes our efforts creating equity of access to classical theater (both for audiences as well as artists). We are also pretty humbled by the list of past recipients, and will strive to live up to their example!"

Photo: Aisha Kabia (Titania) & Evan Lewis Smith (Oberon) star in ISC's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" as part of its Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival 2018

Photo Credit: Grettel Cortes