Phoenix Theatre Ensemble Announces 1st Annual Eve Adamson Theatre Legacy Award for Lighting Design

Phoenix Theatre Ensemble, an artist-directed ensemble now in its fifth season, on Friday, March 14 will announce the winner of the first annual Eve Adamson Excellence in Lighting Design Award at the final performance of the company's upcoming production of Jean Cocteau's Indiscretions (Les Parents Terribles).

The winner will be selected from outstanding lighting design graduate students nominated by New York University School of the Arts, Brooklyn College, and SUNY Purchase. The winner will be given a cash award and an opportunity to design a main-stage Phoenix production in the 2009-10 season.

Eve Adamson was the founder of New York's Jean Cocteau Repertory and remained its Artistic Director for 18 years, during which time she presented a demanding repertory ranging from the Greeks to Shakespeare, and from modern theatre pioneers Chekov, Pinter and Pirandello . Seeking to reach what Cocteau referred to as "the poetry of theatre" where all elements come together as a cohesive whole, she began experimenting with light design in the mid 1980s and continued to light her own shows throughout her career. She died in 2006, one week before she was to begin rehearsals for Phoenix Theatre Ensemble's production of Anouilh's Antigone.

Phoenix Theatre Ensemble is an artist-directed ensemble that presents new and classical works. The 2009 season continues with Jean Cocteau's Indiscretions (Les Parents Terribles), translated by Jeremy Sams. This is the first New York revival of the Sams' translation since the celebrated 1995 Tony-nominated Broadway production. Performances begin on February 20 at the Connelly Theatre, on East 4th Street.

The performance and announcement of the Award recipient on March 14 will be followed by a reception, hosted by the Phoenix Theatre Ensemble, honoring the winner. Tickets may be obtained by calling theatremania at 212-352-3101 or online at www.PhoenixTheatreEnsemble.org