The Michael Merritt Award, A National Award Unique In Its Emphasis On Excellence In Both Design And Collaboration, Has Been Presented Annually Since 1994 To Outstanding Professional Theatrical Designers.

The Endowment Fund Recognizes And Encourages The Work Of Young Professionals And Students Through A National Design Exposition And Prizes To Promising Theatrical Design Students.

Celebrating our newest award:
The Emerging Technical Collaborator Award. This award celebrates a passionate and skillful early career professional who goes about their work in a particularly collaborative manner. We know that it is hard to launch a career in this profession so we are thrilled to announce that this award comes with a $2000 prize. Last year we unveiled the The Robert Christen Award for Excellence in Technical Collaboration, this award recognizes an outstanding technical professional whose career as a collaborator in the realization of theatrical design has been significant and sustained. We see the pair as a compliment to the Merritt and Maggio design awards. There are so many amazing Scenic Painters, Production Managers, Technical Directors, Costume Shop Managers, Master Electricians, Carpenters, Programmers, Drapers, Cutters, Riggers, Sound Supervisors, Properties Masters, Stage Managers… that are long overdue for public celebration. We are thrilled to be launching a new era in which we celebrate these key members of theatrical collaborative team. Both awards are made possible by the generosity of Founding Sponsor Chicago Flyhouse.