Awards and Scholarships

  1. Awards
  2. Scholarships

SETC honors theatre practitioners of all levels through a variety of prestigious awards. From celebrating young scholars to recognizing lifetime achievement in theatre, SETC’s awards take many forms and serve to distinguish a diverse range of theatre artists. The nominations period for most awards is May 1st–September 15th annually.

Awards

Notable Organization Awards

Suzanne M. Davis Memorial Award

The Suzanne M. Davis Memorial Award was established to honor one SETC member each year for distinguished service to SETC over a number of years and is presented during the annual SETC Convention awards banquet. Administration of this award is assigned to the Nominations Committee, with the final choice made by vote of the Board of Directors.

The awardee receives: 

If you would like more information about this award and the selection process, please contact us.

Contact info@setc.org for information
Past recipients of the Suzanne M. Davis Award

2024

Marci Duncan

2023

Maegan McNerney Azar

2022

Tiza Garland

2021

Michael P. Howley

2020

Jerf Friedenberg

2019

Esthere Strom

2018

Betsey Horth

2017

Ron Keller

2016

Dean Slusser

2015

Alan Litsey

2014

David Thompson

2013

Stephen Bayless

2012

Bob Ankrom

2011

Denise Halbach

2010

Dennis Wemm

2009

Donna White

2008

Mike Murphy

2007

Joe Filippo

2006

Jack Benjamin

2005

Victoria Pennington

2004

Ward Haarbauer

2003

Mark J. Malinauskas

2002

Susan Cole

2001

David Wohl

2000

Clifton Egan

1999

William E. Wilson

1998

Donald Wolfe

1997

Thomas Stephens

1996

Gerald Ray Horne

1995

Frank Mohler

1994

H. Jefferson Corbin

1993

Richard Newdick

1992

Scott Parker

1991

Donald Drapeau

1990

Hazel Hall

1989

Dicki Farrar

1988

Donald Loeffler

1987

Arthur Greene

1986

Dorothy Schwartz

1985

Robert Knowles

1984

David Weiss

1983

Alvin Cohen

1982

Allen Bales

1981

Richard Fallon

1980

Delmar Solem

1979

Robroy Farquhar

1978

Mark Sumner

1977

Albert Johnson

1976

Philip Hill

1975

Herman Middleton

1974

Marian Smith

1973

Ann Hill

1972

Roger Boyle

1971

Randolph Edmonds

1970

Marian Galloway

1969

Harry Davis

1968

Leighton Ballew

1967

Bob Porterfield

1966

Paul Green

1965

Sara Spencer

Hall of Fame

Established by SETC in 2015, the Southeastern Theatre Conference Hall of Fame recognizes persons, living or deceased, who have made major contributions to the organization. These contributions may be administrative, artistic, and/or financial and have made a significant impact on SETC’s success over a sustained period of time. The Hall of Fame commemorates their achievements and celebrates their meaningful contributions to the organization.

The awardees receive:

Nominations are accepted from May 1st - September 15th annually.

Nomination form
Past recipients of Hall of Fame Award

2025

Kris Geddie

2025

Keith T. Martin

2025

Shannon Robert

2024

Adanma Barton

2024

Jeff Gibson

2024

Dr. Edmond “Ed” Williams

2023

John Spiegel

2023

Deanna Thompson

2023

Tom Booth

2022

Quiana Clark-Roland

2022

Connie Smith

2022

Ward Haarbauer

2021

Barbara Dare Hartwig

2021

Chad McDonald

2021

Dr. Philip G. Hill

2020

Jack Benjamin

2020

Vivian & Larry Snipes

2020

David Wohl

2019

Betsey Horth

2019

Chip Egan

2019

Jose Simbulan

2018

Don Creason

2018

N. Bennett East

2018

April J’Callahan Marshall

2018

Jonathan R. Michaelsen

2018

Julie A. Richardson

Distinguished Career Award

Distinguished Career Award is the highest award bestowed by SETC and is established to honor one individual or artistic team each year who has a distinguished career in the theatre. The recipient is requested to speak at the annual SETC Convention as a keynote address, and to accept the award during the Annual Banquet and Awards Ceremony.

Administration of this award is assigned to the Executive Committee in collaboration with the Executive Director. SETC members are invited to make suggestion for consideration. Email VPservices@setc.org to submit your recommendation(s) for this award.

The awardee receives:

Suggestions are accepted from May 1st - September 15th annually.

Contact VPServices@setc.org to submit recommendation
Past recipients of the Distinguished Career Award

2025

Andre De Shields

2024

S. Epatha Merkerson

2023

Carlton & Barbara Molette

2022

Norm Lewis

2021

Rosemary Harris

2020

NC Black Repertory Company

2019

Muriel Miguel

2018

Jane Greenwood

2017

Oskar Eustis

2016

Pearl Cleage

2015

Ben Vereen

2014

Terrence Mann

2013

Ken Ludwig

2012

Tony Walton & Richard Pilbrow

2011

Ben Cameron

2010

Judith Malina

2009

Eugene Lee

2008

Alliance Theatre of Atlanta

2007

Marsha Norman

2006

Anne Bogart

2005

Dixie Carter

2004

Christopher Durang

2003

Michael Kahn

2002

William Ivey Long

2001

Edward Albee

2000

Tom Jones & Harvey Schmidt

1999

Ming Cho Lee

1998

Tharon Musser

1997

Stephen Schwartz

1996

Jon Jory

1995

(no award presented)

1994

Julie Harris

1993

Charles Strouse

1992

Jose Quintero

1991

Arthur Lessac

1990

Jerome Lawrence

1989

Zoe Caldwell

1988

Lloyd Richards

1987

Norris Houghton

1986

Ben Edwards

1985

Patricia Zipprodt

1984

Zelda Fichandler

1983

Mercedes McCambridge

1982

Mildred Dunnock

1981

Jose Ferrar

1980

Ellen Stewart

1979

John Houseman

1978

Josh Logan

1977

Lillian Hellman

1976

Melvin Douglas

1975

(no award presented)

1974

Ossie Davis

1973

Marian Galloway

1972

Roger Stevens

1971

Nunally Johnson

1970

Robert “Bob” Porterfield

1969

(no award presented)

1968

(no award presented)

1967

Tennessee Williams

1966

(no award presented)

1965

John Mason Brown

1964

(no award presented)

1963

Samuel Selden

1962

Fred Coe

1961

Charles Coburn

1960

Stark Young

Playwriting Awards

Getchell New Play Award

Charles M. Getchell New Contest is dedicated to the discovery, development and publicizing of worthy new plays and playwrights.

The awardee receives:

Submission Period: May 1st - September 15th annually.

Nomination form
Innovative Playwriting Instruction Award

This award was established to honor one high school teacher each year for innovative instruction in playwriting. Nominate your favorite teacher (including yourself). The administration of this award is assigned to the Innovative Playwriting Instruction Award Committee. 

The awardee receives: 

Submission Period: May 1st - September 15th annually.

Nomination form

Design/Tech Awards

Distinguished Design/Tech Award

The Distinguished Design/Tech Award is established to honor individuals each year with a distinguished career in costume, stage management, lighting, and scenic design. Each awardee also serves a distinguished adjudicator for the student Design Competitions.

Administration of this award is assigned to the Design/Tech Committee. SETC members are invited to make suggestion for consideration. 

The awardees receive:

Submit your recommendation(s) for this award between May 1st and September 15th annually.

John Spiegel Theatrical Artist Award

The John Spiegel Theatrical Artist Award is presented annually to a student pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in one of the following areas: lighting design, properties design, scenic design, sound design, or technical direction.

The awardee receives:

Submission Period: May 1st - September 15th annually. 

Nomination form

Institute of Outdoor Theatre Awards

Mark R. Sumner Award

Established in 1990, this award recognizes significant contributions by an individual to a specific outdoor drama, or to the outdoor drama movement as a whole, including but not limited to playwriting, directing, acting, design, theater architecture, patronage, scholarship, musical composition, technology and innovation, producing and administration. The award is presented annually at the National Conference on Outdoor Theatre in October.  

The awardee receives:

Nominations are accepted from May 1st to July 31st annually. 

Nomination form
Scott Parker Award

Presented to an exceptional volunteer in the field of outdoor theatre. This individual is nominated by an IOT committee member for their extraordinary, dedicated and unpaid service to the organization over a significant period of time. The award is presented annually at the National Conference on Outdoor Theatre in October. 

The awardee receives:

Nominations are accepted from May 1st to July 31st annually. 

Nomination form

Theatre for Youth Awards

Tom Behm Award

SETC’s Tom Behm Award provides professional development funds — whether to attend a conference or to assist with education credits — to people who have a demonstrated record of professional employment related to the field of Theatre for Young Audiences, Theatre for Youth, or theatre education; OR people who are currently enrolled in a graduate program with emphasis in Theatre for Young Audiences, Theatre for Youth, or Theatre Education.

The awardee receives:

Submission Period: May 1 - September 15th annually.

Nomination form
Sara Spencer Child Drama Award

This award recognizes an individual or organization for distinguished achievement in child drama. Nominees can excel in such areas as playwriting, performance, audience development, curriculum development, funding, scholarship, community programs, research, television programming, creative drama or other enrichment programs at their community, state, regional or national level. This award honors children’s theatre pioneer and founder of the Children’s Theatre Press (now the Anchorage Press) Sara Spencer. Spencer was the first recipient of SETC’s Suzanne M. Davis Award in 1965.

The awardee receives: 

Submission Period: May 1st - September 15th annually.

Nomination form

Student & Emerging Artist Awards

Keynote Emerging Artists of Promise (KEAP) Awards

The Southeastern Theatre Conference implemented an initiative to support and encourage young theatre artists in our region: The Keynote Emerging Artist of Promise Award (KEAP). The idea for the award was born when 2005 Convention Keynote Speaker Samm-Art Williams asked that his honorarium as a speaker that year be used to bring one or more promising high school students to the 2006 convention - students who would not ordinarily be able to attend the convention and who could take advantage of the excitement and encouragement that the country’s largest theatre gathering would provide.

The KEAP Award is presented to four (4) recipients who have strong academic backgrounds (GPA, ACT, SAT) and a strong commitment to theatre (statement from teacher or counselor), with a financial disadvantage to attend the SETC Convention.

The awardees receive:

NOTE: Nominations can be submitted by anyone (self-nominees included). Awardees under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

Nominations are accepted from May 1st - October 15th annually. 

Nomination form
Young Scholar's Award

SETC’s History/Theory/Criticism/Literature Committee invites submissions from graduate students and undergraduate students relating to the committee’s interest areas of history, theory, criticism, and literature. One graduate and one undergraduate paper will be chosen to win a cash prize and to present their winning papers at the annual SETC Convention.

The awardee receives: 

Submission Period: May 1st - October 15th annually.

Submit here

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Scholarships

Applications for all graduate and undergraduate SETC scholarships are accepted from January 15 to April 15, annually. Winning scholars are announced by June 30. Scholarship money is made available upon proof of matriculation. Scholars may use their award funds however they see fit.

SETC’s Scholarship/Awards Fund supports each award.

Please note: Award amounts and other details for each scholarship are subject to change from year to year. Up-to-date information for each scholarship cycle will be available by the start of each year’s application window.

Undergraduate Studies

Steve Bayless Undergraduate Scholarship

SETC’s Steve Bayless Undergraduate Scholarship awards $2,000 to a high school student on entering a college or university in the SETC region to major in theatre.

Graduate Studies

Leighton M. Ballew Directing Scholarship Award

SETC’s Leighton M. Ballew Directing Scholarship awards $2,500 to a student to study directing at a regionally accredited graduate school.

Denise Halbach Performance Scholarship Award

SETC’s Denise Halbach Performance Scholarship awards $2,000 to a student to study acting or musical theatre at a regionally accredited graduate program.

Robert Porterfield Scholarship Award

SETC’s Robert Porterfield Scholarship awards $2,000 to a student entering or attending a regionally accredited graduate school to study theatre. 

Marian A. Smith Costume Scholarship Award

SETC’s Marion A. Smith Costume Scholarship awards $1,500 to a student pursuing a graduate degree in costume design and/or technology at a regionally accredited program. 

William E. Wilson Scholarship Award

SETC’s William E. Wilson Scholarship awards $5,000 to a secondary school educator pursuing a theatre degree or a speech and theatre degree at a regionally accredited graduate program. 

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