Obies

Obies, commonly known as the Obie Awards, are annual honors recognizing achievements in Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway theater in New York City. They are presented by The Village Voice and have been awarded since 1956. The awards were created by Village Voice theatre critic Jerry Tallmer and colleagues to celebrate productions outside the Broadway arena.

Categories cover a broad range of theatre craft, including plays, musicals, performances, direction, design, and other artistic contributions. The ceremony is typically held in Manhattan in the spring, and winners are selected by a panel of critics and theatre professionals.

Eligibility is limited to productions produced in the New York City area that are Off-Broadway or Off-Off-Broadway, distinguishing them from Broadway engagements. Over the decades, the Obies have become a prestigious platform for recognizing pioneering and high-quality work that might not be showcased by larger national awards.

Significance: The Obies have played a central role in highlighting innovative and experimental theatre and have helped launch or advance the careers of many artists who later work across the American theatre landscape. The awards also reflect evolving tastes and trends within non-Broadway theatre, and sometimes include special citations or retrospective tributes.