Michael Liebenluft

The American Theatre Wing (Heather Hitchens, President) and The Village Voice (Peter Barbey, Owner) have announced the winners of the 61st Annual Obie Awards. Rajiv Joseph's Guards at the Taj, produced by the Atlantic Theater Company, received the Obie Award® for Best New American Play, which is accompanied by a $1,000 prize. Legendary actor/dancer/choreographer Carmen de Lavallade and renowned playwright A.R. Gurney each received a special Obie Award® for Lifetime Achievement. Obie and Screen Actors Guild® Award-winning actress Lea DeLaria returned as host of this year's ceremony, which was held at Webster Hall (125 East 11th Street).

Tony and Olivier Award winning producers, Stewart F. Lane and Bonnie Comley hosted a dinner in honor of the 2014-2015 Directors Project fellows on Tuesday, May 13th. The Directors Project fellows are in New York city for an intensive week-long orientation program which includes a series of events and opportunities to speak with theatre professionals. The orientation culminated with the Drama League Awards Luncheon on Friday, May 16th at the Marriott Marquis. Scroll down for photos!

The Civilians, the award-winning New York-based theatre company, announces the members of its 2013-14 R & D Group. The group's emerging and established artists were selected from over one hundred applicants. The R & D Group is comprised of artists from multiple theatrical disciplines. Each artist or creative team will develop an original work over the season. The artists and projects were selected to represent a range of different strategies for making new work from creative inquiry and research. This diversity of approach helps feed a culture of innovation in the group, making the R & D Group an effective lab of experimentation for the field of investigative theater.