NJACT

The New Jersey Association of Community Theaters (NJACT), often associated with the Perry Awards, is a volunteer-driven nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering and honoring excellence in community theater throughout New Jersey. Despite the query mentioning "NJ Perry Awards Inc," there is no available information confirming this as a separate entity. However, the Perry Awards are a pivotal program under NJACT.

Overview

NJACT focuses on celebrating outstanding achievements in New Jersey's community theater scene. It achieves this primarily through the Perry Awards, which recognize excellence in over 30 categories of performance and technical aspects of theater productions.

History

The awards program originated from the AVY Awards, established by William Perry Morgan over 50 years ago. Following his departure, the program evolved through various names, becoming the Perry Awards in 1998. NJACT itself was formed in 2004 to manage and continue these awards.

Mission and Activities

The mission of NJACT is to acknowledge and celebrate the talent and creativity within New Jersey's community theaters. It accomplishes this by organizing an annual awards ceremony, the Perry Awards, which honors productions submitted by member theaters. Trained reviewers evaluate these productions, providing scores across multiple criteria to determine nominees and winners.

NJACT is led by a volunteer board of directors and supported by over 250 volunteers statewide. The organization also provides networking opportunities and supports theater development through various initiatives.

The Perry Awards

These awards are given in multiple categories, including performance, technical, and special recognitions such as the Community Theater of the Year Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award. Nominations for special awards are submitted by the community, while winners are determined by the NJACT board.

Impact

By celebrating excellence in community theater, NJACT plays a crucial role in recognizing the contributions of local artists and enhancing the vibrancy of New Jersey's theatrical landscape. Through its awards and activities, NJACT supports the growth and development of community theater in the state.

Leadership

The organization is currently led by President PJ Campacci, who has extensive experience in community theater, both on stage and behind the scenes. The board also includes members like Rita Greco and Heather Tedesco Pasquale, who bring diverse experiences in theater production and arts advocacy.

Member Theaters

NJACT includes a variety of community theaters as members, such as ShowKids Invitational Theatre (SKIT), which has been recognized for numerous awards over the years. These theaters are pivotal to NJACT's mission, as they submit productions for consideration and contribute to the community's richness.