2016 Michael Merritt Awards and Design Exposition

	The 22nd annual Merritt Award for Excellence in Design and Collaboration at Loyola University.

The 23rd Annual Merritt Awards for Excellence in Design and Collaboration will take place on Monday, May 16th, at Loyola University Chicago from 5:00 - 10:00pm.

Nationally-known sound designer and composer Michael Bodeen will receive the 2016 Merritt Award. "At a time when other national awards have marginalized the contributions of sound design, the Merritts are thrilled to be celebrating the career of sound designer and composer Michael Bodeen," reports the Michael Merritt Awards committee.

Set designer Scott Davis, master electrician Jeff Glass, and Goodman audio supervisor David Naunton will receive major awards in addition to student and exhibition prizes.

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.

Tickets for student are $ 5.00; general admission is $ 20.00. Tickets can be booked online at merrittawards.com. The general public is welcome. Food, wine, and beer are included in the ticket price. Funds go to support the awards endowment fund.

Schedule includes the theatre design exposition from 5:00 - 7:00pm. Showcasing the works of Chicago-area emerging theatrical designers and graduating design students from Chicago's best theatrical design programs and attended by many of Chicago's artistic directors, production managers, and industry professionals.

The Dialogue with the Designers will take place from 7:00 - 8:00pm. A discussion moderated by Hedy Weiss featuring the award recipients exploring current issues of interest to professional and student designers.

The awards presentation and celebration will be 8:15 - 8:45pm. Presentation of The Michael Maggio Emerging Designer Award, the four academic prize recipients, the Prizes for Best Exhibit, The Emerging Technical Collaborator Award, The Robert Christen Award for Excellence in Technical Collaboration, and The Michael Merritt Award for Excellence in Design and Collaboration.

The Michael Maggio Emerging Designer Award recognizes and supports the work of an outstanding emerging theatrical designer within the Chicago area. A $2,000 honorarium is given annually to an emerging scenic, costume, lighting, sound, or other media designer in acknowledgment of excellence in artistry and collaboration. The award will go to Scott Davis, scenic designer.

The Robert Christen Award for Excellence in Technical Collaboration recognizes an outstanding technical professional whose career as a collaborator in the realization of theatrical design has been significant and sustained. Sponsored by Chicago Flyhouse. This award will be presented to David Naunton, house audio supervisor at the Goodman Theatre.

The Emerging Technical Collaborator Award celebrates a passionate and skillful early career professional who goes about their work in a particularly collaborative manner. Knowing that it is hard to launch a career in this profession, this award comes with a $2000 prize, supported by Chicago Flyhouse and will go to Jeff Glass, master electrician, lighting designer, and production manager.

Academic prizes of $2000 include:

The John Murbach Columbia College Chicago Prize
Tracee, Baer, costume designer

The Theatre School at Depaul University Prize
Connor Wang, sound designer

The Loyola University Chicago Prize
Meghan Erxleben, lighting designer

The Northwestern University Prize
Arnel Sancianco, set designer

The Michael Philippi Prize for Best Exhibit: Professional Designer will be $500. Emerging professional designers are encouraged to exhibit http://merrittawards.com/2016-event/exhibit-professional/

Sponsorships that cover admission, food, drink, and parking are available for emerging exhibitor and emerging director, producers, and production managers at http://merrittawards.com/2016-event/attendance-sponsorships/

Prize for Best Exhibit: Student Designer will be $500. Student designers are encouraged to apply to exhibit http://merrittawards.com/2016-event/exhibit-student/

Sponsorships that cover admission, food, drink and parking are available.