The annual Broadway League Awards, honoring excellence and achievement for Touring Broadway, were announced today during the Broadway League’s 2016 Spring Road Conference. First presented in 1992, the Broadway League Awards recognize the contributions of those who have displayed exemplary service to the Broadway industry and are considered innovators of their craft.

DISTINGUISHED LIFETIME SERVICE AWARD

ALBERT NOCCIOLINO serves as President & CEO of NAC Entertainment, Ltd., a diversified entertainment and theatrical company specializing in the presentation of National Touring Broadway shows in New York State (Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Binghamton, Elmira, and Albany) and the State of Pennsylvania (Scranton and Erie). In addition to directing the Broadway subscription season in these cities, Mr. Nocciolino is also involved in the producing and co-producing of National Touring Broadway shows and Broadway shows in New York. He has been a Tony® Voter since 1982 and most recently served as the Co-Chair of the Intra-Industry / Road Presenters Committee and Vice Chair of the Road of The Broadway League, a founding member and Chairman of the National Touring Theatre Council, and is past President of the Independent Presenters Network (IPN). He was elected to the Broadway League’s Board of Governors in 1994 and currently serves on the following committees: Executive Committee, Road Presenters/Intra-Industry Committee, Finance Committee, Governance Committee, Government Committee, and Membership Committee.

“There is no road member who has been involved in as many leadership positions and committees as our Immediate Past Vice Chairman, Al Nocciolino,” says Charlotte St. Martin, President of the Broadway League. “Al was Vice Chair of the Road for years and his passion and dedication to this organization is simply spectacular.  He is a one-of-a-kind member who makes a difference in everything that he does for the business of Broadway nationwide.” 

THE AWARDS

“Broadway is a vital national industry. League members worked tirelessly this season to bring Broadway shows to over 200 cities across the U.S. and Canada. Touring Broadway contributes $3.2 billion to local economies across the U.S.  Coupled with the $12.6 billion dollar economic impact for New York City, it is clear that Broadway and Touring Broadway Series create real value to our country’s economy,” said Charlotte St. Martin, President of the Broadway League. “We couldn’t do it without the enormous support that our awardees, the donors and volunteers – both corporate and private - give to promote and enrich the Broadway Series in their hometowns.”

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN PRESENTER MANAGEMENT

Samuel J. L’Hommedieu Award

SUSIE KRAJSA is Executive Vice President of Presenting for Broadway Across America (BAA). In this capacity, she oversees BAA's Presenting business, working with 10 regional offices that, in turn, manage the network of 40 markets where BAA has a presence. She also collaborates with Broadway partners in various venues in each market and with local staff and management to develop day-to-day and long-term business strategies for single and season ticket campaigns. Ms. Krajsa has been part of the BAA team for over 20 years. Additionally, she is an active member of The Broadway League and was recently appointed to the Board of Governors. She has also served on the boards of the Performing Arts Trust of Miami and the Bienes Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale.

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN ROAD MARKETING

JANA SCHARNHORST is the marketing Vice President at the Fox Theatre in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1992 she helped launch the Fox’s Broadway series and has since expanded it to a two week market, serving over 20,000 season ticket holders. During her more than 30 years at the Fox Theatre, Ms. Scharnhorst has been instrumental in bringing Broadway to St. Louis, from the start of the marketing process to the final curtain of each show. Her marketing efforts have guided many Broadway blockbusters to record breaking sales, including several box office records this season for Touring Broadway, both nationally and at the Fox.

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT

ERIC OLMSCHEID is the Director of Programming and Education at Des Moines Performing Arts, Iowa’s premiere performing arts center serving more than 330,000 patrons annually. Mr. Olmscheid leads in-house programming and oversees the planning of education & community programs. Since joining DMPA in 2008, Mr. Olmscheid has lead the development of six new programming initiatives, including the Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards, and has lead the growth of education & engagement programs to serve more than 75,000 patrons annually. Previously: Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in Saint Paul, MN. Mr. Olmscheid holds an MA in Arts and Cultural Management from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and a BA in Music from the University of Minnesota Duluth.

GEORGE MACPHERSON ROAD AWARD

TANYA GRUBICH is an experienced Broadway producer and marketing director with years of experience in strategic marketing, advertising and brand management and has worked on at least 80 shows in her career. In 1994 she co-founded The Marketing Group, which later became Allied Live, a full service marketing and advertising agency for Broadway touring shows and venues throughout North America. Among her producing credits include A Night with Janis Joplin (Broadway) and Apassionata (Tour).

STAR OF TOURING BROADWAY AWARDS

The Star of Touring Broadway Awards were created to honor board members, government officials, donors and volunteers who have given support to promote and enrich the Broadway Series in their hometowns.

APRIL BOSWORTH – Ms. Bosworth is a designer for Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. She not only has a passion for theatre but is devoted to making a difference in the lives of others. It is her work that becomes an experience for patrons as it transports them to a world where they can forget their troubles. Her constant contribution has led her to serve as DSM’s Curtain Call Gala Event Design & Décor Chair since 2009. She has also been a member of our Board of Directors since 2012. Her financial contributions and dedication has been instrumental in developing what makes the organization a staple in the North Texas performing arts community.

PNC BANK – PNC Bank-Western Carolinas has been an ardent supporter of arts and education programs in Charlotte, particularly evidenced by their support of the PNC Broadway Lights series at Blumenthal Performing Arts. They have shown keen interest in arts education programs that use the arts to motivate K-12 kids that demonstrate their commitment to make the arts a cornerstone of a healthy community.

SUN KING BREWING COMPANY – Sun King Brewing Company has worked in close partnership with Broadway in Indianapolis for five years. Their commitment to quality and community engagement makes this the perfect partnership. Each season, Brew Master Dave Colt selects a show from upcoming season, and brews a beer that matches the essence of the show. This partnership is a great way to get advance press before the show gets into town and also always brings in large media partners that provide additional promotional exposure.

WALLY PINKARD – Mr. Pinkard is Chairman of the Hippodrome Foundation at the Baltimore Center for the Performing Arts. A lifelong supporter of the arts, he was the natural choice to lead the foundation effort to raise funds to rebuild a new performing arts center in Baltimore. Introducing students in Baltimore to the arts, to careers in the arts, and to the wonder of Broadway has been vitally important to him. His contribution and leadership in the world of the arts spans back to the 1990s when Baltimore leadership realized the city’s current theatre, the Morris Mechanic, was inadequate and not economically feasible to support Broadway tours. The Mayor and other leaders wisely recruited him to get involved with the Hippodrome project which would vitally impact culture in Baltimore for future generations.

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THE BROADWAY LEAGUE (Charlotte St. Martin, President), founded in 1930, is the national trade association for the Broadway industry. The League’s 700-plus members include theatre owners and operators, producers, presenters, and general managers who present in nearly 200 markets in North America. Each year, League members bring Broadway to nearly 30 million people in New York and on tour across the U.S. and Canada. The Broadway League annually co-presents the Antoinette Perry “Tony” Awards^®, one of the most coveted awards in the entertainment industry. Key League programs and resources include: Kids’ Night on Broadway^®, The National High School Musical Theatre Awards (The Jimmys), Stars in the Alley^®, Internet Broadway Database^® (ibdb.com), Broadway.org, SpotlightonBroadway.com, Commercial Theater Institute (with Theatre Development Fund), as well as numerous conferences and forums for our members. http://theatreaccess.nyc/ (co-produced with TDF) is the one-stop website of accessible Broadway performances for theatregoers with disabilities. Broadway.org is the League’s official on-line headquarters for Broadway in NYC, on tour, and internationally. For more information visit BroadwayLeague.com, or follow The Broadway League on Twitter @TheBwayLeague and on Facebook at Facebook.com/BroadwayLeague. Download the free Broadway.org and IBDB mobile apps from the iTunes App Store or Google Play.

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