What are "The Column Awards"?

Equity and Non-Equity

THE COLUMN Awards are divided into two distinct classifications,
equity and non equity.

To be eligible for EQUITY classification, your production must have at
least one (1) equity contract offered and signed. This can be either
acting or technical contact (i.e. Stage Manager).

If there are NO equity contracts and NO equity performers in your
production-then that production will be listed in the NON EQUITY
classification.

The thought and reason for this distinction was so that we honor ALL
theater companies. THE COLUMN Awards and I strongly believe that the
same passion, dedication, and commitment goes into both equity and
non-equity shows. Thus we strive to include and honor our smaller
companies as well, not just the larger Theater companies. Remember-
Unity is the key here.

How does one get nominated?

Any Theater Company in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex is eligible if
the following guidelines have been established:

(1) The production(s) that are submitted must have been performed and
produced in the calendar year that is set up by the Column Awards
Board of Directors and its Executive Director.

(2) Said production must run in their regular season. It CANNOT be
productions that were performed in festivals, stage readings, special
series, benefit shows, or one night only events.

(3 Said production must run at least five public performances.

(4) Said production MUST be listed on their official websites,
brochures, and other assorted publicity materials. These tools are
used as verification by THE COLUMN Awards Board of Directors, the
Executive Director/Producer, and Theater Liaisons.

(5) In the case(s) of DOUBLE CASTING or UNDERSTUDIES, both cast
performers can be eligible in the role(s) that they performed.

All the above has been cleared and verified by the Board for this
year's eligible productions. During these last six months, theater
liaisons have been in constant contact with their appointed theater
companies.

The board liaisons sent out nomination ballots to ONLY the
following: Artistic Directors, Directors, and/or Producers of those
ELIGIBLE companies and productions.

These Artistic Directors, Producers, and/or Directors would then put
ALL eligible performers/designers/production staff in the appropriate
categories on the ballot.

This means they had SOLE control of where to put down individual
performances in what categories they deemed fit in regards to that
person's role on stage. The Board of Directors and Executive Director/
Producer had NO SAY in this. This was totally left at the discretion
of the director, etc.

Artistic Directors, Producers, and/or Directors were allowed to list
the ENTIRE cast in whatever categories they felt was appropriate.

However, when it comes to large casts (i.e. ensembles), not everyone
can be listed. Thus, when it came to ensembles, the Artistic Director,
Producer, and/or Director would then decide which (if any) ensemble
members were eligible in the "Featured" categories.

Ballots not turned in the allotted time to their respective theater
liaison resulted in that Production and/or Theater Company not allowed
participation in this year's THE COLUMN Awards.

Since that time, all Board of Directors, the Executive Director/
Producer, and Theater liaisons have been data entering ALL those
nominations for the ROUND ONE BALLOT.

Who is eligible to vote?

ONLY and ONLY those who are registered subscribers to THE COLUMN are
eligible to vote. NO EXCEPTIONS.

PLEASE NOTE: You must have been a registered COLUMN subscriber BEFORE
December 31, 2016.

The system we have does show the date when you "officially" signed up
on THE COLUMN and that is the date we must go by.

This is to keep voter fraud down. It is NOT fair for friends & family
to join THE COLUMN during Awards season just so that they can vote
for you or your friends.

One of the privileges and immense responsibility of being a Column
subscriber is the right to vote.

Can anyone see who I voted for?

NO. That is a DEFINITE no. Not a single person that serves on the Board
of Directors OR the Executive Director/Producer has ANY access whatso
-ever into the official voting ballot. We are very determined to keep
your voting PRIVATE. So again-they have NO access into the system to
see how you or anyone else voted.

Everyone is assigned a "voting code" when voting-which means your
actual name or email address is NOT visible whatsoever when voting.
Only the Director of the ballot design/tabulation has access to the
voting codes-NO ONE ELSE DOES.

Thus your voting selections are kept completely confidential.

What is Round One Voting and Final Voting?

ROUND ONE voting is when every ELIGIBLE name, show, etc. is listed on
the ballot. It's the first ballot that contains EVERY actor, designer,
show, etc. that was provided by the Theater Companies.

The ballot for ROUND ONE is lengthy due to the overwhelming array of
choices you have to choose from. So be prepared.

After the cut off date for ROUND ONE VOTING concludes, that weekend
the Ballot Design team will tabulate ALL the votes.

The SIX (6) individuals, shows, etc. in EACH category that has the
HIGHEST amount of votes will then become OFFICIAL nominees for the
2008 Column Awards.

It's just like the Academy Awards. They get a ballot in the mail with
all the eligible films, performances, etc. for the 2016 calendar
year. They vote on that ballot. Then Price-Waterhouse Accounting firm
will tabulate those ballots, and the five individuals/movies, etc.
that have the highest amount of votes become the final five nominees
for the Oscar. THE COLUMN Awards are the same.

At this point the Ballot Design and Tabulating team will meet with the
Executive Director/Producer and two Board of Directors in a closed
meeting to let them know who the final nominees are are.