Recipient
Judith Martin
For over 4 decades, Ms. Martin has been a leading figure in the field of children’s theater as co-founder and Artistic Director of America’s longest-running children’s theater, The Paper Bag Players. A modern dancer, a highly skilled visual artist, and a possessor of an original sense of humor and imagination, Ms. Martin weaves together music, dance, visual arts and contemporary tales into theatrical pieces that affirm life’s endless possibility for fun, adventure and surprise. Her plays published independently and incorporated in anthologies of children’s literature assure that The Paper Bag Players shows are performed by professionals and amateur theater groups throughout the world. To date over 5 million children have seen The Paper Bag Players perform. In addition to 37 of the United States and Canada, England, Scotland, and Wales, The Paper Bag Players have performed in many non-English speaking countries including Israel, Egypt, Hong Kong, Iran, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Japan. The list of awards received by Judith Martin are unmatched, including: an OBIE for, “raising the level of children’s theater through intelligence and imagination,” The Sara Spencer Award and Jennie Heiden Award from the American Alliance for Theater and Education, two American Theater Wing Awards for, “sustained contributions to American Theater design” and “consistent commitment to excellence in professional theater,’ a PARENTS Magazine ‘As They Grow’ Award, a New York State Governor’s Artists Award and most recently an award for Excellence in Theater and Education from The Broadway Institute.
Bio as of June, 2008.