The Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation's Callaway will present this year's Joe A. Callaway Award, the Joey, for "excellence in the craft of direction and choreography” to Frank Galati and Graciela Daniele for their work on Ragtime.

Frank Galati won two Tony Awards in 1990 for adapting and directing The Grapes of Wrath on Broadway. He has received nine Joseph Jefferson Awards over the years for his work in Chicago theatre and was nominated for an Academy Award for his screenplay, with Lawrence Kasdan, of The Accidental Tourist. Mr. Galati works regularly at Chicago's Goodman Theatre, where he is associate director, and the Steppenwolf Theatre Company, where he is an ensemble member. He has stage managed operas for Chicago's Lyric, San Francisco Opera, Dallas Opera and Chicago Opera Theatre. Mr. Galati teaches in the department of Performance Studies at Northwestern University.

Graciela Daniele has choreographed/directed on Broadway, at Lincoln Center, Public Theater and regional theatres, and earned nine Tony nominations and six Drama Desk nominations. Broadway credits include: A New Brain; The Goodbye Girl; Chronicle of a Death Foretold; Once on This Island; Zorba, with Anthony Quinn; The Rink which starred Liza Minnelli and Chita Rivera; and The Mystery of Edwin Drood. She choreographed the New York Shakespeare Festival production of The Pirates of Penzance in New York, Los Angeles and London, the motion picture of Pirate and Woody Allen's last three films including Mighty Aphrodite, for which she won the 1996 Fosse Award. She is resident director of the Lincoln Center Theater. Most recently, Daniele received the "Mr. Abbott” Award for lifetime achievement in directing and choreography for the theatre.

The Committee considers all work under the auspices of SSDC within the New York City area and is comprised of nine peer directors and/or choreographers. Callaway Awards also honor Playwrights, Theatre Scholars, and Classical Actors and in the near future will be presented in a joint awards celebration.

Past recipients of the Joey include Moises Kaufman, Julie Taymor, Scott Elliott, Joe Mantello, Harold Prince, George Wolfe, Hope Clark, Susan Stroman, Frank Galati, and Gloria Muzio. The endowment established by Mr. Callaway makes possible the award and its accompanying stipend.

This year's finalists were Matthew Warchus for Royal Theatre's Art, Garry Haynes for Atlantic Theater Co.'s The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Sam Mendes for Roundabout Theatre Company's Cabaret; Simon Burney for Rudin/Hays/Royal Court's The Chairs, Peter Ashkin for Westbeth Theatrical/Alice's Enterprise's Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Jack O'Brian for Lincoln Center's Pride's Crossing and Michael Mayer for Roundabout Theatre Company's A View from the Bridge.

Established more than thirty years ago, Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation is a national service organization dedicated to fostering, promoting, and developing the craft and creativity of directors and choreographers.

Tidbits:Savion Glover returns to Bring on ‘Da Noise, Bring in Da Funk for 40 performances beginning December 8th. That's what the ad in the Times says. Savion will finish the run of the show as it will close to make room for Charlie Brown.

Looks like the Chicago film is on hold for now, despite the London Daily News reporting. It joins Phantom of the Opera as another eagerly awaited film adaptation from Hollywood. Maybe in the next millenium.

Lea DeLaria and Martin Short will co-host BC/EFA's annual Gypsy of the Year competition at the Marquis Theater. Nineteen casts will compete in this charity fund raising event. Shows are 11/30 at 4:30 pm and 12/1 at 4 pm. For tickets call 212-840-0770.

Vincent Canby gives a rave in the Times to On The Town in the Sunday Arts and Leisure section. InTheater magazine also did a cover story on the show in the November 27th issue with tons of photos. Fans are of mixed opinions but all agree Lea DeLaria's name will be around Tony time.

Alan Cumming is back in Cabaret after a film hiatus. He'll be with the Kander and Ebb musical until March. Head to the box office to see his Tony winning performance.

See You Thursday!

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