Austin Arts Hall of Fame
Critics Table Honors Cultural Heroes

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Austin Critics Table Awards, member critics will induct the first members of the Austin Arts Hall of Fame at the Critics Table Awards ceremony this Monday, June 3. The 12 honorees to be inducted have all made significant contributions to the local community through the arts over many years, as artists, as educators, as friends of and advocates for the arts. The first class of inductees includes:

John Aielli (KUT-90.5 FM) -- broadcaster, singer, arts advocate

Paul Beutel (Austin Theatre Alliance) -- administrator, critic, actor

Ruth Denney (University of Texas) -- educator, director, school founder

Acia Gray (Tapestry Dance Company) -- dancer, choreographer, company co-founder

Deborah Hay (Deborah Hay Dance Company) -- dancer, choreographer, author, company founder

Kent Kennan (University of Texas, retired) -- composer, educator, author

Joe Sears and Jaston Williams (the Tuna plays, et al.) -- actors, playwrights, directors

Michael Shelton and Shannon Sedwick (Esther's Follies) -- writers, performers, company co-founders

Judith Sims (Austin Museum of Art) -- administrator, curator, school founder

Jess Walters (deceased) -- singer, educator, opera director

Plaques permanently honoring each year's Hall of Fame inductees will hang in a prominent location to be announced.

The 2001-02 Austin Critics Table Awards ceremony will be begin at 7pm at the Capitol City Comedy Club, 8120 Research. In addition to the Hall of Fame honors, awards for achievements in theatre, dance, visual art, and classical music will be presented to artists at the free, informal ceremony. Nominations for this year's awards were published in the May 24 issue of the Chronicle.