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.
This article appears in May 31 • 2002.