The Taipei Theater Awards were launched on Thursday, with the hope of becoming Taiwan’s equivalent of the Tony Awards for contemporary theater and musical productions, Department of Cultural Affairs commissioner Tsai Shih-ping (蔡詩萍) said.
Tsai said establishing top awards for Taiwan’s stage productions has been one of his priorities since taking office because of his guest-starring roles in such productions.
It has also been a wish of theater producers, Tsai said, with directors Ko I-chen (柯一正) and Wu Nien-jen (吳念真) telling him there was a need for high-level honors and recognition for the industry.
Photo: CNA
The inaugural awards, to be presented in June next year, are to include awards for best theater production, best musical production and best experimental and innovative theater or musical production, which would be picked from the nominees in the first two categories, the organizers said.
Awards for individuals include best director, best playwright, best production design, best actor and actress in theater productions, as well as best actor and best actress in musicals.
A special contribution award for either a theater group or individual would be picked from nominees recommended by a group of experts and theatergoers, as well as by members of the public between Oct. 1 and Nov. 30, the organizers said.
Only ticketed productions staged in venues owned or run by the government in Taipei are eligible to compete in the inaugural edition of the awards, except for productions of traditional and children’s theater, the organizers said.
Even if a national theater awards program is established, the Taipei Theatre Awards would continue, Tsai said, citing the example of the coexistence of the Taipei Film Awards and the Golden Horse Awards.
The Taipei Theater Awards would be an important benchmark for Taiwan, since “many productions premiere in Taipei,” Tsai said. “Audiences in Taipei can decide whether a production makes it or not.”
Organizers are scheduled to begin accepting submissions from theater and musical productions from May 1 to June 14 for ticketed productions staged in Taipei between July 1 and Dec. 31.
In addition to trophies for the winners, the city government is to hand out total prize money of NT$2.7 million (US$83,609), the organizers said.
Meanwhile, the privately run Taishin Bank Foundation for Art and Culture, which announced 17 nominees for the 22nd edition of its Taishin Arts Awards early last month, is to hold its awards ceremony on June 1.
The foundation is to present one prize for a visual artwork, one for a performing arts production and a grand prize picked from nominees from both categories.
The grand prize winner is to receive NT$1.5 million, while the two other winners are to be awarded NT$1 million each, the foundation said.
The Taipei Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Wanda-Zhonghe Line is 81.7 percent complete, with public opening targeted for the end of 2027, New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) said today. Surrounding roads are to be open to the public by the end of next year, Hou said during an inspection of construction progress. The 9.5km line, featuring nine underground stations and one depot, is expected to connect Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Station to Chukuang Station in New Taipei City’s Jhonghe District (中和). All 18 tunnels for the line are complete, while the main structures of the stations and depot are mostly finished, he
The first global hotel Keys Selection by the Michelin Guide includes four hotels in Taiwan, Michelin announced yesterday. All four received the “Michelin One Key,” indicating guests are to experience a “very special stay” at any of the locations as the establishments are “a true gem with personality. Service always goes the extra mile, and the hotel provides much more than others in its price range.” Of the four hotels, three are located in Taipei and one in Taichung. In Taipei, the One Key accolades were awarded to the Capella Taipei, Kimpton Da An Taipei and Mandarin Oriental Taipei. Capella Taipei was described by
Taipei is to implement widespread road closures around Taipei 101 on Friday to make way for large crowds during the Double Ten National Day celebration, the Taipei Department of Transportation said. A four-minute fireworks display is to be launched from the skyscraper, along with a performance by 500 drones flying in formation above the nearby Nanshan A21 site, starting at 10pm. Vehicle restrictions would occur in phases, they said. From 5pm to 9pm, inner lanes of Songshou Road between Taipei City Hall and Taipei 101 are to be closed, with only the outer lanes remaining open. Between 9pm and 9:40pm, the section is
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vancouver, Canada, on Saturday hosted a reception to celebrate Double Ten National Day. Conservative Canadian lawmaker Marc Dalton called Taiwan a “beacon of courage and resilience in the face of rising authoritarianism,” according to a post on the Taiwan in Vancouver Facebook page. Also in attendance were fellow conservative caucus members Tako Van Popta and Chak Au, who said that Taiwan plays an “indispensable role” in ensuring global peace, prosperity and stability due to its strategic position in the Indo-Pacific region, it said. Canadian lawmaker Michael Cooper also recorded a message wishing Taiwan a
RSS