SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA THEATRE CRITICS CIRCLE 

ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF 

FOUR SPECIAL AWARDS

In addition to the 60+ performance and production award categories for excellence in Bay Area Theatre, the San
Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle also presents four Special Awards recognizing long time contributors to the Bay area theatre scene and exciting new talents and organizations. The SFBATCC is proud to announce the following recipients, who will be presented their awards at the 49th SFBATCC Excellence in Theatre Awards Gala to be held on Monday, March 30, 2026 at San Francisco's Victoria Theatre .

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The Paine Knickerbocker Continuing Contribution Award is named for the former theatre critic of The San Francisco Chronicle and is presented to an organization that has made a continuing contribution to Bay Area theatre.

                                                                 This year we honor

Shotgun Players

The company has been able to maintain the same core values upon which it was founded 32 years ago: artistic excellence, social relevance, and community engagement. 

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The Gene Price Professionalism Award is named for the former arts editor and long-time theatre critic of the San Francisco Bay Times and honors a person who embodies superlative professionalism and passion for Bay Area theatre.

                                                                                    This year we honor

Marilyn Izdebski

From running her own dance and musical theatre studio, to directing and choreographing hundreds of youth and community theatre productions, Marilyn has always been counted on to bring a professional approach to everything she does.

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The Annette Lust Emerging Talent Award is named for the late Dominican University professor and longtime Critics Circle member and is given to a promising new theatrical talent or an organization that has demonstrated early in their existence the potential to have a significant impact on Bay Area theatre.

This year we honor

Harry Davis

Harry is a Bay Area-based actor and playwright who, after a series of well-received performances, took the local community by storm with his debut script Push/Pull.

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The Jerry Friedman Lifetime Achievement Award is named for the former KGO radio critic and
long-serving SFBATCC past president. This award is typically given to a member of the theater
community whose work over many years has promoted the creative growth and vitality of Bay
Area theater.
 
                                                                                   This year we honor

Cathleen Riddley

Cathleen is one of the most accomplished performers to ever set foot on a Bay Area stage, including those at San Francisco Playhouse, Marin Theatre, Central Works, ACT, Lorraine Hansberry Theater and Magic Theatre.

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