The Ovation Rules Committee is the Board-approved group of Los Angeles Theatre Professionals to oversee the Ovation Awards process and systems.

The Ovation Rules Committee is only an advisory body - all decisions made by the Committee must be ratified by the Board of Governors of LA Stage Alliance to be put into effect.


The Ovation Rules Committee members include:
- Representatives from Intimate (under 99 seats), Midsize (100 – 499 seats) and Large (over 500 seats) theatres
- Current and past Ovation Voters
- Representatives from non-profit and for-profit theatre companies
- Representatives from theatre companies that are geographically diverse in the Greater Los Angeles Area
- Theatre professionals from both artistic and non-artistic backgrounds

Duties of the Ovation Rules Committee:
- Solicit and analyze feedback from stakeholders in the Ovation Awards
- Evaluate and recommend changes to rules and regulations each season
- Select the pool of Ovation Voters each spring
- Make immediate decisions throughout the year regarding rule violations or Ovation eligibility

Ovation Rules Committee Obligations:
- Service for up to seven years (one 1-year term, followed by two 3-year terms)
- Regular meetings (5 –- 10 each year)
- Approximately 5 - 15 hours of additional off-site committee work each year
- Consistent availability by email for electronic discussions
- Attendance at the Ovation Awards events each year (Nominee Announcement, Nominee Reception, Awards Ceremony)

Current Ovation Rules Committee Members:
Chair, Dennis Martinez (LASA Board Member)
Sam Anderson, Co-Artistic Director, Road Theatre Company
Bill Brochtrup, Actor
Tom Buderwitz, Scenic Designer
Dolores Chaves, Theatre Manager, Inner-City Arts
Kevin Cochran, Artistic Director, Grove Theatre Center
Michael John Garces, Artistic Director, Cornerstone Theater Company
Jeanie Hackett, Actress/Director
Murry Hepner, Producer, MainStreet Theatre Company at the Lewis Family Playhouse
Chil Kong, Director, Past Co-Artistic Director, Lodestone Theatre Ensemble
Toni Sawyer, Actress/Publicist
Phyllis Schuringa, Casting Director, Geffen Playhouse
Michael Seel, Executive Director, The Theatre @ Boston Court
Trent Steelman, Executive Director, The Colony Theatre Company
Sibyl Wickersheimer, Designer
Douglas Clayton, Director of Programming and Operations, LA Stage Alliance (non-voting)


To send a message to the Ovation Rules Commitee, email Ovations@LAStageAlliance.com.