What is DASH?
The Distinguished Awards and Service Honors (DASH) program is a competitive, peer-adjudicated awards program. EMACT member groups may submit an application for any in-season production (musical or play, but not musical revues) to be considered for the DASH program. Two different performances of the production are attended by two of a pool of 20+ trained and knowledgeable consultants, who then score the production in a number of categories . Example ballots are available online for both musicals and plays, as well as an explanation of the scoring criteria. At the end of the season, scores are tallied and the six top-scoring shows in each category receive nominations, which are announced via webcast in mid-July. Winners are announced at the annual DASH Gala awards ceremony in late August or early September, and receive an engraved trophy.
What is DASH Plus?
The DASH Plus program provides feedback in the form of summarized comments from the two DASH consultants. Scores and comments on individual performances are not provided, but evaluations of aspects of the show which did or did not work well are given, along with some suggestions for improvement. These comments are intended to provide the production team with an unbiased audience perspective which will help them to bring subsequent productions to the next level. The DASH Plus results are emailed to the group within 4-6 weeks of the show closing. ​
Why Participate in the DASH Program?
The DASH program is intended to celebrate excellence within the local theatre community and to encourage groups to support each other’s good work. It is intended to both acknowledge high quality work and to educate and challenge our members to continually strive for improvement. Participating groups benefit both from increased exposure within the greater theatre community and from recognition within the local community from which our audiences are comprised. ​​
What is the DASH Gala?
The DASH Gala is the EMACT equivalent of the Tony Awards ceremony. The evening begins with a social hour with appetizers and a cash bar and the opportunity to mix and mingle with other theatre groups, then we move into the auditorium for a formal awards program, including a slide show highlighting all the participating productions, performances by each of the Best Musical nominees, brief speeches from the EMACT President and DASH Coordinator, and of course, the presentation of trophies to all the award winners. It is a festive evening celebrating the best our theatrical community has to offer. ​​
How Much Does DASH Cost?
DASH and DASH Plus consultations may be paid for separately, or groups may receive a discount for combining their EMACT membership and DASH fees. For the 2019-20 season, basic EMACT group membership is $75 annually, but groups may opt to sign up for Enhanced Membership, which includes DASH consultations for two productions, for a cost of $140, or Enhanced Plus Membership, which includes DASH Plus consultations for two productions, for a cost of $170. Additional DASH consults are $45 per production or $65 for DASH Plus. ​These fees are primarily used to reimburse the respective DASH Consultants for travel and time expenses.

Productions entered in the DASH program now have the option to be upgraded to a DASH Plus for an additional $20 per show. Within 6 weeks of the production closing, you will receive a summary of the DASH consultants’ comments on the production (scores, as well as comments on individual performers, will not be included). Please request the DASH Plus service when submitting your DASH application.

If you have already had a show evaluated (or submitted) and you would like to upgrade to DASH Plus, please let us know and we will be happy to provide this service for the additional fee. If you have any questions regarding this program, please contact DASH Co-Coordinators Faye Harrington and Diana Zito at dash@emact.org.

PLEASE NOTE: Groups with Enhanced or Enhanced Plus memberships must still submit a DASH application for every show they would like to have adjudicated. In addition, each DASH consultant is to be provided with two complimentary tickets to the performance of their choice. ​​
Who is eligible to participate?
Any community theatre group which is currently an EMACT member in good standing may submit a production. We do not currently accept “in concert” productions, but most other musicals and plays are acceptable. Any person who is a member of a professional theatrical union (e.g., Actor’s Equity or IATSE) or who earns a living wage in theatre (e.g., owns a lighting or sound company or is a full-time costume designer) is not eligible for an individual DASH award, but involvement of such a person does not necessarily exclude an entire production from DASH consideration. Professionally-designed aspects of a production (e.g., a rented set or costume plot) are not eligible for DASH awards in the relevant category, but this does not necessarily exclude an entire production from DASH consideration. Any production in which performers receive a stipend of over $200 is not eligible for the DASH program.

​In order to participate in the DASH program, a production must meet the following criteria:
  • The producing group must be a current dues paying member of EMACT in good standing.
  • The production must have completed its originally scheduled performance run during the course of the DASH season, which runs from July 1st through June 30th.
  • A completed DASH Application and entry fee must be submitted to the DASH Co-Directors at least 30 days before the production's opening performance. Late applications may be accepted based on consultant availability; however, applications submitted on or after the date of the opening performance will NOT be accepted.
  • A production is not eligible to participate in the DASH program if the member group pays the actors a stipend that exceeds $200 per actor.
  • Individual members of the Actor's Equity Union or other professional unions associated with their respective area of a production are ineligible for individual DASH recognition. Presence of a union member in a cast or production team does not automatically disqualify the entire production.
  • Design elements which are rented or otherwise professionally rendered are not eligible for individual DASH recognition within their category, although their score will count towards the overall production score.
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hOW dO WE sIGN uP?
DASH and DASH Plus applications may be submitted online, and paid for via PayPal.  Please be aware of the following:
  • A DASH application must be filled out for each show you wish to have reviewed IN ADDITION to your Membership Application. While you may pay for your DASH Applications as part of our Enhanced and Enhanced Plus levels, the DASH application provides us the information we need for each of the shows you want DASHed (title, dates, etc.)
  • DASH applications must be submitted a minimum of 30 days prior to the opening performance. We regret that any applications submitted within 30 days of opening will not receive a consultation due to the coordination required to schedule and assign consultants to the 100+ shows we review each year.
  • Applicants must also complete a Professional Disclosure Statement for each submitted production. A copy will be emailed to you following receipt of your application.
wHAT IF WE hAVE mORE qUESTIONS?
Please contact the DASH Co-Coordinators at dash@emact.org with any questions regarding any aspects of the DASH program. ​