Distinguished Achievement and Special Honors (DASH)

What is DASH?

DASH is a year-end awards program sponsored by EMACT as a way of recognizing outstanding performance and production values as displayed by its member groups during the course of the theater season. EMACT member groups who wish to participate in the DASH program submit their shows for consideration to a panel of experienced theater consultants. Two consultants view each participating production and score them in a number of performance and design categories based on a standard scoring criteria. Scores are tabulated at season's end with the top six scores in each category receiving a DASH Award Nomination and the top score receiving the DASH Award at the annual EMACT DASH Gala.

Participation in the DASH program does NOT guarantee receipt of any nominations or awards. The program was designed to recognize outstanding achievement among all participating productions over the course of the entire season. Due consideration is given to each production viewed, with elements such as the physical and technical limitations of a given theater space and/or obvious budgetary restrictions being weighed accordingly. There is no delineation made between "large" and "small" theaters in terms of how nominations and awards are distributed.

The DASH Consultant Team is made up of experienced theater veterans, many of whom have extensive theatrical training and/or professional experience. Generally they are active members of current EMACT member groups who continue to contribute their many talents to the local theater scene. As a result, Consultants are eligible to receive nominations and awards in a season for which they have submitted ballots. They are, however, forbidden from balloting on shows for which they had a direct involvement and every effort is made to avoid having them consult on productions involving companies or individuals with whom they have significant connection and/or history. Consultants are hand chosen by the DASH Coordinator and are subject to approval by the EMACT Board of Directors.

Who is eligible to participate in DASH?

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.

How much is the entry fee?

The entry fee is $40 per production. This fee is 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 Mark Baumhardt and Sandy Philpott at dash@emact.org.

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How does the program work?

Upon acceptance of an application, the DASH Coordinator will assign two DASH Consultants to a production. The Consultants will then coordinate with the producing company to attend a performance. The producing company will provide each attending Consultant two complimentary tickets for the performance of their choice. Having viewed a regularly scheduled performance of the production (viewing rehearsals or special command performances for DASH purposes is not permitted), each Consultant will complete and submit a DASH Ballot. Completed ballots will be compared and tabulated by the DASH Coordinator, with each ballot counting 50% towards a production's overall score. In the event that only one Consultant is able to attend a production, their score will count for a full 100%.
At the end of the DASH Season, the DASH Coordinator will compile and compare all scores to determine the top six individual scores in each designated category to build the list of DASH Award nominees. These nominees will be announced publicly at least one month prior to the EMACT DASH Gala. The nominee with the top score in each category will then be presented with a DASH Award at the Gala, which is held in late August/early September. If the producing company has declined to indicate a specific designer, instead crediting the production element to "cast", "crew", or leaving it otherwise uncredited, the group forfeits any award or nomination in that category, although the element's score will still count towards the overall production score.