PLEASE NOTE: Due to the current COVID-19 restrictions and precautions, EMACT has temporarily suspended the DASH Program. Companies may still join EMACT at the Basic Membership level to receive all the education and networking benefits that EMACT offers. EMACT will closely monitor the MA Dept. of Health recommendations, and as theaters (hopefully) re-open during the season, we will revisit DASH requests and payments.
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.
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.
How Does the Program Work?
Upon acceptance of an application, the DASH Coordinators 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, that 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 is not eligible for any award or nomination in that category, although the element's score will still count towards the overall production score.
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 is not eligible for any award or nomination in that category, although the element's score will still count towards the overall production score.