{"id":88032,"date":"2025-04-18T13:30:53","date_gmt":"2025-04-18T20:30:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theatrepugetsound.org\/?page_id=88032"},"modified":"2025-12-15T17:12:51","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T01:12:51","slug":"gregory-awards-history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/theatrepugetsound.org\/gregory-awards-history\/","title":{"rendered":"Gregory Awards History"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

The Gregory Awards:<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Through the Years<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

The Gregory Awards began life in 1998 as the Gregory A. Falls Sustained Achievement Award. Over the following 11 years, it honored individuals who spent much of their careers strengthening theatre in our region. In 2009, while continuing this tradition, we also added six annual categories and incorporated the Falls award into our first Gregory Awards, which were presented at a gala event on October 19, 2009 at the Intiman Theatre.
\n
After a three-year pandemic imposed hiatus, we brought back the Gregory Awards for a 23rd annual special event. In 2023 we presented 8 awards. The event was viewed by over 120 screens, including 20 unique watch parties and raised over $9,500 towards our goal of bringing back the fully audited Gregory Awards season and event in 2024.

In 2024, we celebrated excellence in the performing arts with the first in-person celebration since 2019. The community packed the Center Theatre and celebrated with the acceptance of honors, a special tribute to our Gregory Falls Sustained Achievement recipient and a Digital Auction.<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Who was Gregory A. Falls?<\/h2>Founder, ACT<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Gregory A. Falls, a former chair of the UW School of Drama who is credited with creating Seattle\u2019s vibrant theater scene, died April 3, 1997. He was 75 when he died unexpectedly of pneumonia. More than any other individual, Falls was \u201cmost responsible for the theater boom in this town,\u201d says Arne Zaslove, artistic director of the Bathhouse Theatre at Green Lake. \u201cHe was the impresario of bringing it all together.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
Learn More <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Falls, who founded theaters wherever he went–he started Ohio’s Mad Anthony Players and ran the University of Vermont’s drama program and Champlain Shakespeare Festival before coming to Seattle in 1961–decided to create ACT in 1965 because he saw that the two-year-old Seattle Repertory Theater as mostly committed to classics. He wanted ACT to produce plays that then were revitalizing the American theater.<\/p>

And he didn’t stop there. He was instrumental in helping other theaters get their start, includng the Empty Space and Intiman.<\/p>

“He was a gentle gentleman, a gifted theater man and a theater teacher,” says Peter Donnelly, president of the Corporate Council of the Arts.
A native of Russellville, Ark., Falls was always interested in theater. He was active in high school plays, and his mother was known to complain about him loaning out their furniture for theater productions.<\/p>

A Fulbright scholar, Falls came to Seattle in 1961 to head up the UW School of Drama. He founded the highly acclaimed Professional Actor Training Program and the school’s doctoral program. In addition, he actively engaged as a playwright and play director in the UW comprehensive child drama\/theater program.<\/p>

Under his leadership, the UW drama school became one of the best in the nation. Among the students to come through the Professional Actor Training Program are Patrick Duffy, ’71; Jean Smart, ’74; Pamela Reed, ’75; Kyle MacLachlan, ’82; and Richard Karn, ’79.<\/p>

Falls left the UW in 1971 to devote more time to ACT, though he stayed on as a part-time faculty member until 1976. He earned a long list of awards for his work in the theater. A former president of the National Theater Conference and Washington Association of Theater Artists, Falls was inducted into the prestigious College of Fellows of the American Theatre in 1994. He is survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters.<\/p>


– Jon Marmor<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

2025 Sustained Achievement Award Honoree<\/h2>John Bradshaw<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Managing Director, Union Arts Center\n Home of ACT Contemporary Theatre and Seattle Shakespeare Company\nJohn Bradshaw is the Managing Director of Union Arts Center, home to ACT Contemporary Theatre and Seattle Shakespeare Company, where he oversees the newly merged institution as of July 2025. <\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
Learn More <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

A trusted leader in Seattle\u2019s cultural landscape, John played a pivotal role in guiding the merger of Seattle Shakespeare and ACT Contemporary Theatre, helping to forge a stronger and more sustainable home for bold, contemporary storytelling and classical theatre in the region.<\/p>

A Lifelong Commitment to Seattle Theatre<\/strong>
A graduate of the University of Washington, John has devoted nearly his entire professional life to the Seattle theatre community, with the exception of a brief stint with Fort Worth Shakespeare in the Parks. His career began on the production side as a stage manager, stagehand, and sound operator, including his first paid role at Seattle Children\u2019s Theatre\u2019s production of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at Meany Hall.<\/p>

At Seattle Children\u2019s Theatre, he transitioned from production staff to development and administrative roles, rising to Associate Director of Development during the capital campaign that built the Charlotte Martin Theatre. His early career also included work in box office operations at ACT Theatre, The Bathhouse, and Intiman Playhouse, followed by development leadership at The Children\u2019s Museum, The Empty Space Theatre, and Kirkland Performance Center\u2014where he also served as General Manager and chaired the Visiting Committee for UW\u2019s Drama Department.<\/p>

Leadership at Seattle Rep and The Empty Space<\/strong>
John deepened his administrative expertise as Director of Endowment and Planned Giving at Seattle Repertory Theatre before taking on the role of Managing Director at The Empty Space Theatre. Even while serving in these leadership roles, he stayed connected to the craft of theatre, stage managing productions such as Much Ado About Nothing at T.O.P.s Middle School.

Transforming Seattle Shakespeare Company<\/strong>
In 2004, John joined Seattle Shakespeare Company as Managing Director, ushering in more than two decades of growth and innovation. Under his leadership, the company\u2019s budget expanded from $398,000 to nearly $2.5 million, and annual audiences grew from 16,000 to 54,000. He ensured fiscal stability by balancing the budget in 20 of 22 years, launched a statewide school-focused Shakespeare tour, and secured the merger with Wooden O to preserve free outdoor Shakespeare performances. He also spearheaded a capital campaign that raised over $3 million in pledges and gifts.

Service and Recognition<\/strong>
Beyond his institutional leadership, John has been an influential figure in the wider arts community. He served on the boards of Theatre Puget Sound and the Washington State Arts Alliance Foundation (including as Treasurer), and was a founding board member of TeenTix, the groundbreaking arts access program for young audiences. In 2012, he received the inaugural Melissa Hines Award for Outstanding Theatre Practitioner, recognizing his significant contributions to the vitality of the region\u2019s arts ecosystem.

Looking Ahead with Union Arts Center<\/strong>
When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted live performance, John\u2019s steady leadership helped Seattle Shakespeare weather the storm and reimagine its future. In 2024, he began conversations with ACT Artistic Director John Langs about a potential merger. After 18 months of thoughtful planning and collaboration, Seattle Shakespeare and ACT officially joined forces to create Union Arts Center in July 2025. As Managing Director, John now leads this new chapter in Seattle theatre history, championing collaboration, artistic excellence, and community engagement.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Gregory Falls Sustained Achievement Award Winners:<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t