TheaterMania.com CEO Gretchen Shugart Receives Kathy and Howard J. Aibel Award

NEW YORK, June 7 /PRNewswire/ -- TheaterMania.com CEO Gretchen Shugart will receive the Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York (A.R.T./New York) Kathy and Howard J. Aibel Award in recognition of TheaterMania.com's work in aiding the creation of theater in New York City.

A.R.T./New York annually presents the Kathy and Howard J. Aibel Award to a philanthropist or member of the business community whose work has made creating theater in New York City better for artists.  Gretchen Shugart is recognized in her capacity as CEO of TheaterMania.com, Inc., which owns and operates OvationTix, web-based technology used to process ticket sales, fundraising, and CRM for hundreds of arts organizations and events nationwide, and www.theatermania.com, an editorial website read by 750,000 consumers each month that markets and promotes theater and the performing arts.  

"It is a great honor to receive the Kathy and Howard J. Aibel Award from ART/New York.  While we're being honored for our support of theater artists in New York, it is the theater that supports us -- quite literally in our business, but more importantly, the theater provides us with nourishment and intellectual and emotional support on a much higher level," explains Shugart.  "To be able to provide services to the theater industry so that the artists can focus on their work is very gratifying."

The Kathy and Howard J. Aibel Award is presented to Gretchen Shugart as part of A.R.T./New York's 2010 Spring Gala at the 3LD Art & Technology Center, 80 Greenwich Street at 6:30 P.M. on June 7, 2010.  Sigourney Weaver and Jim Simpson, founders of the Flea Theater, will receive The Abe L. Blinder Award at the gala.  For event information and tickets, visit: http://www.art-newyork.org/index.php/events/2010-spring-gala/ or call (212) 244-6667, extension 242.

About TheaterMania.com

TheaterMania.com is the information and ticketing source for over 4,000 shows nationwide.

While connecting the theater industry with a mass audience for over ten years, TheaterMania.com has become the leading online resource for consumers to find shows, save money, and buy tickets nationwide. TheaterMania.com publishes comprehensive show listings, editorial content, and video coverage for over 40 markets and widely distributes free email newsletters and special offers to over 1.5 million registered members. In addition, TheaterMania.com creates online marketing programs for performing arts organizations, and provides technology to power ticketing, fundraising, and CRM through its proprietary software, OvationTix.

About A.R.T./New York

The Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York (A.R.T./New York) is the service and advocacy organization for New York City's not-for-profit theater community.

Founded in 1972, A.R.T./New York assists its nearly 300 member theaters in managing their companies effectively so they may realize their rich artistic visions and serve their diverse audiences well. Over the years, A.R.T./New York has earned a reputation as a leader in providing progressive services to its members - from shared office and rehearsal spaces, to the nation's only revolving loan fund for real estate, to technical assistance programs for emerging theaters, which have made the organization an expert in the needs of the Off and Off-Off Broadway community.  For its work on behalf of its membership, A.R.T./New York has received the 2008 Mayor's Award for Arts and Culture, an Obie Award, a Drama Desk Award, an Innovative Theatre Award, a Lucille Lortel Award, and the 2010 Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theatre.

SOURCE TheaterMania.com