JUDGING

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Hello Producing Members,

I hope you all are doing well and looking forward to the 2025 to 2026 Season. The DTL's Producing Member's Ballot Instructions for the 2025 to 2026 Season are accessible through the red button to the right .

Please send me a copy of your upcoming season so that I have it for judging scheduling.

The DTL Nominations for the 2024 to 2025 Season will be posted on the DTL website on August 1st and the Desert Star Awards are on Sunday, October 19th.  Information about the Desert Star Awards will be on the website on August 1st, including the ability to purchase tickets.

Changes in the rules for this season were made in the Professional Designation  and Technical Nominations.

For the Professional Designation, the following was eliminated: "Is being paid for his/her services in this production a sum that would be considered at least 50% of his current income for time engaged.”

For the Technical Nominations, the revisions help clarify when the professional designation "P" on the ballot is to be used.

The revised rules for the Professional Designation and Technical Nominations the 2025 to 2026 Season are as follows:

Professional Designation

An IMPORTANT REQUIREMENT to be included on the ballot next to the Nominee’s name is a “P” (for Professional) identifying that individual as an equity member or a professional.  On the Ballot for the 2025 to 2026 season, the Ballot has a marked column where the Producing Member can enter a “P” to indicate that the individual should be considered as a professional.  This was included to give the Ballot a specific area for the professional designation.   

A “P” designation should be given to any director, musical director, choreographer, individual performer, or technical/backstage participant who:  

Is or has ever been a member in good standing of any Theatrical Union, including, but not limited to SAG, AFTRA, AGVA, ASCAP, SDC (Society of Directors and Choreographers), Electricians Union, Sound and Set Construction Unions, etc.;

Earns or has earned his/her living doing whatever he/she is doing in this production; and

Gasoline stipends to amateur performers and technicians are not to be considered as a professional payment.  

Producing Members need to remember that an individual is considered a professional even if they are not currently in a union.  If an individual is no longer an active member in a union, their membership in their past still qualifies them as a professional on the DTL Ballot.  A suggestion would be to ask all the members of your production if they are or were in a union, such as Equity, SAG, AFTRA or any Technical Unions in order to confirm who should be identified as a professional on the Ballot.

Technical Nominations:

On the appropriate line, enter the name of the NOMINEE (person to be judged), a “P” if the person is a professional.  If a production does not have a set, do not enter a name for set design.  Similarly, please do not enter a name if there is no amplified sound.  Only one “Technical Award” will be awarded for each category, e.g., set, sound, light, etc. for all productions, not for each type of production, e.g., Musical, Comedy, Drama, Ballet, etc.

If Professional Services are provided in any capacity within these categories, a "P" for Professional Designation must be assigned to the individual(s) nominated in this category. Examples of categories that should have a Professional Designation include: 

Sound: If a company assists with the sound for the production; 

Special Effects: If a company is involved in providing special effects; and 

Costume Design: If 50% or more of the costumes in a production are rented, then a “P” for Professional Designation must be placed with the individual(s) nominated in this category. 

The return address for the ballots will remain as follows:

DTL Judging Coordinator

P.O. Box 854

Palm Springs, CA 92263

I look forward to a great season.

Regards,

John Toogood

DTL Judging Coordinator