Dear Producing Members,

Welcome to the Desert Theatre League’s 2019 to 2020 Season.  This will be my sixth season as Judging Coordinator.  Last season was a great success with a total of 133 productions, compared to 120 productions the prior season.  The 2018 to 2019 season included 14 Comedies, 19 Dramas, 23 Musicals, 26 Stage Readings and 29 Youth productions.

The Desert Star Awards’ Nominees for the 2018 to 2019 Season will be posted on the Desert Theatre League's website on August 1, 2019.  The Desert Star Awards Gala will be on Sunday, October 13, 2019.  Information about the event will also be posted on the Desert Theatre League website on August 1, 2019 and ticket sales will be available for purchase after 8:00 AM on the 1st.

I have attached a copy of the Producing Member's Ballot Instructions for the 2019 to 2020 Season in WORD and PDF format.  Producing Member's productions are listed in the Calendar section on the Desert Theatre League's website.  If your show is not listed, please let me know the name, dates and times, so that it can be listed on the calendar.

New rules for this season include the following changes to the Youth Production category:

• For High Schools and Middle Schools, the nominee for an Individual Nomination for acting must be enrolled in the school producing the production.

• Non-musical Youth productions cannot have a Musical Director and/or a Choreographer nominated on the Youth Ballot.

• Excluding High School or Middle School productions, if half or more of the cast consists of individuals 13 years old or younger, the production will not be judged.

• For Youth Productions, student-directed production are not eligible to be judged.  Also, within the Youth Production category, One Acts, Stage Readings and Revue/Cabaret/One Man/Women productions are not eligible to be judged.

Also, please review the instruction concerning the Professional designation.  Most importantly, a person should be considered a professional if he or she has ever been a member in good standing of any Theatrical Union, including, but not limited to Actors Equity, Directors Equity, Stage Manager's Equity, SAG, AFTRA, AGVA, ASCAP, Electricians Union, Sound and Set Construction Unions, etc. Being presently retired does not erase a prior membership in a Theatrical Union.

return address for the ballots will remain as follows: 

DTL Judging Coordinator

P.O. Box 854

Palm Springs, CA 92263

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call me at (760) 864-1212 or e-mail me.  I look forward to a great season and seeing you at the Desert Star Awards.

Thank you,

John Toogood

DTL Judging Coordinator