This growing list of frequently asked questions will give you some insight into NJACT, the Perry Awards and how it all works. If you have a question that is not addressed here, please contact us.

Do the NJACT board of directors and the Perry Award reviewers get paid?
No. There is no monetary compensation for the work done by board members or reviewers. NJACT is a completely volunteer organization, requiring hundreds of hours of work on the part of reviewers and officers over the course of a season. Our only reward is getting our boogie on during the Perry Awards Gala. Yeah, we know, our families think we’re nuts, too.

Why is the Perry Award Ceremony held on a Sunday night?
The Perry Awards Ceremony is held on a Sunday night for two reasons. First, NJACT wanted to ensure that the ceremony would not compete with our member’s shows for attendance. We understand how difficult it is to fill theaters these days, so the last thing the theater community needs is another reason for someone not to attend a show. Second, the very people who are nominated for Perry Awards are the actors and artists typically in demand, which means most are working on shows which stage performances on Fridays and Saturdays. By holding the ceremony on a Sunday night, we ensure better attendance by the very people whose work we want to celebrate.

Why does a ticket to the Perry Awards cost $65 dollars?
We recognize that $65 is a lot of money, especially in these challenging economic times, but a quality venue that can serve dinner for up to 800 people can be very expensive (and is getting more expensive each year). What’s more the orchestra, sound engineer, lighting engineer, trophy shop, print shop and countless other vendors need to be paid in order to make the Perry Awards a very special night for New Jersey Community Theater. Rest assured that the NJACT board is very sensitive to the cost of the evening and has done everything it can to keep costs in check.

How many shows a year does NJACT review?
It varies from season to season. Generally, there are just over 200 productions submitted for consideration by NJACT member theaters. These shows require over 400 reviews, each consisting of over 50 individual scoring criteria. All the data needs to be compiled and calculated.

Why is the ceremony always held at the Somerset Doubletree Hotel?
The Perry Awards Ceremony has been held in different locations in the past. However, the size of the crowd has swelled to around 800 in recent years, and we now face the challenge that there aren’t many venues able to serve dinner for 800 and provide hotel rooms for attendees who wish to stay overnight. In years past, the NJACT board has investigated different options, but at that time, none could accommodate the size of the crowd without significantly increasing the price. What’s more, the Doubletree is conveniently located in the central part of the state, helping to keep travel time down for most attendees.

How many reviewers does NJACT have?
NJACT has over 200 volunteer reviewers in our database. Of those, over 100 reviewers are consistently reviewing shows on a year-to-year basis. Each year, NJACT conducts a series training sessions to bring on new reviewers.

How can I perform at the Perry Awards Ceremony?
There are two ways you can perform in front of your friends, family and theater colleagues at the Perry Awards. The first is to be a part of a show that has been nominated for a Perry Award for Outstanding Choreography or Outstanding Production of a Musical. Cast members from these nominated productions are invited to perform selections from their shows. If you’re not one of those lucky enough to be nominated this year, NJACT also holds open auditions for singers and dancers to perform in the award ceremony’s opening number. Auditions are announced several weeks prior to the Perry Awards Ceremony.

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