The Tyrone Guthrie Awards were established in 1954 by the inaugural acting company in honour of the Festival’s first Artistic Director.
Funds for the awards are raised from annual benefit performances and from interest accrued on investments. In 35 years, the Guthrie Awards have contributed over $2,439,723 towards the fulfillment of 3,172 personal dreams and projects.
Although initiated by and for the acting company, over the years the Guthrie Awards have expanded to include every single department at the Stratford Festival. Every person who has ever worked at the Festival is welcome to apply.
The 2025 Guthrie Awards
Date: Sunday, September 21 at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.)
Location: Festival Theatre Lobby
The 2025 Guthrie Award Committee
Gabriel Antonacci - Chair
Sean Arbuckle
Carla Bennett
Rory Feore
Madison Kalbhenn
Emilio Vieira
Keith Barker
Ceairy Free
Jason Miller
How to Apply
Deadline: Monday, August 4 at 11:59 p.m.
Email your application to guthrieaward@stratfordfestival.ca
Descriptions of Named Awards
2025 Guthrie Applications and Nominations FAQ
What are the Guthrie Awards?
The Guthries are not awards like the Doras or the Tonys. They are more like grants that encourage the aspirations, or assist the needs, of people who work or have worked at the Festival.
Am I eligible to apply for a Guthrie Award?
The short answer is: YES. If you work, or have ever worked, for the Festival in any capacity (actor, designer, box office, call centre, crew, groundskeeper, wardrobe, bookstore, Green Room, stage door guard, usher, Artistic Director, etc.) – whether this is your first or your thirty-fifth season, you are eligible to apply.
Again, even if this is your first season, in any department, YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY.
So then, what can I apply for a Guthrie Award for?
Anything. You read that correctly: ANYTHING. You are as eligible to apply for or nominate someone for something whimsical and outrageous as you are for a cherished project you’ve spent years working on. The committee will read and consider every application and make decisions about how to distribute awards using the funds that have been raised from the benefit performance and from accrued interest from donations to the Guthrie’s (named funds).
While the committee isn’t always able to accommodate the full amount of your request/project, it may be able to contribute towards your dream. The committee will always attempt to honour as many applications as it can.
In addition, there are several “named” awards which have been created and specifically funded to honour or memorialize past company & staff members. These named awards are given to people in particular areas or with particular interests or skills. You can find brief descriptions of the named awards here:
Descriptions of Named Awards
Is there a Guthrie application form?
There is not.
Then how do I apply for a Guthrie Award?
Brevity is the soul of wit…and it also makes for a good application. As succinctly and directly as possible, describe why you are applying for, or why you are nominating someone for a Guthrie Award. Please include:
- Your name and what department of the Festival you work in (or if you are not currently employed here this season, please include the year(s) you worked here)
- The amount you are requesting, or the cost of the project or purchase you are planning
- Any pertinent details about the project, purchase, plan or dream
- Any supporting evidence that would be helpful
About a page should suffice. And typed applications are easier to read. Email your application by the deadline to
guthrieaward@stratfordfestival.ca.
I think I meet the criteria for a named award. Do I need to apply for it specifically?
You do not. The committee considers everyone who is eligible for each named award: people who have applied for a project or purchase, people who have been nominated by others, and people who have not applied or been nominated but who meet the criteria of the award. Therefore, it is not necessary for you to direct your application to a named award. Simply craft your application with the information requested above.
Please note that the Richard Monette Travel Grant, while presented during the Guthrie Awards ceremony, is given by an entirely different committee. If you are interested in applying for it, please refer to information about that separate application process.
How will I find out whether my application was successful?
In the spirit of the event - we encourage you to attend the Guthrie Awards ceremony, on Sunday, September 21, 2025, in person, to receive your award. If you are unable to be there yourself, you are encouraged to send a friend who will receive the award on your behalf. At the very least, please let the committee know you will not be in attendance. You can send your regrets to any committee member or to
guthrieaward@stratfordfestival.ca.
If you are unable to attend or have someone attend in your place, a full list of Guthrie Award winners will be sent to all staff and news items email lists, a couple of days following the event. All funds awarded will be directly deposited into your bank account on file. If you are not a current company or staff member, please contact Payroll to provide your banking information.
Note: Cash awards are taxable. If you wish to have income tax deducted from your cash award prior to deposit please contact kmckellar@stratfordfestival.ca
What happens at the Guthrie Awards ceremony?
Applicants, nominators and nominees attend the event along with many others who have not applied or been nominated but are there to cheer for you. Outside of the committee, no one has prior knowledge of who is going to receive awards. Food will be provided, and the bar will be open.
Presentations are made by the Guthrie Awards committee and members of the community, and each recipient is called to the stage to receive their award. When a named award is given, the presenter also speaks about the significant person in the Festival’s history for whom it is named. The Guthrie Awards not only celebrate those who receive awards but also honour our entire company and staff, as well as artists and others who are no longer with us.
The atmosphere is supportive and joyous! Lots of people call it the best night of the year!
What if I have questions that aren’t answered here?
Please feel free to approach any committee member or email
guthrieaward@stratfordfestival.ca for clarification about any aspect of the Guthrie Awards or the application process. We would be happy to answer any questions you have!