Ivy Bethune Award

Actors' Equity Association named Bill Rauch, Artistic Director of Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) as recipient of the Ivy Bethune Award at an award ceremony on January 23, 2018 in OSF’s Thomas Theatre.

Equity’s honoree was the Mo`olelo Performing Arts Co, a nationally recognized, community-focused, socially conscious theater company. The Tri-Union honoree was Zina Bethune, founder of BethuneDanse, the first professional dance theatre in America to create a participatory program for persons with disabilities.

Equity's honoree, Deaf West Theatre Company, was recognized for its work to re-conceive outdated definitions of deaf artists. Veteran union member actor/artist CCH Pounder, the Tri-Union honoree, has been honored for her work with Arts for a New South Africa and her support of HIV/AIDS awareness programs. 

On a warm summer evening, the 8th Ivy Bethune Tri-Union Diversity Awards played to a packed house at East West Players in Downtown Los Angeles. Honorees included Dr. Victoria Ann Lewis (Actors' Equity) and George Takei (Tri-Union).

Tony and Emmy Award recipient, teacher and youth advocate Debbie Allen was honored by the Equal Employment Opportunity committees of Equity, AFTRA and SAG at the 6th Annual Ivy Bethune Tri-Union Diversity Awards on June 23, 2008 at East West Players in downtown Los Angeles. In addition to Ms. Allen, each union chooses its own recipient. Equity selected East LA Classic Theatre's Tony Plana. 

This year's focus, "Bridge Builders," acknowledged those who reach out into the community to create opportunity and alternatives, sharing our common stories and celebrating our differences. These member-driven awards commend individuals and organizations that have taken an active stand to make a more representational, multicultural community in the performing arts and broadcasting. Those selected for this award have set a standard to which all should aspire, deliberately breaking down barriers and opening doors for those who follow, generating work for performers across a wider, cross-cultural base.

The Equal Employment Opportunity committees of Equity, AFTRA and SAG presented the 4th Annual Ivy Bethune Diversity Awards at the East West Players in Los Angeles on June 12, 2006.

On June 6, 2005, Equity’s, AFTRA's and SAG's Equal Employment Opportunity Committees worked together to sponsor the third annual Los Angeles-Area EEO Tri-Guild Diversity Awards, held at the East West Players. Among the honorees were E. Y. "Yip" Harburg (Equity) and Ossie Davis (Tri-Guild).

2004 Honorees: Fran Bennett, Marla Gibbs, Deborah Lawlor, Ricardo Montalban, Dionicio Morales, Carmen Smith, Marcia Smith, Jerry Velsaco, Gail Williamson, Chay Yew; Special Honoree: Marvin Kaplan

The Western Regional Equal Employment Opportunity Committee (EEOC), chaired by Ivy Bethune, hosted its First Annual Multicultural/Diversity in Casting Celebration at Theatre West in Los Angeles on January 27, 2003. The evening honored Tim Dang (Producing Artistic Director, East West Players), Ben Donenberg (Artistic Director, Shakespeare Festival/Los Angeles), Sheldon Epps (Artistic Director, Pasdadena Playhouse), Julia Flores (Casting Director, Flores Casting) and April Webster (Casting Director, Webster Casting) for their contributions to non-traditional casting.