WATCH

Judges, new and returning: Are you looking for the training material?

Just the Facts 2025 and the adjudication matrix for the year are now posted. Remember: The matrix is prepared at the start of the year, and is not updated to reflect schedule changes. Always check the Weekly Report and the appropriate company web site for the most current information.

The WATCH Awards Announcement of Nominations is held annually in January. The Awards presentation takes place at the beginning of March, also at the Birchmere.

The 2024 WATCH Awards Nominations

The WATCH Awards Announcement of Nominations will be held at 6:00 PM on Sunday, January 19, 2025, at the Little Theatre of Alexandria.

The 2024 WATCH Awards Ceremony

The Awards presentation will be held at 7:00 PM on Sunday, March 23, 2025, at The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia. Watch this page for purchase links, to be added when the Birchmere opens ticket sales for the event.

Apply to be a presenter!

Awards Ceremony Information

Base Ticket Price: $20. (Ticketmaster will charge additional fees.)

Ticket Purchases

• In Person at The Birchmere box office.
• Online at Ticketmaster. Please Note: Third party resellers may charge an exorbitant markup, and we cannot vouch for their legitimacy. Online, please order from Ticketmaster.

• Box Office/Lobby Doors Open: 5:00 PM At 5:00, you can request a “line number” from the box office.
• Venue Doors Open/Food Service Begins: 6:00 PM Parties will be seated in line number order.
• Ceremony: 7:00 PM

• Festival Seating (General Admission) – 500 Seat Capacity
• Food and beverages available from the Birchmere menu (not included in ticket price).
• Attire: Jacket requested.

Please note: Except for press, photographers and other guests/staff/VIP’s, there will be no advanced/reserved seating. Everyone (including musical nominee groups) will need to join the Birchmere line number system before the doors open for seating at 6:00 PM. Patrons entering at 6:00 PM may reserve ONE table for their party at which they plan to sit.

FAQs

• Do nominees get complimentary tickets? No. The only complimentary tickets are provided for members of the press. Everyone who wants a seat at the ceremony needs to buy a ticket. Last year’s event sold out.
• Does the ceremony ever sell out? YES, this event regularly sells out. Please purchase tickets in advance.

Snow Policy

• In case of inclement weather, check the WATCH home page for postponement information. If you are looking to reach the Birchmere about a concert, go to the Birchmere web site.

• 19 January 2025
  • 6:00 PM, Little Theatre of Alexandria
• 20 April 2025
  • 5:30 PM, via Zoom
• 20 July 2025
  • 5:30 PM, via Zoom
• 19 October 2025
  • 5:30 PM, via Zoom

Board meetings are usually held on the third Sunday of January (to announce nominations), April, July, and October.

• Just the Facts information is due 15 November 2024.
• Judges Matrix information is due 1 December 2024.
• Member dues payment is due 1 December 2024.

WATCH is pleased to announce awards for the 2023 performance years. Congratulations to the winners, and thanks to all who made the past years a success!

Last year the WATCH Board launched an initiative to investigate how we might become more gender-inclusive for performers. Many options and viewpoints were considered during the year, and the proposed approaches were carefully deliberated. After considering diverse perspectives, many potential alternatives, and the impact the decision would have, the WATCH Board has decided to combine the eight gendered acting categories for lead and featured performers into four non-gendered acting categories. The updated acting categories will be: Lead Performer in a Play, Lead Performer in a Musical, Featured Performer in a Play, and Featured Performer in a Musical. In order to maintain the same level of recognition for performers, ten nominations will be announced and two awards will be presented for each of the now gender-inclusive acting categories.

The WATCH Board has committed to monitoring the impact of this change in the coming years and will address any issues that may arise. This change will be reflected in nominations and awards for the 2024 calendar year, which will be announced in 2025. The 2023 awards will follow the same format as previous years. Those nominations will be announced on Sunday, January 21, 2024.