Honorary Membership
Honorary Membership is conferred by the Board of Directors upon individuals who have demonstrated longstanding dedication to TLA.
Marian Seldes, Marti LoMonaco, and Louis Rachow, TLA Awards Ceremony, 2009 (Photo: Angela Weaver)
Louis A. Rachow
Bruno Walter Auditorium, Tnew New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
October 9, 2009
Louis A. Rachow served as President of the Theatre Library Association from 1967 to 1972, and from 1981 to 1983. In the years in between, he was Editor of BROADSIDE. Prior to his position as Library Director of the International Theatre Institute of the United States, he was Curator/Librarian of the Hampden-Booth Theatre Library of The Players from 1962 to 1988. His published works include editorship of the Gale Information Guide Performing Arts Series and Theatre and Performing Arts Collections published by Haworth Press. A long-time member of the American Library Association, American Society for Theatre Research, the New York Library Club, and Archons of Colophon, he is currently a Vice President of the Episcopal Actors Guild and Co-chair of its Archives Committee. He received his MS in Library Service from Columbia University.
Marian Seldes
Bruno Walter Auditorium, Tnew New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
May 30, 2003
“Dr. Marian Seldes–she was awarded an honorary doctorate from Julliard one week ago today–is popularly known in the theatre community as the “actor’s actor,” a consummate professional at her art and a wonder to behold in any role she cares to undertake. She has just been nominated for her fifth TONY award–as Best Featured Actress in a Play–for her performance in the recent revival of Dinner at Eight here at Lincoln Center–and on Sunday she will receive the prestigious Edwin Booth Award bestowed annually by the Players Club. Dr. Seldes has won numerous awards honoring her excellence as an actor but I hope, today, she is about to earn her first for excellence as a researcher, bibliophile, and great and true friend to the Theatre Library Association. In our 66 year history, she is only the second person to be honored with a Lifetime Membership Award, so we do not bestow this award lightly. She frequently has graced the book awards with her elegance, intelligence, and savoir faire as an awards presenter; in fact, she’s done it 4 times in the past 10 years, and many times before that, sometimes pinch-hitting at the last minute for a presenter who has fallen ill. No matter how late the call, she still manages not only to read the book but also to have incisive, engaging, and often moving commentary to share.” – Marti LoMonaco