Actors Fund, Robi Reed and Tara Rubin to be Honored in Virtual Artios Awards Ceremony

The Casting Society of America (CSA) today announced that the 36th Artios Awards will pivot to a virtual ceremony due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The ceremony will take place on April 15, 2021 where the Actors Fund will be honored with the Rosalie Joseph Humanitarian Award. The Hoyt Bowers Award will go to Robi Reed and Tara Rubin, the first time two casting directors will be honored for this award. It is given for excellence in casting and honors the recipient’s body of work and their outstanding contribution to the casting profession.

“For the first time in our history, a virtual awards show allows CSA the opportunity to celebrate our craft, along with our membership and their contributions across the globe, in one single event. And in a year that has presented a myriad of challenges, it is particularly rewarding to identify the people and organizations that are making a positive impact in our field and our industry. Our 2021 dual Hoyt Bowers recipients, Robi Reed and Tara Rubin, each an incredibly accomplished artist and casting professional, along with honoring the substantially supportive work of the Actors Fund, underscores our organization’s participation and commitments to our creative community,” said Russell Boast and Rich Mento, Co-Presidents, Casting Society of America.

“This award is incredibly meaningful to all of us,” said Joseph P. Benincasa, President & CEO of The Actors Fund. “Our staff have worked tirelessly over these past months to ensure no disruption in our emergency financial assistance, while at the same time strengthening and enhancing our essential health and wellness, life and career, and housing services. To receive the Rosalie Joseph Humanitarian Award from the Casting Society of America reflects the collaborative spirit of this community, and emphasizes that The Fund is here not only for those who work on stage and on camera, but also for the thousands in our industry who work behind the scenes: casting directors, crew members, designers, writers and many more. We are especially grateful to long-time western region leaders and past CSA presidents Pam Dixon and Gary Zuckerbrod for their commitment to the work of The Fund. We are proud to continue to provide stability and resiliency for our entertainment community, and a safety net to those in need in the coming months and beyond.”

“At the age of 15, what I knew is that I wanted to be a casting director and receiving the Hoyt Bowers Award is not only an honor, it is a testament to what can happen when you believe in yourself and find your purpose,” said Robi Reed.

“As a casting director who works almost exclusively in the theater, it is especially meaningful to have this honor at a time when our industry is experiencing devastating unemployment and an uncertain future,” said Tara Rubin. “It’s kind of like a ghost light – our theatres may be dark, but that one light reminds us that we will be back. I love being a casting director so being recognized with a colleague – the amazing Robi Reed – makes the experience even more special.”

The CSA also announced their upcoming key dates and voting timeline for the 36th Artios Awards Submission & Voting Timeline:

Phase 1 – (Television, Theatre, Short Film & Short Film Series)

Open submissions – Wednesday, September 30
Close submissions – Sunday, November 15
Open nominations ballot – Monday, November 30
Close nomination ballot – Monday, January 4
Open final ballot – Wednesday, January 6
Close final ballot – Monday, February 1

Phase 2 – (Feature Films) timeline will be announced in early December.