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The Inland Theatre League is a volunteer organization that recognizes excellence in live theatrical productions performed by member theatre groups throughout the Inland Empire, California, since 1975.

The official ITL website (inlandtheatre.org) serves as a online bulletin board for member theatres to promote upcoming productions, auditions, news, and special events.

History
The Inland Theatre League (ITL) was created by T.E. Foreman, the theatre reviewer for the Daily Enterprise (now The Press-Enterprise), and a member of the Los Angeles Critics’ Circle.

Though several most Inland Empire theatre groups present their own awards each year, Foreman felt many outstanding performances -- including directorial, technical, artistic and other production areas were not being recognized. The purpose of the ITL was to ensure all areas of a theatre’s production should be eligible for some kind of an award, hence the idea of an "award of excellence," rather than nominating and voting for a "best" in each category.

The original member theatre groups in 1975 were: California Baptist College, Riverside Community Players, UC Riverside, Riverside City College, and Loma Linda University’s Society of Demonstrative Arts.

Process
Dozens of volunteer judges at least 12 productions each year, from over 50 member theatres throughout the Inland Empire. ITL awards are presented each year, usually in March or April in Riverside, California.

Judges nominate individuals for a Certificate of Excellence in any of the various categories of a production (acting, directing, set design, costuming, etc.). For nominations to be official, the production must have had at least 5 ITL judges attend. To win a certificate, the individual must been by a majority of the judges (i.e. If 5 judges attend, 3 must nominate the same person).

Awards
The ITL offers several types of awards: individual excellence, ensemble, founder's, and special awards.

Cetificate of Excellence is given to an individual, in any production category, that has been nominated by a majority of judges in attendance (minimum of 3 out of the mandatory 5).

Ensemble Award is given to a production when all performers and the director qualify for a Certificate of Excellence. For musical production, all performers, the director, musical director, and choreographer must qualify for Certificates of Excellence.

Founder's Award is given to an individual that is nominated by all ITL judges that attend the production.

Special Awards are given each year to individuals who demonstrated an extraordinary achievement or contribution; as well as to theater companies who are celebrating an anniversary milestone.