The National Theatre Conference has announced the winners of its annual awards, which honor outstanding theatres and theatremakers from across the United States.

The 2023 NTC Person of the Year is Jacob Padrón, artistic director of Long Wharf Theatre. The Outstanding Theatre Award was given to Deaf West Theatre, a Los Angeles-based non-profit that bridges the Deaf and hearing worlds through musical theatre (including their Tony nominated productions of Big River and Spring Awakening).

The Paul Green Award, which honors new professional theatre talent, was given to Isabel Pask. Selected by Padrón in his first act as Person of the Year, Pask is a Brooklyn-based writer, actor, director, and producer. The Emerging Professional Award was given to Joshua Castille, a Deaf performance artist based in Chicago who worked with Deaf West in the Broadway production of Spring Awakening. As an individual of "extraordinary promise," Castille receives a $1,000 grant to fund his artistic endeavors.

Lastly, the Barrie and Bernice Stavis award for emerging playwrights was given to a.k. payne for their play Cold Case. Based in Pittsburgh, payne is a playwright, artist-theorist, and theatremaker whose work explores the interdependencies of Black pasts, presents, and futures. payne holds a B.A. in English and African-American Studies from Yale College, and an MFA in Playwriting under Tarell Alvin McCraney from the Yale School of Drama.

Founded in 1925, The National Theatre Conference (NTC) is a not-for-profit organization that supports the continued progression and evolution of the American theatre. Once a year, members of the NTC come together for an exchange of aims and ideas to address common problems, where new techniques are explored and awards are given.