Lynne Soffer Wins Equity Humanitarian Award

Actors' Equity Association (Equity) announced today that Lynne Soffer is the winner of the 2011 Lucy Jordan Humanitarian Award. The presentation of the award, which honors an individual in the theatrical community, will be made at the April 28, 2011 Equity Membership Meeting in San Francisco.

Ms. Soffer, who resides in the Bay area, has made her name as an actress, acting coach and teacher and nationally recognized dialect coach. She is acknowledged by her peers in the profession as an individual who loves acting and is willing to share that enthusiasm, knowledge and experience with both students and young actors entering the industry. In addition to her body of work, Ms. Soffer is also known for her generosity of spirit, and her selfless dedication to those in the theater world who have been ill and in need.

An Equity member since 1981, she most recently appeared in the San Jose Repertory production of THE DRESSER. Other stage credits include ENCHANTED APRIL, HEARTBREAK HOUSE, SLAVS! and RABBIT HOLE, to name a few. As a dialect coach, Ms. Soffer has worked on over 135 productions for productions at numerous theaters including Berkeley Rep, A.C.T., Seattle Rep, San Jose Rep, The Old Globe (San Diego), Magic Theatre, Marin Theatre Company, Aurora Theatre and PCPA Theaterfest. She was a dialect coach for the world premiere of Moises Kaufman's THE LARAMIE PROJECT, and coached the dialects for Jonathan Moscone and Sean Daniels' NICHOLAS NICKLEBY, PARTS 1 & 2 at Cal Shakes. As an instructor of acting, text and speech, Ms. Soffer has taught at schools and theater companies throughout the country.

The Lucy Jordan Humanitarian Award (LJHA) is the only recognition award given by Equity's Western Regional Board. It was established by the Stage Managers Committee in 1992 to commemorate the unflagging spirit of former Western Region Business Field Rep, Lucy Jordan, who passed away unexpectedly that year. The LJHA is given to honor any members of the extended theatrical family who go above and beyond the call of duty.

Actors' Equity Association, founded in 1913, is the oldest performing arts union in the nation and represents more than 49,000 professional stage actors and stage managers. Equity seeks to advance, promote and foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of our society. Equity negotiates wages and working conditions and provides a wide range of benefits for its members. Equity is a member of the AFL-CIO and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions.