Felicia P. Fields and Jason Ritter Win Clarence Derwent Awards

Felicia P. Fields and Jason Ritter have been selected to receive the 61st annual Clarence Derwent Awards. The awards, administered by the Actors' Equity Foundation, honor the most promising female and male performances on the New York metropolitan scene. The prizes are $2,000 each plus an engraved crystal trophy.

Fields was recognized for her performance as Sofia in The Color Purple, a show she also appeared in in Atlanta. Fields is a Jeff Award-winning actress best known for her word in the Chicago area. At the Goodman Theater she has appeared in The Rose Tattoo, The Amen Corner, A Christmas Carol, Ties That Bind and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. Her work at Marriott's Lincolnshire Theatre includes the musicals Showboat, Carousel, Damn Yankees, Big River, Dreamgirls, The Wiz and Hot Mikado.

Ritter was cited for his performance in the Lincoln Center Theatre production of Wendy Wasserstein's Third in which he played Woodson Bull III. His other theatrical credits include The Beginning of August off-Broadway and the world premiere of Neil LaBute's The Distance from Here at London's Almeida Theatre. Ritter is best known for playing the wheelchair-bound Kevin Girardi in the television series Joan of Arcadia. He will be seen on the small screen this fall in the new series Class. His film credits include Mumford, Swimfan, Freddy vs. Jason, Raise Your Voice, Happy Endings and Our Very Own.

The Derwent Awards were established in 1944 by Clarence Derwent, distinguished actor and former president of Actors' Equity Association. Past recipients include Kerry Butler, Kristin Chenoweth, Calista Flockhart, Annette Bening, Gene Hackman, Anne Hathaway, Dana Ivey, John Malkovich, Denis O'Hare, George C. Scott, Anika Noni Rose, Frances Sternhagen, Gene Wilder and James Woods.

Award winners were chosen by a panel of judges, which included Betty Corwin Director of Special Projects, Theatre on Film & Tape Archive of the Lincoln Center Library for the Performing Arts, Adam Feldman Time Out NY, Arne Gundersen President of the Actors' Equity Foundation, Harry Haun Playbill, Michael Kuchwara Associated Press, Patrick Quinn President of Actors' Equity Association, David Rosenberg Back Stage, Michael Sommers The Star Ledger and Douglas Watt The Daily News.

The presentation of the awards will take place on August 1 at the offices of Actors' Equity Association.