On June 27th Charles Busch was honored with the 2011 Luminary Award from the Innovative Theatre Foundation. Busch's muse, longtime friend and collaborator Julie Halston presented the award that recognizes an Off-Off-Broadway (OOB) alumnus who has reached eminence in their field and is an inspiration to others.

Halston regaled the audience with hilarious stories of performing with Busch in a "crack den" in the village. However she was quite sincere when she said, "Charles Busch is the most talented person I have ever known."

As a theatre major at Northwestern University, Busch was troubled by the fact that he was not getting cast.  In a recent interview for Primary Stages, Busch recalls thinking, "Wow, if I'm not being cast in university theatre, I may have a hard time with it in real show biz." Finding inspiration in the experimental theatre of the 1970's, Busch was especially drawn to Charles Ludlum who's Play-House of the Ridiculous and the Ridiculous Theatrical Company were breaking theatrical molds. "That showed me that a theatrical experience could be whatever I choose it to be. It didn't have to be just commercial theatre" says Busch. So he began to write, creating characters that he wanted to play. In the introduction to The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, he wrote, "I started out as a performer who needed lines to say and, through necessity, grew to be a writer."

As an OOB alumnus, Busch knows the challenges that face artists in this sector. Busch was one of the founders of the legendary OOB company Theatre in Limbo in 1984, where he honed his skills on such plays as Sleeping Beauty or Coma and Psycho Beach Party. It was the Theatre in Limbo's production of Vampire Lesbians of Sodom that first propelled Busch into the limelight. While he has achieved great success, he continues to be a part of the OOB community. He was the first host for the Innovative Theatre Awards in 2005, celebrating the Off-Off-Broadway community and his roots. His productions of Shanghai Moon (1999) and The Divine Sister (2010) both premiered at the OOB house, Theatre for a New City. His dedication, generosity and numerous talents continue to be an inspiration to his fellow artists.

"I'm enormously touched to be recognized by the Innovative Theatre Awards," says Busch. "From the beginning, my career has taken me on a twisted and frequently fascinating back road. I'm delighted if my experience has in some way illuminated that path for young artists to travel."

Busch's most recent work, Olive and the Bitter Herbs premiers at Primary Stages at 59E59 Theaters, July 26th - September 3rd. Get your tickets now .

Check out Charles' Primary Stages interview .

Read Shay's story about producing Psycho Beach Party in Salt Lake
City.

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