History of the Thea Awards
The Thea Awards: Celebrating Excellence in Themed Entertainment
From a modest beginning in 1994 to an internationally recognized symbol of excellence.
The Thea Awards were created to bring recognition to achievement, talent, and personal excellence within the themed entertainment industry.
Origins of the Thea Awards
The idea for the Thea Awards was born in 1991 when Monty Lunde, founder of the Themed Entertainment Association, recognized that the themed entertainment industry represented some of the most accomplished yet under-recognized talents in entertainment.
After launching TEA and guiding it through its critical early years, Monty’s next priority was creating an award to bring recognition and prestige to the people of the industry.
Key Moments in Thea Awards History
1991: The Idea Begins
Monty Lunde identified the need for an award that would recognize achievement, talent, and personal excellence in themed entertainment.
1994: First Thea Awards Ceremony
The first ceremony was held at the Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. Produced by Ron Miziker and coordinated by Jana Love, the evening honored Harrison “Buzz” Price as the first recipient of the TEA Lifetime Achievement Award.
1995: The Celebration Grows
The awards continued with a larger event at the Biltmore Hotel, honoring Marty Sklar of Walt Disney Imagineering and establishing the fun, celebratory tone that would continue in future years.
1996: Awards for Outstanding Achievement Introduced
The Awards for Outstanding Achievement expanded the program into a multi-category event. This year also introduced the first credits list, highlighting the multidisciplinary nature of the industry.
2001: A New Thea Design Debuts
The updated Thea trophy, designed by Zofia Kostryko, debuted in 2001.
The Thea Award Design
The Name “Thea”
The name is derived from the Greek goddess Thea, from whom all light emanates.
Theater & TEA
The name also connects to “Theater” and to TEA, the association behind the awards.
The Trophy
The original Thea and AOA trophies were designed by Barry Howard and Jeremy Railton. The current Thea debuted in 2001 and was designed by Zofia Kostryko.
The Growth of the Thea Awards
The first year’s ceremony was a major success. By 1995, attendance had grown to around 350 people, and the event established a celebratory format of tributes and light-hearted “roasts.”
In 1996, the introduction of the Awards for Outstanding Achievement expanded the Thea Awards into a multi-category program and helped recognize the broad network of individuals and companies behind each project.