The Obie Awards are an annual award ceremony that honors Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway productions in the United States. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Village Voice newspaper. The name 'Obie' is derived from the nickname of the late New York Herald Tribune theatre critic, Gilbert Gabriel 'Oberon' O'Brien. The awards are given for excellence in direction, performance, design, and playwriting. They are considered to be among the most prestigious awards for dramas in the United States.