In a surprise move, the board of directors of the Carbonell Awards has voted to suspend the program for 2009. A ceremony honoring the best work in South Florida theater during 2008 will still take place in the spring, but no productions that open during 2009 will be given awards.

Board president Leslie J. Feldman, publisher emeritus of Playbill magazine, detailed the reasons for the board's action in a release sent out early Monday morning:

''This year saw our tremendously dedicated judging panel pay $4 a gallon for gas. That was followed by the untimely passing of executive director Jack Zink, a rapid decline in the regional media pool which formed the basis of our judging procedure for so long, and a failing economy which threatens both donations to our organization and ticket sales to our annual awards ceremony,'' Feldman said. ``The clear message of 2008 is that change happens, and it's time to take stock.''

The not-for-profit Carbonell Awards were founded in 1976 by Zink, the longtime Sun Sentinel critic who died in August, and several other critics. Named for sculptor Manuel Carbonell, they honor the best work in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach County theaters. The Carbonells also give awards to touring productions, honor those who make a difference in the arts, and fund scholarships to arts and journalism students.

Because of the size of region, the Carbonells have recently used a two-tier system for arriving at award nominations. A panel of assigned nominators, only some of whom are theater critics, sees a show at each eligible theater, and if a majority agree on awards-worthy components, Carbonell judges must go to see the show, which could be anywhere from Miami to Jupiter. Only the judges determine the nominees and award winners.

What that translates into, as Feldman pointed out, is lots of time, driving and gas money.

''Since the beginning of the year, 73 eligible productions have opened at 21 regional theaters. If you lived in a central point in Broward, you would drive more than 3,600 miles to see them all,'' he noted.

Behind the scenes, theaters have been complaining about the system, which has sometimes led to positively reviewed productions being classified as ''not recommended'' -- shut out of awards consideration. The Carbonell board of directors (Feldman, producer Jay Harris, public relations executive Savannah Whaley, Broward Center CEO Mark Nerenhausen, Kravis Center CEO Judith Mitchell, Jerome Cohen and Carbonell family representative Ricardo Gonzalez) felt that key issues facing the program couldn't be resolved before the start of 2009.

''This was done with a lot of agonizing and thought,'' Whaley said Monday. ``We're going to make some changes. The awards have terrific public relations value for theaters, but we have to think about how are we really serving the theater community.''

As word of the program's suspension got out Monday, some participants and theater leaders expressed doubts or outright anger.

''I am devastated by the board's decision and feel that it would be difficult, if not impossible, to revive the awards after a year's hiatus because of the damage it would do to its credibility with the theater community and the volunteers who make it possible,'' said Bill Hirschman, a freelance critic who puts together the nominating panels. ``I'm hoping that the board will agree to reconsider and meet with its volunteers to devise a less drastic solution to its genuine problems.''

Joseph Adler, artistic director of GableStage, has won numerous Carbonells for directing as well as multiple best play awards for his productions. While he believes the program has problems, he thinks its suspension is too drastic.

''I think it needs to be rethought, but what's going to get better in the next year?'' Adler says. ``The old [weighted] voting system was never perfect, but it seemed to work. There were fewer complaints.''

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