Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre

The Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre is a non-competitive award created by the American Theatre Wing in 1990. They are presented to institutions, individuals and/or organizations that have demonstrated extraordinary achievement in theatre, but are not eligible to compete in any of the established Tony Award categories. The Tony Honors "are announced in the autumn. They are bestowed at a separate ceremony that affords recipients a special moment in the spotlight."[1] As explained in Playbill, "In 2003, a new tradition began for the Tony Honors, which were previously announced during the Tony Awards broadcast. Last year, however, the Honors were presented in the fall..."[2]

The first recipient was Alfred Drake, who was recognized for his lengthy career in musical theatre.[3]

Recipients

Year Recipient Notes
1990 Alfred Drake
1991 Father George Moore Pastor of St. Malachy's Church (known as The Actors’ Chapel) "for his service and commitment to the needy and elderly of the theater district and improving conditions in the Times Square area."[4]
1992 Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt In commemoration for The Fantasticks, achieving its 33rd year Off-Broadway.[5]
1993 International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS The entertainment industry's most active charity addressing the challenges of AIDS.
1994 Not Awarded
1995 National Endowment for the Arts
1996 Not Awarded
1997 Not Awarded
1998 The International Theatre Institute of the United States
1999 Not Awarded
2000 Eileen Heckart
Sylvia Herscher Theatrical Agent & Music Publisher
City Center Encores!
2001 Betty Corwin Founder and director of the Theatre on Film and Tape Archive of the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
New Dramatists
Theatre World
2002 Not Awarded
2003 The principal ensemble of Baz Luhrmann's La Bohème
Paul Huntley Wig and hair stylist
Johnson-Liff Casting Associates
The Acting Company.[6]
2004[7] The cast of the 2003 Broadway production of Big River
Nancy Coyne Chief executive of theatrical advertising agency Serino Coyne
Frances and Harry Edelstein Restaurateurs, owner of Cafe Edison
Vincent Sardi Jr. Restaurateur, owner of Sardi's
Martha Swope Photographer
2004 Peter Neufeld Producer
Theatre Communications Group.[8]
2006 BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Workshop
Forbidden Broadway and its creator, Gerard Alessandrini
Samuel Liff
Ellen Stewart.[9]
2007 Gemze de Lappe
Alyce Gilbert Wardrobe Supervisor
Neil Mazzella CEO of Hudson Scenic Studios
Seymour "Red" Press Musician and musical contractor [10]
2008 Not Awarded
2009 Shirley Herz Press agent [11]
2010 The Alliance of Resident Theatres New York
B.H. Barry Teacher
Tom Viola BC/EFA executive director.[12]
2011 William Berloni Animal trainer
The Drama Book Shop
Sharon Jensen and Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts [13]
2012 Freddie Gershon Entertainment attorney
Artie Siccardi
the TDF Open Doors Program
2013 Michael Bloomberg NYC Mayor
Career Transition For Dancers
William "Bill" Craver Literary Agent
Peter Lawrence Production Stage Manager
The Lost Colony Historical outdoor drama produced since 1937 in Manteo, North Carolina
Sophia Gennusa, Oona Laurence, Bailey Ryon and Milly Shapiro The four actresses who share the lead in Matilda the Musical.
2014 Joseph P. Benincasa Actors Fund of America President
Joan Marcus Photographer
Charlotte Wilcox General manager [14]
2015 Arnold Abramson Scenic designer
Adrian Bryan-Brown Public relations consultant
Gene O'Donovan Theatre technician [15]
2016 Seth Gelblum Entertainment attorney
Joan Lader Vocal coach
Sally Ann Parsons Costume shop proprietor [16]
2017 General managers Nina Lannan and Alan Wasser [17]
2018 Sara Krulwich New York Times photographer
Bessie Nelson Costume beader
Ernest Winzer Cleaners [18]
2019 Broadway Inspirational Voices
Peter Entin Retired vice president of Theatre Operations for the Shubert Organization
Joseph Blakely Forbes Founder and president of Scenic Art Studios, Inc
FDNY Engine 54, Ladder 4, Battalion 9
2021 Delayed due to COVID-19 Pandemic
2021 Fred Gallo President of PRG Scenic Technologies
Irene Gandy Press agent & Producer
Beverly Jenkins Stage manager
New Federal Theatre [19]
2022 Asian American Performers Action Coalition
Broadway for All
Emily Grishman Music copyist
Feinstein's/54 Below
United Scenic Artists (Local USA 829, IATSE) [20]
2023 Lisa Dawn Cave
Victoria Bailey
Robert Fried
2024 Wendall K. Harrington Scenic projection designer
Colleen Jennings-Roggensack Executive director of ASU Gammage and longtime member of the Broadway League
Judith O. Rubin Outgoing board chair of Playwrights Horizons
Dramatists Guild Foundation
Samuel J. Friedman Health Center for the Performing Arts

References

  1. ^ "The Award Categories" Archived 2016-08-04 at the Wayback Machine tonyawards.com, accessed April 9, 2011
  2. ^ Gans, Andrew."Nominations for Tony Honors Now Being Accepted; Winners to Be Announced in September" Archived October 20, 2012, at the Wayback Machine playbill.com, August 25, 2004
  3. ^ Rothstein, Mervyn. "Tonys Are Won by 'Grapes of Wrath' and 'City of Angels'", The New York Times, June 4, 1990, Section C, p. 13
  4. ^ Winship, Frederick M. "Will Rogers,' 'Lost in Yonkers' dominate Tonys", United Press International, June 3, 1991
  5. ^ Collins, Glenn. "'Dancing at Lughnasa' And 'Crazy for You' Win Top Tony Awards", The New York Times, June 1, 1992, Section C, p. 11
  6. ^ Gans, Andrew (November 11, 2003). "Jackman, Seldes and Hairspray Part of 2003 Tony Honors Celebration". Playbill.com. Archived from the original on 2012-10-20.
  7. ^ Simonson, Robert. "Theatre Community Turns Out to Salute Special Tony Honorees" playbill.com, October 27, 2004
  8. ^ Lipton, Brian Scott."Peter Neufeld, TCG to Receive Tony Award Honors" theatermania.com, September 27, 2005
  9. ^ Reuben, Aubrey, Strothmann, Ben."Tony Honors, October 24, 2006" Archived August 8, 2023, at the Wayback MachineThe Playbill Broadway Yearbook, 3ed. (books.google), Hal Leonard Corporation, 2007, ISBN 1-55783-732-5, p. 444
  10. ^ Gans, Andrew.De Lappe, Gilbert, Mazzella and Press to Receive 2007 Tony Honors" playbill.com, October 2, 2007
  11. ^ Gans, Andrew."Herman, Herz, Newman and Signature Theatre Are 2009 Special Tony Award Winners" playbill.com, May 4, 2009
  12. ^ Gans, Andrew. David Hyde Pierce, Marian Seldes, Tom Viola, Alan Ayckbourn Win Special Tony Awards" playbill.com, April 21, 2010
  13. ^ Gans, Andrew. Athol Fugard, Philip J. Smith, Eve Ensler Win Special Tony Awards" playbill.com, April 6, 2011
  14. ^ "2014 Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre Announced' Archived 2014-12-28 at the Wayback Machine TonyAwards.com, April 8, 2014; retrieved on December 27, 2014
  15. ^ "Three Broadway Veterans to Receive 2015 Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre". TonyAwards.com. Archived from the original on 2015-09-10. Retrieved 2015-09-14.
  16. ^ "2016 Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre Announced". TonyAwards.com. Archived from the original on 2016-04-18. Retrieved 2016-04-15.
  17. ^ BWW News Desk. "Nina Lannan & Alan Wasser to Receive 2017 Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre". BroadwayWorld.com. Archived from the original on 2017-04-22. Retrieved 2017-04-22.
  18. ^ "Sara Krulwich, Bessie Nelson, and Ernest Winzer Cleaners to Receive 2018 Tony Honors | Playbill". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2018-09-13. Retrieved 2018-09-04.
  19. ^ "Four Honorees Announced for 2020 Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre". www.tonyawards.com. Archived from the original on 20 January 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  20. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (May 6, 2022). "Asian American Performers Action Coalition, Feinstein's/54 Below, More to Receive 2022 Tony Honors". Playbill. Archived from the original on May 6, 2022. Retrieved May 6, 2022.