Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre

Non-competitive theatre award

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, and 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

[edit]

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 | Run by Geoffrey Johnson and Vincent Liff
The Acting Company.[6] |
2004[7] | The cast of the 2003 Broadway production of Big River | Produced by the Roundabout Theatre Company and Deaf West Theatre
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
2005 | Peter Neufeld | Theatrical company manager, theater manager, and 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, a scene shop
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 | Technical supervisor
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, a Scenic painting shop
FDNY Engine 54, Ladder 4, Battalion 9 |
2021 | Delayed due to COVID-19 Pandemic |
2021 | Fred Gallo | President of PRG Scenic Technologies, a scene shop
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 | Stage manager
Victoria Bailey | Executive Director, Theatre Development Fund
Robert Fried | Accountant
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 |
2025 | Michael P. Price | Longest serving Artistic Director of a professional theatre in the United States.
Great Performances |
New 42 |
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts |

## References

[edit]

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.

## External links

[edit]

* Official Tony Awards website

* v
* t
* e

Tony Awards

* American Theatre Wing
* The Broadway League
* EGOT
* Triple Crown of Acting
* Records

Play|

* Best Play
* Revival
* Direction
* Leading Actor
* Leading Actress
* Featured Actor
* Featured Actress
* Costume Design
* Lighting Design
* Scenic Design
* Sound Design

Musical|

* Best Musical
* Revival
* Direction
* Leading Actor
* Leading Actress
* Featured Actor
* Featured Actress
* Book
* Choreography
* Costume Design
* Lighting Design
* Orchestrations
* Original Score
* Scenic Design
* Sound Design

Special (non-competitive)|

* Regional Theatre Tony Award
* Special Tony Award
* Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre
* Isabelle Stevenson Award

Retired|

* Author
* Conductor and Musical Director
* Costume Design*
* Director*
* Lighting Design*
* Newcomer
* Revival*
* Scenic Design*
* Special Theatrical Event
* Stage Technician

Ceremonies|

* 1947
* 1948
* 1949
* 1950
* 1951
* 1952
* 1953
* 1954
* 1955
* 1956
* 1957
* 1958
* 1959
* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020/21
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

Nominee demographics|

* African-American
* Asian
* Philippines
* Other countries

* Divided into separate awards for plays and musicals
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template