| Isabelle Stevenson Award | |
|---|---|
| Awarded for | "recognize an individual from the theatre community who has made a substantial contribution of volunteered time and effort on behalf of one or more humanitarian, social service or charitable organizations, regardless of whether such organizations relate to the theatre."[1] |
| Location | New York City |
| Country | United States |
| Presented by | American Theatre Wing &The Broadway League |
| Reward | Medallion |
| First award | 2009 |
| Currently held by | Celia Keenan-Bolger (2025) |
| Website | www |
TheIsabelle Stevenson Award is a non-competitive philanthropic award presented as part of theTony Awards to "recognize an individual from the theatre community who has made a substantial contribution of volunteered time and effort on behalf of one or more humanitarian, social service or charitable organizations, regardless of whether such organizations relate to the theatre."[1] It is named for Isabelle Stevenson, a dancer who performed for audiences all round the world and was president and later chairperson of the board of theAmerican Theatre Wing until her death in 2003.[2] A single recipient is chosen by the Tony Award Administration Committee and may not be presented at every ceremony.[1][2] The international press regards the Tony Awards as America's most prestigious theater awards.[3][4]
The American Theatre Wing andThe Broadway League present the winner with a copy of a circular brass and bronze medallion designed by art directorHerman Rosse at an annual award ceremony inNew York City.[5][6] The award has been presented annually since the63rd Tony Awards in 2009.[7] ActressPhyllis Newman was chosen as its inaugural recipient for her work in establishing the Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative in 1995 and raising $3.5 million for the organization.[8] Since then, another six women and eight men have received the award and no one has won it more than once.[9] As of the78th Tony Awards in 2025, actorCelia Keenan-Bolger is the most recent winner in this category.
| Year | Image | Recipient(s) | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 |  | Phyllis Newman | Newman established The Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative in 1995 and raised $3.5 million for it. | [8] |
| 2010 |  | David Hyde Pierce | Pierce is an honorary member of the national board of theAlzheimer's Association and a campaigner for research intoAlzheimer's disease. | [10] |
| 2011 |  | Eve Ensler | Ensler established theV-Day global movement to stop violence against girls and women through awareness and education. | [11] |
| 2012 |  | Bernadette Peters | Peters co-formed the animal charityBroadway Barks with actressMary Tyler Moore to lobby for the adoption of animal shelters for homeless pets inNew York City. | [12] |
| 2013 |  | Larry Kramer | Kramer co-founded theGay Men's Health Crisis and later establishedACT UP, an international activist and direct action network to develop treatments ofHIV/AIDS. | [13] |
| 2014 |  | Rosie O'Donnell | O'Donnell established the non-profit arts education organization Rosie's Broadway Kids (nowRosie's Theater Kids) in 2003 to allow New York City public school students to learn dance, drama and music. | [14] |
| 2015 | .jpg) | Stephen Schwartz | Schwartz fostered upcoming writers as a long-time board member of theASCAP Foundation and the ASCAP Musical Theatre Workshop. He assisted in developing new partnerships as president of theDramatists Guild of America. | [15] |
| 2016 |  | Brian Stokes Mitchell | Mitchell supported those in the entertainment field who had or were in a crisis or in transition in the industry through his efforts for theActors Fund of America. | [16] |
| 2017 | .jpg) | Baayork Lee | Lee founded theNational Asian Artists Project to promote Asian-American theater artists through community outreach, educational programming and performances. | [17] |
| 2018 | – | Nick Scandalios | Scandalios, executive vice-president ofNederlander Organization, one of the largest theater operators in the United States, volunteers with the board of directors for theFamily Equality Council to safeguard the rights and safety of LGBT families and their children. | [18] |
| 2019 |  | Judith Light | Light is an HIV/AIDS advocate and a supporter of LBGT rights through her work in philanthropy. | [19] |
| 2020 |  | Julie Halston | Halston was honored "for her work and advocacy in raising funding and awareness for the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation." | [20] |
| 2022 | – | Robert E. Wankel | Wankel, the CEO for theShubert Organization, received recognition for his support of The Actors Fund,Broadway Cares,American Academy of Dramatic Arts and that "his generosity and service to the welfare of our Broadway community, over the past four decades and, especially in the face of a global crisis, is immeasurable." | [21] |
| 2023 | – | Jerry Mitchell | Mitchell was recognized for "his dedication and contributions to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and for more than three decades of volunteer service through the arts." | [22] |
| 2024 | .jpg) | Billy Porter | Porter was honored for "his work with theElizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation andEntertainment Community Fund." | [23] |
| 2025 | Celia Keenan-Bolger | Keenan-Bolger was recognized for "her extensive advocacy work for marriage equality, President Obama, and more." | [24] |
Media related toIsabelle Stevenson Award at Wikimedia Commons