TheTheatre World Award is an American honor presented annually to actors and actresses in recognition of an outstanding New York City stage debut performance, either onBroadway oroff-Broadway. It was first awarded for the 1945–1946 theatre season.
In 1944, the Theatre World Awards were founded by Daniel Blum, Norman McDonald, and John Willis, recognizing "Promising Personalities", actors and actresses, in debut performances, in Broadway or Off-Broadway productions.[1] In the first year Blum presented the awards in his apartment, at a cocktail party, toBetty Comden,Judy Holliday andJohn Raitt, and the second year toBarbara Bel Geddes,Marlon Brando, andBurt Lancaster.[1] At Blum's 1949 party, Carol Channing won.[1] TheTheatre World editorial staff administered the Awards, under the supervision of Daniel Blum.
In 1964, after Daniel Blum's death,John Willis supervised the Awards.[1] In 1969, the award was renamed theTheatre World Award.[1] The early awards were a framed certificate, then a plaque, later in 1973, the bronzeJanus Award, sculpted by Harry Marinsky.[1][2][3] In 1998, the Theatre World Awards were incorporated as a501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization and are currently overseen by a board of directors independent ofTheatre World.
Winners are selected by a committee of New York-based critics. That committee includes (as of May 2015) Roma Torre (NY1), David Cote (Time Out7 New York, NY1), Joe Dziemianowicz (New York Daily News),Peter Filichia (The Newark Star-Ledger, Eme76ritus), Harry Haun (Playbill), Matthew Murray (TalkinBroadway.com), and Frank Scheck (New York Post).[4][5][6]
TheDorothy Loudon Starbaby Award was instituted in 2009, named in honor of actress and singerDorothy Loudon (1925–2003) and since 2010 has been awarded by theDorothy Loudon Foundation in connection with these awards. The first Starbaby Award was presented toSusan Louise O'Connor (Blithe Spirit). Other recipients areBobby Steggert (Ragtime andYank!) (2009–10),[7] Seth Numrich (War Horse) (2010–11),[8] and Susan Pourfar (Tribes).[6] In 2013, it was renamedDorothy Loudon Award for Excellence in the Theater.[citation needed]
The first annual Lunt–Fontanne Award for Ensemble Excellence was presented at the 2010–11 Awards, to the cast ofThe Motherf**ker with the Hat –Bobby Cannavale,Chris Rock,Annabella Sciorra,Elizabeth Rodriguez and Yul Vázquez. The award is in honor of the lateAlfred Lunt andLynn Fontanne and is presented to an outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway ensemble.[9] In 2022 an award for "Outstanding Ensemble" was presented to the 21 cast members making their Broadway debuts in the revival ofThe Music Man.[10]
A new award, theJohn Willis Award, was first instituted for the 2012–13 season. It is given for "lifetime achievement in the theatre" to honor John Willis who created and maintained the Theatre World tradition for 66 years, encouraging new talent in an often challenging business." The first recipient wasAlan Alda.[5]
The winners for the 2010–11 season were announced on May 10, 2011, with a ceremony held on June 7; the awards are traditionally presented by former award winners.[8] The awards for the 2011–11 season were announced on May 8, 2012, and presented at a ceremony held on June 5, 2012, at theBelasco Theatre.[6]
The awards for the 2012–13 season were announced on May 7, 2013, and the 69th Annual Theatre World Awards Ceremony was held on June 3 at theMusic Box Theater.[5] The awards for the 2013–14 season were announced on May 6, 2014, and the ceremony was held on June 2, 2014, at Circle in the Square.[11] The awards for the 2014–15 season were announced on May 5, 2015; the ceremony was held on June 1, 2015, at the Lyric Theatre.[12]
Past recipients, from1990-1991 to2024-2025[13]