Theatre World Award

The Theatre World Award is an American honor presented annually to actors and actresses in recognition of an outstanding New York City stage debut performance, either on Broadway or off-Broadway. It was first awarded for the 1945–1946 theatre season.

History

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, to Betty Comden, Judy Holliday and John Raitt, and the second year to Barbara Bel Geddes, Marlon Brando, and Burt Lancaster.^[1] At Blum's 1949 party, Carol Channing won.^[1] The Theatre 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 the Theatre World Award.^[1] The early awards were a framed certificate, then a plaque, later in 1973, the bronze Janus Award, sculpted by Harry Marinsky.^[1][2][3] In 1998, the Theatre World Awards were incorporated as a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization and are currently overseen by a board of directors independent of Theatre 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] .

Special honorary awards

The Dorothy Loudon Starbaby Award was instituted in 2009, named in honor of actress and singer Dorothy Loudon (1925–2003) and since 2010 has been awarded by the Dorothy Loudon Foundation in connection with these awards. The first Starbaby Award was presented to Susan Louise O'Connor (Blithe Spirit). Other recipients are Bobby Steggert (Ragtime and Yank!) (2009–10),^[7] Seth Numrich (War Horse) (2010–11),^[8] and Susan Pourfar (Tribes).^[6] In 2013, it was renamed Dorothy 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 of The Motherf**ker with the Hat – Bobby Cannavale, Chris Rock, Annabella Sciorra, Elizabeth Rodriguez and Yul Vázquez. The award is in honor of the late Alfred Lunt and Lynn 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 of The Music Man.^[10]

John Willis Award

A new award, the John 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 was Alan Alda.^[5]

The award ceremony

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 the Belasco 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 the Music 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]

Award winners

Past recipients, from 1990-1991 to 2024—2025^[13]

1990-1991 Jane Adams - I Hate Hamlet Gillian Anderson - Absent Friends Adam Arkin - I Hate Hamlet Brenda Blethyn - Absent Friends Marcus Chong - Stand-up Tragedy Paul Hipp - Buddy LaChanze - Once on This Island Kenny Neal - Mule Bone Kevin Ramsey - Oh, Kay! Francis Ruivivar - Shogun, The Musical Lea Salonga - Miss Saigon Chandra Wilson - The Good Times Are Killing Me Tracey Ullman - The Big Love and The Taming of the Shrew Special Award: Ellen Stewart

1991-1992 Talia Balsam - Jake's Women Lindsay Crouse - The Homecoming Griffin Dunne - Search and Destroy Laurence Fishburne - Two Trains Running Mel Harris - Empty Hearts Jonathan Kaplan - Falsettos and Rags Jessica Lange - A Streetcar Named Desire Laura Linney - Sight Unseen Spiro Malas - The Most Happy Fella Mark Rosenthal - Marvin's Room Helen Shaver - Jake's Women Al White - Two Trains Running Special Award: cast of Dancing at Lughnasa Special Award: Plays for Living

1992-1993 Brent Carver - Kiss of the Spider Woman Michael Cerveris - The Who's Tommy Marcia Gay Harden - Angels in America: Millennium Approaches Stephanie Lawrence - Blood Brothers Andrea Martin - My Favorite Year Liam Neeson - Anna Christie Stephen Rea - Someone Who'll Watch Over Me Natasha Richardson - Anna Christie Martin Short - The Goodbye Girl Dina Spybey - Five Women Wearing the Same Dress Stephen Spinella - Angels in America: Millennium Approaches Jennifer Tilly - One Shoe Off Special Award: John Leguizamo Special Award: Rosetta LeNoire

1993-1994 Marcus D'Amico - An Inspector Calls Jarrod Emick - Damn Yankees Arabella Field - Snowing at Delphi and Four Dogs and a Bone Aden Gillett - An Inspector Calls Sherry Glaser - Family Secrets Michael Hayden - Carousel Margaret Illman - The Red Shoes Audra Ann McDonald - Carousel Burke Moses - Beauty and the Beast Anna Deavere Smith - Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 Jere Shea - Passion Harriet Walter - Three Birds Alighting on a Field

1994-1995 Gretha Boston - Show Boat Billy Crudup - Arcadia Ralph Fiennes - Hamlet Beverly D'Angelo - Simpatico Calista Flockhart - The Glass Menagerie Kevin Kilner - The Glass Menagerie Anthony LaPaglia - The Rose Tattoo Julie Johnson - Das Barbecü Helen Mirren - A Month in the Country Jude Law - Indiscretions Rufus Sewell - Translations Vanessa Williams - Kiss of the Spider Woman Special Award: Brooke Shields

1995–1996 Jordan Baker - Suddenly Last Summer Joohee Choi - The King and I Karen Kay Cody - Master Class Viola Davis - Seven Guitars Kate Forbes - The School for Scandal Michael McGrath - Swinging on a Star Alfred Molina - Molly Sweeney Timothy Olyphant - The Monogamist Adam Pascal - Rent Lou Diamond Phillips - The King and I Daphne Rubin-Vega - Rent Brett Tabisel - Big Special Award: cast of An Ideal Husband

1996–1997 Terry Beaver - The Last Night of Ballyhoo Helen Carey - London Assurance Kristin Chenoweth - Steel Pier Jason Danieley - Candide Linda Eder - Jekyll & Hyde Allison Janney - Present Laughter Daniel McDonald - Steel Pier Janet McTeer - A Doll's House Mark Ruffalo - This Is Our Youth Fiona Shaw - The Waste Land Antony Sher - Stanley Alan Tudyk - Bunny Bunny Special Award: cast of Skylight

1997–1998 Max Casella – The Lion King Margaret Colin – Jackie Ruaidhri Conroy – The Cripple of Inishmaan Alan Cumming – Cabaret Lea DeLaria – On the Town Edie Falco – Side Man Enid Graham – Honour Anna Kendrick – High Society Ednita Nazario – The Capeman Douglas Sills – The Scarlet Pimpernel Steven Sutcliffe – Ragtime Sam Trammell – Ah, Wilderness! Special Award: Eddie Izzard[citation needed] Special Award: cast of The Beauty Queen of Leenane[citation needed]

1998–1999 Jillian Armenante - The Cider House Rules James Black - Not About Nightingales Brendan Coyle - The Weir Anna Friel - Closer Rupert Graves - Closer Lynda Gravatt - The Old Settler Nicole Kidman - The Blue Room Ciaran Hinds - Closer Ute Lemper - Chicago Clarke Peters - The Iceman Cometh Toby Stephens - Ring Round the Moon Sandra Oh - Stop Kiss Special Award: Jerry Herman

1999–2000 Craig Bierko – The Music Man Everett Bradley – Swing! Gabriel Byrne – A Moon for the Misbegotten Ann Hampton Callaway – Swing! Toni Collette – The Wild Party Henry Czerny – Arms and the Man Stephen Dillane – The Real Thing Jennifer Ehle – The Real Thing Philip Seymour Hoffman – True West Hayley Mills – Suite in Two Keys Cigdem Onat – The Time of the Cuckoo Claudia Shear – Dirty Blonde Special Award: Barry Humphries

2000–2001 Juliette Binoche – Betrayal Macaulay Culkin – Madame Melville Janie Dee – Comic Potential Raúl Esparza – The Rocky Horror Show Kathleen Freeman – The Full Monty Deven May – Bat Boy Reba McEntire – Annie Get Your Gun Chris Noth – The Best Man Joshua Park – The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Rosie Perez – References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot Joely Richardson – Madame Melville John Ritter – The Dinner Party Special Award: Seán Campion [citation needed] Special Award: Conleth Hill [citation needed]

2001–2002 Justin Bohon – Oklahoma! Simon Callow – The Mystery of Charles Dickens Mos Def – Topdog/Underdog Emma Fielding – Private Lives Adam Godley – Private Lives Martin Jarvis – By Jeeves Spencer Kayden – Urinetown Gretchen Mol – The Shape of Things Anna Paquin – The Glory of Living Louise Pitre – Mamma Mia! David Warner – Major Barbara Rachel Weisz – The Shape of Things

2002–2003 Antonio Banderas – Nine Tammy Blanchard – Gypsy Thomas Jefferson Byrd – Ma Rainey's Black Bottom Jonathan Cake – Medea Victoria Hamilton – A Day in the Death of Joe Egg Clare Higgins – Vincent in Brixton Jackie Hoffman – Hairspray Mary Stuart Masterson – Nine John Selya – Movin' Out Jochum ten Haaf – Vincent in Brixton Daniel Sunjata – Take Me Out Marissa Jaret Winokur – Hairspray Special Award: Peter Filichia Special Award: Ben Hodges

2003–2004 Shannon Cochran – Bug Stephanie D'Abruzzo – Avenue Q Mitchel David Federan – The Boy From Oz Alexander Gemignani – Assassins Hugh Jackman – The Boy From Oz Isabel Keating – The Boy From Oz Sanaa Lathan – A Raisin in the Sun Jefferson Mays – I Am My Own Wife Euan Morton – Taboo Anika Noni Rose – Caroline, or Change John Tartaglia – Avenue Q Jennifer Westfeldt – Wonderful Town Special Award: Sarah Jones

2004–2005 Christina Applegate – Sweet Charity Ashlie Atkinson – Fat Pig Hank Azaria – Spamalot Gordon Clapp – Glengarry Glen Ross Conor Donovan – Privilege Dan Fogler – The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Heather Goldenhersh – Doubt Carla Gugino – After the Fall Jenn Harris – Modern Orthodox Cheyenne Jackson – All Shook Up Celia Keenan-Bolger – The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Tyler Maynard – Altar Boyz

2005–2006 Harry Connick, Jr. – The Pajama Game Felicia P. Fields – The Color Purple Maria Friedman – The Woman in White Richard Griffiths – The History Boys Mamie Gummer – Mr. Marmalade Jayne Houdyshell – Well Bob Martin – The Drowsy Chaperone Ian McDiarmid – Faith Healer Nellie McKay – The Threepenny Opera David Wilmot – The Lieutenant of Inishmore Elisabeth Withers-Mendes – The Color Purple John Lloyd Young – Jersey Boys

2006–2007 Fantasia Barrino – The Color Purple Eve Best – A Moon for the Misbegotten Mary Birdsong – Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me Erin Davie – Grey Gardens Xanthe Elbrick – Coram Boy Johnny Galecki – The Little Dog Laughed Jonathan Groff – Spring Awakening Gavin Lee – Mary Poppins Lin-Manuel Miranda – In the Heights Bill Nighy – The Vertical Hour Stark Sands – Journey's End Nilaja Sun – No Child... Special Award: Actors' Fund

2007–2008 De'Adre Aziza – Passing Strange Cassie Beck – Drunken City Daniel Breaker – Passing Strange Ben Daniels – Les Liaisons Dangereuses Deanna Dunagan – August: Osage County Hoon Lee – Yellow Face Alli Mauzey – Cry-Baby Jenna Russell – Sunday in the Park with George Mark Rylance – Boeing-Boeing Loretta Ables Sayre – South Pacific Jimmi Simpson – The Farnsworth Invention Paulo Szot – South Pacific

2008–2009 David Alvarez/Trent Kowalik/Kiril Kulish – Billy Elliot, The Musical[14] Chad L. Coleman – Joe Turner's Come and Gone Jennifer Grace – Our Town Josh Grisetti – Enter Laughing, The Musical Haydn Gwynne – Billy Elliot, The Musical Colin Hanks – 33 Variations Marin Ireland – reasons to be pretty Susan Louise O'Connor – Blithe Spirit Condola Rashad – Ruined Geoffrey Rush – Exit the King Josefina Scaglione – West Side Story Wesley Taylor – Rock of Ages Dorothy Loudon Starbaby Award: Susan Louise O'Connor – Blithe Spirit Special Award: Amelia Bullmore, Jessica Hynes, Stephen Mangan, Ben Miles, Paul Ritter and Amanda Root - cast of The Norman Conquests[citation needed]

2009–2010 Nina Arianda – Venus in Fur[7] Chris Chalk – Fences Bill Heck – The Orphans' Home Cycle Jon Michael Hill – Superior Donuts Scarlett Johansson – A View from the Bridge Keira Keeley – The Glass Menagerie Sahr Ngaujah – Fela! Eddie Redmayne – Red Andrea Riseborough – The Pride Heidi Schreck – Circle Mirror Transformation Stephanie Umoh – Ragtime Michael Urie – The Temperamentals Dorothy Loudon Starbaby Award: Bobby Steggert - Ragtime and Yank!

2010–2011 Ellen Barkin – The Normal Heart Desmin Borges – The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity Halley Feiffer – The House of Blue Leaves Grace Gummer – Arcadia Rose Hemingway – How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying John Larroquette – How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying Heather Lind – The Merchant of Venice Patina Miller – Sister Act Arian Moayed – Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo Jim Parsons – The Normal Heart Zachary Quinto – Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes Tony Sheldon – Priscilla, Queen of the Desert Dorothy Loudon Starbaby Award: Seth Numrich - War Horse Lunt-Fontanne Award for Ensemble Excellence: cast of The Motherfucker with the Hat

2011–2012 Tracie Bennett – End of the Rainbow[6] Phillip Boykin – The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess Crystal A. Dickinson – Clybourne Park Russell Harvard – Tribes Jeremy Jordan – Bonnie & Clyde Joaquina Kalukango – Hurt Village Jennifer Lim – Chinglish Jessie Mueller – On a Clear Day You Can See Forever Hettienne Park – Seminar and The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures Chris Perfetti – Sons of the Prophet Finn Wittrock – Death of a Salesman Josh Young – Jesus Christ Superstar Dorothy Loudon Starbaby Award: Susan Pourfar - Tribes

2012–2013 Bertie Carvel – Matilda the Musical[5] Carrie Coon – Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Brandon J. Dirden – The Piano Lesson Shalita Grant – Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike Tom Hanks – Lucky Guy Valisia LeKae – Motown: The Musical Rob McClure – Chaplin Ruthie Ann Miles – Here Lies Love Conrad Ricamora – Here Lies Love Keala Settle – Hands on a Hardbody Yvonne Strahovski – Golden Boy Tom Sturridge – Orphans Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence in the Theater: Johnny Orsini - The Nance John Willis Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre: Alan Alda

2013–2014 Paul Chahidi – Twelfth Night, or What You Will[11] Nick Cordero – Bullets Over Broadway Bryan Cranston – All the Way Mary Bridget Davies – A Night with Janis Joplin Sarah Greene – The Cripple of Inishmaan Rebecca Hall – Machinal Ramin Karimloo – Les Misérables Zachary Levi – First Date Chris O'Dowd – Of Mice and Men Sophie Okonedo – A Raisin in the Sun Emerson Steele – Violet Lauren Worsham – A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence in the Theater: Celia Keenan-Bolger - The Glass Menagerie John Willis Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre Winner: Christopher Plummer

2014–2015 Geneva Carr – Hand to God[12] Daveed Diggs – Hamilton Megan Fairchild – On the Town Robert Fairchild – An American in Paris Collin Kelly-Sordelet – The Last Ship Sydney Lucas – Fun Home Karen Pittman – Disgraced Benjamin Scheuer – The Lion Alex Sharp – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Emily Skeggs – Fun Home Micah Stock – It's Only a Play Ruth Wilson – Constellations Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence in the Theater: Leanne Cope – An American In Paris John Willis Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre: Chita Rivera[15]

2015–2016 Danielle Brooks – The Color Purple[16] Carmen Cusack – Bright Star Khris Davis – The Royale Daniel Durant – Spring Awakening Cynthia Erivo – The Color Purple John Krasinski – Dry Powder Sarah Charles Lewis – Tuck Everlasting Austin P. McKenzie – Spring Awakening Lupita Nyong'o – Eclipsed Mark Strong – A View From The Bridge Ana Villafañe – On Your Feet! Ben Whishaw – The Crucible Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence in the Theater: Nicholas Barasch – She Loves Me John Willis Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre: Bernadette Peters

2016–2017 Carlo Albán - Sweat[17] Christy Altomare - Anastasia Denée Benton - Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 Jon Jon Briones - Miss Saigon Barrett Doss - Groundhog Day Amber Gray - Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 Josh Groban - Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 Lucas Hedges - Yen Raymond Lee - Vietgone Eva Noblezada - Miss Saigon Jeremy Secomb - Sweeney Todd Cobie Smulders - Present Laughter Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence in the Theater: Katrina Lenk, Indecent and The Band's Visit John Willis Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre: Glenn Close Special Theatre World Award: Dave Malloy for his Broadway debut in Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 as an actor, composer, writer, lyricist, and orchestrator.

2017–2018 Anthony Boyle - Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Jamie Brewer - Amy and the Orphans Noma Dumezweni - Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Johnny Flynn - Hangmen Denise Gough - Angels in America Harry Hadden-Paton - My Fair Lady Hailey Kilgore - Once on This Island James McArdle - Angels in America Lauren Ridloff - Children of a Lesser God Ethan Slater - SpongeBob SquarePants Charlie Stemp - Hello, Dolly! Katy Sullivan - Cost of Living Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence in the Theater: Ben Edelman, Admissions John Willis Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre: Victor Garber

2018–2019 Gbenga Akinnagbe - To Kill a Mockingbird Tom Glynn-Carney - The Ferryman Sophia Anne Caruso - Beetlejuice Paddy Considine - The Ferryman James Davis - Oklahoma! Micaela Diamond - The Cher Show Bonnie Milligan - Head Over Heels Simone Missick - Paradise Blue Jeremy Pope - Choir Boy Colton Ryan - Girl from the North Country Stephanie Styles - Kiss Me, Kate Phoebe Waller-Bridge - Fleabag John Willis Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre: Nathan Lane

2021–2022 Patrick J. Adams - Take Me Out Yair Ben-Dor - Prayer for the French Republic Kearstin Piper-Brown - Intimate Apparel Sharon D Clarke - Caroline, or Change Enrico Colantoni - Birthday Candles Justin Cooley - Kimberly Akimbo Crystal Flynn - Birthday Candles Gaby French - Hangmen Myles Frost - MJ the Musical Jaquel Spivey - A Strange Loop Shannon Tyo - The Chinese Lady Kara Young - Clyde's Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence in the Theater: Michael Oberholtzer, Take Me Out John Willis Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre: Harvey Fierstein Outstanding Ensemble Award: the 21 cast members making their Broadway debut in The Music Man

2022–2023 Yahya Abdul-Mateen II - Topdog/Underdog Hiran Abeysekera - Life of Pi Amir Arison - The Kite Runner D'Arcy Carden - The Thanksgiving Play Jodie Comer - Prima Facie Callum Francis - Kinky Boots Lucy Freyer - The Wanderers Caroline Innerbichler - Shucked Ashley D. Kelley - Shucked Casey Likes - Almost Famous Emma Pfitzler Price - Becomes a Woman John David Washington - The Piano Lesson Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence in the Theater: Julie Benko, Funny Girl John Willis Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre: Brian Stokes Mitchell Outstanding Contribution to the Theatre World: Dale Badway Outstanding Swing: Matilyn Caserta, Six

2023-2024 Ali Louis Bourzgui - The Who's Tommy Cole Escola - Oh, Mary! Brody Grant - The Outsiders Michael Imperioli - An Enemy of the People Will Keen - Patriots Nichelle Lewis - The Wiz Rachel McAdams - Mary Jane Maleah Joi Moon - Hell's Kitchen Tom Pecinka - Stereophonic Sarah Pidgeon - Stereophonic Phillip Johnson Richardson - The Wiz Chris Stack - Stereophonic Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence in the Theater: A.J. Shively, Philadelphia, Here I Come! John Willis Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre: Len Cariou Outstanding Contribution to the Theatre World: Peter Filichia

2024-2025 Alana Arenas - Purpose Kit Connor - Romeo & Juliet Patsy Ferran - A Streetcar Named Desire Tom Francis - Sunset Boulevard Jak Malone - Operation Mincemeat Paul Mescal - A Streetcar Named Desire Louis McCartney - Stranger Things: The First Shadow Marjan Neshat - English Jasmine Amy Rogers - Boop! The Musical Nicole Scherzinger - Sunset Boulevard Helen J. Shen - Maybe Happy Ending Sarah Snook - The Picture of Dorian Gray Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence in the Theater: Shailene Woodley - Cult of Love John Willis Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre: Leslie Uggams Special Award For Outstanding Broadway Debut Performer/Playwright: George Clooney - Good Night, and Good Luck

See also

• Tony Awards
• Drama Desk Awards
• Obie Awards
• Theatre World