Theatre World Award

The Theatre World Award, first awarded for the 1945-46 season, 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.

History

Inaugural recipients included Betty Comden, Judy Holliday and John Raitt. The long and eclectic list of performers who have received the award includes Julie Andrews, Lea Salonga, Carol Channing, Barbara Cook, Tim Daly, Loren Dean, Calista Flockhart, Grace Kelly, Cloris Leachman, Carol Lynley, Lizbeth MacKay, Jayne Mansfield, Audra McDonald, Helen Mirren, Brenda Blethyn, Gillian Anderson, Patricia Neal, Brooke Shields, Maureen Stapleton, Meryl Streep, Bernadette Peters, Vanessa L. Williams, Danny Aiello, Richard Burton, Marlon Brando, Dixie Carter, Billy Crudup, Ralph Fiennes, Andy Griffith, Laurence Harvey, Charlton Heston, Burt Lancaster, Jude Law, Anthony Perkins, Christopher Plummer, Cliff Robertson, Eli Wallach, Lucie Arnaz, the entire cast of "A Chorus Line", and - in the 21st century - Marissa Jaret Winokur, John Lloyd Young, Antonio Banderas, Christina Applegate, Fantasia Barrino, Harry Connick, Jr. and Hugh Jackman.

Winners are selected by a committee of New York-based critics. That committee currently includes Peter Filichia (Theatermania.com), Harry Haun ("Playbill"), Matthew Murray (TalkinBroadway.com), Frank Scheck ("New York Post"), Michael Sommers (Newhouse Papers), Doug Watt (Critic Emeritus, "New York Daily News"), and Linda Winer ("New York Newsday"), and are coordinated by "Theatre World" Editor John Willis and Associate Editor Ben Hodges. ("Theatre World" is the oldest definitive pictorial and statistical record of each American theatrical season and serves as a reference for theater professionals, students, and historians worldwide.)

Known as "Janus" after the Roman god of entrances, exits, and all beginnings, the award is a bronze sculpture designed by artist Harry Marinsky.

The winners for the 2007-08 season were announced on May 15, 2008, with a ceremonies to be held June 10; the awards are traditionally presented by former award winners. [cite web | author=Andrew Gans | title=Paulo Szot and Deanna Dunagan Among Winners of Theatre World Awards | url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/117754.html | publisher=playbill | date=15 May 2008 | accessdate=2008-05-19]

Award winners

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"

ee also

*Tony Awards
*Drama Desk Awards
*Obie Awards

References

External links

* [http://www.theatreworldawards.org/ Theatre World Awards Official website]