If you walk down 52nd Street in the Theatre District on a Monday night, you would expect the street to be quite uneventful, because that’s the dark night for the theatre—but not this particular Monday. The entire block was buzzing with excitement and an electric energy that only Broadway could provide. The 75th Annual Theatre World Awards lit up the Neil Simon Theatre (currently home of The Cher Show) for a few joyous hours on the evening of June 3rd. The beloved ceremony had its humble beginnings in founder Daniel Blum’s apartment, alongside co-founders Norman McDonald and John Willis. In 1944, they wanted to honor the outstanding debut performances on Broadway. Over the next several decades, the Theatre World Awards have grown to become a cherished tradition in the Broadway and off-Broadway community. With a family of winners that include Betty Comden, Judy Holliday, John Raitt, and Carol Channing, among many other renowned performers, it’s no secret that receiving this award is a great honor.
The Theatre World Awards are an exceptionally unique award, as it is not about competition. The honor is given to twelve actors and actresses who have made an outstanding debut on or off-Broadway—this year, 239 performers qualified. The honorees are selected by a committee comprised of notable New York theatre critics and journalists. This year’s honorees are 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/Ain’t Too Proud), Colton Ryan (Girl From The North Country), Stephanie Styles (Kiss Me, Kate!), and Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag). Star of All My Sons, Hampton Fluker, was honored with The Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence in the Theater, and, upon holding the beautiful glass trophy, said “I never thought to dream this big.”
The night opened with a phenomenal performance by Phillip Boykin, who sang “Some Enchanted Evening” from South Pacific, as well as a Happy Birthday tribute to the awards show. The ceremony was hosted by theatre journalist Peter Filichia, who, with his quick wit and infectious joy, instantly charmed the audience. Throughout the evening, former recipients introduced the newest honorees—a sort of passing of the baton. The lineup of stellar presenters included Linda Eder and Ernestine Jackson, who both performed show-stopping pieces from their debuts, Jekyll and Hyde (1997), and Raisin (1974).
One of the many aspects of this show that makes it so highly anticipated year after year is the laid-back, yet heartfelt, nature of the ceremony. The recipients went to great lengths to express their gratitude for the theatre community. Simone Missick, while accepting her award for Paradise Blue, stated “thank you for this recognition, which is an actualization of my dreams.” The stars told entertaining stories that are rarely heard at other awards shows: Stephanie Styles recounted her introduction to musical theatre at four years old, Micaela Diamond reflected on a special moment spent with Cher in her dressing room, and Kristine Nielsen and Julie White introduced their co-star in Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus with a humorous and detailed anthology of his stellar career. Three-time Tony winner and American Theatre Hall of Fame inductee Nathan Lane was presented with the the John Willis Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre. Lane had the entire audience in stitches while reflecting on his various roles, then brought tears to their eyes when he turned to the honorees and said, “I wish you all the best and all the luck in the world.”
The family that the Theatre World Awards has created was evident throughout the evening, from the arrival of the honorees to the vibrant after-party at Copacabana. Walking into the Neil Simon Theatre felt like being wrapped in a collective hug, with comrades and strangers alike, who were all there to celebrate the gift of storytelling and the incredible people who make it achievable. The Theatre World Awards “find people who are trying to tell a story,” as beautifully stated by 2013 winner Ruthie Ann Myers. As 1953 honoree Ms. Rosemary Harris puts it, “it’s very moving and emotional to get this first pat on the back—and it lasts for the rest of your life.” If there is one thing for certain about the Theatre World Awards, it’s that these performers are now part of a family that lasts a lifetime.