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.
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Inaugural recipients included Betty Comden, Judy Holliday and John Raitt. The long and eclectic list of performers who have received the award includes Anna Kendrick, Julie Andrews, Phyllis Hyman, Lea Salonga, Carol Channing, Barbara Cook, Tim Daly, Loren Dean, Calista Flockhart, Glenne Headly, Ernestine Jackson, 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, James Dean, Dustin Hoffman, Dick Van Dyke, Carol Burnett, Jane Fonda, 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., Hugh Jackman, Reba McEntire and Nellie McKay.
Winners are selected by a committee of New York-based critics. That committee includes (as of May 2011) David Cote (Time Out New York, NY1), Joe Dziemianowicz (New York Daily News), Peter Filichia (Newark Star-Ledger, Theatermania.com), Harry Haun (Playbill), Matthew Murray (TalkinBroadway.com), Frank Scheck (Hollywood Reporter), and Linda Winer (New York Newsday). John Willis, founder of the Theatre World Awards and Theatre World Editor, died in June 2010. (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 2010-2011 season were announced on May 10, 2011, with a ceremony to be held June 7; the awards are traditionally presented by former award winners.[1]
The Dorothy Loudon Starbaby Award is given by the Dorothy Loudon Foundation in connection with these awards. The first Starbaby Award was presented to Susan Louise O'Connor (Blithe Spirit) in 2009. Other recipients are Bobby Steggert (Ragtime and Yank!) (2009-2010)[2] and Seth Numrich (War Horse) (2010-2011).[1]
The first annual Lunt-Fontanne Award for Ensemble Excellence is presented at the 2010-2011 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.[3]
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