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Isabelle Stevenson Award

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Isabelle Stevenson Award
Awarded for"recognize an individual from the theatre community who has made a substantial contribution of volunteered time and effort on behalf of one or more humanitarian, social service or charitable organizations, regardless of whether such organizations relate to the theatre."[1]
LocationNew York City
CountryUnited States
Presented byAmerican Theatre Wing & The Broadway League
Reward(s)Medallion
First awarded2009
Currently held byBilly Porter (2024)
Websitewww.tonyawards.com

The Isabelle Stevenson Award is a non-competitive philanthropic award presented as part of the Tony Awards to "recognize an individual from the theatre community who has made a substantial contribution of volunteered time and effort on behalf of one or more humanitarian, social service or charitable organizations, regardless of whether such organizations relate to the theatre."[1] It is named for Isabelle Stevenson, a dancer who performed for audiences all round the world and was president and later chairperson of the board of the American Theatre Wing until her death in 2003.[2] A single recipient is chosen by the Tony Award Administration Committee and may not be presented at every ceremony.[1][2] The international press regards the Tony Awards as America's most prestigious theater awards.[3][4]

The American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League present the winner with a copy of a circular brass and bronze medallion designed by art director Herman Rosse at an annual award ceremony in New York City.[5][6] The award has been presented annually since the 63rd Tony Awards in 2009.[7] Actress Phyllis Newman was chosen as its inaugural recipient for her work in establishing the Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative in 1995 and raising $3.5 million for the organization.[8] Since then, another six women and eight men have received the award and no one has won it more than once.[9] As of the 77th Tony Awards in 2023, which honored theatre over the 2023–24 theater season, actor Billy Porter is the most recent winner in this category for "his work with the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation and Entertainment Community Fund."[10]

Recipients

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Winners of the Isabelle Stevenson Award[9]
Year Image Recipient(s) Notes Ref
2009 Black and white photograph of a women smiling at the camera Phyllis Newman Newman established The Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative in 1995 and raised $3.5 million for it. [8]
2010 A man in his early fifties looking to the left of the camera. He is wearing thin rectangular glasses and a black blazer with a light-colored shirt. David Hyde Pierce Pierce is an honorary member of the national board of the Alzheimer's Association and a campaigner for research into Alzheimer's disease. [11]
2011 A woman in her late fifties sporting short hair and earrings with the nuclear disarmament logo. Eve Ensler Ensler established the V-Day global movement to stop violence against girls and women through awareness and education. [12]
2012 Woman in her early sixties sporting curly hair and rose lipstick on her lips Bernadette Peters Peters co-formed the animal charity Broadway Barks with actress Mary Tyler Moore to lobby for the adoption of animal shelters for homeless pets in New York City. [13]
2013 Man in his mid-seventies wearing back circular shaped glasses and sporting greying facial hair Larry Kramer Kramer co-founded the Gay Men's Health Crisis and later established ACT UP, an international activist and direct action network to develop treatments of HIV/AIDS. [14]
2014 Woman in her late forties smiling at the camera Rosie O'Donnell O'Donnell established the non-profit arts education organization Rosie's Broadway Kids (now Rosie's Theater Kids) in 2003 to allow New York City public school students to learn dance, drama and music. [15]
2015 A man wearing a black blazer and shirt signing autographs onto a newspaper Stephen Schwartz Schwartz fostered upcoming writers as a long-time board member of the ASCAP Foundation and the ASCAP Musical Theatre Workshop. He assisted in developing new partnerships as president of the Dramatists Guild of America. [16]
2016 Man wearing a black leather jacket with a baby blue shirt Brian Stokes Mitchell Mitchell supported those in the entertainment field who had or were in a crisis or in transition in the industry through his efforts for the Actors Fund of America. [17]
2017 Full body portrait of a women in her late sixties smiling at the camera and with both her hands on a wall Baayork Lee Lee founded the National Asian Artists Project to promote Asian-American theater artists through community outreach, educational programming and performances. [18]
2018 – Nick Scandalios Scandalios, executive vice-president of Nederlander Organization, one of the largest theater operators in the United States, volunteers with the board of directors for the Family Equality Council to safeguard the rights and safety of LGBT families and their children. [19]
2019 Woman in her mid-sixties taking to the media at a press conference Judith Light Light is an HIV/AIDS advocate and a supporter of LBGT rights through her work in philanthropy. [20]
2020 Landscape portrait of a woman against a dark background smiling at the camera Julie Halston Halston was honored "for her work and advocacy in raising funding and awareness for the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation." [21]
2022 – Robert E. Wankel Wankel received recognition for his support of The Actors Fund, Broadway Cares, American Academy of Dramatic Arts and for "his generosity and service to the welfare of our Broadway community, over the past four decades and, especially in the face of a global crisis, is immeasurable." [22]
2023 – Jerry Mitchell Mitchell was recognized for "his dedication and contributions to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and for more than three decades of volunteer service through the arts." [23]
2024 Red carpet photos form the 2024 Library of Congress Gershwin Price concert with recipients Elton John and Bernie Taupin. Billy Porter Porter was honored for "his work with the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation and Entertainment Community Fund." [10]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Bacalzo, Dan (8 October 2008). "Tony Awards Announce Creation of New Isabelle Stevenson Award". TheaterMania. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Tony Awards Create Award Named for Isabelle Stevenson". Broadway.com. October 8, 2008. Archived from the original on May 21, 2023. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  3. ^ Cavendish, Dominic (June 10, 2018). "Tony Awards 2018: why the British are booming on Broadway". The Sunday Telegraph. Archived from the original on December 9, 2019. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  4. ^ Tran, Diep (May 6, 2019). "Why the Tony Awards Should Recognize Off-Broadway". American Theatre. Archived from the original on May 9, 2019. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  5. ^ Pincus-Roth, Zachary (May 22, 2008). "Ask Playbill.com: Tony Statuettes". Playbill. Archived from the original on May 26, 2008. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  6. ^ Harris, Jenna (May 31, 2017). "The Tony Awards – A History and Fun Facts". North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. Archived from the original on December 10, 2019. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  7. ^ Itzkoff, Dave (October 10, 2008). "Tony Award for Philanthropy". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 9, 2019. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  8. ^ a b Gans, Andrew (May 4, 2009). "Herman, Herz, Newman and Signature Theatre Are 2009 Special Tony Award Winners". Playbill. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  9. ^ a b "Winners / Isabelle Stevenson Award". Tony Awards. Archived from the original on April 15, 2021. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  10. ^ a b Culwell-Block, Logan (May 7, 2024). "Billy Porter Will Receive the 2024 Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award". Playbill. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  11. ^ "David Hyde Pierce honored with special Tony Award". Alzheimer's Association. April 20, 2010. Archived from the original on December 9, 2019. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  12. ^ "Ensler, Fugard to receive special Tony Awards". CBC News. April 7, 2011. Archived from the original on February 26, 2020. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  13. ^ Rooney, David (April 30, 2012). "Hugh Jackman, Bernadette Peters, Actors' Equity to Receive Honorary Tony Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 19, 2021. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  14. ^ Rooney, David (April 29, 2013). "Author-Activist Larry Kramer to Receive Tony Award Honors". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on December 9, 2019. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
    Cox, Gordon (June 7, 2013). "Tony Honoree Larry Kramer an Activist at Heart". Variety. Archived from the original on June 28, 2017. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  15. ^ Kennedy, Mark (April 1, 2014). "Rosie O'Donnell to get honorary Tony Award". WCAU. Associated Press. Archived from the original on February 26, 2020. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  16. ^ Lloyd Webber, Imogen (April 27, 2015). "Wicked Scribe Stephen Schwartz Will be Honored with 2015 Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award". Broadway.com. Archived from the original on December 9, 2019. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  17. ^ Viagas, Robert (May 3, 2016). "Brian Stokes Mitchell to Receive Isabelle Stevenson Award". Playbill. Archived from the original on July 6, 2019. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  18. ^ Gerard, Jeremy (April 25, 2017). "'A Chorus Line' Original Baayork Lee Will Receive Special Tony Award". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 9, 2019. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  19. ^ Stevens, Beth (April 24, 2018). "Nederlander Executive Nick Scandalios Honored with 2018 Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award". Broadway.com. Archived from the original on June 6, 2019. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  20. ^ Sheridan, Wade (April 26, 2019). "Judith Light to be honored with Isabelle Stevenson Award at Tonys". United Press International. Archived from the original on December 9, 2019. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  21. ^ Evans, Greg (July 28, 2021). "Julie Halston To Receive Tony Awards' 2020 Isabelle Stevenson Honor". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 1, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  22. ^ Culwell-Brock, Logan (April 28, 2022). "Robert E. Wankel to Be Honored With 2022 Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award". Playbill. Archived from the original on April 29, 2022. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  23. ^ Gans, Andrew (April 27, 2023). "Jerry Mitchell Named Recipient of 2023 Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award". Playbill. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
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