Isabelle Stevenson Award | |
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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] |
Location | New York City |
Country | United States |
Presented by | American Theatre Wing & The Broadway League |
Reward(s) | Medallion |
First awarded | 2009 |
Currently held by | Billy Porter (2024) |
Website | www |
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 six men have received the award and no one has won it more than once.[9] As of the 76th Tony Awards in 2023, which honored theatre over the 2022–23 theater season, director-choreographer Jerry Mitchell is the most recent winner in this category "his dedication and contributions to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and for more than three decades of volunteer service through the arts"[10]
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