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 | Judith Light (2019) |
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 in honor of Isabelle Stevenson, a dancer who performed for audiences around 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 maybe not be presented at every ceremony.[1][2] The worldwide press consider the Tony Awards as the most prestigious theatre awards in the United States.[3][4]
The American Theatre Wing and the 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 five women and five men have received the award and no one has won it more than once. As of the 73rd Tony Awards in 2019, actress Judith Light is the most recent winner in this category for her advocacy of HIV/AIDS and work in philanthropy to support the rights of the LBGT community.[9]
Year | Image | Recipient(s) | Notes | Ref |
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2009 | ![]() |
Phyllis Newman | Newman established The Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative in 1995 and raised $3.5 million for it. | [8] |
2010 | ![]() |
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 | ![]() |
Eve Ensler | Ensler established the V-Day global movement to stop violence against girls and women through awareness and education. | [12] |
2012 | ![]() |
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 | ![]() |
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 | ![]() |
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 | ![]() |
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 | ![]() |
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 | ![]() |
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 | ![]() |
Judith Light | Light is an HIV/AIDS advocate and a supporter of LBGT rights through her work in philanthropy. | [9] |