Isabelle Stevenson Award

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 may not be presented at every ceremony.[1][2] The worldwide press consider the Tony Awards the most prestigious theatre awards in the United States.[3][4]

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 byJudith Light (2019)
Websitewww.tonyawards.com

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 five women and five men have received the award and no one has won it more than once.[9] 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 LGBT community.[10]

Recipients
List of winners of the Isabelle Stevenson Award[9]
Year Image Recipient(s) Notes Ref
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. [10]

See also

References
  1. 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. "Tony Awards Announce Isabelle Stevenson Award". BroadwayWorld. October 8, 2008. Archived from the original on December 9, 2019. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  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. 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. "Winners / Isabelle Stevenson Award". Tony Awards. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  10. 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.
  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. "Bernadette Peters, Hugh Jackman & Actors' Equity to Receive Special Tony Awards & Honors". Broadway World. April 30, 2012. Archived from the original on December 9, 2019. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  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.

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