Recipients of the 80th Annual Theatre World Awards, honoring outstanding
\ndebut performances in a Broadway or Off-Broadway production, were announced May 7. The honorees will be
\ncelebrated June 2 at 2 PM at a ceremony at Broadway’s Longacre Theatre.<\/p>\n
Theatre journalist Peter Filichia<\/a> will again host the ceremony,
The 2026 Theatre World Award Honorees include Ben Ahlers<\/a>, Death of a Salesman<\/a>; \u00a0LJ Benet<\/a>, The Lost Boys<\/a>; Madeline Brewer<\/a>, Becky Shaw<\/a>; Adrien Brody<\/a>, The Fear of 13<\/a>; Ayo Edebiri<\/a>, Proof<\/a>; Alden Ehrenreich<\/a>, Becky Shaw;\u00a0Luke Evans<\/a>, The Rocky Horror Show<\/a>; Will Harrison<\/a>, Punch<\/a>; River Lipe-Smith, Caroline; Lesley Manville<\/a>, Oedipus<\/a>; Robert \u201cSilk\u201d Mason<\/a>, Cats: The Jellicle Ball<\/a>;\u00a0and\u00a0Sam Tutty<\/a>, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)<\/a>.<\/p>\n The evening will also include the presentations of the 17th Annual\u00a0Dorothy
The Theatre World Award honorees are chosen by the Theatre World Awards Committee, which comprises Linda Armstrong (Amsterdam News), David Cote (The Observer), Joe Dziemianowicz (New York Daily News, emeritus), Peter Filichia (The Newark Star-Ledger, emeritus), David Finkle<\/a> (New York Stage Review), Elysa Gardner (USA Today, emeritus), Cary Wong (freelance), and Frank Scheck (The Hollywood Reporter).<\/p>\n The Theatre World Awards, Inc. Board of Directors is headed by Badway with Vice-President\u00a0Tom Lynch<\/a>, Vice-President\u00a0Michael Kostel, Secretary\u00a0Stephen Wilde, Treasurer\u00a0Rozanne Scarpelli,\u00a0James Sheridan, Karen Johnston, Jeffrey Grove<\/a>, and Arthur Makar.<\/p>\n “For 80 years, the Theatre World Awards celebrate new beginnings. We have been honoring Outstanding Broadway and Off-Broadway debuts since 1945. Each one represents a new, fresh spark of hope, passion, excitement and hopefully a path to infinite joy. Encouraging ‘Promising Personalities’ for 80 years, ‘Who could ask for anything more?!'” said\u00a0Badway in a statement.<\/p>\n
\nproduced by Theatre World Awards, Inc. Board of Directors and President
\nDale Badway with Executive Producer Karen Johnston<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nLoudon Award for Excellence in the Theater, honoring an outstanding
\nperformance in a Broadway or Off-Broadway production, to Rachael Stirling<\/a>\u00a0(Giant<\/a>); and The John Willis Award, given for lifetime achievement in the theatre. The recipient of the latter will be announced shortly.<\/p>\n