[Broadway Ad Network]

[Broadway Ad Network]

Follow Spot
by Michael Portantiere

The 67th Annual Theatre World Awards

  • This year's winners of the Theatre World Awards, presented annually in recognition of 12 outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway debuts, are Ellen Barkn, Desmin Borges, Halley Feiffer, Grace Gummer, Rose Hemingway, John Larroquette, Heather Lind, Patina Miller, Arian Moayed, Jim Parsons, Zachary Quinto, and Tony Sheldon. Additionally, Seth Numrich received the Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence in the Theater, and the new Lunt-Fontanne Award for Ensemble Excellence went to the cast of The Motherfucker With the Hat: Bobby Cannavale, Chris Rock, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Annabella Sciorra, and Yul Vásquez. All of these folks were honored at a ceremony at the August Wilson Theatre on Tuesday, June 7. Here are my pics of some of the winners along with various notable presenters and performers, all of whom are past Theatre World Award honorees.

    *********************

    Patina-Jonathan.jpg

    Sister Act star Patina Miller with her pal Jonathan Groff, who presented her award.

    Barkin.jpg

    The beautiful Ellen Barkin, who nightly stops the show in The Normal Heart.

    Lind.jpg

    Heather Lind, honored for her performance as Jessica in The Merchant of Venice.

    Numrich.jpg

    Seth Numrich, who won this year's Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence in the Theater for his performance as Albert in War Horse.

    Crudup-Vasquez.jpg

    Yul Vázquez (right), honored as a member of the ensemble cast of The Motherfucker With the Hat, seen here with presenter Billy Crudup.

    Falco.jpg

    Edie Falco, one of the ceremony's presenters.

    Sheldon.jpg

    2011 Theatre World Award winner Tony Sheldon, a.k.a. Bernadette in Priscilla Queen of the Desert.

    Harris.jpg

    The great Rosemary Harris, another presenter.

    Akers.jpg

    Karen Akers, who offered a musical tribute to John Willis.

    Blanchard-Danner.jpg

    Two more of the ceremony's presenters (and past Theatre World Award winners), Tammy Blanchard and Blythe Danner.

    Gummer.jpg

    Grace Gummer, accepting the award for her performance in Arcadia.

    Hemingway.jpg

    Rose Hemingway, who won for her role of Rosemary Pilkington in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

    Larroquette.jpg

    John Larroquette, one of Hemingway's co-stars in How to Succeed, was acknowledged for his hilarious turn as J.B. Biggley.

    Moayed.jpg

    Arian Moayed, honored for his performance in Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo.

    Feiffer.jpg

    Cutie pie Halley Feiffer received a Theatre World Award for her performance in the relatively brief role of the Little Nun in The House of Blue Leaves.

    Quinto.jpg

    Zachary Quinto, already a film and TV star, made a splash with his New York theatre debut in the Signature Theatre Company's revival of Angels in America.

    Mother-ensemble.jpg

    Chris Rock spoke on behalf of the company of The Motherfucker With the Hat in accepting the first Lunt-Fontanne Award for Ensemble Excellence.

    Byrne.jpg

    Gabriel Byrne presented a Theatre World Award to his ex-wife, Ellen Barkin.

    Caldwell.jpg

    The great Zoe Caldwell presented the Lunt-Fontanne Award to the cast of Motherfucker -- and yes, she said the word, even if she mumbled it a little.

    Young.jpg

    Musical performances were offered by John Lloyd Young of Jersey Boys fame...

    Jackson.jpg

    ...Ernestine Jackson, recreating her fabulous rendition of "If I Were a Bell" from the 1976 revival of Guys and Dolls...

    Akers-Willis.jpg

    ...and Karen Akers, who honored the late John Willis with a moving rendition of "I'll Be Seeing You."


    Published on Wednesday, June 8, 2011


    Michael Portantiere has more than 30 years' experience as an editor and writer for TheaterMania.com, InTHEATER magazine, and BACK STAGE. He has interviewed theater notables for NPR.org, PLAYBILL, STAGEBILL, and OPERA NEWS, and has written notes for several cast albums. Michael is co-author of FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: BEHIND THE MYLAR CURTAIN, published in 2008 by Hal Leonard/Applause. Additionally, he is a professional photographer whose pictures have been published by THE NEW YORK TIMES, the DAILY NEWS, and several major websites. (Visit www.followspotphoto.com for more information.) He can be reached at [email protected]


    Why are you looking all the way down here?
    For more articles by Michael Portantiere, click the links below!

    Previous: Euan Morton's Roots

    Next: Michael Urie Celebrates Celebrities

    Or go to the Archives

[Broadway Ad Network]

[Broadway Ad Network]