The 2017 Theater World Awards were held Monday, June 5 the Imperial Theatre on Broadway. Special honorees included Glenn Close, Katrina Lenk and Dae Malloy. Theater Pizzazz’s JK Clarke was on hand to capture all the red carpet arrivals.
The 2017 Theatre World Award Honorees for Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway Debut Performance include Carlo Albán (Sweat), Christy Altomare (Anastasia), Denée Benton (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812), Jon Jon Briones (Miss Saigon), Barrett Doss (Groundhog Day), Amber Gray (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812), Josh Groban (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812), Lucas Hedges (Yen), Raymond Lee (Vietgone), Eva Noblezada (Miss Saigon), Jeremy Secomb (Sweeney Todd), and Cobie Smulders (Present Laughter). Katrina Lenk (Indecent, The Band’s Visit) will receive the 2017 Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence in the Theater, and Glenn Close (Sunset Boulevard) will receive the 2017 John Willis Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theater. Dave Malloy (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812) will receive a Special Theatre World Award in recognition for his Broadway debut as composer, writer, lyricist, orchestrator, and actor.
Hosted annually by well-known theater journalist, Peter Filichia, the 73rd Annual Theatre World Awards ceremony is produced by Theatre World Awards, Inc. Board of Directors.
First presented in 1945, the prestigious Theatre World Awards, founded by John Willis, the Editor-in-Chief of both Theatre World and its companion volume, Screen World, are the oldest awards given for Outstanding Broadway and Off-Broadway Debut Performances. The Theatre World Awards are presented annually at the end of the theatre season to six actors and six actresses for their significant, reviewable, debut performances in a Broadway or Off-Broadway production. The ceremony is a private, invitation-only event followed by a party to celebrate the new honorees and welcome them to the Theatre World “family.” In what has become a highly entertaining and often touching tradition, 12 previous winners serve as the presenters, and often relive moments from past ceremonies and share wonderful stories rarely heard at other theatrical awards.
