TV: Broadway Welcomes New Talent at the 71st Annual Theatre World Awards!

The 71st Annual Theatre World Awards -- the first award created in 1945 to recognize a debut theatre performance on or off-Broadway -- just honored the legacy of Betty Comden and On The Town with a special recognition for "Outstanding Contribution to the Theatre World." The 71st Annual Theatre World Awards took place Monday night, June 1, 2015 at Broadway's Lyric Theatre (213 W. 42nd St, New York, NY 10036).

The winners of this year's Theatre World Awards are GENEVA CARR (HAND TO GOD), MEGAN FAIRCHILD (ON THE TOWN), SYDNEY LUCAS (FUN HOME), KAREN PITTMAN (DISGRACED), EMILY SKEGGS (FUN HOME), and RUTH WILSON (CONSTELLATIONS).

As well as, DAVEED DIGGS (HAMILTON), ROBERT FAIRCHILD (AN AMERICAN IN PARIS), COLLIN KELLY-SORDELET (THE LAST SHIP), BENJAMIN SCHEUER (THE LION), ALEX SHARP (THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME), and MICAH STOCK (IT'S ONLY A PLAY).

The Theatre World Awards honor six actresses and six actors in recognition of an outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway debut during the season. Established in 1945, the 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 Performance. Because it is given for a debut performance, it is only given once. 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.