2015 Theatre World Awards Honor Betty Comden & ON THE TOWN Tonight

The 71st Annual Theatre World Awards -- the first award created in 1945 to recognize a debut theatre performance on or off-Broadway -- will be honoring 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 will take place tonight, June 1, 2015 at Broadway's Lyric Theatre (213 W. 42nd St, New York, NY 10036).

The original production of On The Town, which opened at Broadway's Adelphi Theater in 1944, starred then 26 year old Betty Comden who also co-wrote the book and lyrics of the show with Adolph Green. Comden won that year for her Broadway debut as "Claire de Loone" in the first ever Theatre World Awards ceremony and went on to become a Broadway and movie musical legend, known for On The Town, SINGIN' IN THE RAIN, WONDERFUL TOWN, and ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY.

This year's Theatre World Awards 71st Anniversary ceremony will be held at the Lyric Theatre, where the newly Tony Award nominated revival of On The Town has been playing since the fall. As part of this celebration of Betty Comden and her Theatre World Award for the original On The Town, the cast of the Broadway revival will perform at the awards including Theatre World Award recipients Jackie Hoffman, Phillip Boykin, and Michael Rupert.

The Theatre World Awards thanks the Ambassador Theatre Group, the Lyric Theatre and the Broadway Production of On The Town for graciously hosting the 71st Annual Theatre World Awards.

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 7th Annual Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence, honoring an Outstanding Performance in a Broadway or Off-Broadway production, will be presented by Dame Diana Rigg to LEANNE COPE for her performance as Lise in AN AMERICAN IN PARIS.

The 2015 John Willis Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre will be presented to Chita Rivera. Hosted annually by respected theater journalist, Peter Filichia, the awards ceremony is produced by the Theatre World Awards, Inc. Board of Directors.

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.

The Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence in the Theater honors an Outstanding Performance in a Broadway or Off-Broadway production. Dorothy Loudon, who had the unique talent of being able to make audiences laugh and cry, made her Broadway debut in Nowhere to Go But Up for which she received a Theatre World Award for her performance. She received a Tony Award for her incomparable performance as 'Miss Hannigan' in Annie, and went on to triumphs originating roles in Noises Off, Westside Waltz, and Michael Bennett's Ballroom.

The Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence is chosen by the Trustees of The Dorothy Loudon Foundation, Lionel Larner, Executive Director, together with recommendations from the Theatre World Awards Committee.

The 2015 John Willis Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre is given to honor the man who created and maintained the Theatre World tradition for 66 years, encouraging new talent in an often-challenging business. The John Willis Award is presented annually by the Theatre World Award Board of Directors to the man or woman whose lifetime achievements and personal generosity to the Theatre Community merit special recognition and acknowledgement. Previous recipients of the John Willis Award include Alan Alda and Christopher Plummer.

The Theatre World Award winners are chosen by the Theatre World Awards committee which is comprised of Roma Torre (NY1), David Cote (Time Out New York and NY1), Joe Dziemianowicz (New York Daily News), Peter Filichia(The Newark Star-Ledger, Emeritus) Harry Haun (Playbill), Matthew Murray (Talkin' Broadway), and Frank Scheck (New York Post).

The Theatre World Award Board of Directors is headed by Dale Badway (President) with Tom Lynch (Vice President), Tabitha Falcone (Treasurer), Stephen Wilde (Secretary), Michael Kostel and Ken Mahoney.

The 71st Annual Theatre World Awards welcomes principal sponsor Mahoney Asset Management, led by licensed financial advisor, investor, and author Ken Mahoney.

For additional information about the Theatre World Awards including a list of past recipients, visit www.theatreworldawards.org.

Photo Credit: Joan Marcus