John Willis News

The  80th Annual Theatre World Awards Ceremony will be held today, June 2, 2026 at 2pm at The Longacre Theatre. Watch highlights from the red carpet in this video.

Three-time Tony Award-winner Nathan Lane, currently on Broadway in Death of a Salesman, will serve as the subject of a new documentary from filmmaker Matthew Miele.

In New York, awards season rolls on: Schmigadoon! and Ragtime led the 70th Annual Drama Desk Awards, Dorian Award nominations have been announced, and John Lithgow is slated for a lifetime achievement honor. Chicago’s Jeff Awards have halted non-Equity adjudication to overhaul policies following community backlash, while the UK’s National Theatre is launching a 12-venue partnership to rescue a collapsing regional touring network. We round out the news with a wave of key executive appointments in Massachusetts, Dallas, and London, a breakdown of Australia’s complex new $1.1 billion arts budget, and the return of BroadwayWorld's My Show’s Curtain Call for the 2025-2026 season.

Theatre World Awards Board of Directors has named John Lithgow as the winner of the 13th Annual John Willis Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre.

This week's theater news spans awards season milestones, legal disputes, labor tensions, and the business challenges facing the art form on both sides of the Atlantic. The 2026 Tony nominations are in — with Schmigadoon! and The Lost Boys leading the pack. Voting is also now open for BroadwayWorld's own Theater Fans' Choice Awards. On a more turbulent note, a fire at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre has shuttered The Book of Mormon through at least May 17, a second lawsuit has been filed against the producers of Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, and IATSE is accusing the Kennedy Center of using its upcoming temporary closure as cover to permanently eliminate union jobs. Regionally, The Naples Players have secured a multi-year grant to expand paid apprenticeships for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. And internationally, The Stage examines whether the UK touring sector — where the number of touring plays has fallen 64% since 2019 — can find a path forward through its mounting financial and structural pressures.

The 2026 Honorees for the Theatre World Award for an Outstanding Debut Performance in a Broadway or Off-Broadway Production have been revealed. Honorees include Luke Evans, Ayo Edebiri and more.

The 80th Annual Theatre World Awards Ceremony will take place on Tuesday afternoon, June 2, 2026 beginning at 2:00PM. Learn more about the upcoming awards ceremony here!

What did our critic think of HADESTOWN: TEEN EDITION at Pulaski Academy High School?

The American Theatre of Actors will present ATA 50, a golden anniversary celebration and awards ceremony. The black-tie evening will honor playwright and director Lyle Kessler and Tony-winning actor, Len Cariou.

Death of a Salesman is back on Broadway! Arthur Miller’s American drama will star three-time Tony Award winner Nathan Lane, two-time Tony Award winner Laurie Metcalf, Christopher Abbott and Ben Ahlers. Meet the cast of Death of a Salesman here!

Three-time Tony Award winner Nathan Lane, two-time Tony Award winner Laurie Metcalf, and Christopher Abbott will return to Broadway in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman.

Porchlight Music Theatre has announced that Leslie Uggams, the multi-award-winning Broadway, film, TV, and recording star, has been appointed to its Artistic Advisory Board. Uggams was recently honored at the company’s 2025 ICONS Gala: Celebrating Leslie Uggams.

Porchlight Music Theatre has revealed that multi-award winner Leslie Uggams is the 2025 ICON Award recipient and will attend the signature fundraising event. Learn more!

Theatre World Awards Board of Directors has just announced the Honorees for Theatre World Award for an Outstanding Debut Performance in a Broadway or Off-Broadway Production. We have the full list of honorees!

The 79th Annual Theatre World Awards Ceremony will take place on Monday evening, June 2, 2025 beginning at 7:00PM. The awards are the oldest awards given for Outstanding Broadway and Off-Broadway Debut Performances.

When you can hear a room audibly smile, then you know you are in the presence of Glenn Rosenblum. He’s charming, clever, witty, playfully spills the Tea, shows off his encyclopedic knowledge regarding all things Broadway, and displays his utmost respect for this genre of entertainment. 

The historic 78th Annual Theatre World Awards Ceremony was held on Monday evening, June 10, 2024 at the Marquis Theatre. BroadwayWorld was there and you can check out photos from the big night here!

The 2024 Honorees have been announced for the Theatre World Award for an Outstanding Debut Performance in a Broadway or Off-Broadway Production. Learn more about the honorees here!

The Theatre World Awards Board of Directors has announced two of the individuals to be honored at 78th Annual Theatre World Awards to be held on Monday evening, June 10, 2024 beginning at 7:00 p.m.

The 78th Annual Theatre World Awards Ceremony will take place on Monday evening, June 10, 2024 beginning at 7:00PM. Hosted annually by well-known theater journalist, Peter Filichia, the historic 78th Annual Theatre World Awards Ceremony will be produced by Theatre World Awards, Inc. Board of Directors / Dale Badway.