Theatre World Award Winners Announced - Winners from HAND TO GOD, ON THE TOWN, FUN HOME, HAMILTON, THE LAST SHIP, AN AMERICAN IN PARIS & More

The 71st Annual Theatre World Awards - the oldest award given for a debut theatre performance on or off-Broadway have just announced their 2015 winners! The awards will be held Monday, June 1, 2015 at 7:45 p.m. 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 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 original production of ON THE TOWN opened at Broadway's Adelphi Theater in 1944 starring Betty Comden, who co-wrote the show with Adolph Green and was one of the first winners of the inaugural Theatre World Awards for her Broadway debut as "Claire." This year's ceremony brings the awards to the Lyric Theatre, home to the newly Tony Award nominated revival of ON THE TOWN, reconnecting the Theatre World Awards legacy back to its very first ceremony.

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 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 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 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 Kosteland 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 Awardsincluding a list of past recipients, visit www.theatreworldawards.org.