National Endowment for the Arts & Miles Wilkin to Receive Special 2016 Tony Awards

The Tony Awards Administration Committee has announced that the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and Miles Wilkin will both be honored with the 2016 Special Tony Awards.

Celebrating its 50th Anniversary, the NEA is the independent federal agency whose funding and support gives Americans the opportunity to participate in the arts, exercise their imaginations, and develop their creative capacities. Through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector, the NEA supports arts learning, affirms and celebrates America's rich and diverse cultural heritage, and extends its work to promote equal access to the arts in every community across America.

"The National Endowment for the Arts's contribution to the theatre community is incalculable," stated Heather Hitchens, President of the American Theatre Wing, and Charlotte St. Martin, President of The Broadway League. "Over the past 50 years, since its inception, the agency has funded 18 Tony Award-winning plays and 15 Tony award-winning musicals, not to mention offering vital support to hundreds of theatre professionals. They are invaluable to our industry, and to our nation's cultural legacy!"

Six-time Tony Winner Miles Wilkin is the COO and Executive Vice President of Key Brand Entertainment where he provides the vision for theatre and e-commerce, building on Broadway Across America's significant touring network and Broadway.com's vast e-commerce network. Wilkin, an original founder of Broadway Across America, is more broadly recognized as one of the founders of North American Touring Theatre. During his most recent stint at Broadway Across America, he revitalized its North American Presenting and Theatre operation. Prior to that, he was an executive with Clear Channel Entertainment and its predecessors (SFX Entertainment, PACE Entertainment and PACE Theatrical) responsible for company-wide operations and company-wide divisions, including, North American Music, North American Theatre, Motorsports, Sports, International Music, International Theatre and Sports, and Properties including Corporate Sponsorship and TV.

"Miles paved 'the road' for the modern Broadway touring system, and his accomplishments have been monumental and central to the success and economic growth of our industry," stated Charlotte St. Martin, President of The Broadway League, and Heather Hitchens, President of the American Theatre Wing. "Because of his innovative and groundbreaking touring systems, theatre fans across the country have been able to experience the magic of Broadway."

The American Theatre Wing's 70th Annual Tony Awards, hosted by Tony Award winner James Corden, will air on the CBS Television Network on Sunday, June 12, 2016 (8:00-11:00 PM, ET/delayed PT) live from the Beacon Theatre in New York City. The Tony Awards, which honors theatre professionals for distinguished achievement on Broadway, has been broadcast on CBS since 1978. The Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing.

The Nominations for the 2016 Tony Awards will be announced live, by Andrew Rannells and Nikki M. James on Tuesday, May 3, 2016, from the Diamond Horseshoe at The Paramount Hotel in New York City.