Theatre League Announces Winners of 2005 Touring Broadway Awards

The League of American Theatres and Producers, Inc. announced today the recipients of the 2005 Touring Broadway Awards (formerly named the National Broadway Theatre Awards). The Awards will be presented on May 10, 2005 at a ceremony at the Hilton Hotel in New York City.

The Touring Broadway Awards, established in 2001, are the first national awards to recognize Touring Broadway. League presenting members chose the winners from the eligible League productions in each of their Broadway Series to submit for national vote tabulation.

The 2005 awards ceremony is sponsored by Chase.

This year's recipients are as follows:

Best New Musical
Movin' Out
Producers: James L. Nederlander, Hal Luftig, Scott E. Nederlander, Terry Allen Kramer, Clear Channel Entertainment, Emanuel Azenberg

Best Play
The Graduate
Author: Terry Johnson
Producers: Jon B. Platt in association with Nancy Rose

Best Production Design
Little Shop of Horrors
Best Scenic Design: Scott Pask
Best Costume Design: William Ivey Long
Best Lighting Design: Donald Holder

Best Musical Score
Chicago
Music: John Kander
Lyrics: Fred Ebb

Best Direction
Susan Stroman
The Producers, The New Mel Brooks Musical

Best Choreography
Twyla Tharp
Movin' Out

Best Long-Running Musical
Mamma Mia!
Producers: Judy Craymer, Richard East and Björn Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal

Touring Broadway Career Achievement Award
Alan Ross Kosher
Company Manager, The Lion King

"The Touring Broadway Awards recognize the best of the road each season, and nurture a sense of community among Touring Broadway, making Broadway the longest street in the world," commented Jed Bernstein. "We are delighted to recognize the extraordinary work of these shows and individuals with this year's Touring Broadway Awards."

The League of American Theatres and Producers, Inc., founded in 1930, is the national trade organization for the Broadway industry, operating under the Live Broadway® trademark. With over 500 members, including theatre owners, operators, producers, and presenters of Broadway productions in New York and in 140 cities throughout the U.S. and Canada, the League and its members help bring Broadway to close to 25 million people annually.

For additional information about the Awards, information is available on www.touringbroadwayawards.com. New York Times is the Official Media Sponsor.