Fantasia, Best, Groff, Lee, Nighy, et al. Win Theatre World Awards

The winners of the 63rd annual Theatre World Awards for
Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway Debut performances during the 2006-2007 theatrical season have been announced. The presentation will take place at an invitation-only ceremony at New World Stages on Tuesday, June 5, hosted by TheaterMania contributor Peter Filichia; presenters will be named at a later date.

In addition to the awards given to the 12 winners, six male and six female actors, a special award will be given to The Actors’ Fund in honor of its 125th Anniversary.

This year’s Theatre World Awards committee consists of Peter Filichia (TheaterMania), Harry Haun (Playbill), Matthew Murray (Talkin’ Broadway), Frank Scheck (New York Post), Michael Sommers (Newhouse Newspapers), Doug Watt (critic emeritus, New York Daily News), and Linda Winer (New York Newsday). The winners are as follows:

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Fantasia Barrino, The Color Purple
Eve Best, A Moon for the Misbegotten
Mary Birdsong, Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me
Erin Davie, Grey Gardens
Xanthe Elbrick, Coram Boy
Johnny Galecki, The Little Dog Laughed
Jonathan Groff, Spring Awakening
Gavin Lee, Mary Poppins
Lin-Manuel Miranda, In the Heights
Bill Nighy, The Vertical Hour
Stark Sands, Journey’s End
Nilaja Sun, No Child