New York City-Based Theater Companies Now Eligible for Regional Theatre Tony Awards

Every year, special Tony Awards are presented to a regional theatre on the recommendation of the American Theatre Critics Association. Starting with the 2013-2014 season, New York-based theater companies will be eligible to receive this prestigious honor, the Tony Awards Administration Committee has announced. The news comes on the heels of the 2013 Tony Awards ceremony, which was held on June 9 at Radio City Music Hall.

Newly eligible theatres are located in the five boroughs of New York City, according to a representative from Slate PR, the publicity organization which represents the Tony Awards. Theatres in New York State have always been eligible, they said.

“The Tony Awards support excellence in the theatre — from hometown community theater to Broadway,” The Broadway League Executive Director Charlotte St. Martin and American Theater Wing Executive Director Heather Hitchens said in a joint statement. “The Regional Theatre Award honors artistic achievement contributing to the growth of theater nationally. New York has some of the most prestigious and creative theater groups in the country and we are thrilled to include the New York theater community in this category.”

The 2013 Regional Theatre Award was presented to Boston’s Huntington Theatre Company. Recipients have also included well-known organizations including Chicago’s Lookingglass Theatre Company, Arlington’s Signature Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Seattle’s Intiman Playhouse, and others.