The first-ever Made in NY Awards for Theatre and Live Performance are held September 15 at Gracie Mansion. This year's honorees are actor-producer LaChanze, St. Ann's Warehouse Founding Artistic Director Susan Feldman, NYC Theatre and Live Performance Industry Council Co-Chair Ken Sunshine, and Buena Vista Social Club choreographers Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck.
The ceremony will feature a trio of musicians hailing from Broadway's Maybe Happy Ending and Hell's Kitchen. A program of the New York City Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment, the gathering will collect artists, administrators, and community leaders from the worlds of theatre, dance, and live performance on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway, concert halls, community centers, and other NYC venues. The event aims to shine a spotlight on major Tony-winning productions and smaller experimental work alike.
“Whether you’re an eager understudy waiting for your big break, an acclaimed actress at the top of your game, or a long-time theatre lover who has seen every show, New York City’s arts and live performance scene is unparalleled. It is where barriers have been broken, stars have been born, and generations have been inspired,” said Mayor Adams in an earlier statement. “With this new awards ceremony, we will honor that legacy and the people who have helped build it. Congratulations to LaChanze, Susan, Ken, Patricia, and Justin on this honor and your extraordinary careers in the field.”
“The contributions of these honorees are widespread, from performing to educating to incubating to promoting, and we look forward to the moment where we can gather the artists, administrators, and community leaders of this industry together for a special night," added MOME Commissioner Pat Swinney Kaufman.
The Awards, created in 2006, presented the first in-person ceremony in a decade earlier this year, for NYC's film and TV industry. Past Made in NY Award winners have included Danielle Brooks, Joe Benincasa, Alan Cumming, Neil Patrick Harris, John Leguizamo, Audra McDonald, Patina Miller, and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
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