This year's award will be presented to producer Emanuel "Manny" Azenberg at the 2012 Tony Awards on June 10. 

Emanuel Azenberg has produced 65 productions for Broadway, receiving 25 Tony Award nominations and 8 Tony Awards. Azenberg has produced more than 20 Neil Simon shows, including all productions from 1970 through 2009. Additional credits include The Lion in Winter, Master Harold…and the boys, Stoppard's The Real Thing, Sunday in the Park with George, Ain't Misbehavin', among others. 

Read more about Emanuel Azenberg in the Playbill Vault.

"When you look at the criteria for the Lifetime Achievement Tony Award, you'll see that it reads 'Manny Azenberg,' Charlotte St. Martin, executive director of The Broadway League, and Heather Hitchens, executive director of the American Theatre Wing, said jointly in a statement. "It is our absolute honor to pay tribute to the man that exemplifies the gold standard of Broadway."

Azenberg has guest-starred (as himself) on the scripted NBC-TV drama series "Smash," about the making of a Broadway musical, appearing as recently as April 9. Read Playbill.com's Second Floor of Sardi's interview with Azenberg.

The 2012 Tony Award nominations will be announced May 1.  

The 66th Annual Tony Awards will be broadcast in a live three-hour ceremony from the Beacon Theatre on the CBS television network on June 10. Neil Patrick Harris will host.

The Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing.

For more information on the Tony Awards, visit www.TonyAwards.com.