Fantasia Barrino and Bill Nighy Among Winners of Theatre World Awards

By Ernio Hernandez
22 May 2007

From Top: Fantasia Barrino, Eve Best, Mary Birdsong, Erin Davie, Johnny Galecki, Xanthe Elbrick, Jonathan Groff and Gavin Lee.
From Top: Fantasia Barrino, Eve Best, Mary Birdsong, Erin Davie, Johnny Galecki, Xanthe Elbrick, Jonathan Groff and Gavin Lee.

Fantasia Barrino, Jonathan Groff, Bill Nighy, Nilaja Sun and Lin-Manuel Miranda are among the recipients of the 2006-07 Theatre World Awards.

The honors are awarded to those performers making their first major New York stage appearance (Broadway or Off-Broadway debuts). A special award will also be presented to The Actors' Fund in honor of its 125th anniversary.

The 63rd annual awards ceremony will be held at an invitation-only event at New World Stages June 5. The 12 awards bestowed are traditionally presented by former award winners.

The 2007 winners follow:

  • 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…

    First presented in 1945, the Theatre World Awards are among the oldest theatrical awards. Traditionally, a committee of theatre writers chooses six men and six women. On occasion, the awards bestow a Special Theatre World Award on "performers, casts or others who have made a particularly lasting impression on the New York theatre scene," as stated on the official Theatre World Awards website.

    This year's honorees were chosen by the Theatre World Awards committee, comprised of Peter Filichia (Theatermania), Harry Haun (Playbill), Matthew Murray (Talkin' Broadway), Frank Scheck (New York Post), Michael Sommers (Newhouse Papers), Doug Watt (Critic Emeritus, New York Daily News) and Linda Winer (Newsday).

    For further information, visit theatreworldawards.org.

    Theatre World Award winners Lin-Manuel Miranda, Bill Nighy, Stark Sands and Nilaja Sun.
    Theatre World Award winners Lin-Manuel Miranda, Bill Nighy, Stark Sands and Nilaja Sun.