Each will receive $2,000 and an engraved crystal trophy. Fields was recognized for her performance as Sofia in The Color Purple. Ritter, meanwhile, was honored for his performance in Wendy Wasserstein’s Third.

Established in 1944 by actor and former Actors' Equity Association President Clarence Derwent, The Derwent Awards are among the oldest awards on Broadway. Past recipients include Annette Bening, Kristin Chenoweth, Calista Flockhart, Gene Hackman, Dana Ivey, John Malkovich, Ann Reinking, George C. Scott, Frances Sternhagen, Gene Wilder and James Woods.

This year’s panel of judges included Betty Corwin, Director of Special Projects, Theatre on Film & Tape Archive of the Lincoln Center Library for the Performing Arts; Adam Feldman, Time Out NY; Arne Gundersen, President of the Actors’ Equity Foundation; Harry Haun, staff writer, Playbill Magazine; Michael Kuchwara, Associated Press; Patrick Quinn, President of Actors’ Equity Association; David Rosenberg, Back Stage; Michael Sommers, The Star Ledger; and Douglas Watt, The Daily News.