Rabe was honored for her role in George Bernard Shaw's Heartbreak House, currently on Broadway through Dec. 17 at the American Airlines Theatre in a production by the Roundabout Theatre Company. Stuhlbarg won for his role in The Voysey Inheritance, David Mamet's adaptation of the 1905 Harley Granville-Barker play, produced by the Atlantic Theatre Company, running through Jan. 21, 2007.

The award honors the best performances in a professional production of a classic play — written prior to 1920 — in the New York area. Equity member Joe A. Callaway established the prize to encourage participation in the classics and non-profit theatre. The winners get a $1,000 check plus an engraved plaque.

Rabe made her Broadway debut in 2005 in Steel Magnolias, and her other theatre credits include Colder Than Here at MCC. Films include “Mona Lisa Smile,” “Never Again” and the upcoming “Aftermath, A Crime” and “No Reservations.”

Stuhlbarg’s Broadway credits include The Pillowman (Tony nomination), The Invention of Love, Cabaret, Taking Sides, Saint Joan, Timon of Athens and The Government Inspector. He has appeared in numerous classic plays Off-Broadway.

Previous recipients include Philip Bosco, Laura Linney, Frank Langella, Liev Schreiber and Kate Burton. The Judges' Panel for the award included Adam Feldman of Time Out NY, Harry Haun of Playbill, Michael Kuchwara of the Associated Press and David Rosenberg of Backstage. The award will be presented Jan. 5 at the Equity's Eastern Regional Membership Meeting.