Tony AwardsTerrence McNally, Rosemary Harris, and Harold Wheeler to Receive Honorary 2019 Tony AwardsThe trio will be presented with the Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre distinction.
By
Ryan McPhee
April 25, 2019
Terrence McNally, Rosemary Harris, and Harold Wheeler
Three theatre titans have been named recipients of the Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre honor at the 2019 Tony Awards. Joining the roster of stage luminaries to earn the distinction, are playwright Terrence McNally, actor Rosemary Harris, and orchestrator Harold Wheeler.
As previously announced, the 73rd annual ceremony will take place June 9 at Radio City Music Hall with James Corden serving as host. Nominations will be revealed April 30.
McNally earned Tony Awards for his plays Love! Valour! Compassion! and Master Class, as well as for the books to the musicals Kiss of the Spider Woman and Ragtime. His 1987 play Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune will return to Broadway in a new production starring Audra McDonald and Michael Shannon; performances will begin May 4 at the Broadhurst Theatre (most recently home to another McNally-penned musical, Anastasia).
Harris currently appears in the Lincoln Center Theater revival of My Fair Lady as Mrs. Higgins. After winning a Tony in 1966 for her performance in the original Broadway production of The Lion in Winter, she earned subsequent nominations for Old Times, 1975's The Royal Family, Heartbreak House, Pack of Lies, Hay Fever, A Delicate Balance, Waiting in the Wings and 2009's The Royal Family .
Wheeler has fleshed out myriad memorable Broadway scores as orchestrator, including The Wiz, Dreamgirls, The Full Monty, Hairspray, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, frequently acting as music supervisor as well.He is represented on Broadway this season with the Temptations musical Ain't Too Proud. In addition to his theatrical accolades, Wheeler served as longtime music director for ABC's Dancing With the Stars. He is a frequent attendee of such ceremonies as the Tonys and Oscars, though not in the audience—rather, at the conductor's podium.
Additional honorary Tony recipients, including recipients of the Isabelle Stevenson Award, Special Tony Awards, Regional Theatre Award, and Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre, will be announced later.
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Relive Your Favorite Moments From the 2018 Tony Awards
Relive Your Favorite Moments From the 2018 Tony Awards
The 72nd annual ceremony took place June 10 at Radio City Music Hall.
89 PHOTOS
Josh Groban and Sara Bareilles
Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions
The 2018 Tony Awards
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions
Josh Groban and Sara Bareilles
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)
Josh Groban and Sara Bareilles
Josh Groban
Sara Bareilles
Andrew Garfield and Kerry Washington
John Leguizamo
Taylor Louderman and the cast of Mean Girls
Barrett Wilbert Weed, Grey Henson, and Erika Henningsen
Taylor Louderman and the cast of Mean Girls
Erika Henningsen, Grey Henson, Barrett Wilbert Weed, and the cast of Mean Girls
Melody Herzfeld
Chita Rivera
Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions
Ming-Na Wen
Christine Jones
Catherine Zuber
Josh Groban and Sara Bareilles
Katrina Lindsay
Kerry Washington
Josh Groban and Sara Bareilles
Andrew Garfield
Andrew Garfield
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Tina Fey
Tina Fey
Sara Bareilles and Josh Groban
Beth Malone, Sara Bareilles, and Josh Groban
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Carey Mulligan
Laurie Metcalf
Lauren Ambrose, Harry Hadden-Paton, and Allan Corduner
Lauren Ambrose, Harry Hadden-Paton, and Allan Corduner
Lauren Ambrose
Cast of My Fair Lady
Amy Schumer
Bernadette Peters
Justin Peck
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
Ethan Slater, Sara Bareilles, and Josh Groban
Gavin Lee and the cast of Spongebob Squarepants: The Musical
Gavin Lee and the cast of Spongebob Squarepants: The Musical
Marissa Jaret Winokur, Brandon Victor Dixon, and Neil Austin
Sara Bareilles and Josh Groban
Nathan Lane
Mikhail Baryshnikov
Cast of Carousel
Joshua Henry and the cast of Carousel
Joshua Henry and the cast of Carousel
Sara Bareilles and Josh Groban
Uzo Aduba
Ari'el Stachel
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Matthew Morrison
David Zinn
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School drama students
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School drama students
Glenda Jackson and Claire Danes
Glenda Jackson
Patti LuPone
James Monroe Iglehart
Claire Danes
Patti Murin
The cast of Frozen
Caissie Levy
Caissie Levy
Leslie Odom Jr. and Katrina Lenk
Katrina Lenk
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Kelli O'Hara and Tony Shalhoub
The cast and crew of The Band's Visit
Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions
Andrew Lloyd Webbber and Chita Rivera
Greg Hildreth
Christopher Jackson
John Tiffany
Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions
Ariana DeBose, LaChanze, and Storm Lever
Ariana DeBose
Ariana DeBose, LaChanze, and Storm Lever
Melissa Benoist
Andrew Rannells, Matt Bomer, Zachary Quinto, and Jim Parsons
Katrina Lenk and Tony Shalhoub
Katrina Lenk and Tony Shalhoub
Robert De Niro
Bruce Springsteen
The cast of Once On This Island
The cast of Once On This Island
Isaac Powell and Hailey Kilgore
John Leguizamo
Rachel Brosnahan
Christine Baranski
Ken Davenport and the cast and crew of Once on This Island accept the award for Best Revival of a Musical
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