PBS’ Great Performances, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Goodspeed Musicals former executive director Michael Price, and cultural non-profit New 42 will receive this year’s Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre, the Tony Awards Administration Committee announced today.
Established in 1990, the Honors are awarded annually to institutions, individuals and/or organizations that have demonstrated extraordinary achievement in theater but are not eligible in any of the established Tony Award categories.
“Our Tony Honors recognize the fact that there are a multitude of people and organizations working behind the scenes who contribute to great theater, making the journey from page to stage, beyond our traditional categories,” said Jason Laks, President of the Broadway League and Heather Hitchens, President & CEO of the American Theatre Wing. “We are thrilled to celebrate these behind the scenes heroes on Broadway’s biggest night.”
This year’s honorees, as described by the Tony committee:
- For more than 50 years on PBS, Great Performances has provided an unparalleled showcase of the best in all genres of the performing arts, serving as America’s most prestigious and enduring broadcaster of cultural programming. Showcasing a diverse range of artists from around the world, the series has earned 67 Emmy Awards and six Peabody Awards. The Great Performances website and YouTube channel host exclusive videos, interviews, and more.
- Michael Price is the longest serving Executive Director of an American theatre. Under his direction for 47 years commencing in 1968, Goodspeed Musicals became internationally recognized for its dedication to the advancement and preservation of the American Musical. For Goodspeed, Price produced over 250 classic and forgotten musicals, 100 new musicals, and transferred 19 shows to Broadway, earning 13 Tony Awards. Goodspeed itself was honored with two special Tony Awards. Price was recently inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame, which honors lifetime achievement in the American theater. He is the founder of the League of Historic American Theatres and a founding member of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre. He serves on the Executive Committee of the American Theatre Wing and as a member of the Tony Administration Committee.
- New 42 was founded to breathe new life into 42nd street and its historic theaters, transforming the block into a vibrant and youthful theater district. Today and every day, New 42 continues to spark awe and wonder — opening new worlds to young audiences through New Victory Theater, incubating new works at New 42 Studios, and paving new pathways to creative careers through our artist and mentorship programs. Under the leadership of President & CEO Russell Granet and Board Chairman Fiona Howe Rudin, New 42’s mission is to make extraordinary performing arts a vital part of everyone’s life from the earliest years onward. 2025 marks the 35th anniversary of New 42, the 30th anniversary of the New Victory Theater, and the 25th Anniversary of New 42 Studios.
- Since 1965, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts has been dedicated to enhancing access to its rich archives of dance, theater, music, and recorded sound—to amplify all voices and support the creative process. As one of The New York Public Library’s renowned research centers—and one of the world’s largest collections solely focused on the performing arts—the Library’s materials are available free of charge, along with a wide range of special programs, including exhibitions, seminars, film screenings and performances. The collection at the Library for the Performing Arts includes upwards of eight million items, notable for their extraordinary range and diversity—from 11th-century music, to 20th-century manuscripts, to contemporary hip-hop dance. This year, the Library for the Performing Arts celebrates its 60th anniversary with a range of programming and special exhibits.
The 78th Annual Tony Awards will return to the legendary Radio City Music Hall in New York City later this year. Hosted by Tony, Emmy, and Grammy Award-winner and three-time Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo, The American Theatre Wing’s Tony Awards will broadcast live to both coasts on Sunday, June 8 (8–11 pm ET/5–8 pm PT) on CBS, and streaming on Paramount+ in the U.S.
Nominations for this year’s Tony Awards will be announced on Thursday, May 1 at 9 AM ET live on the Tony Awards YouTube Page.
The Tony Awards are produced in collaboration with Tony Award Productions, a joint venture of the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League, and White Cherry Entertainment. Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss are executive producers and showrunners for White Cherry Entertainment. Weiss will serve as director.
