The Regional Theatre Tony Award is a special recognition Tony Award given annually to a regional theater company in the United States. The winner is recommended by a committee of drama critics.
Background
Initially presented in 1948 to Robert Porterfield of the VirginiaBarter Theatre for their Contribution To Development Of Regional Theatre,[1] the Regional Theatre awards were next presented starting in 1976.[2] The award is "based on a recommendation by the American Theatre Critics Association", and includes a grant of $25,000.[3] As the American Theatre Critics Association has noted, no theater has won the award more than once, "testifying to the growing strength of professional theater nationwide."[2] One of the objects of the award is promoting what often amounts to the incubators of new productions.
In June 2013, the Tony Awards Administration Committee stated that effective with the 2013-14 season, "New York-based theatre companies will be eligible to receive the Regional Theatre Award." The Broadway League and American Theatre Wing, in a joint statement, explained: "New York has some of the most prestigious and creative theatre groups in the country and we are thrilled to include the New York theatre community in this category."[4]
"This award takes note of the company's balanced program of distinguished revivals and a broad spectrum of new works and American premieres of important foreign plays".[6]
