Winners Announced for the 61st Annual Theatre World Awards

The 61st Annual Theatre World Awards announced winners for Outstanding Broadway and off-Broadway debut performances during the 2004-2005 season. The awards honor those who are making a "reviewable" New York stage debut. In other words, even if a performer has appeared previously in the ensemble of a musical or had a bit part in a play, they can receive a Theatre World Award for a breakthrough role.

And the winners are:

Christina Applegate, Sweet Charity
Ashlie Atkinson, Fat Pig
Hank Azaria, Spamalot
Heather Goldenhersh, Doubt
Gordon Clapp, Glengarry Glen Ross
Conor Donovan, Privilege
Dan Fogler, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Carla Gugino, After the Fall
Jenn Harris, Modern Orthodox
Cheyenne Jackson, All Shook Up
Celia Keenan-Bolger, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Tyler Maynard, Altar Boyz

The Theatre World Award winners have been chosen by the Theatre World Awards committee, which is composed of Peter Filichia News 12 New Jersey, Harry Haun Playbill, Matthew Murray Theatermania.com, Frank Scheck Hollywood Reporter, Michael Sommers The Star Ledge, Doug Watt Critic Emeritus, The New York Daily News and Linda Winer Newsday. The awards, which were first presented in 1945, is one of the oldest honors given to stage performers and was the recipient of a 2001 Special Tony Honor for "Excellence in Theatre."

The awards will be given out at a ceremony at Studio 54 on May 23.