2026 THEATRE WORLD AWARDS HONOREES

SPECIAL AWARD HONOREES

JOHN LITHGOW
John Willis Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre

John Lithgow has long been regarded as one of America’s most distinguished performers. He has made an indelible impression on audiences with his work in film, television and the theater, receiving two Tonys, six Emmys, two Golden Globes, four SAG Awards and two Oscar nominations. Lithgow has appeared in a long list of critically acclaimed films, as far back as The World According to Garp and as recent as Conclave. He most recently starred in The Rule of Jenny Pen with Geoffrey Rush, and in the title role of JIMPA with Olivia Colman, which debuted at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.

Lithgow has starred in the hit TV shows “3rd Rock from the Sun,” “Dexter,” “The Crown,” and the recent “The Old Man” on FX. On stage, he has appeared on Broadway twenty-five times, including award-winning appearances in “The Changing Room,” “M. Butterfly,” “Requiem for a Heavyweight,” and the musicals “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” and “The Sweet Smell of Success.” Upcoming, Lithgow will be seen as ‘Dumbledore’ in the “Harry Potter” series for HBO.

  • In November, Lithgow concluded a sold-out run of “Giant” at London’s Royal Court Theatre, where he starred as Roald Dahl. The production then transferred to the Harold Pinter Theatre on the West End for a limited run in Spring 2025. Lithgow won an Olivier Award for Best Actor for his performance, with “Giant” also earning the award for Best New Play. “Giant” opened on Broadway in March this year, and was just nominated for a Tony Award, as was John for his performance.

    For children, Lithgow has written several best-selling children’s picture books for Simon & Schuster. His recordings for kids have landed him four Grammy nominations , and he has appeared with a dozen major American orchestras in children’s concerts that feature many of his own songs. He wrote the narration for the New York City Ballet’s “Carnival of the Animals” in 2003 and danced the role of The Elephant.

    In 2011, a warm reception greeted Lithgow’s memoir “Drama: An Actor’s Education,” published by Harper Collins. Since 2019, he has written and illustrated the “Dumpty Trilogy,” three books of political satire from Chronicle Prism which achieved the remarkable feat of landing Lithgow on the New York Times non-fiction bestseller list for three consecutive years.

    Mr. Lithgow recently completed his term as co-chair of the Commission on the Arts of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, producing authoritative reports on America’s creative workforce and arts in education. The Commission’s deliberations also spawned Art Happens Here, a PBS documentary which highlights the importance of all the arts in the lives of young people.

RACHAEL STIRLING
Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence in the Theatre

has been nominated for two Olivier Awards, one for her performance as Rebecca in The Priory at the Royal Court Theatre and the other for playing Lady Chiltern in An Ideal Husband at the Vaudeville. Other theatre includes: Giant (Harold Pinter), Giant (Royal Court), The Divine Mrs. S, Anna in the Tropics (Hampstead); Private Lives, The Recruiting Officer, Helpless (Donmar); Scandaltown, Love Love Love (Lyric Hammersmith); Labour of Love, An Ideal Husband, A Woman of No Importance (West End); The Winter’s Tales (Sam Wanamaker); An Intervention (Paines Plough/Watford); Variation on a Theme (Finborough); Medea (Headlong); A Midsummer Night’s
Dream (Rose); Pygmalion (International Tour); Taming of the Shrew, Uncle Vanya (Wilton’s); Look Back in Anger (Theatre Royal Bath); Tamburlaine (Bristol Old Vic); Theatre of Blood (N.T. Improbable Theatre Company). Television includes: “Believe Me,” “Heartstopper,” “The Chelsea Detective,” “Hollington Drive,” “Grantchester,” “Life,” “Wild Bill,” “The Bletchley Circle,” “Detectorists,” “Capital,” “Churchill’s Secret,” “The Game,” “Dr. Who,” “Women in Love,” “Minder,” “Boy Meets Girl,” “Lewis,” “Beyond,” “The Haunted Airman,” “Riot at the Rite,” “Murder at the Vicarage,” “The Final Quest,” “Poirot,” “Tipping the Velvet,” “Bait,” “Othello,” “In the Beginning.” Film includes: Their Finest, Sixteen, Snow White and the Huntsman, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, Centurian, The Young Victoria, Dangerous Parking, The Truth, Freeze Frame, Triumph of Love, Another Life, Complicity, Maybe Baby, Still Crazy.

2026 CLASS OF HONOREES

BEN AHLERS (DEATH OF A SALESMAN) currently appears in the acclaimed HBO series “The Gilded Age,” and was featured in season two of “The Last of Us” on HBO. He will appear opposite John Cena in the upcoming Netflix comedy, “Little Brother.” His other screen credits include “When the Street Lights Go On,” “Instinct,” and “The Village” for NBC. His previous theater credits include Tender Napalm by Philip Ridley, Good Boys by Jane Martin, The Closet by Douglas Carter Beane, and John Wilkes Booth: One Night Only! by Matthew Weiner. Ben is a proud graduate of University of Michigan. 

LJ BENET (THE LOST BOYS) Born and raised in LA, LJ BENET is an actor and singer known for his versatility as a dramatic, comedic, and musical performer on stage, in film, and on television. 

Currently, LJ can be seen making his Broadway debut as the lead in the 12-time Tony nominated musical, The Lost Boys, which opened at the Palace Theatre on April 26, 2026. 

Most recently, he appeared in the 2025 Hollywood Bowl production of Jesus Christ Superstar. Previously, he could be seen in Tarantino: Pulp Rock (CineVita); Rapunzel and Her Holiday Wish (Laguna Playhouse); To Sir, With Love (Lythgoe Productions); Million Dollar Quartet (5-Star Theatricals/MTW); Ring of Fire (Ensemble Theater Company); and Baz: Star Crossed Love (Palazzo Theater). He earned Ovation & LA Drama Critics Circle Awards for his performance as The Boy in Waiting for Godot at the Mark Taper Forum, with legendary Samuel Beckett interpretivists Alan Mandell and Barry McGovern. 

  • LJ began his professional career as a child actor, guest-starring on the crime drama The Mentalist and playing young Tommy in the equity rock musical The Who’s Tommy, directed by Brian Purcell and co-starring Tony winner Alice Ripley. In 2013, he was cast in a recurring role as ‘Karl Fink’ in the hit Disney Channel TV comedy Dog With a Blog. He has guest-starred on Bones and Code Black, and in the Blumhouse thriller Dark Skies.

    Outside of acting, LJ also writes and records his own music, debuting his recently released single “Warm” at the Hotel Café in Hollywood. His original music has garnered more than 800K streams to date, and he has headlined such venues as The Mint in Los Angeles and the Mercury Lounge in NYC.

MADELINE BREWER (BECKY SHAW) is best known for her portrayal of Janine in Hulu’s Emmy Award and Golden Globe-winning series The Handmaid’s Tale, a role that earned her an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. Madeline most recently starred in Lionsgate’s thriller Anniversary opposite Kyle Chandler and Daine Lane, and in the fifth and final season of Netflix’s YOU opposite Penn Badgley.  Madeline’s theater work includes her acclaimed turn as Sally Bowles in the Olivier Award–winning London production of Cabaret at the Playhouse Theatre, where she starred opposite Callum Scott Howells. She is currently appearing in the world-premiere of The Disappear, a new comedy from Audible Theater, and recently played Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors at the Westside Theatre. Her film work includes Hustlers, CAM, BRAID, Captive State, The Ultimate Playlist of Noise, Space Oddity, I Live Here Now, Where Are You, Flesh and Blood, Hedgehog, and Separation. Madeline made her television debut as Tricia Miller on Orange is the New Black, and has also appeared in Black Mirror, Hemlock Grove, The Deleted, Grimm, and Stalker. Madeline is a graduate of AMDA, the American Musical and Dramatic Academy.

ADRIEN BRODY (THE FEAR OF 13) is a two-time Academy Award winner for Best Actor, recognized for his extraordinary performances in Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist (2024) and Roman Polanski’s The Pianist (2002). Brody’s portrayal of Holocaust survivor and architect László Tóth in The Brutalist earned him numerous accolades in addition to his second Oscar, including a BAFTA, Golden Globe and Critics Choice honors, cementing his place in the pantheon of great actors. His recognition for The Brutalist came 22 years after his first Oscar, which he won at age 29, making him the youngest Best Actor winner in history. Throughout his career, Brody has collaborated with acclaimed directors such as Wes Anderson, Steven Soderbergh, Spike Lee and Peter Jackson, and has been recognized with major awards and nominations across film and television as well as an Olivier nomination for his London Stage Debut of The Fear of 13. He also received Emmy nominations for his portrayals in “Houdini” and “Succession.” In addition to acting, Brody produces films under his production company, Fable House. He is an also accomplished painter and music producer. 

AYO EDEBIRI (PROOF) is an award-winning actor, director, writer, producer, and comedian. Edebiri has won Emmy, SAG, Golden Globe and Critics Choice Awards for her portrayal of sous-chef “Sydney” in FX’s award-winning hit series, “The Bear.” Edebiri made her directorial debut in season three of “The Bear,” earning Emmy and Directors Guild nominations, and in season four, she co-wrote an episode, earning her a Writers Guild nomination. Edebiri’s voice can be heard in “Big Mouth” and “Everybody Still Hates Chris,” and she has appeared as a guest star in ABC’s “Abbott Elementary” and HBO’s “I Love LA.” Edebiri’s film credits include Bottoms, Theater Camp, Inside Out 2, After the Hunt and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.

LUKE EVANS (THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW) is a Welsh actor and globally renowned leading man across film, television, and theatre. Upcoming, Evans will serve as executive producer and appear as Brigadier ‘Mad’ Mike Calvert in the espionage thriller film Emergency from the UK-Malaysian label Sympatico. He will also co-star in the action-thriller film Bear Country, helmed by Derrick Borte, alongside Russell Crowe and Aaron Paul. Additionally, Evans joined the upcoming Amazon Prime Video series “Criminal” in a lead role alongside Emilia Clarke, and he will reunite with Milla Jovovich in the sci-fi action film World Breaker, directed by Brad Anderson. Recently, Evans starred in Weekend in Taipei, and he made his return to the stage for the first time in 16 years in a new play entitled Backstairs Billy, directed by Michael Grandage and co-starring Penelope Wilton. The play ran from November 7, 2023, through January 27, 2024, at the Duke of York’s Theatre on London’s West End.  For television, his work includes: “The Way,” “Echo 3,” “Nine Perfect Strangers,” “Pembrokeshire Murders,” “The Alienist: Angel of Darkness,” “The Grand Tour,” and “The Great Train Robbery,” among others; and for film: 5 Lbs of Pressure, Good Grief, Our Son, Pinocchio, Crisis, Murder Mystery, Angel of Mine, Midway, Anna, MA, State Like Sleep, 10 X 10, The Fate of the Furious, Beauty and the Beast, Professor Marston and The Wonder Woman, The Girl on the Train, Message from the King, Hugh Rise, Fast & Furious 7, Dracula Untold, The Hobbit – The Desolation of Smaug, Fast & Furious 6, The Hobbit – There and Back Again, The Hobbit – An Unexpected Journey, No One Lives, The Raven and The Three Musketeers.  As a recording artist, Luke has released two studio albums: At Last, and A Song For You, which hit the top five in the UK charts in 2022. 

ALDEN EHRENREICH (BECKY SHAW) has worked with some of the foremost directors in Hollywood including Francis Ford Coppola, Ron Howard, the Coen Brothers, Sofia Coppola, Zach Cregger and Christopher Nolan. Ehrenreich recently wrapped on the feature, The Last Resort, a two-hander opposite Daisy Ridley. He also recently wrapped on the feature film, Switzerland opposite Helen Mirren. He most recently appeared in a starring role in Zach Cregger’s feature Weapons opposite Josh Brolin. On TV, Ehrenreich starred in the Marvel series Ironheart, a spinoff of the critically acclaimed Black Panther films. Last year, Ehrenreich starred in Cocaine Bear, opposite Keri Russell and Ray Liotta, as well as Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer.  He also starred alongside Phoebe Dynevor in the highly praised Fair Play, which debuted at #1 on Netflix worldwide, amassing 12.6M views in the first 3 days on the streamer. The film premiered at Sundance with rave reviews and sparked a multimillion-dollar bidding war before landing at Netflix. Ehrenreich is best known for portraying the iconic Han Solo in Solo: A Star Wars Story, directed by Ron Howard.

  • He also starred in the film The Yellow Birds directed by Alex Moor.  In 2016 Ehrenreich garnered critical acclaim for his role as “Hobie Doyle” in the Coen Brothers film, Hail, Caesar!, alongside Josh Brolin and Ralph Fiennes. He was recently seen in Peacock’s limited series Brave New World.  Ehrenreich landed his first major role in 2009, playing the lead in Francis Ford Coppola's semi-autobiographical film Tetro. Additional film credits include Warren Beatty’s Rules Don’t Apply; Blue Jasmine; Beautiful Creatures; Focus Feature’s Somewhere, directed by Sofia Coppola; Twixt, directed by Francis Ford Coppola; and Fox Searchlight’s Stoker. Ehrenreich attended the Gallatin School at New York University.  While there, he created The Collection, a group which focuses on the creative process in which films and performances might be built around the specific qualities of an actor. They created six original plays and five short films during their time in New York.  Alden is repped by CAA and Linden Entertainment. Becky Shaw will mark Alden’s Broadway debut.

WILL HARRISON (PUNCH) most recently made his Broadway debut as the lead role of Jacob Dunne in Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright James Graham’s play Punch at Manhattan Theatre Club. His critically acclaimed performance received rave reviews across the board and was heralded as "riveting" (Wall Street Journal), "a star making debut" (Entertainment Weekly), "a tremendously affecting and excellent performance" (Deadline), "a knockout" (TimeOut), "a vulnerable, gutsy performance" (Vulture) and "a tour de force" (New York Stage Review).

On screen, Will recently starred as Bobby Neuwirth in James Mangold’s Oscar and Golden Globe-nominated feature A Complete Unknown for Fox Searchlight, opposite Timothee Chalamet, Ed Norton, and Elle Fanning. 

  • On television, Will starred as David Herold in the limited series "Manhunt" opposite Anthony Boyle and Tobias Menzies for Apple TV+, and more recently, he starred as Buster Murdaugh in Hulu’s limited series "Murdaugh," alongside Jason Clarke and Patricia Arquette.

    Will made his professional debut as series regular Graham Dunne in the Emmy-nominated, Amazon / Hello Sunshine limited series "Daisy Jones and the Six," based on the best-selling book by Taylor Jenkins Reid. The series also stars Riley Keogh and Sam Claflin.

    On stage, he made his NY debut at Lincoln Center playing the lead role of T.J in Keith Bunin’s play, The Coast Starlight, directed by Tyne Rafaeli. 

    Will is a graduate of the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama.

RIVER LIPE-SMITH (CAROLINE) recently made their Off-Broadway debut in Preston Max Allen’s Caroline at MCC Theater. A performer since the age of three (with early acclaim from their parents, dogs, and any neighbor within earshot), River brings boundless heart to every role. Favorite credits include Tiny Tim in A Christmas Carol, Young Charlie in Kinky Boots, and the ever-dramatic “narrator of chores” in countless living room productions and local theaters in Rochester, NY.

When not acting, River lives somewhere between Middle-Earth and a melody—singing, playing piano, oboe, and trombone, flipping through gymnastics routines, or dreaming up the next big adventure. River sends heartfelt thanks to their wildly wonderful parents, mostly supportive big brother, rescue mutt Kenai, inspiring teachers, coaches, friends, and the entire Caroline cast and crew for helping make this dream a reality.

LESLEY MANVILLE (OEDIPUS) is a multi-award-winning stage, film and television actress, known for her Emmy- and BAFTA (British Academy Television Award)-nominated role as Princess Margaret in “The Crown,” and her Academy Award- and BAFTA-nominated role in Paul Thomas Anderson’s film Phantom Thread. She won the Best Actress Olivier Award (2025) for her role as Jocasta in the Oedipus production directed by Robert Icke for Wyndham’s Theatre. Other recent projects include Alfonso Cuarón’s “Disclaimer” for Apple TV+ and Ryan Murphy’s “Grotesquerie.” Lesley was featured in Luca Guadagnino’s award-nominated Queer, which premiered at Venice Film Festival; Mr Burton, opposite Toby Jones and Harry Lawtey; and Mrs. Harris Goes To Paris, for which she received a Golden Globe nomination. Upcoming films include: Jack of Spades, Cold Storage, opposite Liam Neeson, Winter of the Crow, and Midwinter Break. For television, she will reprise her role as Susan Ryeland in the third and final installment of Anthony Horowitz’s Susan Ryeland Murder trilogy called “Marble Hall Murders.” Lesley has worked extensively with director Mike Leigh, most notably on Another Year, for which she won the prestigious National Board of Review Best Actress Award and the London Film Critics’ Circle Award (and also received BAFTA and BIFA nominations).

  • Other films with Mike Leigh include All or Nothing (London Film Critics’ Circle Best Actress Award), Topsy-Turvey, Mr. Turner, High Hopes, Secrets & Lies, Vera Drake, and Grown-Ups. Other films include Back to Black, The Critic, Ordinary Love, Let Him Go, Misbehaviour and both Maleficent films. Lesley’s extensive television career has seen her work on many highly acclaimed and award-winning shows, including “Sherwood,” which secured Lesley a BAFTA Supporting Actress nomination. She starred in three seasons of the BBC’s “Mum,” which won her an RTS Comedy Performance Award and two BAFTA nominations. Other TV includes “Citadel,” “Magpie Murders,” "I Am Maria," "Harlots," "Save Me Too," "Talking Heads," "World on Fire," "North and South," "Cranford," and "Other People’s Children" and "Bodily Harm." Upcoming TV roles include "Moonflower Murders" and the second installment of "Citadel" for Amazon. Theatre credits include: Ghosts (Almeida, West End and BAM New York), for which she won a Best Actress Olivier Award and Critics’ Circle Award. She also received Best Actress Olivier nominations for Long Day’s Journey Into Night (Bristol Old Vic, Wyndham’s, BAM New York and LA) and Grief (National Theatre). Other recent theatre includes The Visit at the National Theatre and Talking Heads at the Bridge Theatre. Her early career was dominated by work at the Royal Court Theatre working on new plays including Top Girls; Serious Money; Rita, Sue and Bob Too, and Borderline, as well as classics such as Three Sisters, The Pope’s Wedding, and Saved. For Royal Shakespeare Company: Les Liaisons Dangereuses, As You Like It, The Philistines, and The Wives’ Excuse. For the National Theatre, credits include His Dark Materials, Pillars of the Community, Her Naked Skin, and The Alchemist. For The Old Vic: All About My Mother and Six Degrees of Separation. In the West End: The Cherry Orchard and Some Girls. Lesley was appointed OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in 2015 and promoted to CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 2021.

ROBERT “SILK” MASON (CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL) is a multidisciplinary artist born in the Bronx, and raised in Columbia, SC. They graduated from The South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities for dance and The Juilliard School for Dance. They are international award-winning commercial & film actor. They are a published model, choreographer, LGBTQIA+ youth leader, and the founding mother of The International Royal Haus of Silk.

SAM TUTTY (TWO STRANGERS (CARRY A CAKE ACROSS NEW YORK)) Previous credits: Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) (Dougal) at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, MA. West End: Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) (Dougal) at the Criterion Theatre, Dear Evan Hansen (Evan; Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical) at the Noël Coward Theatre. Off-West End: Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) (Dougal) at The Kiln Theatre, Once on This Island (Daniel) at Southwark Playhouse.