The Broadway League has named the winners of its 2024 Leadership Awards. The three honorees are Lauren Reid (member of the year), David Stone (distinguished service) and Michael David (lifetime achievement). The League’s Leadership Award recipients were determined by a selection committee composed of full members representing all membership categories. The awards were presented on Dec. 10 during the Broadway League’s annual meeting.
“Lauren Reid, David Stone and Michael David exemplify the very best of the Broadway League community. We honor their leadership and service to our industry and thank them for dedicating their time to bringing live theater to audiences in New York and across the country,” said Jason Laks, the newly named president of the Broadway League. “As a membership organization, the Broadway League is only as strong as its members, and these three truly represent us at our finest.”
Lauren Reid, president of the John Gore Organization (the parent company to Broadway News), has channeled her lifelong passion for live entertainment into a three-decade career working at the highest levels of the theater industry to extend the reach of Broadway. Reid played a crucial role as the immediate past chair of the board of the Broadway League from 2020 to 2023. Her leadership was particularly significant as she helped guide the organization through the unprecedented pandemic shutdown of Broadway, and then helped manage the industry’s successful reopening in New York City and across the country. Reid co-created the Broadway League’s Rising Stars program, forged a partnership between Broadway Across America and Black Theatre Coalition to create the BAA/BTC Apprenticeship program and helped organize the UTNY internship program. Reid also serves on the boards of trustees for the Entertainment Community Fund, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids, the Hobby Center in Houston and Texas Performing Arts in Austin.
David Stone is currently represented on national tour as producer of “Kimberly Akimbo” and around the world as producer of “Wicked,” both of which he produced on Broadway (and the latter of which he shepherded on-screen). Stone’s Broadway producing credits also include “Topdog/Underdog,” “The Boys in the Band,” “Next to Normal,” “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” “Wicked,” “Man of La Mancha” and “The Diary of Anne Frank.” Stone has been a member of the Broadway League for 30 years. He has served on the board of governors since 2004, the Tony administration committee since 2005, the executive committee since 2008 and the membership committee since 2006 — serving as chair since 2010 and on countless ad hoc committees and task forces for well over 20 years.
Michael David is the president of Dodger Properties (also known as “the Dodgers”), a theatrical producing partnership created by six friends at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in 1979. The Dodgers are responsible for more than 200 productions in New York City, North America, London, Europe and Australasia. On Broadway, the Dodgers were lead producers of “Jersey Boys,” “Matilda,” “42nd Street,” “Urinetown,” “Titanic,” “Prelude to a Kiss,” “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” “Big River,” among others. Currently, David is the executive producer of the Broadway musical “MJ.”
The Broadway League, founded in 1930, is the national trade association for the Broadway industry representing more than 800 members from nearly 200 national and international markets including theater owners and operators, producers, presenters and general managers as well as suppliers of goods and services to the commercial theater industry.
