The Tony Awards Administration Committee has announced a longtime theater photographer, a costume beader and a dry-cleaning business used by Broadway since 1908 as the recipients of its 2018 Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theater.
The awards will go to Sara Krulwich of the New York Times, Bessie Nelson and Ernest Winzer Cleaners. These honors are awarded to individuals, organizations and institutions that have contributed to the theater industry, but are not eligible for recognition in other categories.
Krulwich was the first designated culture photographer at the Times and was able to move to taking photos of Broadway shows, after years of receiving pushback from press agents and producers. She now shoots more than 100 shows a year.
Nelson has been working on costume beading for more than 70 years, and has worked in Hollywood and with popular singers such as Michael Jackson, whose white crystal glove, socks and beaded jackets she worked on. On Broadway she has worked with costume designers on shows such as “The Producers,” “Dreamgirls” and “A Chorus Line.”
Ernest Winzer Cleaners was started by Winzer in 1908 and is said to have cleaned costumes worn by the Barrymores and Helen Hayes. The cleaners continues under Winzer’s grandson Bruce Barish, who also does garment restoration work.
This week, the Tony Awards administration committee also announced Nick Scandalios as the recipient of the Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award and Chita Rivera and Andrew Lloyd Webber as recipients of Tony Awards for lifetime achievement in theater.
