The Theatre World Awards for outstanding New York stage debuts during the 2015-2016 theatrical season have been given to:

Bernadette Peters

Danielle Brooks in The Color Purple

Carmen Cusack in Bright Star

Clarke Peters (Wynton) Khris Davis (Jay)

Daniel L. Durant in Spring Awakening

After a lifetime of being told, and believing, that she’s ugly, Celie as performed by Cynthia Erico sings out I’m beautiful, yes I’m beautiful, and I’m here” – which provokes the audience to rise up, tear up and cheer.

John Krasinski and Claire Danes as rivals in Dry Powder

Sarah Charles Lewis in Tuck Everlasting

Daniel N. Durant as Moritz, Austin P. McKenzie as Melchior, and Alex Boniello as the voice of Moritz

Akosua Busia and Lupita Nyong’o in Eclipsed

When Phoebe Fox as Catherine jumps into the arms of Mark Strong as Eddie Carbone, we are struck by several things at once — how much bigger he is than she; how childish she acts; how somehow inappropriate their physical interaction seems. In that early moment in A View from the Bridge, we are get a succinct foreshadowing of the tragedy that is at the heart of Arthur Miller’s play — Eddie’s lack of awareness of his attraction to his surrogate daughter.

Ana Villafane in On Your Feet

Ben Whishaw and Tavi Gevinson

Nicholas Barasch in She Loves Me

Danielle Brooks, The Color Purple

Carmen Cusack, Bright Star

Khris Davis, The Royale

Daniel Durant, Spring Awakening

Cynthia Erivo, The Color Purple

John Krasinski, Dry Powder

Sarah Charles Lewis, Tuck Everlasting

Austin P. McKenzie, Spring Awakening

Lupita Nyong’o, Eclipsed

Mark Strong, A View From The Bridge

Ana Villafañe, On Your Feet

Ben Whishaw, The Crucible

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2016 Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence in the Theater Winner

Outstanding Performance in a Broadway or Off-Broadway Production:

Nicholas Barasch, for his performance as Arpad Lazslo in She Loves Me

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2016 John Willis Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre Winner

Bernadette Peters

The winners will be celebrated at the 72nd Annual Theatre World Awards Ceremony May 23 beginning at 7 PM at Circle in the Square Theatre.

Check out: 2016 NYC Theater Award Guide