For Ana Villafañe, the New York theater season just ended can be summed up in a line from “On Your Feet,” the show in which she stars: “This is what an American looks like.” This is what a Broadway performer looked like in 2015-2016:

Austin P McKenzie with company

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

Danielle Brooks in The Color Purple Broadway musical

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.

Ben Whishaw and Tavi Gevinson

Clarke Peters (Wynton) Khris Davis (Jay)

Sarah Charles Lewis as Winnie Foster

Bright Star with Carmen Cusack and Paul Alexander Nolan

Danielle Brooks of Orange is the New Black and The Color Purple, recalls being congratulated by her idol Tanya Pinkins, whose performances she used to study at the Lincoln Center Library of the Performing Arts. That drove home the realization, she says, that she is now part of the New York’s theater community.

In the videos below, 10 of the winners of the 2016 Theatre World Awards, given to performers who have made impressive New York stage debuts this season — besides Brooks and Villafane, they include Austin P. McKenzie and Daniel Durant of Spring Awakening, Carmen Cusack of Bright Star, Khris Davis of The Royale, Cynthia Erivo of The Color Purple, Sarah Charles Lewis of Tuck Everlasting, Ben Whishaw of The Crucible —  are asked for the line or moment or memory that best sums up the season for them.

Bonus track:
Cynthia Erivo sings “I’m Here” on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert