Tony Honors for Excellence in Theater Recognize Peter Lawrence, The Lost Colony & More

The 2013 Tony nominations announcement is less than a week away, and Tony fever is sweeping through Shubert Alley. As Tony excitement grows, the Tony Awards Administration Committee announced the four recipients for the Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theater. The 2013 honorees are Peter Lawrence, The Lost Colony, William Craver and Career Transition For Dancers.

Lawrence has worked as production stage manager for over 20 Broadway shows including the current revival of Annie. Lawrence served as associate director for the Broadway productions The Man of La Mancha, Shrek, The Musical, Spamalot, Gypsy and Annie Get Your Gun. He was the executive producer for the mega-musicals Miss Saigon and Les Miserables, and has taught in the Drama Departments of The University of Hawaii and Columbia University.

The Lost Colony on Roanoke Island in North Carolina, celebrates its 76th anniversary this year. Penned by Pulitzer Prize winner Paul Green,The Lost Colony first performed on July 4, 1937, and remains today one of the last of the Federal Theatre Projects – an outdoor symphonic drama based on the story of the first English colonists that vanished from their settlement. Alumni artists of the long-running production include Andy Griffth, Lynn Redgrave and Steve Kazee.

Craver has worn many hats in the theater including producer, general manager and literary agent. Productions he has worked on include Plaza Suite, The Odd Couple, Barefoot in the Park, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and The House of Blue Leaves. At Writers & Artists Agency, where he was partner and President of the New York office, three of his clients included Pulitzer Prize winners David Auburn (Proof), Jonathan Larson (Rent) and Robert Schenkkan (The Kentucky Cycle).

Career Transition for Dancers began in 1982 and is the only nonprofit organization in the United States solely dedicated to helping thousands of dancers take their first steps in discovering rewarding careers when performing is no longer an option.

The Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre were established in 1990 and are awarded annually to institutions, individuals and/or organizations that have demonstrated extraordinary achievement in theatre, but are not eligible in any of the established Tony Award categories.

The 2013 Tony Awards will be broadcast live on CBS on June 9. Tune in to Broadway.com for your complete Tony race and Tony awards coverage.

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