Recipients of Special 2012 Tony Award Honors for Excellence Named

The 2012 Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre will be awarded to MTI licensing executive Freddie Gershon, production supervisor Arthur Siccardi and the Theater Development Fund’s Open Doors arts education program. The awards are given to “individuals and organizations that are not eligible in the established Tony Award categories for Broadway shows.” The honors will be presented at a private reception June 9, the evening before the Tony Awards.

Gershon will be honored for creating the Broadway Junior Collection of Music Theater International, which provides 30-60 minute versions of Broadway musicals for elementary and middle school students to perform. As technical supervisor, Siccardi has worked on more than 200 Broadway shows since 1977 including Sunday in the Park with George, Annie, Dreamgirls, Sweeney Todd, Children of a Lesser God and Chicago. The Theatre Development Fund’s Open Doors arts education program pairs theater professionals with New York City High school seniors to see Broadway and off-Broadway and discuss career options in the theater.

The 66th Annual Tony Awards ceremony will take place at the Beacon Theatre on June 10. Directed by Ricky Kirshner, the event is a celebration of distinguished achievement on Broadway. The Tony Awards are presented by the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing. This year’s nominations will be announced May 1.