Tony-winning stage and screen star Billy Porter will be honored with the 2024 Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award at this year's Tony Awards ceremony, set for June 16 at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center. Porter is being recognized for his work as an activist and spokesperson for the LGBTQIA+ community, specifically his work with The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation and the Entertainment Community Fund, among other groups.
Named for the late, longtime leader and chairman of the board of the American Theatre Wing, the Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award is given annually to a member of the theatre community who has made a substantial contribution of volunteered time and effort on behalf of one or more humanitarian, social service, or charitable organizations. Last year's honor went to Jerry Mitchell for his work with Broadway Cares, with previous honorees including Judith Light, Baayork Lee, Rosie O'Donnell, Larry Kramer, Bernadette Peters, and inaugural honoree Phyllis Newman.
"Billy Porter has made extraordinary contributions as an activist for the LGBTQ+ community, and we are truly honored to present him with this year’s Isabelle Stevenson Award," say Broadway League Interim President Jason Laks and American Theatre Wing President and CEO Heather Hitchens in a joint statement. "He has lent tremendous time, effort, and support to a variety of organizations including The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, the Entertainment Community Fund, and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, all while becoming an unstoppable force on stage, screen, and beyond."
Porter serves as an ambassador for ETAF, and is a member of the board of trustees of ECF, a group he's worked with for decades. He's previously been awarded the Michael Kors Award for Outstanding Community Service at the Golden Heart Awards and the GLAAD Vito Russo Award.
As a performer, Porter is a Tony and Grammy winner for his performance in 2013's Kinky Boots, and an Emmy winner for his work on TV's Pose.
Nominations for the 2024 Tony Awards were revealed April 30, with Hell's Kitchen and Stereophonic taking the mantle as the most Tony-nominated productions of the seasons with 13 nods each. See the full list of nominations here.
Winners will be named at The 77th Annual Tony Awards, set for June 16 at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater. The evening will kick off with The Tony Awards: Act One, streaming for free on Pluto TV. Details are to be announced. The 77th Annual Tony Awards will follow beginning at 8 PM ET, broadcasting live on CBS (check local listings) and streaming live (for premium-level subscribers) via Paramount+. All Paramount+ subscribers will have on demand access to the broadcast beginning June 17. Stage and screen star Ariana DeBose will be back for the third consecutive year to host.
Visit Playbill.com/Tonys for more.
