The Edwin Forrest Award
Edwin Forrest as King Lear circa 1861. Photo credit: Matthew B. Brady
The Edwin Forrest Award was established in 1990 to recognize the long-term, significant contribution to American theatre by an individual or organization. It was named in honor of actor Edwin Forrest (1802-1872), a native Philadelphian often described as America's first great tragedian. Forrest made his stage debut in 1820 in the Walnut Street Theatre production of John Hume's tragedy, Douglas.
Forrest encouraged the development of a truly American theatre that would reflect the tenets of the new republic. He commissioned playwrights to create new works in which he and other American actors could perform. As a final testament to his commitment to the theatre, he endowed his home to be used by indigent actors.
Past Award Recipients
| 1990 | Frank C. McGinn (theatre historian) |
| 1991 | Celeste Holm (actress) |
| 1992 | F. Otto Haas (arts patron) |
| 1993 | Frederick W. Anton III (arts patron) |
| 1994 | Terrence Larsen, CoreStates Financial Corp. (arts patron) Patricia Neal (actress) |
| 1995 | Raymond W. Smith, Bell Atlantic (arts patron) Richard Kiley (actor) |
| 1996 | David Girard- DiCarlo, Blank Rome LLP (arts patron) E.G. Marshall (actor) |
| 1997 | Mayor Edward G. Rendell (arts patron) Laurie Beechman (actress and recording star) |
| 1998 | Ira L. Kamens, PLAYBILL Publisher Mid-Atlantic Region (arts patron) Ken Ludwig (playwright) |
| 1999 | Marvin Comisky, Blank Rome LLP (arts patron) Kim Hunter (actress) |
| 2000 | Paul S. Beideman, Mellon Bank (arts patron) Alfred Uhry (playwright) |
| 2001 | Kenneth G. Lawrence, PECO Energy Company (arts patron) Joseph Stein (playwright) |
| 2002 | Pennsylvania House Majority Leader John Perzel (arts patron) Danny Newman (legendary arts marketer) |
| 2003 | Senator and Mrs. Arlen Specter (arts patron) Sheldon Harnick (lyricist) |
| 2004 | Governor Mark Schweiker (arts patron) Sherman Frank (musical director) |
| 2005 | Louis W. Fryman, Esq., Fox Rothschild LLP (arts patron) Patrick Quinn (actor) |
| 2006 | Matt Garfield (arts patron) Malcolm Black (director) |
| 2007 | Ed Satell (arts patron) Tony Macauley (composer/lyricist) |
| 2008 | Jack Graham (arts patron) Robert Prosky (actor) |
| 2009 | Ann Marie Richter (Arts Patron) John P. Connolly (Executive Director, Actors' Equity Association) Mark Zimmerman (President, Actors' Equity Association) |
