The Joe A. Callaway Award is an annual award administered by Actors' Equity Association for outstanding performance in a classical play in the New York metropolitan area. The award was established in 1989 to honor a male and a female actor, selected by a panel of critics. The award is given each January and includes $1000 and a commemorative plaque.
To date, four performers have won the award twice: Maryann Plunkett (in back-to-back years), Byron Jennings, Kathryn Meisle and Lily Rabe. Performances in the plays Uncle Vanya, Much Ado About Nothing and Othello have each won the award three times, the most of any play title.
Award winners 1980s Year Recipient Production Role Ref. 1989Victor GarberThe Devil's DiscipleRichard (Dick) DudgeonAlfre WoodardThe Winter's TalePaulina
1990s Year Recipient Production Role Ref. 1990Philip BoscoThe MiserHarpagonMary AliceRichard IIIQueen Margaret 1991Campbell ScottPericles, Prince of TyrePericlesMary Beth HurtOthelloEmilia 1992Jake WeberAs You Like ItSilviusMaryann PlunkettThe Seagull, The Master Builder and A Little Hotel on the SideMasha, Kaja Fosli and Marcelle Paillardin 1993Saint JoanJoan of ArcRobert Sean LeonardCandidaEugene Marchbanks 1994Robert StattelTitus AndronicusMr. LaurenceLaura LinneyHedda GablerThea Elvsted 1995Brian BedfordThe Imaginary Cuckold and The School for Husbands Sganarelle Laila RobinsThe Merchant Of VenicePortia 1996Frank LangellaThe FatherAndréKathleen ChalfantThe Merry Wives Of Windsor and Henry VMistress Page, Mistress Quickly and Queen Isabel of France 1997Max WrightIvanovPavel LebedevHelen CareyLondon AssuranceLady Gay Spanker 1998Liev SchreiberCymbelineIachimoZoe WanamakerElectraElectra 1999Anne DudekIphigeniaIphigenia 2000s Year Recipient Production Role Ref. 2000Byron JenningsWasteHenry TrebellMyra CarterKing JohnQueen Eleanor 2001Larry PineThe SeagullDoctor Evgeny DornKate BurtonHedda GablerHedda Gabler 2002Evan RobertsonMuch Ado About NothingClaudio/VergesCeleste CiullaShe Stoops to ConquerKate 2003Earl HindmanJulius CaesarJulius CaesarKathryn MeisleTartuffe ElmireCarol SchultzThe RivalsMrs. Malaprop 2004Robert HockThe Imaginary Invalid ArganJoanne Camp Toinette 2005Sean McNallThe Gentleman Dancing-MasterParisElizabeth MarvelHedda GablerHedda Gabler 2006Michael StuhlbargThe Voysey InheritanceEdward VoyseyLily RabeHeartbreak HouseEllie Dunn 2007 Byron JenningsIs He Dead?Bastien AndréLauren AmbroseRomeo and JulietJuliet Capulet 2008Everett QuintonWomen Beware Women FabritioKathryn MeisleLady Livia 2009John Douglas ThompsonOthello and The Emperor JonesOthello and Brutus JonesKate ForbesOthelloEmilia
2010s Year Recipient Production Role Ref. 2010Matthew RauchThe Duchess of MalfiDaniel de BosolaLily RabeThe Merchant of VenicePortia 2011Derek SmithThe Witch of Edmonton DogDanai GuriraMeasure for MeasureIsabella 2012Michael ShannonUncle VanyaMikhail Lvovich AstrovMerritt Wever Sonya 2013Jonathan CakeMuch Ado About NothingBenedickJ. Smith-CameronJuno and the PaycockJuno Boyle 2014Paxton WhiteheadThe Heir ApparentGeronteSuzanne BertishMadame Argante 2015Thomas Jay RyanA Month in the CountryIgnaty Ilyich ShpigelskyKelley Curran'Tis Pity She's A Whore Hippolita 2016Corey StollTroilus and Cressida UlyssesLisa HarrowCoriolanus Volumnia 2017Arnie BurtonThe Inspector GeneralPostmaster/OsipMary TestaAnna Andreyevna 2018Jay O. SandersUncle Vanya VanyaAlison FraserHeartbreak House Lady Ariadne Utterword 2019John KeatingO'Casey CycleVariousDanielle BrooksMuch Ado About NothingBeatrice 2020s Year Recipient Production Role Ref. 2020No award given due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2021 2022Carson ElrodThe AlchemistDapperRoslyn RuffThe Skin of Our TeethMaggie Antrobus 2023Michael Patrick ThorntonA Doll's HouseDr. Rank 2024Jonathan HadaryUncle VanyaWafflesMarin Ireland Sonya 2025Steven EppHenry IVEarl of Worcester, Francis and SilenceKimber Elayne SprawlOthello Lady Ariadne Utterword 2026McKinley Belcher IIITitus Andronicus and CoriolanusAaron the Moor and Caius Martius CoriolanusOlivia ReisOedipus and Titus Andronicus Antigone and Lavinia
Multiple wins 2 wins Maryann Plunkett Byron Jennings Kathryn Meisle Lily Rabe
See also St. Clair Bayfield Award Clarence Derwent Awards Paul Robeson Award
References