Julie Taymor, the first woman to win a Tony for directing a musical, will be adding yet another award to her mantel: She’s been named the 2015 recipient of the William Shakespeare Award for Classic Theatre by the Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC). The “Will Award” recognizes artists for their impact on classical theater in the U.S.
Taymor is the first woman to win the Will Award for directing. Kahn noted that this fact is “especially meaningful” given that Taymor will be in Washington to accept the award during the city’s Women’s Voices Theater Festival.
“We are delighted to celebrate Julie Taymor’s bold, visionary work for the stage and screen that has brought classical work to new audiences and strengthened appreciation of what makes Shakespeare’s creations timeless,” said STC Artistic Director Michael Kahn.
Women previously honored with the award for their acting contributions include Judi Dench, Maggie Smith and Annette Bening.
“[W]hen women are honored with awards, we become role models,” the “Lion King” director has previously said. “We open it up for a whole new generation.”
Taymor will be presented with the Will Award at the Harman Center for the Arts Annual Gala on Sunday, November 1. She most recently directed “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” which was filmed live in Brooklyn and opened in select theaters this June.
[via Broadway World]
