LEST WE FORGET ANTOINETTE PERRY
(June 27, 1888 - June 28, 1946)

In whose honor Tony awards are named. . .

Though trained as a singer, she began her acting career in 1905 in Mrs. Temple's Telegram at the Powers' Theatre in Chicago.

Her New York credits included Lady Jim,
The Music Master with David Warfield, as Hallie in A Grand Army Man.

In 1909 she left the stage upon marrying Frank Frueauff from a socially prominent family.  As a socialite she was involved in the Liberty Bond drives for world War 1.  After her husband died in 1922 she returned to the stage as Rachel Arrowsmith in Mr. Pitt with Walter Huston and went on to play Clytemnestra in Electra with Margaret Anglin.

She shifted her career focus and began directing and producing, primarily in association with
Brock Pemberton.  During this period she produced Strictly Dishonorable (1929), her first notable success; Personal Appearance (1934); Red Harvest (1937); Kiss the Boys Goodbye (1938); Janie (1942) and Harvey (1944) which won the Pulitzer Prize for playwright Mary Chase.

It has been suggested that she spent two-thirds of her professional life in the service of others. From 1937 to 1939 as chair of the committee on the Apprentice Theatre, under the auspices of the American Theatre Council, she organized and conducted auditions for 5,000 aspiring actors in an effort to bring new talent into the American theatre. These efforts were recognized at a testimonial dinner in 1938, at which time she received a Gold Cross 'for distinguished service in the theatre." In 1941 she served as president of the Experimental Theatre, sponsored by Actors' Equity Association, an early opportunity for younger members of the acting profession to display their talent.

From 1940 to 1944 Perry aided in the development of the American Theatre Wing and served first as its secretary and later as chair of the board of directors.  Her work with the Wing resulted in the creation of Stage Door Canteens.  Most famous of her wartime productions was The Barretts of Wimpole Street with Katharine Cornell and Brian Aherne, which played to Allied troops in Europe.  She was a trustee of the Actors' Fund of America and also supported the Stage Relief Fund and the Actors' Thrift Shop.

After she died in 1946, the American Theatre Wing instituted the Antoinette Perry Awards in memory of her tremendous service to the American theatre and her devotion to young artists and artistic excellence.