Announcing the 2026 “Mr. Abbott” Award Recipient
Photo by Matthew Murphy
SDCF is thrilled to announce that acclaimed director Bartlett Sher will be honored with SDCF’s “Mr. Abbott” Award, given to a director or choreographer in recognition of their outstanding contributions to Broadway. The award will be presented at the Foundation’s Gala on Monday, March 23, 2026, at Gotham Hall in New York City.
Chairing the “Mr. Abbott” Award Committee are Lincoln Center Theater Board Member Ida Cole; Joseph Haj, Artistic Director of the Guthrie Theater; actor and director LaTanya Richardson Jackson; producer Sir Howard Panter; producer Marc Platt; and producer Jeffrey Richards. Proceeds from the Gala will benefit the programs of SDCF.
Says Tribute Producer Leigh Silverman, a member of the SDC Executive Board, “As an artist, Bart has forged an iconic career, one deserving of our deepest admiration; however, it’s his career-spanning dedication to mentorship that fully embodies the mission of SDC Foundation and makes him an ideal recipient for this prestigious honor. His leadership has spanned impressive tenures at Intiman Theatre and Lincoln Center Theater, all while creating work spanning across the country and on Broadway. We look forward to celebrating the magnitude of his impressive achievements and his steady commitment to uplifting the next generation of directors.”
Gala Co-Chair Joseph Haj says, “Bart and I met when we were young artists working at the Guthrie. We were both meaningfully influenced by Garland Wright, Robert Woodruff, and others; he as a director, I (in those days) as an actor. Ours is an apprenticeship profession, and Bart has passed on those gifts. He is an artist of great significance who is sufficiently confident in his talent that he willingly shares what he knows with others. It’s rare and it’s generous and I am among many who are grateful for it. It’s a joy now to see him recognized with the “Mr. Abbott” Award in recognition of his accomplishments.”
The “Mr. Abbott” Award, presented by SDCF on behalf of directors and choreographers to one of their peers, is named in honor of the late renowned director George Abbott. Past recipients include last year’s honoree, Christopher Ashley, and Michael Bennett, Arvin Brown, Vinnette Carroll, Graciela Daniele, Gordon Davidson, Agnes de Mille, Zelda Fichandler, Cy Feuer, Bob Fosse, Peter Gennaro, Garson Kanin, James Lapine, Kenny Leon, Gillian Lynne, Joe Mantello, Kathleen & Rob Marshall, Marshall W. Mason, Lynne Meadow, Jerry Mitchell, Mike Nichols, Trevor Nunn, Jack O’Brien, Harold Prince, Lloyd Richards, Donald Saddler, Gene Saks, Andrei Serban, Susan Stroman, Daniel Sullivan, Julie Taymor, Tommy Tune, George C. Wolfe, Jerry Zaks, as well as Victoria Traube, the first-ever recipient of a Special “Mr. Abbott” Award.
About Bartlett Sher
Bartlett Sher is a Tony Award winner who has been described by The New York Times as one of America’s “most original and exciting directors.” His work on Broadway and in the West End includes Pictures from Home, My Fair Lady, the 2017 Tony-winning Best Play Oslo, Fiddler on the Roof, The King and I, The Bridges of Madison County, Golden Boy, Women on the Verge…, August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, South Pacific, Awake and Sing!, and The Light in the Piazza. He was the Resident Director at Lincoln Center Theater from 2008-2024, where he directed Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot, Corruption, and McNeal. Bart has also directed several operas, including Rigoletto (Berlin, Metropolitan Opera); Roméo et Juliette (Metropolitan Opera, Salzburg, Milan, Chicago); Faust (Baden Baden); Two Boys (ENO, Metropolitan Opera); Il Barbiere di Siviglia (Baden Baden, Metropolitan Opera); Otello, Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Le Comte Ory, L’Elisir d’Amore (Metropolitan Opera); and Mourning Becomes Electra (Seattle Opera, City Opera). He directed the world premiere of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay for the Met in their 2025-2026 season. His film of Oslo (HBO, 2021) was nominated for two Emmy Awards and won a Critics Choice Award. He recently mounted a revival of Kiss Me, Kate at London’s Barbican Centre, the original musical Millions, and this summer, opened the brand-new Dolly: A True Original Musical in Nashville. His upcoming work includes a stage adaptation of the movie musical La La Land. Bart was recently named the Executive Producer of Lincoln Center Theater.