Approximately 100,000 people work in the Broadway industry, according to the Broadway League’s most recent report about Broadway’s economic impact. Broadway Salutes is the annual event that celebrates the veterans of this artistic labor force — those who have served in the industry for 25-, 35- and 50-plus years. Organized by the Broadway League and the Coalition of Broadway Unions and Guilds (COBUG), Broadway Salutes honors the dedication of people across every profession in the theater ecosystem, including but not limited to actors, agents, attorneys, box office treasurers, casting directors, choreographers, composers, crew, designers, directors, dressers, executives, makeup artists, managers, musicians, orchestrators, producers, publicists, stagehands, stage managers, stylists, theater owners, ticket sellers, ushers and writers.
On Jan. 20, the Broadway community gathered at the Hard Rock Café in midtown for the 16th annual Broadway Salutes. Each honoree in attendance received a pin corresponding to their years in the business; recipients were pinned by colleagues as a demonstration of gratitude and a symbol of the ties that bind Broadway.
In recognizing the gifts these honorees have given to Broadway, as well as the sacrifices they have made in order for theater to thrive, Tony Award nominee Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer sang a solo rendition of “What I Did for Love” from “A Chorus Line.”
“It is demanding, deeply collaborative work that requires us to rely on one another,” said Lauren Reid, co-chair of the Broadway Salutes committee and president of the John Gore Organization (Broadway News’ parent company). “Every performance is a result of professionals across unions, guilds and management working in concert to deliver an unforgettable Broadway experience.”
“Those we salute today represent every corner of our industry,” Reid continued. Broadway Salutes committee co-chair and executive director of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society Laura Penn added, “The milestones we celebrate here today reflect an extraordinary depth of commitment to our craft and to each other.”
The class of 2026 recognized dozens of Broadway workers. Broadway News caught up with a few during the event to learn more about their paths to Broadway and their staying power.
Mark Bennett, composer and sound designer — 25 years
First professional job in theater: Composer’s assistant for Stanley Silverman while with the Music-Theater Group
Broadway debut: “London Assurance”
Currently working on: A concert presentation of his musical “Most Wanted” written with Jessica Hagedorn
Most memorable day on the job: “One of the most memorable was with [director] Jack O’Brien putting together ‘The Coast of Utopia.’ When we got to the final day of the teching of the very last scene of the very last play — nine hours of theater — and we finished it, we took our break. And Jack and I fell into each other’s arms crying in the lobby during that break. Just having said, ‘We’ve climbed that mountain, now let’s just send it out.’”
Key to longevity: “We are all family. And understanding that the people that you are intensely working with you are going to work with again, and they are going to be there as a support for you and you’ll be there as a support for them. The long arc of those friendships, relationships and creative marriages has been a way to travel through all of the craziness of being a freelance Broadway designer.”
Kate Cannova, producer — 25 years
First professional job in theater: A replacement in the children’s chorus in the 1993 revival of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” (“I had a special part where I got to come out of a trap door and collect all the corn during the accusation scene.”)
Broadway producing debut: “The Scottsboro Boys”
Currently working on: “Chess”
Most memorable day on the job: “My most memorable day as a producer isn’t a single day. I think it’s anytime when we’re in a room and we’re working on something new and we hear it really come together for the first time. It’s very emotional no matter what the project is or who the group is because it’s like being like Santa Claus. It’s so gratifying to have your job be a thing where you’re basically making other people’s dreams come true. It feels very emotional. There’s a lot of magic in what we do.”
Key to longevity in this business: “We should start viewing this business the way that we view other industries and other asset classes. I think there are a lot of best practices that we have in the startup world, in the venture capital world that we would do really well to implement here. And I think we just need to get really more concentrated in those efforts and understand our math and our data and maybe open up the gates a little bit.”
Vanessa Ybarra Davis, presenter, vice president of Broadway San Diego — 25 years
First professional job in theater: In customer service inviting single ticket buyers to become season ticket holders for Broadway San Diego
Most memorable day on the job: “Anytime I see a kid’s face light up, right? There’s a story being told from the stage, and here are these bright eyes, and I just know that somebody in that audience is making a decision that I belong on that stage and it just fills me. And when students and people learn about how many jobs there are on this side of the stage. It’s not just the person in the spotlight. How did they get there? How did they get there tonight? How did they get there throughout their career? Another favorite is: There was a husband and wife who had been members for almost 30 years and they had a couple that sat in front of them, and they used to buy each other cookies. He passed away and she lost the seats during the whole grieving process, when I learned about this, we got her seats back, and we put cookies on their seats.”
Key to longevity in this business: “You can.”
Guy Kwan, production manager/technical supervisor — 25 years
First professional job in theater: Production management assistant at the Mirvish Theatre in Toronto
Broadway debut: “Fosse”
Currently working on: “The Lost Boys”
Most memorable day on the job: “Honestly, coming back from the pandemic was kind of amazing, because [after] being off for 18 months, we sat in the room, we all did our rehearsal, [then] post-rehearsal meeting [for the live capture of ‘Come From Away’], and we were going around the room and I’m like, ‘I’ve waited 18 months to say: Nothing for the group.’”
Key to longevity in this business: “Stay positive. It’s hard, but stay positive. The hours are endless and you can get beaten down, but just getting to opening night and be able to take a beat before moving on to the next thing.”
Joshua Turi, prosthetics fabricator — 25 years
First professional job in theater: Began fabricating for low-budget films
Broadway debut: “Dance of the Vampires”
Currently working on: “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” and “Death Becomes Her”
Most memorable day on the job: “The most memorable day was the first time I walked into a theater. Because as a young [kid], you’re like, Broadway is this mystical thing. So I walked in and I was able to walk across the stage, and I stood there for a second and I went, ‘Am I really seeing this?’ I’m doing this now a long time. And that little bit hasn’t been lost on me.
Key to longevity: Always do what you said you were going to do in the time you said you could do it, and for the budget you said you could do it.”
Elliot Greene, chief operating officer of the Shubert Organization — 50 years
First professional job in theater: assistant controller for the Shubert Organization
Most memorable day on the job: “Unfortunately, probably the day we had to shut down for the pandemic.”
Key to longevity: “Do what you love, and love what you do.”
Don Johanson, actor — 50 years
First professional job in theater: A performer in a music hall revue at an amusement park, called Pirateland, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Broadway debut: “Rex”
Most memorable day on the job: “‘Cats,’ of course. I did ‘Cats’ for three years, but one of my favorites was ‘Jelly’s Last Jam’ because I was like the white guy. There were two of us in that show, and I just felt like it was so different from every other show I ever did that that was wonderful about it. I felt like I learned so many things that I just did not know about Black culture.”
A favorite collaboration: “My second [Broadway] show was actually ‘American Dance Machine,’ and that was run by such incredible Lee Theodore, who was the original Anybodys in ‘West Side Story.’ She really became my mentor in the dance world; she had such a huge influence on me. In fact, I played Mr. Mistoffelees in ‘Cats,’ which was a ballet role. I wasn’t that much of a dancer until Lee got ahold of me. I was a natural dancer, let it be known. I didn’t have a lot of technique, so she fixed up my technique. And when I got that part in ‘Cats,’ I was like, ‘I never would’ve been able to do that if it weren’t for Lee.’”
Key to longevity in this business: “You’ve got to stay in shape.”
Bob Wankel, chairman and CEO of the Shubert Organization — 50 years
First professional job in theater: manager of financial planning for the Shubert Organization
Most memorable day on the job: “Every day is memorable, and I mean that.”
Key to longevity: “Do what you love, and you’ll be there forever.”
This year’s 25-year honorees are Michael Aarons, Deborah Kim Abramson, Narda E. Alcorn, Timothy J. Altman, Janice Anderson, Lauren M. Arellano, Gregg Arst, Farida Ali-Asencio, Troy E. Atkinson, David Auburn, Kate Baldwin, Alden C. Banta, Michael Belkin, Mark Bennett, Theresa Bennett, Kevin Bertolacci, Henry Bethea, Hillary Blanken, Erik Blueford, Michael Bodeen, America Borda, William Breidenbach, Kevin Broomell, Bob Bucci, Charles Buli, John B. Burzio, Cynthia E. Cahill, Thia Calloway, Kate Cannova, Patrick Catullo, Miguel A. Cervantes, Linda Cho, David Clemens, Debra A. Coffey, Randy Cole, Donald Corren, Jane Cox, Christopher Cronin, William B. Czumak, Merle Dandridge, Jonathan Deans, Franklin H. DenDanto, Jamie DeRoy, Angelo Desimini, Taye L. Diggs, Jonathan Dinklage, Jill BC DuBoff, Charles Stewart DuChateau, Frank Dwyer, Jr., Dashiell Eaves, Angelica Edwards, Karen Edwards, Jack Eldon, Juan C. Estela, James J. Estes, Karen Evanouskas, Glenn Fleshler, Christine Forbes, Tanya Francis, Karen Frazier, Marc Friedland, John M. Galante, Jennifer Gallagher, Paula Gallo-Kcira, Ana Gasteyer, Simone Genatt, Suzanne Gilman, Kristina Gitterman, Marjorie Glover, Mandy V. Gonzalez, Robyn Goodman, Shawn Gough, Tom Greenwald, Steve Greer, Andrew Grennan, Brian Grishaber, Todd Douglas Groves, Stephen R. Gruse, Mitchell Hale, Eric G. Halvorson, Kai Harada, Eric Harris, William E. Henderson, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Rebecca Heroff, Hazel Higgins, Rasim Hodzic, Joseph M. Hoffman, Rob Howell, Phillip Huber, Pamela R. Hughes, Robert A. Hulse, Jr., Peter Hylenski, Mike Hyman, Mike Isaacson, Scott Jackson, Angelique James, Laura Janik-Cronin, Bruce Alan Johnson, Nicholas Jonas, Carrie Kamerer-Presley, Melissa Kane, Jeremy Katz, Cassandra Keating, John Keeter, Andrew Keister, Michael W. Kelly, Danielle Kelsey, Jonathan Kent, Jill Keyishian, Steven Kirkham, T.R. Knight, Philippa Koopman, Guy Kwan, Tina Landau, Anita Lausevic, Tracey Lawie, Jonathan Levine, Jeff Loeb, Stephen A. Loftin, Jose Lopez, Lawrence Lorczak, Katherine Lowell, Paulette Luker, Aaron Lustbader, Brendan Lynch, Jason Lyons, Sean MacLaughlin, Chris Mahan, Marc J. Malgiolio, Maria F. Manduca, Matthew Markoff, Barrett Martin, Jerome Martin, Blanca Martinez, Sandra Martinez, Falton Mason, Mark R. McCarron, Elaine J. McCarthy, John J. McCue, Russell Mecionis, Mauricio Mendoza, Zeus Mendoza, Idina Menzel, Jack Meyer, Amanda Miller, Thomas Mitchell, Max Gordon Moore, John-Andrew Morrison, Leon Mossen, Brian Munroe, Michael Nathanson, William L. Niesen, Peter Nigrini, Kristine Lynn Norter, Erin O’Donnell, Kristen Faith Oei, Stephen Oremus, Herb Ouellette, Marco T. Paguia, Charise Panton, Salvatore Parisi, David Patridge, Henryk Pawlik, Daniel Ethan Pearce, Liz Pearce, Julio Peterson, Mark Peterson, Michael C. Phipps, Joseph Pizzuto, Hayley Podschun, Charlie Pollock, Mick Potter, Postell Pringle, Joe Pirolli, Andrew Rannells, Todd Rappaport, William Register, Tyler Ricci, Martin Eric Rimes, Shannon Rininger, John Robinson, Robert Rodgers, Parbottie Rodriguez, Bettie Rogers, Neil Rosenberg, Dave Roth, George Rush, Jack J. Rusinek, David Sabella, Caesar Samayoa, Mario Sanchez, Santos R. Sanchez, Jackie Sanders, Jon Santagata, Robb Sapp, Vincent Schicchi, Paula Schuebel, Jack Scott, Deborah Shackelford, Mark Shacket, Dean Sharenow, Peter Shayne, Dan Sher, Marilyn Sims, Raymond Skillin, Damon Smith, Thomas Snode, Martin R. Sola, Mira Sorvino, Chris Stack, Nathaniel Stampley, Christine Stasiuk, Joanna Lynne Staub, Nevin Steinberg, Barclay S. Stiff, Lisa Stokes, Corey Stoll, Chris Sullivan, Holly Sutton, Daniel W. Terrill, Frederick Alden Terry, Baylen Thomas, Chris Thorn, Daniel Torres, Joshua Turi, Charles Underhill, Alejo Vietti, Price Waldman, John E. Walsh, Matthew Walters, Lynette L. Wardle, Aliza Wassner, Thomas Watson, Jacqueline Weiss, Darron West, Matt West, Michelle Whitaker, May Witte, Karen F. Woditsch, Sherry Wong, Richard Woodbury, Carla Wright, Vanessa Ybarra Davis, Glenda Young and Goddess Hunter Zeigler.
Those who reached the 35-year milestone are Lynn Ahrens, Paul Arditti, Brett Batterson, Stephen C. Benson, Robert Bevenger, Klea Blackhurst, David Bornstein, Teagle F. Bougere, Larry Boyette, Leon Addison Brown, Alan Chille, Tom Clark, Lewis H. Cleale, George Clooney, Doreen A. Coffey, John C. Cooper, Cynthia Demand, Natascia Diaz, Ian Dickinson, Betsy Dollinger, Paul Drost, R. Ward Duffy, Mark Edelman, John T. Egan, Laura Eichholz, Nina Essman, Gregory Fedigan, Mary Beth Fisher, Alaisa Foster, Nathan C. Fowler, Tony Freeman, Hilda Garcia-Suli, Thomas Gravina, Clark Gregg, Dennis Grimaldi, John Gromada, Mark D. Hallisey, Wendall Harrington, Ellen Harvey, John M. Hennessey, Richard A. Hodge, Bob Hofmann, Jennie Hoffman, David Henry Hwang, Nicholas Hytner, Christopher A. Johnson, Isabel Keating, Steve Kennedy, Karl Kenzler, Daniel Dae Kim, Richard B. Kind, Michael Kondrat, Cindy Kooma-Myers, Dolores D. Koonin, Susie Krajsa, Jane Krakowski, Frances LaCorte, Peter J. Lastowski, Eugene Lauze, David Lawrence, Scott Lazarus, Scott Lehrer, Harry J. Lennix, Frank Lombardi, Karen Longacre, John Carroll Lynch, Tony Magner, Beth A. Malone, Judy Ann Marquette, Scott Mauro, Des McAnuff, Tom McGowan, Michael McKean, Lewis Mead, Tim Meadows, Fredrick Mecionis, Tony Meola, Rob Milburn, Julio Monge, Thomas Morse, Camille Murray-Little, Elizabeth Oropeza, Kelvin Outlaw, Robert Pearce, Dennis Peters, Robert Petkoff, Kenneth C. Pfeifer, Joseph Pittman, Billy Porter, Linda Powell, Lora K. Powell, Brenda Pressley, PJ Prokop, Theresa M. Purcell, Alfred Ricci, Brian Ronan, Stephanie Roth Haberle, Marc Salzberg, Kelly A. Saxon, Dan Moses Schreier, Sherie Rene Scott, Thom Sesma, Mark C. Seymour, Philip J. Seymour, John Shivers, J. Lynn Singleton, Jean Smart, Aaron Sorkin, Angelina Soto, Gary Soto, Stephen Spadaro, Jarrod Spector, Lawrence Tarzy, Carmela Tenebruso, Mark Thompson, David Van Tieghem, Susanne Tighe, Natalie Toro, Steve Traxler, Kathleen Turner, Anthony F. Valentino, Teresa Ward, Anita Waxman, Caroline West, Jon Weston, Reynold White, Karen Williams, Graham H. Winton and Michael K. Wyatt.
Finally, there are folks who now mark 50 years in the Broadway industry. They are Lee James Austin, Guy Barks, Terry Beaver, Neal Benari, Judith Binus, Reed Birney, John Boyle, Ellen Burstyn, Larry Cahn, Mark Capri, Gordon Clapp, Patrick Collins, Anthony Cummings, Daniel Dashman, Mia Dillon, Robert Dorfman, Frank Dwyer, Sr., Craig Evans, Lou David Ferguson, Peter Jay Fernandez, Harvey F. Fierstein, Peter Fitzgerald, Dann Florek, Fred J. Gallo, Edmund Gaynes, Maura Gaynor, Alyce Gilbert, Elliot Greene, Pamela Hall, James Harker, Jeremiah J. Harris, Susan Harris, John Hillner, Abe Jacob, Richard Jay-Alexander, Byron Jennings, Don Johanson, Betsy Joslyn, John Kani, Julie D. Kavner, Howard M. Kaye, Barbara Kingsley, Bill Kux, Christine Lahti, Linda Crews Lee, J.P. Linton, W.H. Macy, Barry Manilow, Barbara Marineau, Ara Marx, Marshall W. Mason, Richard Muenz, Kate Mulgrew, Mary Gordon Murray, Bill Nabel, Mandy Patinkin, Pippa Pearthree, Peggy Peterson, David Rabe, Lisa Raggio, Vanessa Redgrave, Richard Reinach, Richard Riehle, John M. Rothman, Stephen Rowe, Milton Russos, Carole B. Sager, Eric Schultz, Sherry Skinker, Chuck Strand, Diane Sutherland, Jeffery V. Thompson, Arnold Treco, Peter Udell, John C. Vennema, Gerry Vichi, Bruce Vilanch, Nana Visitor, Jennifer von Mayrhauser, Kay Walbye, Robert E. Wankel, Michael Weller, Celia Weston, Dennis Wiener, Lee Wilkof
and David Wohl.
In addition to Reid and Penn, the Broadway Salutes committee includes Chris Brockmeyer (Broadway League), Teresa Gozzo (USA 829), Anthony LaTorella (Broadway League), Carl Mulert (USA 829), Dani Karliner Naish (Broadway League), Lawrence Paone (Local 751), Rina Saltzman (ATPAM), Stasia Savage (IATSE Stagecraft), Mark Schweppe (Broadway League), Mike Wexelblatt (Local One, IATSE) and Pat White (Local 764). The Jan. 20 program was co-directed by Marc Bruni and Paige Price and music-directed by Meg Zervoulis.
