THE AWARDS

The George Abbott Award

For Outstanding Achievement

In The Arts

Each year, the Carbonell Awards sponsor the George Abbott Award for Outstanding Achievement In The Arts, awarded to an individual (or team) who has contributed significantly to the artistic and cultural development of the region. The award may be given for accomplishments within the year or for a lifetime. The Abbott Award is voted upon by former recipients, members of the Carbonell Awards program, plus a cross-section of media, arts and cultural community members.

Since its beginnings, the list of Abbott Award honorees has become the chronicle of the artistic and cultural elite of South Florida's modern history.

Mr. Abbott (1887-1995), long a resident of Miami Beach, made his professional acting debut in 1913, as a playwright in 1925, as director in 1926 and as producer in 1934. A major influence on American theater, he is responsible in various and often multiple capacities, for “Broadway” and “Three Men On A Horse” (1925), “On Your Toes” (1936, 1983), “Pal Joey” (1940), “On The Town” (1944), “Damn Yankees” (1955, 1994), “Fiorello” (1959, Pulitzer Prize), “A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum” (1962) and many others. His wife Joy Abbott continues to participate in the awards program and presents the award to each year's recipient.

1978: PETER GRAVES, bandleader—For contributions to the artistic development and national recognition of South Florida’s music community and recording industry.

1979: JUDITH DRUCKER, concert impresaria—For the foundation of the Concert Association of Florida as a cultural showcase for the world’s premiere artists.

1980: ZEV BUFMAN, theater impresario—For the development of Broadway, off-Broadway and regional touring theater throughout South Florida.

1981: RON GLAUBMAN and STEVE PARSONS, founders of Performing Arts For Community And Education (P.A.C.E.)—For the development of musical and arts programs to support the livelihoods of performing artists throughout South Florida.

1982: BURT REYNOLDS, actor, director, theater producer—For the foundation of the Burt Reynolds Institute For Theatre Training apprentice program for the development of aspiring theater professionals.

1983: CHARLES CINNAMON, public relations executive and arts activist—Founder of the Coconut Grove & Miami Beach Arts Festivals, and for widespread contributions to the growth of the arts in South Florida.

1984: JAN McART, actress/theater producer—For career performance and for nurturing the resident theater community’s development as the founder and operator of the Royal Palm Dinner Theatre and other  theaters.

1985: CLYDE FYFE, impresario—For the foundation of Regional Arts Productions and development of a cultural showcase for the world’s premiere artists.

1986: NAT CHEDIAK, Miami Film Festival founder—For the development of the film festival as a showcase for national and international film as art.

1987: MICHAEL HALL, theater director and producer—For the founding of The Caldwell Theatre Company and its place in the development  of artistic excellence in South Florida’s regional theater community.

1988: RUTH FOREMAN, founder & director, The Ruth Foreman Theatre Company—For her pivotal role in laying the foundations for South Florida’s resident regional theater community.

1989: JACK ZINK, columnist, critic & editor—For the foundation of the Carbonell Awards, and contributions to artistic and journalistic standards via career spanning  The Sun-Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale News, Palm Beach Post & Times, Miami Herald, Variety & Daily Variety.

1990: BOB BOGDANOFF, theater director—For his dedication to the development and unification of South Florida’s resident theater community at the Royal Palm Dinner Theatre and other regional theaters.

1991: TOBY ANSIN, Miami City Ballet founder—For the vision and artistic standards behind the creation of South Florida’s premiere dance company, recognized as the region’s cultural ambassador. 

1992: BRIAN C. SMITH, theater actor, director & producer—For his dedication to the development of South Florida’s resident regional theater community.

1993: JAMES JUDD, maestro, Florida Philharmonic Orchestra and musical director, Greater Miami Opera—For his contributions to the development of performance and artistic goals and standards, and reknown, of South Florida’s classical music community.

1994: BILL COSFORD, arts columnist and critic (posthumous)—For critiques and commentary in The Miami Herald to raise the standards of both performance and public appreciation of the arts in South Florida.

1995: LOUIS TYRRELL, actor, director, producer—For the development of The Florida Stage and its dedication to the ongoing development of the literature of the nation’s theater.

1996: BILL VON MAURER, arts columnist and critic—For his role in the foundation of the Carbonell Awards, and contributions to the development of regional artistic and journalistic standards as Entertainment Editor of The Miami News, and critic for The Sun-Sentinel.

1997: EDWARD VILLELLA, artistic director, Miami City Ballet—For his role in the development of The Miami City Ballet as a nationally-recognized ensemble.

1998: BARRY STEINMAN, theater director and manager, founding chairman, Theatre League of South Florida—For his roles in the establishment and development of the League,  and the develop-ment of the regional arts community as director and manager.

1999: BILL HINDMAN, actor (posthumous)—For career achievement as a performer and his role in the development of the South Florida regional theater community both on and offstage.

2000: JOSEPH ADLER,  theater director—For his role in opening new artistic directions as producing artistic director of the GableStage, and for career contributions and achievement in South Florida theater.

2001: CHRISTINE DOLEN, theater critic for The Miami Herald, charter member and current president of the South Florida Critics' Circle & Carbonell Awards, former officer of the American Theatrre Critics' Association—For critiques and commentary in The Miami Herald and her role in the Carbonell Awards program since its inception, collectively to raise the standards of both performance and public appreciation of the arts in South Florida.

2002: MITCHELL KAPLAN, founder of the Miami Book FairFor his role in South Florida's literary development. Begun in 1984 as "Books by the Bay," the event has grown to become the largest book fair in America, drawing prize-winning writers to its Congress of Authors, and hundreds of thousands of patrons annually to the literary festival.

2003: ALEX W. DREYFOOS, CARL L. MAYHUE, ROBERT B. LOCHRIE JR.—Alex W. Dreyfoos spearheaded efforts to build The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in Palm Beach and continues to serve as chairman of its board. Carl L. Mayhue was the visionary behind the effort to create the Broward Center for the Performing Arts and continues to serve on its governing board.  He is honored with Robert B. Lochrie, Jr., who has led the Center's foundraising arm, the Broward Performing Arts Foundation, since its in inception providing leadership to generate support from the private sector.  Both facilities have the served as a catalyst for arts development and economic growth in the downtown areas of their respective communities.

2004: SHERRON LONG, executive director of the Florida Professional Theatres Association (FPTA), CEO of the Florida Cultural Alliance, and manager of the Florida Assn. of Local Arts Agencies, for tireless and distinguished service to the arts community statewide. Ms. Long has worked to raise the profile of the arts in the community, brought arts organizations together to address common needs and goals, and been an effective catalyst between the arts and government.

2005: No awards presented in any categories. Program migrates from autumn to spring ceremony, with annual eligibility year moving from Labor Day to New Year's. Awards moved from November 2005 to April 2006.

2006: Recipient to be awarded April 10.