Antoinette Perry and the Tony Awards
Every year, theatre fans eagerly await the Tony Awards, but are you familiar with its history? The Tony Awards are named after Mary Antoinette “Tony” Perry, actress, director, producer, and co-founder of the American Theatre Wing.
Perry was born in 1888 in Denver, Colorado. As a child, Perry spent her summers in the theatre with her aunt and uncle, who were touring actors. At age 15 she joined their touring company and in 1905, she made her New York City debut. By 1906 she starred in a play alongside one of the most famous actors of that time, David Warfield.
Perry left the stage at the height of her acting career in 1909 to marry Denver businessman Frank Frueauff. However, in 1920 a producer, Brock Pemberton, approached her and Perry became an investor in his production of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Miss Lulu Bett. Frueauff gave his wife his blessing to continue in the theatre – but unfortunately died in 1922 of a heart attack.
Perry returned to the stage in 1924, appearing in several plays, but decided she wanted to direct and made her directorial debut in 1928 with Goin’ Home. She teamed up again with Pemberton and directed plays throughout the years, becoming quite successful (though ended up severely in debt due to the stock market crashing). Perry’s biggest success was in 1944’s Harvey, the hit comedy by Mary Chase.
Though Perry has many stage credentials, she is best remembered as the co-founder of the Theatre Wing of Allied Relief during World War II, which is known today as the American Theatre Wing. Perry was known to be incredibly generous, always helping out theatre workers who needed financial assistance. The Wing also created the Stage Door Canteen, where theatre stars would work as dishwashers, waiters, and entertainers for the armed forces.
By the mid-40s, Perry was in debt, surviving off her weekly $800 Harvey royalty checks. A reporter asked her why she supported the theatre so much. They asked, “Why do you devote so much of your money and time to such thankless activities?”
Perry answered, “Thankless? They’re anything but that. I’m just a fool for the theatre.”
Sadly, Perry developed heart problems but refused to see a doctor due to her Christian Scientist beliefs. She died of a heart attack in 1946. The next year, the Wing decided on a theatrical awards ceremony, led by Pemberton, to honor Perry. When handing out the awards, he called it a Tony, after his longtime partner. The name stuck, and now each year, Perry is remembered by millions of theatre fans as they gather to celebrate the accomplishments of Broadway’s finest.
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