Playhouse Square Board of Trustees Chair Brent Ballard bestowed the organization’s Henkel Lewis Award to Tony Award-winning producers Matthew Rego, Michael Rego and Hank Unger on May 5 during the organization’s Chairman’s Dinner. The Henkel Lewis Award is the organization’s highest honor that is given annually to an individual(s) whose work continues to enhance the world around us through lifetime dedication to the performing arts, contributions to our culture, proven leadership and creative thinking.
Matthew Rego, Michael Rego and Hank Unger are proud Cleveland natives and the founders of The Araca Group, the Broadway production and merchandise company behind theatrical hits such as the Pulitzer Prize-winning play Disgraced and the Tony Award-winning musicals The Outsiders and Urinetown.
“We are deeply honored to be recognized by Playhouse Square. Growing up on the West Side of Cleveland, where we first discovered our love for the arts doing school plays and community theatre, Playhouse Square was always the place we would go to see the best of the best,” stated the recipients. “Not only was it a first-class organization, but the community of artists and professionals they attracted to its theatres was a constant source of inspiration for us as we found our own path in this business. We are grateful to call them friends and colleagues and look forward to many more years of collaboration together.”
Past award honorees include composer Marvin Hamlisch; prolific lyricist Sir Tim Rice; Disney Theatricals President Thomas Schumacher; Broadway producers Michael David and Edward Strong, Margo Lion, Hal Luftig, Kevin McCollum, Jeffrey Seller, David Stone, and Barry and Fran Weissler; Barnycz Group chief creatologist Danny Barnycz; and pioneering Playhouse Square leaders Oliver C. “Pudge” Henkel, Jr. and John F. Lewis.