A Brooklyn teacher made Broadway history this weekend — not for directing a show or performing on stage, but for shaping the next generation of artists in a Bed-Stuy classroom.
On June 8, Gary Edwin Robinson, longtime head of the theatre arts program at Boys and Girls High School, became the first New York educator to receive the Tony Award for Excellence in Theatre Education.
The prestigious national honor, presented annually by the Tony Awards and Carnegie Mellon University, recognizes a K-12 theatre educator “who embodies the highest standards of the profession and demonstrates a positive impact on the lives of students, advancement of the theatre profession and a commitment to excellence.”
Established in 2014, the award is selected by a panel of representatives from the American Theatre Wing, the Broadway League, Carnegie Mellon and other industry leaders. Past recipients have come from across the country — but never from New York, the home of Broadway itself.
Robinson, who goes by Edwin, is a beloved mentor to generations of students. His classroom is known not only for its performances, but for its commitment to real-world industry exposure. According to Playbill, he regularly connects students with professionals for shadowing opportunities and arranges trips to “see shows on Broadway and Off-Broadway, feature films and college tours.”
In a statement, Carnegie Mellon President Farnam Jahanian praised Robinson’s work.
“Edwin’s dedication to empowering the next generation of artists, both on and off the stage, is both profound and inspiring,” Jahanian said. “Carnegie Mellon University is thrilled to help recognize his impact in arts education and to celebrate his record of equipping students with the skills, confidence and community needed for lifelong success.”
For Robinson, the honor came as a surprise.
“When they told me [about the award], I was shocked,” he said backstage at the ceremony. “I am so honored to receive this, and shocked that I’m getting an award for going to work and enjoying what I do.”
In addition to national recognition, the award includes a $10,000 grant for the theatre program at Boys and Girls High School and a masterclass taught by Carnegie Mellon drama professors for his students.
“Theatre is what propels me to get up everyday and go into school,” he said. “The base is all about theatre and passing my passion on to the students.”
