American Theatre Wing

The American Theatre Wing, "the Wing" for short, is a New York City-based organization "dedicated to supporting excellence and education in theatre," according to its mission statement. Originally known as the Stage Women's War Relief during World War I, it later became a part of the World War II Allied Relief Fund under its current name. The ATW created and sponsors the Tony Awards in theatrical arts.

In 1917, seven ladies of theater--Rachel Crothers, Louise Closser Hale, Dorothy Donnelly, Josephine Hull, Minnie Dupree, Elizabeth Tyree and Louise Drew—converged to discuss the possibility of forming an organization to aid in war relief. All were active in Broadway theater as patrons, actors, or both. These seven, when they formed the said organization, initially called it "The Stage Women's War Relief." It established workrooms for sewing uniforms and other garments, with total output totaling 1,863,645 articles; clothing and food collection centers; a canteen on Broadway for servicemen; and began sending troupes of entertainers to perform wherever needed. In total, the group raised nearly $7,000,000 for the war effort.

In 1939, as World War II began, a second group of theatrical women, which group Crothers again led but whose members, this time, included Mary Antoinette "Toni" Perry among others, reestablished the Stage Women's War Relief in Manhattan, changing its name to "The American Theatre Wing." With the entry of the United States into the war, the Wing established "The Stage Door Canteen" to entertain American servicemen.

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