NEW YORK CITY: The Tony Awards committee announced that Cleveland Play House would received this year’s Regional Theatre Tony Award at the ceremony on June 7. The Tonys are presented by the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing.

“Cleveland Play House is an exemplary institution in the American theatrical landscape, with its long history of successful seasons and its commitment to fostering the next generation of playwrights and actors,” read a joint statement from Heather Hitchens, president of the American Theatre Wing, and Charlotte St. Martin, executive director of the Broadway League, said. “We are thrilled to honor the Play House as it embarks on its centennial season.”

Founded in 1915, Cleveland Play House has entertained 12 million people in more than 1,600 productions. CPH will stage its 100th consecutive season in 2015–16, an unprecedented milestone in American theatre. Led by artistic director Laura Kepley and managing director Kevin Moore, CPH presents a mix of contemporary playwriting and classics. In Kepley’s words, CPH strives to be “welcoming, fun, provocative, thrilling and necessary.”

CPH has a history of championing new work, including having produced Tennessee Williams even before The Glass Menagerie. Recent premieres include plays by Deborah Zoe Laufer, Lee Blessing, Ken Ludwig and Eric Coble; developmental workshops of plays by Jordan Harrison, Heidi Schreck and Quiara Alegría Hudes (also at work on a commission slated for next season ); and the 2013 pre-Broadway national tour of A Night With Janis Joplin.

CPH’s commitment to arts education landed them a US Department of Education grant last year to develop social emotional learning curriculum for national distribution and a United Way grant to work in three of Cleveland’s most challenged schools.

The nominees for Broadway shows will be announced April 28.

Coincidentally, Theatre Communications Group’s 2015 conference will take place in Cleveland June 18-20.