Excellence in Directing (formerly the Julia Hansen Award) Winners 2010–2011 Source: Playbill.com Mark Rylance for Jerusalem and La Bête – Distinguished Performance Award War Horse – Outstanding Production of a Play The Book of Mormon – Outstanding Production of a Musical The Normal Heart – Outstanding Revival of a Play Anything Goes – Outstanding Revival of a Musical Whoopi Goldberg – Unique Contribution to the Theatre Award Liza Minnelli – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award Susan Stroman – Founders Award for Excellence in Directing. Winners 2009–2010 Source: Playbill.com Alfred Molina for Red – Distinguished Performance Award Sondheim on Sondheim – Outstanding Production of a Musical Red – Outstanding Production of a Play La Cage aux Folles – Outstanding Revival of a Musical A View from the Bridge – Outstanding Revival of a Play Nathan Lane – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award Kenny Leon – Founders Award for Excellence in Directing Macy's Parade and Entertainment Group – Unique Contribution to the Theatre Winners 2008–2009 Source:Playbill.com Geoffrey Rush for Exit the King – Distinguished Performance Award God of Carnage, by Yasmina Reza – Outstanding Production of a Play Billy Elliot The Musical, Music by Elton John; Book and Lyrics by Lee Hall – Outstanding Production of a Musical Blithe Spirit, by Noël Coward – Outstanding Revival of a Play Hair, Music by Galt MacDermot; Book, Lyrics by Gerome Ragni, James Rado – Outstanding Revival of a Musical Elton John – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award Arthur Laurents – Founders Award for Excellence in Directing Angela Lansbury – Unique Contribution to the Theatre Herb Blodgett – The 75th Anniversary Leadership Award Winners 2007–2008 Source:Variety Patti LuPone for Gypsy – Distinguished Performance Award August: Osage County by Tracy Letts – Outstanding Production of a Play A Catered Affair, Book by Harvey Fierstein; Music and Lyrics by John Bucchino – Outstanding Production of a Musical Macbeth by William Shakespeare – Outstanding Revival of a Play South Pacific, Book by Joshua Logan and Oscar Hammerstein II, Music by Richard Rodgers; Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II – Outstanding Revival of a Musical Paul Gemignani – Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award Bartlett Sher – Founders Award for Excellence in Directing Ellen Stewart – Unique Contribution to the Theatre Winners 2006–2007 Liev Schreiber for Talk Radio and Macbeth – Distinguished Performance Award The Coast of Utopia – Outstanding Production of a Play Spring Awakening –