Henry Hewes

Henry Hewes (April 9, 1917 – July 18, 2006) was an American theater writer who worked as the drama critic for the Saturday Review weekly literary magazine from 1955 to 1979. He was the first major critic to regularly review regional and international theater. His interest in regional theater led him to found the American Theater Critics Association, the Tony Award for regional theater, and the American Theater Wing's design award, now called the Hewes Award. In 2002, he was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame.

Early life and education Hewes was born in Boston to a socially prominent family, the son of Margaret Gordon (Warman) and Henry Fox Hewes. His mother was a theater producer, and Hewes first became interested in theater at the age of ten. He began studying pre-med at Harvard University, but his studies were interrupted by World War II.

Hewes served in the Army Air Corps during hostilities. After the war, he shifted his focus to theater studies and graduated from Columbia University in 1949.

Career Hewes' first job in journalism was working as a copy boy at the New York Times. Encouraged by the critic Brooks Atkinson, he began writing arts profiles for the Times' Sunday Magazine.

In 1974, Hewes established the American Theater Critics Association, partially due to his interest in regional theater. He also helped to found the Tony Award for regional theater and the American Theater Wing's design award, which is now called the Henry Hewes Design Award.

Legacy and honors Elected president of the New York Drama Critics' Circle and the Drama Desk Inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame (2002)