Mary-Mitchell Campbell Talks Arts Education, Advocacy and Her Isabelle Stevenson Tony Honor

June 4, 2026 - 17:10

Mary-Mitchell Campbell, the Broadway music director and conductor, is receiving the Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award this year. The honor recognizes her work with Arts Ignite, a nonprofit she co-founded that brings theater and arts education to young people in underserved communities around the world.

Campbell has spent years pushing for broader access to the arts. She believes that theater is not just about putting on a show. It is a tool for building confidence, teaching collaboration, and giving kids a voice. Through Arts Ignite, she has helped create programs in places like Haiti, Uganda, and parts of the United States where arts education has been cut or never existed.

In a recent interview, Campbell said the award is not just for her. It is for everyone who believes the arts belong in every school, not just wealthy ones. She pointed out that when young people get to create, perform, and tell their own stories, they develop skills that last a lifetime.

The Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award is given to a member of the theater community who has made a significant contribution to a charitable cause. Campbell's work fits that description. She has spent decades balancing her career as a music director for shows like "The Bridges of Madison County" and "Sweeney Todd" with her advocacy work.

Campbell hopes the award will draw more attention to the need for arts funding. She wants to see a future where every child has a chance to sing, dance, or act. For her, that is the real goal.