Susan Stroman, AS '76, who's used to winning accolades on Broadway, returned to her home state April 26, to receive one of the 2003 CommonWealth Awards for Distinguished Service, which honor individuals who have enriched and advanced humanity through their exceptional lifetime achievements.

The celebrated director-choreographer received the $50,000 award for dramatic arts at a ceremony at Wilmington's Hotel du Pont from Calvert A. Morgan Jr., chairman of PNC Bank, Delaware. PNC has been trustee of the awards for 24 years. Stroman joins a distinguished roster of past recipients that includes Lord Laurence Olivier, Tennessee Williams, Stephen Sondheim, Jerome Robbins, Arthur Miller, Edward Albee, Mikhail Baryshnikov and Julie Andrews.

Called "one of the most powerful people in the American theatre," Stroman has won five Tony Awards. She is credited with infusing new life into the musical stage, and her recent smash hits include The Producers, Contact and revivals of The Music Man and Oklahoma.

Stroman was inducted into UD's Alumni Wall of Fame in 1993, and she delivered the address at the 1994 Winter Commencement. Last May, UD's Board of Trustees voted to award her an honorary degree.