The Sarah Siddons Society is a non-profit organization promoting excellence in the theatre. The Society was founded in 1952 by prominent Chicagoans who loved the theatre. For over 50 years, the Society has presented the annual Sarah Siddons Award to an actor for an outstanding performance in a Chicago theatrical production. Honorees include such luminaries of the theatre as Helen Hayes, Lauren Bacall, Angela Lansbury, Jessica Tandy, Julie Harris, Lynn Redgrave, Julie Andrews, Chita Rivera, Kathleen Turner, Patti LuPone, Barbara Cook, and our four male recipients, Brian Dennehy, John Mahoney, William Petersen, and John O'Hurley.  The winner receives a striking statuette replica of Sarah Siddons (1775 - 1831), one of the great tragediennes of the English stage.

In addition, the Society has recognized a Chicago actor for her performance in a theatre production by presenting the annual Chicago's Leading Lady Award. This award has been given to Laurie Metcalf, Lia Mortensen, Barbara Robertson, Ann Whitney, Hollis Resnik, Rondi Reed, Paula Scrofano, Ami Silvestri, Linda Stephens, Carmen Roman, Amy Morton, Kate Fry, Kati Brazda, Heidi Kettenring,  Deanna Dunagan, Mary Beth Fisher, and E. Faye Butler. A Chicago's Leading Actor Award has been presented to Mike Nussbaum. Also, the Society has recognized outstanding contributions to Chicago theatre by honoring Chicago's Great Ladies of the Theatre:  Barbara Gaines, Martha Lavey and Mary Zimmerman.  Special tributes have been given to Frank Galati, Associate Director, Goodman Theatre; Richard Christiansen, Chief Critic and Senior Writer Chicago Tribune; and Dominic Missimi, Director of the Music Theatre Program at Northwestern University.

Since its inception, the Society has funded scholarships to outstanding theatre students, enabling them to further their education in fine arts at Northwestern University School of Communication, The Theatre School at DePaul University and Columbia College.  Additional scholarships have included the Dinah Perutz Scholarship, given to a student of dance at Northwestern University; the Lucia Perrigo Meyers Scholarship, given to a Northwestern Waa-Mu participant; and the Robert and Ellen Marks/Sarah Siddons Society Scholarship for the Theatre Conservatory at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University.

Events of the Sarah Siddons Society include an annual Gala honoring Actor of the Year and Chicago's Leading Lady. There are also theatre and dinner gatherings throughout the year, including a festive evening at Northwestern's annual Waa-Mu student production.