MOWEAQUA, Ill. — Timi Kaufman, founder and owner of Timi’s Tours, has received a national honor recognizing more than three decades of connecting travelers from rural communities with live theater.
Kaufman was named one of five recipients of The Broadway League’s 2026 Star of Touring Broadway Award. She was nominated by The Fabulous Fox Theatre in St. Louis, where the company’s emerald green motorcoaches have become a familiar sight, bringing groups to Broadway touring productions.
The award recognizes individuals who have supported and strengthened touring Broadway shows in their communities. This year’s recipients represent St. Louis, Memphis, Phoenix, Omaha, and Orlando.
Kaufman began hosting tours in 1992 and founded Timi’s Tours in Moweaqua in 2006. The family-operated tour and charter company now runs more than 100 tours annually to destinations across all 50 states and internationally, offering day and multi-day tours, charter service, and entertainer coach transportation.
Theater travel is an important part of the business, with groups traveling by motorcoach to productions in St. Louis as well as Broadway shows in New York City.
The Broadway League credited Kaufman with helping make those experiences accessible to travelers who might otherwise have limited opportunities to attend major theatrical productions.
In its award citation, the organization said Kaufman “has spent decades bridging the gap between rural communities and the magic of live performance,” describing Timi’s Tours as “a cornerstone of the St. Louis touring market and an important partner of The Fabulous Fox.”
“From the streets of St. Louis to Times Square, Timi Kaufman represents the tireless spirit of advocacy that keeps the national touring industry thriving,” the League said.
Kaufman’s relationship with The Fabulous Fox took on added importance as the theater industry emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Helped recovery from COVID
In their nomination letter, Fabulous Fox Vice President of Sales and Memberships Cindy Vargo and Vice President of Programming and Marketing John O’Brien credited Kaufman with helping audiences return when touring productions resumed.
“While others scaled back or closed their doors, Timi’s dedication to the arts never wavered,” they wrote. “The moment our doors reopened and the first national tour was ready to take the stage, Timi wasted no time.”
They noted that Kaufman was among the first tour operators to bring groups back to the theater.
The partnership also has helped introduce generations of travelers to live theater.
“We have had the privilege of seeing the children who once traveled on her buses grow into adults who now bring their own families to the Fox, ensuring that the magic of Broadway remains a family legacy,” Vargo and O’Brien wrote.
The 2026 League Awards were presented in New York City during The Broadway League’s Spring Road Conference. More than 950 people representing about 93 markets across the United States and 10 countries attended.
Jason Laks, president of The Broadway League, said Broadway tours play an important role in connecting audiences across North America with live theater while supporting local communities and jobs.
“The individuals honored today represent the leadership, dedication, and innovation that continue to strengthen Broadway on the Road and ensure its continued growth and impact for years to come,” Laks said.
The Broadway League is the national trade association for the Broadway industry. Its League Awards have recognized contributions to the touring Broadway industry since 1992.
