Let's Talk About Theatre

For my last blog this semester, I wanted to focus on the past Tony Awards. 

In 2016, the 4 main awards for actors and actresses went to individuals in the BIPOC Community. 

Renée Elise Goldsberry won Featured Actress in a musical for “Hamilton”, Cynthia Erivo won Lead Actress in a musical for “The Color Purple”, Leslie Odom Jr. Won Lead Actor in a musical for “Hamilton”, and Daveed Diggs won Featured Actor in a musical for “Hamilton”. 

This was the first time in Tony History that the four main acting awards were given to actors of color.

In 2019, the director of “Hadestown”, Rachel Chavkin, was the only woman directing a musical that season. She won her first Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical and during her acceptance speech she called for greater diversity and representation on Broadway. 

Chavkin stated, “I wish I wasn’t the only woman directing a musical on Broadway this season. There are so many women who are ready to go. There are so many artists of color who are ready to go. We need to see that racial diversity and gender diversity reflected in our critical establishment too.” 

This is only the beginning. And I am so excited to see where Broadway will go forward. 

The blog will continue to be up for anyone to read these posts. 

Let’s continue to talk about Theatre, the opportunities and the obstacles. 

And let’s continue to strengthen the Broadway community with diversity and representation.