Find the full list of nominees for the 2021-2022 Antonyo Awards below:

BEST FEATURED ACTOR IN A PLAY (OFF-BROADWAY)

Andrea Patterson, Confederates

Abena, Merry Wives

Stephanie Berry, On Sugarland

Billy Eugene Jones, On Sugarland

Britton Smith, To My Girls

Andrea Patterson, Cullud wattah

Alicia Pilgrim, Cullud wattah

BEST FEATURED ACTOR IN A PLAY (BROADWAY)

Kara Young, Clyde’s

Ron Cephas Jones, Clyde’s

Chuck Cooper, Trouble in Mind

Kenita R.. Miller, for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf

Tendayi Kuumba,  for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf

Brandon J. Dirden, Skeleton Crew

Luke James, Thoughts of a Colored Man

BEST FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL (OFF-BROADWAY)

Alysha Deslorieux, The Visitor

Tamika Sonja Lawrence, Black No More

Ephraim Sykes, Black No More

Lillias White, Black No More

Adrianne Danrich, Intimate Apparel Opera

Justin Cooley, Kimberly Akimbo

BEST FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL (ON BROADWAY)

Tavon Olds-Sample, MJ: The Musical 

Ayana George, MJ: The Musical

L Morgan Lee, A Strange Loop

James Jackson Jr., A Strange Loop

Jared Grimes, Funny Girl

Sidney Dupont, Paradise Square

Charity Angel Dawson, Mrs. Doubtfire

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY

Ellenore Scott & Jeffrey Alkins, Mr. Saturday Night

Bill T. Jones, Chloe Davis, Gelan Lambert, Paradise Square

Raja Feather Kelly, A Strange Loop

Ellenore Scott & Ayodele Casel, Funny Girl

Adesola Osakulumi, Skeleton Crew

Darrell Grand Moultrie, Space Dogs

BEST DIRECTION (OFF-BROADWAY)

Stori Ayers, Confederates

Saheem Ali, Merry Wives

Candis C. Jones, Cullud wattah

Whitney White, On Sugarland

Awoye Timpo, Wedding Band

Saheem Ali, Nollywood Dreams

BEST DIRECTION (BROADWAY)

Zhailon Levingston, Chicken & Biscuits

Steve H. Broadnax III, Thoughts of a Colored Man

Ruben Santiago Hudson, Skeleton Crew

Camille A. Brown, for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf

Charles Randolph-Wright, Trouble In Mind

Lileana Blain-Cruz, The Skin of Our Teeth

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN

Stacey Derosier, Wedding Band

Alan C. Edwards, Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992

Kathy A. Perkins, Trouble In Mind

BEST SCENIC DESIGN

Chris Cumberbatch, Gong Lum’s Legacy

Lawrence E. Moten III, Chicken & Biscuits

BEST SOUND DESIGN

Mikaal Sulaiman, On Sugarland

Jimmy Keys, Confederates

Rena Anakwe, Wedding Band

Justin Ellington, Clyde’s

Justin Ellington, for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf

Twi McCallum, Little Girl Blue

BEST COSTUME DESIGN (OFF-BROADWAY) 

Ari Fulton, Confederates

Dede M. Ayite, Merry Wives

Dede M. Ayite, Nollywood Dreams

Qween Jean, On Sugarland

Kara Harmon, Cullud wattah

Toni-Leslie James, Suffs

BEST COSTUME DESIGN (BROADWAY)

Paul Tazewell, MJ: The Musical

Toni-Leslie James, Paradise Square

Sarafina Bush, Pass Over

Emilio Sosa, Skeleton Crew

Sarafina Bush, for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf

Montana Levi Blanco, The Skin of Our Teeth

BEST WIG/HAIR  DESIGN

Nikiya Mathis, Nollywood Dreams

Earon Chew Nealey On Sugarland

Cookie Jordan, The Skin of Our Teeth

Cookie Jordan Clyde’s

Nikiya Mathis, Confederates

Earon Chew Nealey, Cullud wattah

BEST DIGITAL THEATER PRODUCTION

The Last 5 Years,  Out of the Box Theatrics

Semblance, New York Theatre Workshop

After Midnight, Signature Theatre Streaming On Demand

BEST AUDIO THEATER PRODUCTION

Dreamgirls on Clubhouse, Leroy Church

Paradise Blue, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Audible Theater

The Lion King on Clubhouse, Noelle Chesnut Whitmore

Mugabe, My Dad & Me, Tonderai Munyevu, Audible Theater

BEST MUSICAL  ENSEMBLE 

MJ: The Musical

Paradise Square

A Strange Loop

Black No More

Intimate Apparel Opera

Caroline, Or Change

The Visitor

BEST PLAY ENSEMBLE 

Clyde’s

Thoughts of a Colored Man

Skeleton Crew

for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf

The Skin of Our Teeth

What To Send Up When It Goes Down

Wedding Band

BEST MUSIC IN A PLAY

Justin Hicks, Cullud wattah

Justin Ellington, Tambo & Bones

Starr Busby, On Sugarland

Alphonso Horne, Wedding Band

Bill Sims Jr., Lackawanna Blues

Jimmy Keys, Skeleton Crew

Te’La and Kamauu, & Keenan Scott II, Thoughts of a Colored Man

BEST ORCHESTRATION

Jason Michael Webb, MJ: The Musical

Joseph Joubert, Caroline, Or Change

Daryl Waters, Black No More

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

Michael R. Jackson, A Strange Loop

James Posner, Daryl Waters, Anthony Tidd, Tariq Trotter, Black No More

Masi Asare, Paradise Square

BEST BOOK OF A MUSICAL

John Ridley, Black No More

Kwame Kweo-Armah, The Visitor

Lynn Nottage, Intimate Apparel Opera

Lynn Nottage, MJ: The Musical

*A Strange Loop won this category in 2020. Artists are ineligible for nomination if previously won the category for the same work.

BEST SOLO PERFORMANCE

Laiona Michelle, Little Girl Blue

Ruben Santiago Hudson, Lackawanna Blues

BEST ACTOR IN A PLAY (OFF-BROADWAY)

Crystal A. Dickinson, Cullud wattah

Susan Kelechi Watson, Merry Wives

Kiki Layne, On Sugarland

Kyle Beltran, Case for the Existence of God

Daniel J. Watts, The Last of the Love Letters

Jacob Ming-Trent, Merry Wives

Kristolyn Lloyd, Confederates

BEST ACTOR IN A PLAY (BROADWAY)

Namir Smallwood, Pass Over

Phylicia Rashad, Skeleton Crew

Ruth Negga, Macbeth

Gabby Bean, The Skin of Our Teeth

LaChanze, Trouble In Mind

Uzo Aduba, Clyde’s

Laurence Fishburne, American Buffalo

BEST ACTOR IN A MUSICAL ( OFF-BROADWAY)

Kearstin Piper Brown, Intimate Apparel Opera

Brittany Nicole Simpson, Penelope, or How the Odyssey Was Really Written 

Bryonha Marie Parham, A Commercial Jingle for Regina Comet

Tariq Trotter, Black No More

Brandon Victor Dixon, Black No More

Justin Austin, Intimate Apparel Opera

BEST ACTOR IN A MUSICAL (BROADWAY)

Myles Frost, MJ: The Musical

Joaquina Kalukango, Paradise Square

Jaquel Spivey, A Strange Loop

Sharon D. Clarke, Caroline, or Change

BEST REVIVAL

Macbeth

Skeleton Crew

Trouble in Mind

Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992

Merry Wives

The Skin of Our Teeth

*For Colored Girls…won this category in 2020. Artists are ineligible for nomination if previously won the category for the same work.

BEST PLAY

Clyde’s by Lynn Nottage

Thoughts of a Colored Man by Kennan Scott II

Confederates by Dominique Morisseau

What To Send Up When It Goes Down by Aleshea Harris

Nollywood Dreams by Jocelyn Bioh

On Sugarland by Aleshea Harris

Cullud wattah by Erika Dickerson-Despenza

BEST MUSICAL

MJ: The Musical

Paradise Square

A Strange Loop

Caroline, or Change

Intimate Apparel

Black No More

KINFOLK AWARDS will be announced by Broadway Black at a later date.

The post The 2nd Annual Antonyo Award Nominations appeared first on Broadway Black.

We have to start by sending a MAJOR congratulations to Broadway Black’s newest sweetheart Shanice Williams, the teen who beat out hundreds of young ladies for the role of a lifetime and made herself a household name with her stunning portrayal as Dorothy in “The Wiz! Live.”  At just 19 years old and in her first major role, Williams has earned a Critics Choice nomination for Actress In A Movie Made For Television or Limited Series.  I can only assume this will be the first of many nominations for the budding star.

“The Wiz! Live” racked up a bevy of nominations for its rating-smashing premiere including Movie Made for TV or Limited Series, a nomination for both veteran David Alan Grier and musical theater newcomer Neyo in the Actor In A Movie Made for Television or Limited Series category, and a surprising (yet much deserved) nomination for Mary J. Blige‘s impressive performance as Evilene.

While Queen Latifah didn’t receive recognition for her portrayal of “The Wiz” in the NBC special, the Queen did garner Golden Globe and SAG nominations for her captivating work in the HBO biopic “Bessie,” based on the true story of jazz legend Bessie Smith.

Another “Wiz” alum, Uzo Aduba also gained SAG and Golden Globe love for her Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series as “Crazy Eyes” in the Netflix phenomenon “Orange is the New Black.”

Black luminaries Viola Davis and Taraji P. Henson are going head to head AGAIN as the adorably supportive friends were both awarded Golden Globe and SAG noms for Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series.  Davis leads the poll with a Critics Choice nom as well.

And just in case Hollywood doesn’t get it right (which we know they’re good for), the NAACP Image Awards nominations always make sure that works of color are getting their fair due.  In addition to recognizing “The Wiz! Live,” the awards have also doled out nominations to Misty Copeland (On The Town) for Entertainer of the Year and Julliard Alum Corey Hawkins (Romeo & Juliet) for Best Actor in the critically acclaimed hip-hop film “Straight Outta Compton.”

David Alan Grier racked up NAACP nominations for his work in “The Wiz” as well as his NBC comedy “The Carmichael Show,” alongside his costar Loretta Divine (Dreamgirls) who was also recognized for her work in the sitcom.  Danielle Brooks (The Color Purple) received a nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her charming portrayal of Taystee on “OITNB.”

Beautiful Broadway ladies are taking over the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture category as Angela Bassett (The Mountaintop) and Jennifer Hudson (The Color Purple) earned nominations for their roles in “Chi-Raq,” while Phylicia Rashad (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof) and Tessa Thompson (Smart People) both got noms for the new box-office hit “Creed.”

Broadway Black would like to send a HUGE congratulations to all of the nominees!  We’ll be glued to our screens on awards day providing you with all the glamorous details.  Now, who do YOU want to win?

The post Award Season: The Nominations Are IN! appeared first on Broadway Black.

The annual celebration has become the star-studded event of the season attracting A-listers from Broadway to D.C. to Hollywood.  Tyson was one of six honorees celebrated for their lifetime contributions to the arts and American culture.  Other honorees included Rita Moreno, Carole King, George Lucas and Seiji Ozawa.

Broadway Black beauties Viola Davis and Kerry Washington were on hand for Tyson’s tribute to share all the ways the timeless 90 year old had inspired them and their work.

“Cicely Tyson does not merely act,” said Washington. “She soars. She sings. She vibrates. She is music.”

Davis, who recently worked opposite Tyson as her daughter on the hit-series “How to Get Away With Murder,” had this to say about the icon: “my friend, my inspiration, my TV mother…[she] motivates others to follow her lead and her dreams.”

Since her breakthrough performance in the critically acclaimed “Sounder,” Tyson has earned a bevy of Academy, Emmy and Golden Globe nominations over the span of her 60-year career.  In 2013, she won her first Tony Award for her captivating portrayal of “Carrie Watts” in A Trip to Bountiful.  She can currently be seen on Broadway in The Gin Game with long-time friend, James Earl Jones.

In all, Tyson has nearly 100 acting credits in film, TV and stage, but as Producer Tyler Perry explained, she has always been selective in the works with which she chooses to associate herself.

“She turned down more roles than you could imagine because they didn’t lift or serve us as a people,” Perry said. “For six decades, she has been diligent in her pursuit to better us all.”

When asked how she felt about receiving the presidential honor, she simply responded, “I am still in shock,” the humility ironic against her regal sophistication. “I consider this tantamount to being honored by the queen.”

The 38th Annual Kennedy Center Honors will air on CBS on Dec. 29 at 9 P.M.

UPDATE:

Kerry Washington gives an amazing introduction for Cece Winans, Terrence Blanchard, & The Cicely Tyson Community School of Performing & Fine Arts Choir singing Blessed Assurance.

Aretha Franklin performs (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman like you’ve never seen before for another honoree, Carole King.

The post Kennedy Center Honors Featuring Cicely Tyson Airs on CBS appeared first on Broadway Black.

Tony Award winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson – who boasts a 40-year career – will examine sexist and racist attitudes rooted in classic musicals with fellow award winners Sheldon Harnick (Fiddler on the Roof) and Jeanine Tesori (Fun Home).

For City Center’s announcement about the events, Viertel stated:

“At Encores!, we’re always asking questions about the American musical: where it’s been, where it’s going, what we can learn from the songwriters of Broadway’s Golden Age, and about the attitudes of any given era, which might be very different from our own. This series opens up that conversation to everyone. There’s no one else who does what we do at Encores! in terms of restoring and presenting great musicals as they were originally intended. Our hope is that Encores! Unscripted will explore the connections between the shows we do here –from Cabin in the Sky to 1776 – and the shows currently playing on Broadway.”

Santiago-Hudson has stated: “Whether I’m acting, writing or directing, I want to tell the truth about human beings – especially my folk.” His roots, which spring from an Puerto Rican father and African-American mother, began in New York. Santiago-Hudson made his Broadway debut with George C. Wolfe’s Jelly’s Last Jam (1992-1993). His last Broadway appearance was during 2011-2012 in the Kenny Leon-directed Stick Fly (written by Lydia R. Diamond) as “Joy LeVay,” along with Dulé Hill, Mekhi Phifer, Tracie Thoms and Condola Rashad. Other acting work has included August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean and Seven Guitars; the latter garnered him a Tony Award.

The Lackawanna, NY native wrote the 2001 autobiographical play Lackawanna Blues and portrayed 20 different characters as well as himself; it was adapted in 2005 as an HBO film and earned him the Humanitas Prize as well as Emmy and Writers Guild of America award nominations. His follow-up “truth” play was Your Blues Ain’t Sweet Like Mine, which was produced by Two River Theater in New Jersey this year. For his direction, he was awarded, in 2013, the Lucille Lortel Award and Obie Award and nominated for the Drama Desk Award for his work in the Off-Broadway production of Wilson’s The Piano Lesson. In 2009, he received the NAACP Lifetime Achievement Theatre Award for his role as “Mayor Joe Starks” in Their Eyes Were Watching God.

Jennifer Sendrow, executive producer at WYNC, also discussed the events. As noted on City Center’s website page, she said: “The Greene Space and Encores! know that our audiences not only delight in the electricity of a live performance, they want to dig deeply into the stories and ideas that propel their favorite shows. We’re convening some of the brightest minds on Broadway to make a must-listen oral history of a fiercely creative time in American theater that will inspire and challenge future generations of artists and fans alike.”

The three-part series will conclude March 14, with “Who Tells Their Stories? Historical Narratives on Broadway” featuring Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson composer Michael Friedman, Hamilton The Musical star Leslie Odom, Jr., along with cast members from the Encores! production of 1776.

Tickets are on sale now. All shows will be webcast live and available as archived videos and podcasts.

Santiago-Hudson presented a TEDx talk at his alma mater Binghamton University on the theme of “staying the course.”

The post Ruben Santiago-Hudson Discusses Broadway’s Musical Legacy for City Center Encores! Unscripted appeared first on Broadway Black.

In less than three weeks, we will be able to relish the glory of this production. The cast is like the Broadway Black version of The Avengers, bringing together our favorite veterans to give life to the revamped 2015 version of The Wiz. Shanice Williams leads us through the streets of Oz as “Dorothy”, Queen Latifah serves as the powerful, yet powerless legend: “The Wiz”, Mary J. Blige is “Evillene” (The Wicked Witch of the West), David Alan Grier searches for courage as the “Cowardly Lion”, Uzo Aduba is “Glinda”, Amber Riley is “Addaperle”, Stephanie Mills joins the company as “Auntie Em”, Elijah Kelley finally gets his brain as the “Scarecrow”, Common is the “Bouncer”, and Ne-Yo gets loose as the “Tin Man”. In the midst of so many talented stars, it’s no surprise that creativity produced magic. Ne-Yo, Elijah Kelley, music producer Harvey Mason, Jr., and music director Stephen Oremus, co-wrote a new song that will be featured in the show.

My concerns are abated; this production is going to be fantastic. Will you be watching?

The post The Wiz Live! Debuts a New Commerical! appeared first on Broadway Black.

The Howard University graduate has also appeared Off-Broadway, as “Hannah” in Civil War Christmas and as “Mrs. Jefferson/Seasons of Love Soloist” in Rent.  And while it hasn’t always been smooth sailing the chanteuse with the velvet pipes seems to have hit her stride. That’s why it’s no surprise that Iman has been named as one of this year’s recipient of the Emery Battis Award for Acting Excellence. The award, given by The Shakespeare Theatre Company, recognizes  two actors per season who have demonstrated exceptional skill and technique on the stage. Iman was chosen for her riveting and smokey hot  Mainstage performance during the 2014-2005 season as Aldonza in Man of La Mancha. 

Michael and I enjoyed Man of La Mancha @ShakespeareinDC. Amber Iman's charismatic Aldonza is a performance to remember.

— Jonathan Rauch (@jon_rauch) March 18, 2015

The award is named after Dr. Emery Battis, a beloved character actor who during the span of his 70 year long career acted in all but one of Shakespeare’s plays. He specialized in bringing to life secondary characters. The Shakespeare Theatre Company focuses on works with profound themes, complex characters and heightened language written by Shakespeare, his contemporaries and those playwrights he influenced.

Amber Iman is still in the arly stages of her career and we look forward to seeing what she has planned next for fans.  There is no doubt, however, that she has already put the world on notice that she has what it takes to be a Broadway Black star and we wish her continued success and congratulate her on receiving this outstanding award!

The post Amber Iman Honored with Emery Battis Award for Acting Excellence appeared first on Broadway Black.

Born and raised in New York, French began his career in community theater. It wasn’t long before he was also performing in street plays in Harlem for Amiri Baraka’s Black Arts Repertory Theater. In 1967 French was one of the founding members of the Negro Ensemble Company. His career however, was not limited to theater. He also has appeared in such notable films as “Malcolm X”, “Crooklyn”, “Car Wash”, “Round Midnight”and “Kinsey”, and on television programs such as “Law and Order”.

In light of his contributions to theatre, Actor’s Equity Association has named him the 2015 recipient of the Paul Robeson Citation award.

BRAVO to the great Arthur French who will receive the Actors' Equity Foundation 2015 Paul Robeson Citation Award http://t.co/UKjFOYJhi3

— Actors' Equity (@ActorsEquity) October 9, 2015

French joins other notable recipients of the award such as Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee, Maya Angelou and Sidney Poitier, among others. According to the website,

Created in 1971, the award honors individuals or organizations that best exemplify and practice the principles to which Mr. Robeson devoted his life:  dedication to the universal brotherhood of all humankind, commitment to the freedom of conscience and of expression, belief in the artist’s responsibility to society, respect for the dignity of the individual and concern for and service to all humans of any race or nationality.

Actors’ Equity Association is the U.S. labor union that represents more than 50,000 Actors and Stage Managers. Equity seeks to foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of society and advances the careers of its members by negotiating wages, working conditions and providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans.  Actor’s Equity Association has committed to “…present annual citations to the individual or organization that, during the preceding year or years, best exemplified and practiced the principles and ideals of the great humanitarian, Paul Robeson.”

French will be presented with the award at 2:00 pm on Friday, October 16, 2015 at the Eastern Regional Membership Meeting of Actors’ Equity Association.  We are thrilled to express our appreciation to Arthur French for his contribution to Black Broadway and our congratulations on receiving this well deserved award!

The post Arthur French Honored with the Paul Robeson Citation Award appeared first on Broadway Black.

The dance-theatre musical In Your Arms, which had its world premiere Sept. 24 at The Old Globe in San Diego, is such a show. Featuring the music and lyrics of Tony winner Stephen Flaherty (Ragtime, Rocky, Seussical, Once on This Island) and Lynn Ahrens, respectively, it is described as “a ravishing evening that flies, leaps and twirls through the giddy extremes of romantic love” and “as intoxicating as a sunset cocktail and as exhilarating as a first kiss.” The adjectives are rampant for this unique event of vignettes. It is noted as ranging across eras and cultures to tell stories in the universal language of dance. The styles include classical ballet, swing, tap, ballroom, jazz, flamenco and more.

One of the segments features noted choreographer Adesola Osakalumi along with Marija Juliette Abney in “The Wedding Dance,” written by Pulizer winner Lynn Nottage (Sweat, By The Way Meet Vera Stark, Ruined). Osakalumi, the lead in the Broadway and international tours of the Tony-winning Fela!, and Abney are stunning in their African garb.

The wedding is the most important ceremony in African culture, with marriage being considered a privilege. An African proverb says: “A man without a wife is like a vase without flowers.” This rite of passage signifies new life and new hope, as the new relationship is meant to enrich communities.

Osakalumi’s Broadway debut was in the 2008 revival of Peter Shaffer’s Equus. Abney – Cheetah in the The Lion King and whose work has been featured in After Midnight and New York City Opera’s Anna Nicole – is a recent alumna of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts graduate performance studies program. She received her undergraduate degree from The Ailey School/Fordham University B.F.A. program.

In Your Arms runs through Oct. 25 under the direction and choreography of Tony winner Christopher Gattelli (Newsies, Amazing Grace, The King and I), who also serves as the co-conceiver with longtime Broadway producer Jennifer Manocherian.

The post Adesola Osakalumi Dances Among All-Star Cast Of In Your Arms appeared first on Broadway Black.

Odom debuted during the four month sold-out stint at The Public Theatre in “a role that fits (him) like a glove,” according to Miranda. Odom’s performances gained him a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical.

Alongside Miranda as “Alexander Hamilton,” Odom portrays “Aaron Burr” – the third Vice President of the United States during Thomas Jefferson’s first term as President. Burr is known for his political rivalry with one-time friend Hamilton – a Founding Father and the first Secretary of the Treasury – which resulted in an illegal duel that claimed the life of Hamilton and the political career of Burr.

Burr is “like all of us” Odom said of the character during an appearance on the “Charlie Rose” show, which aired Aug. 12. The emotional and passionate Odom sat at “The Table” and talked about the impact of Hamilton and his role, along with the nuances of 21st century politics and race relations.

For Odom, it began when he attended a July 2013 workshop production of Hamilton – then titled The Hamilton Mixtape – at Vassar College Reading Festival. Utkarsh Ambudkar, a former VJ for MTV Desi, portrayed “Aaron Burr.” When Odom was invited to attend a reading for the part, he arrived fully prepared – knowing all of his music and understanding the direction of the excerpt that “blew him away.” He said of the music: “I recognized the rhythms and the syncopation and the pulse of the piece. I recognized that. It’s been in my ear since I was born.”

The Queens, NY native said he recalled watching “Russell Simmons presents Def Poetry Jam” on HBO and described the poets as having “blood in the pen” and “an urgency and a fire in the belly” for listeners to grasp the power of their words. After reviewing a rehearsal tape, Odom realized that the cast sounded very much like those poets who have appeared on the five-year long series.

That music and sound were of a hip hop generation. A sound filled with a need to be heard.

Miranda said “Aaron Burr” gets all the great songs when he appeared on Charlie Rose’s “The Table” along with director Thomas Kail.

Odom said he hasn’t found a demographic that doesn’t appreciate the show. No doubt because it is comprised of a cast “like America looks now,” according to Miranda. Yet, Odom acknowledged the care of Miranda to find “all the places where we are alike.” Beyond the creative team and cast, however, Odom said there is “something else that happens” to generate the show’s impact. “Whatever happens between me saying it on stage and how it affects you and what it does to you, that’s the part that none of us have any control over.”

Everything he had done prior to Hamilton – which includes a self-titled album released last August on Borderlight Entertainment – prepared him for his current role. “Not just the work,” the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama graduate told Charlie Rose. “It’s also life, the disappointments I’ve had, the fighting through depression, the points you’re not working in the business and you’re trying to understand why. (Hamilton) was the right moment. It couldn’t have happened at any other time.”

His 1998 Broadway debut was as a “Paul” replacement in the long-running Rent. His entrance into television began in 2004 (“The Big House”) with several years of episode work, numerous re-occurring roles and some TV movies. He appeared in the 2012 feature film Red Tails, then returned to the stage as “Isaiah Sturdevant” in Leap of Faith that same year. After a lead role in “Smash” (2013), Odom’s most recent re-occurring role was on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” – a role he turned down to take the leap of faith on Hamilton.

While Odom studied musical theatre during college, he noted during the interview that he truly majored in empathy. “In its purest form…we are stepping inside these people’s shoes, and we are learning about ourselves by talking about them. That is, I think one of the most powerful elixirs for healing in the land.” He said this ability is what is needed amid the panorama of pain caused by racism. “What’s really going to bring healing is empathy, sitting down and talking with one another and finding where you’re coming from, where I’m coming from.” He continued: “That’s what Lin’s done with “Aaron Burr.” (Lin-Manuel Miranda) got inside this man’s head and his heart, and he found out what made him tick. In that way you can take a villain and turn him into a human being, which is what he was.”

Odom, who is contracted for a year with the musical, has been forever changed by the humanity of Burr and the healing of Hamilton. He talked about his favorite part of show time is when he briefly watches the audience from a specific place in the theatre at the top of the show. It is a time he gets to know his audience, he said. Even more magical moments has been when he begins to sense the members of the audience leaning forward.

“I feed on that response. I need them with me,” Odom said of the Hamilton audiences.

The gift of Hamilton has been the opportunity to have art be a lightning rod for life. To celebrate his 35 years of life, Odom captured behind-the-scenes footage of the musical’s opening night and produced a video (released Aug. 26) that he dedicated to his fellow cast members. The video ended with his quote: “I’m a better man for having known you. Let’s never forget this night or this time.”

Ultimately, American theatre is better for Hamilton. Click HERE for tickets.

The post An in-depth look at Leslie Odom Jr, Aaron Burr in Hamilton appeared first on Broadway Black.

Samuel L. Jackson, Leslie Odom Jr., Patina Miller, Brandon Victor Dixon, Latanya Richardson, Danielle Brooks, and the exquisite Cicely Tyson were among the many luminaries in attendance to honor the two-time Tony Award winner.

The 98th annual event recognized Jones for more than 50 years of exceptional theater work.  Known best for his trademark bass, Jones is one of the few artists who has received an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and a Tony for his noteworthy performances, including his role as Darth Vader, one of the most notorious villains of all time.

“His presence is so indelible, his talent so immense, ” noted Heather Hitchens, President of the American Theatre Wing.  “He’s managed to make some of his most memorable film roles without even showing his face.”

The Lion King’s Samuel E. Wright, Alton Fitzgerald White, L. Steven Taylor, Nathaniel Stampley and Rufus Bonds Jr. kicked off the celebration with a musical performance thanking Jones for originating the beloved role of Mufasa, which they each later reprised in the Broadway musical.

Norm Lewis, who previously played Javert in Les Miserables, dedicated his lovely rendition of “The Prayer” to the late Kyle Jean Baptiste, acknowledging that both of their opportunities were set in motion by pioneer Jones’ efforts. “That was all because of doors you opened.”

After being presented with the award by Star Wars co-star Jackson, Jones humbly thanked The Wing for their contributions to his artistic growth. “They taught us not to put ethnic or gender limits on the characters that we studied.  They taught us speech for Shakespeare, and speech for Arthur Miller, and speech for Tennessee Williams, and speech for George Lucas,” he affirmed graciously before concluding, “I can’t thank you enough, no matter how old I get.”

Jones can currently be seen with Ms. Tyson in The Gin Game at the Golden Theater through January 10, 2016.

#AboutLastNight #TheWingGala @patinamiller @normlewis777 @leslieodomjr @nicolettekloe @brandonvdixon @jamesearljones

A photo posted by BroadwayBlack (@broadwayblack) on Sep 29, 2015 at 8:31am PDT

What a night fit for a legend. Congrats @JamesEarlJones! #AboutLastNight #TheWingGala #YouAreBroadwayBlack A photo posted by BroadwayBlack (@broadwayblack) on Sep 29, 2015 at 8:24am PDT

Past & present Mufasas of Broadway’s @thelionking perform& honor the original film Mufasa @JamesEarlJones #5GuysNamedMufasa #TheWingGala #AboutLastNight

A photo posted by BroadwayBlack (@broadwayblack) on Sep 29, 2015 at 7:49am PDT

@SamuelLJackson presenting @JamesEarlJones with #TheWingGala Honor #AboutLastNight A photo posted by BroadwayBlack (@broadwayblack) on Sep 29, 2015 at 7:43am PDT

Of course @IAmCicelyTyson was in the building. #AboutLastNight #TheWingGala

A photo posted by BroadwayBlack (@broadwayblack) on Sep 29, 2015 at 7:58am PDT

.@PatinaMiller gave us Simple Joys. @brandonvdixon let the good times roll & @NormLewiss777 Brought Us Home! #TheWingGala #AboutLastNight

A video posted by BroadwayBlack (@broadwayblack) on Sep 29, 2015 at 8:14am PDT

#AboutLastNight The stars of Hollywood came to support @JamesEarlJones as he was honored by The American Theatre Wing #TheWingGala

A photo posted by BroadwayBlack (@broadwayblack) on Sep 29, 2015 at 7:40am PDT

The post Broadway’s A-List Join American Theatre Wing to Honor James Earl Jones appeared first on Broadway Black.