At last! Tony Awards season has arrived, and Broadway Black is thrilled to congratulate several leads and new legends for their nominations!rnrnTony Award-winning actress Jane Krakowski and past Tony Award nominee Christopher Jackson announced nominations in 24 competitive categories for the American Theatre Wing’s 71st Annual Antoinette Perry “Tony” Awards® at the Tony Award Nominations ceremony, sponsored by IBM, held at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center on Tuesday morning.rnrnThe eccentric new musical Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 leads with a total of 12 nominations including Best Musical. August Wilson’s Jitney received six nominations, including Best Revival of a Play, and Sweat received three, including Best Play.rnrnBroadway newcomer Denée Benton of Great Comet received a nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical, competing alongside legends Patti LuPone and Bette Midler, and Miss Saigon’s Eva Noblezada. Corey Hawkins scored his first Tony nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play for Six Degrees of Separation.rnrnFeatured actors John Douglas Thompson and Condola Rashad both received nominations for their performances in their respective plays, Jitney and A Doll’s House, Part 2. Sweat’s Michelle Wilson will also compete in the Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play category.rnrnFor his work in Jitney, Tony winner and August Wilson-connoisseur Ruben Santiago-Hudson received a nomination for Best Direction of a Play, along with costume designer Toni-Leslie James, who also takes a nomination for her work in Jitney. Having won two Pulitzers for Drama in her career, Lynn Nottage receives her first Tony nomination for writing the topical new play Sweat.rnrnProlific stage and film actor James Earl Jones will receive the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, having had a career spanning more than 60 years.rnrnFor a full list of nominations, visit TONY.rnrnCongratulations to all of the 2017 nominees!
Andrew Shade
Drew Shade is a visionary creative force at the intersection of Black theatre, media, and culture. As the Founder and Creative Director of Broadway Black, Off-Book: The Podcast, and The Antonyo Awards, he champions artistic excellence and amplifies the voices of Black theatre artists with intention, heart, and unapologetic pride.
His work has been featured in The New York Times, Playbill, Deadline, The Observer, and Apple TV’s Dear…, and he's collaborated with brands and institutions such as NBC, BET, Audible, Universal Pictures, SheaMoisture, The Public Theater, Signature Theatre, National Black Theatre, and more. He has also served as a cultural consultant and curator for countless Broadway productions for over a decade — establishing himself as a trusted voice and tastemaker in theatre and media.
In addition to his work behind the scenes, Shade is a performer and creative artist in his own right, with credits including Classical Theatre of Harlem’s The First Noel at The Apollo, The Preacher’s Wife musical at The Alliance Theatre, and a Sondheim tribute concert at Carnegie Hall led by Tituss Burgess. He’s also lent his voice to campaigns for Google and continues to explore visual storytelling through photography — from red carpets to press coverage.
Rooted in joy, justice, and the belief that Black theatre is both legacy and revolution, Shade continues to build platforms and shine light where it’s long been overdue — so Black artists are seen, heard, and celebrated on their own terms.
“Have a belief in yourself that is bigger than anyone’s disbelief.” – August Wilson
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[…] debut performance earned the actress a Theatre World Award and her first Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical earlier this […]