The 2024 Tony Awards was a good night for Black talent, with some winners making Black Broadway history.
Hell’s Kitchen, executive produced by Alicia Keys and loosely based on her life in New York City, started the Tonys leading the pack with the most nominees.
During the ceremony, Hell’s Kitchen star Kecia Lewis also won Best Performance by an Actress in a Feature Role in a Musical. She joins her co-star Maleah Joi Moon, who won the Tony for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical.
Purlie Victorious star Kara Young, won for Best Performance by an Actress in a Feature Role in a Play, which was the third time she was nominated in just three years.
Jaja’s African Hair Braiding‘s Dede Ayite made history as the first Black costume designer to win the Tony for Best Costume Design for a Play.
Meanwhile,as Black Film and TV notes Lamar Richardson is the youngest Black producer to win two Tony Awards in one night. He won for Best Revival of a Play for Appropriate and Best Revival of a Musical for Merrily We Roll Along.
Appropriate playwright Branden Jacob-Jenkins also won the Tony for Best Revival of a Play, making him the second Black playwright to score big in this category.
More Black producers racked up awards Sunday night, with The Outsiders producers Debra Martin Chase and LaChanze winning the Tony for Best Musical.
According to Wilson, this is Martin Chase’s third career Tony and LaChanze’s fourth. As Shadow and Act reported in April, this brings LaChanze and Martin Chase closer to EGOT territory.