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This is a list of Black creatives who have been nominated for a Tony Award for outstanding achievement in theater.
While some American people of African ancestry prefer "Black," and others prefer "African American"; "African American" is considered a less appropriate umbrella term for people of African ancestry worldwide because it obscures other ethnicities or national origins. Thus, "Black" is a more inclusive umbrella term.
Multiple nominations [ edit ] As of 2024 ceremony:
George C. Wolfe – 24
Audra McDonald – 10
Paul Tazewell – 9
August Wilson – 9
LaChanze – 8
Harold Wheeler – 7
Stephen Byrd – 6
Rashad V. Chambers – 6
Kenny Leon – 6
Lloyd Richards – 6
Ron Simons – 6
Dede Ayite – 5
Gregory Hines – 5
Alia Jones – 5
Bill T. Jones – 5
Donald McKayle – 5
Emilio Sosa – 5
Camille A. Brown – 4
Brandon Victor Dixon – 4
Savion Glover – 4
David Alan Grier – 4
Allen Lee Hughes – 4
Toni-Leslie James – 4
James Earl Jones – 4
Brian Stokes Mitchell – 4
Brian Moreland - 4
Mbongeni Ngema – 4
Condola Rashad – 4
Phylicia Rashad – 4
Diane Scott Carter – 4
Stew – 4
Daryl Waters – 4
Hilton Battle – 3
Vinnette Carroll – 3
Viola Davis – 3
André De Shields – 3
Debra Martin Chase – 3
Micki Grant – 3
Jeremy O. Harris – 3
Joshua Henry – 3
Geoffrey Holder – 3
Henry LeTang – 3
Lynn Nottage – 3
Leslie Odom, Jr. – 3
Wendell Pierce – 3
Tonya Pinkins – 3
Gilbert Price – 3
Ruben Santiago-Hudson – 3
Melvin Van Peebles – 3
Courtney B. Vance – 3
Kara Young – 3
Lamar Richardson – 3
Mary Alice – 2
Debbie Allen – 2
Gretha Boston – 2
Charles Brown – 2
RuPaul Charles – 2
Chuck Cooper – 2
Jordan E. Cooper – 2
Cleavant Derricks – 2
Colman Domingo – 2
Ann Duquesnay – 2
Charles S. Dutton – 2
Justin Ellington – 2
Cynthia Erivo – 2
George Faison – 2
Laurence Fishburne – 2
K. Todd Freeman – 2
Irene Gandy - 2
Whoopi Goldberg – 2
Corey Hawkins – 2
Luther Henderson – 2
Stephen McKinley Henderson – 2
Linda Hopkins – 2
Ernestine Jackson – 2
LaTanya Richardson Jackson - 2
Michael R. Jackson – 2
Samuel L. Jackson - 2
Nikki M. James – 2
Quincy Jones – 2
Joaquina Kalukango – 2
John Kani – 2
Eartha Kitt – 2
John Legend – 2
Adriane Lenox – 2
Claudia McNeil – 2
S. Epatha Merkerson – 2
Patina Miller – 2
Zakes Mokae – 2
Dominique Morisseau - 2
Sahr Ngaujah – 2
Winston Ntshona – 2
Sophie Okonedo – 2
Jeremy Pope – 2
Billy Porter – 2
Josephine Premice – 2
Vivian Reed – 2
Roger Robinson – 2
Anika Noni Rose – 2
Diana Sands – 2
Anna Deavere Smith – 2
Ron Taylor – 2
Lynne Thigpen – 2
Tamara Tunie – 2
Leslie Uggams – 2
Ben Vereen – 2
Adrienne Warren – 2
Denzel Washington – 2
Jason Michael Webb – 2
Lillias White – 2
Dick Anthony Williams – 2
Billy Wilson – 2
Oprah Winfrey – 2
Jeffrey Wright – 2
Samuel E. Wright – 2 As of 2024 ceremony:
Audra McDonald – 6
George C. Wolfe – 5
LaChanze – 4
Ron Simons – 4
Hinton Battle – 3
James Earl Jones – 3
Debra Martin Chase – 3
Rashad V. Chambers – 2
Viola Davis – 2
Geoffrey Holder – 2
Bill T. Jones – 2
Billy Porter – 2
Phylicia Rashad – 2
Lamar Richardson – 2 Costume Design of a Musical [ edit ] Costume Design of a Play [ edit ] Direction of a Musical [ edit ] Direction of a Play [ edit ] Excellence in Theatre Education Award [ edit ]
Excellence in Theatre Education
Year
Nominee
School
Result
2015
Corey Mitchell
Northwest School of the Arts in Charlotte, N.C.
Won
2016
Marilyn McCormick
Cass Technical High School in Detroit, MI
Won
2022
Roshunda Jones-Koumba
G. W. Carver Magnet High School in Houston, Texas
Won
2024
CJay Philip
Dance & BMore in Baltimore, MD
Won
Lighting Design in a Play [ edit ]
Tony Award for Best Musical
Year
Nominee
Show
Result
1975
Ken Harper (as producer)
The Wiz Won
1996
George C. Wolfe (as producer)
Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk Nominated
2000
The Wild Party Nominated
2002
Whoopi Goldberg (as producer)
Thoroughly Modern Millie Won
2004
George C. Wolfe (as producer)
Caroline, or Change Nominated
2006
Oprah Winfrey (as producer) , Quincy Jones (as producer)
The Color Purple Nominated
2007
Tamara Tunie (as producer)
Spring Awakening Won
2010
Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter (as producer) , Will Smith (as producer) , Jada Pinkett Smith (as producer)
Fela! Nominated
2011
Whoopi Goldberg (as producer)
Sister Act Nominated
2014
Wynton Marsalis (as producer)
After Midnight Nominated
Ron Simons (as producer)
A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder Won
2019
Stephen Byrd (as producer) , Rashad V. Chambers (as producer) , Alia Jones (as producer) , Ron Simons (as producer)
Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations Nominated
2020
Tina Turner (as producer)
Tina - The Tina Turner Musical Nominated
2022
Stephen C. Byrd (as producer)
MJ Nominated
Sheila C. Johnson (as producer)
Paradise Square Nominated
RuPaul Charles (as producer) , Debra Martin Chase (as producer) , Don Cheadle (as producer) , Robyn Coles, Bridgid Coulter Cheadle (as producer) , Jennifer Hudson (as producer) , Billy Porter (as producer) , Cody Renard Richard (as producer) , Tre’ Scott (as producer) , Zach Stafford (as producer) , Paul Oakley Stovall (as producer)
A Strange Loop Won
2023
LaChanze (as producer)
Kimberly Akimbo Won
Ron Simons (as producer) , Lamar Richardson (as producer) , Christen James (as producer) , Dale Mott (as producer) , Gregory Carroll (as producer)
New York, New York Nominated
Mariah Carey (as producer) , Kenny Leon (as producer)
Some Like It Hot Nominated
2024
LaChanze (as producer) , Debra Martin Chase (as producer)
The Outsiders Won
[ edit ]
Tony Award for Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
Year
Nominee
Show
Result
1972
Melvin Van Peebles
Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death Nominated
1973
Micki Grant
Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope Nominated
1975
Charlie Smalls
The Wiz Won
1976
Scott Joplin
Treemonisha Nominated
1978
Micki Grant
Working Nominated
1979
Eubie Blake , Noble Sissle , Andy Razaf , F. E. Miller , and Jim Europe
Eubie! Nominated
1988
Mbongeni Ngema and Hugh Masekela
Sarafina! Nominated
1992
Luther Henderson , Jelly Roll Morton
Jelly's Last Jam Nominated
1996
Ann Duquesnay , Reg E. Gaines, Zane Mark, Daryl Waters, George C. Wolfe
Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk Nominated
2006
Stephen Bray , Brenda Russell
The Color Purple Nominated
2008
Stew
Passing Strange Nominated
2010
Branford Marsalis
Fences Nominated
2018
Yolanda Adams , John Legend , T.I. , Domani & Lil' C
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical Nominated
2020
Jason Michael Webb
The Rose Tattoo Nominated
2022
Masi Asare
Paradise Square Nominated
Michael R. Jackson
A Strange Loop Nominated
Tony Award for Best Play
Year
Nominee
Show
Result
1960
Lorraine Hansberry (as playwright)
A Raisin in the Sun Nominated
1974
Joseph A. Walker (as playwright)
The River Niger Won
1975
John Kani and Winston Ntshona (as playwright)
Sizwe Banzi is Dead The Island Nominated
1976
Leslie Lee (as playwright)
The First Breeze of Summer
Nominated
1977
Ntozake Shange (as playwright)
For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf Nominated
1980
Samm-Art Williams (as playwright)
Home
Nominated
1985
August Wilson (as playwright)
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom Nominated
1987
Fences Won
1988
Joe Turner's Come and Gone Nominated
1990
August Wilson (as playwright) , Lloyd Richards (as producer)
The Piano Lesson Nominated
1992
August Wilson (as playwright)
Two Trains Running Nominated
1993
Tug Yourgrau (as playwright)
The Song of Jacob Zulu Nominated
1994
George C. Wolfe (as producer)
Angels in America: Perestroika Won
Anna Deavere Smith (as playwright) , George C. Wolfe (as producer)
Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 Nominated
1995
Camille Cosby (as producer)
Having Our Say Nominated
1996
August Wilson (as playwright)
Seven Guitars Nominated
1998
George C. Wolfe (as producer)
Golden Child Nominated
2000
The Ride Down Mt. Morgan Nominated
2001
August Wilson (as playwright)
King Hedley II Nominated
2002
Suzan-Lori Parks (as playwright) , George C. Wolfe (as producer)
Topdog/Underdog Nominated
2003
George C. Wolfe (as producer)
Take Me Out Won
2005
August Wilson (as playwright)
Gem of the Ocean Nominated
2007
August Wilson (as playwright) , Wendell Pierce (as producer) , Tamara Tunie (as producer)
Radio Golf Nominated
2012
Wendell Pierce (as producer)
Clybourne Park Won
2013
Ron Simons (as producer)
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike Won
2016
Danai Gurira (as playwright) , Stephen C. Byrd (as producer) , Alia Jones-Harvey (as producer) , Alani LaLa Anthony (as producer)
Eclipsed Nominated
2017
Lynn Nottage (as playwright)
Sweat Nominated
2019
Tarell Alvin McCraney (as playwright)
Choir Boy Nominated
2020
Rashad V. Chambers (as producer)
The Inheritance Won
Jeremy O. Harris (as playwright and producer)
Slave Play Nominated
Brian Moreland (as producer)
Sea Wall/A Life
Nominated
The Sound Inside Nominated
2022
Lynn Nottage (as playwright)
Clyde's Nominated
Dominique Morisseau (as playwright)
Skeleton Crew Nominated
2023
Jordan E. Cooper (as playwright) , RuPaul Charles (as producer) , Lee Daniels (as producer) , Jeremy O. Harris (as producer) , CJ Uzomah (as producer) , Lena Waithe (as producer)
Ain't No Mo' Nominated
James Ijames (as playwright) , Rashad V. Chambers (as producer) , Colman Domingo (as producer) , Cynthia Erivo (as producer)
Fat Ham Nominated
2024
Jocelyn Bioh (as playwright) , LaChanze (as producer) , Taraji P. Henson (as producer)
Jaja's African Hair Braiding Nominated
Regional Theatre Tony Award [ edit ] Revival of a Musical [ edit ]
Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play
Year
Nominee
Show
Result
2004
Susan Batson (as producer)
A Raisin in the Sun Nominated
2013
Kevin Liles (as producer) , Stephen C. Byrd (as producer) , Alia M. Jones (as producer)
The Trip to Bountiful Nominated
2017
Mike Jackson (as producer) , John Legend (as producer) , Ron Simons (as producer)
August Wilson's Jitney Won
2018
Stephen C. Byrd (as producer) , Alia Jones-Harvey (as producer)
Eugene O'Neill's The Iceman Cometh Nominated
2020[ 1]
Charles Fuller (as playwright)
A Soldier's Play Won
Rashad V. Chambers (as producer)
Betrayal Nominated
2022
Brian Moreland (as producer)
American Buffalo Nominated
Ron Simons (as producer)
for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf Nominated
2023
Kandi Burruss (as producer) , Alia Jones-Harvey (as producer) , Brian Anthony Moreland (as producer) , Todd Tucker (as producer)
August Wilson's The Piano Lesson Nominated
Jeremy O. Harris (as producer)
The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window Nominated
Rashad V. Chambers (as producer) , Debra Martin Chase (as producer) , LaChanze (as producer)
Suzan-Lori Parks' Topdog/Underdog Won
2024
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (as playwright)
Appropriate Won
Leslie Odom, Jr. (as producer) , Irene Gandy (as producer) , Kenny Leon (as producer) , Nicolette Robinson (as producer) , LaTanya Richardson Jackson (as producer) , Samuel L. Jackson (as producer) , Phylicia Rashad (as producer) , Nnamdi Asomugha (as producer) , Kerry Washington (as producer)
Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch Nominated
Sound Design of a Play [ edit ] Special Theatrical Event [ edit ] Special Tony Awards [ edit ]
Play Musical Special (non-competitive) Retired Ceremonies By country * Divided into separate awards for plays and musicals
