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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.
Facts and figures
Multiple nominations
As of 2023 ceremony:
George C. Wolfe – 24
Audra McDonald – 10
August Wilson – 9
Paul Tazewell – 8
Harold Wheeler – 7
Rashad V. Chambers – 6
LaChanze – 6
Lloyd Richards – 6
Ron Simons – 6
Stephen Byrd – 5
Gregory Hines – 5
Alia Jones – 5
Bill T. Jones – 5
Donald McKayle – 5
Savion Glover – 4
David Alan Grier – 4
Allen Lee Hughes – 4
Toni-Leslie James – 4
James Earl Jones – 4
Kenny Leon – 4
Brian Stokes Mitchell – 4
Brian Moreland - 4
Mbongeni Ngema – 4
Condola Rashad – 4
Emilio Sosa – 4
Stew – 4
Daryl Waters – 4
Hilton Battle – 3
Camille A. Brown – 3
Vinnette Carroll – 3
Viola Davis – 3
André De Shields – 3
Brandon Victor Dixon – 3
Micki Grant – 3
Jeremy O. Harris – 3
Joshua Henry – 3
Geoffrey Holder – 3
Henry LeTang – 3
Lynn Nottage – 3
Wendell Pierce – 3
Tonya Pinkins – 3
Gilbert Price – 3
Phylicia Rashad – 3
Ruben Santiago-Hudson – 3
Diane Scott Carter – 3
Melvin Van Peebles – 3
Courtney B. Vance – 3
Mary Alice – 2
Dede Ayite – 2
Debbie Allen – 2
Gretha Boston – 2
Charles Brown – 2
RuPaul Charles – 2
Debra Martin Chase – 2
Chuck Cooper – 2
Jordan E. Cooper – 2
Cleavant Derricks – 2
Colman Domingo – 2
Ann Duquesnay – 2
Charles S. Dutton – 2
Cynthia Erivo – 2
George Faison – 2
Laurence Fishburne – 2
K. Todd Freeman – 2
Whoopi Goldberg – 2
Corey Hawkins – 2
Luther Henderson – 2
Stephen McKinley Henderson – 2
Linda Hopkins – 2
Ernestine Jackson – 2
Michael R. Jackson – 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
Kara Young – 2
Multiple wins
As of 2023 ceremony:
Audra McDonald – 6
George C. Wolfe – 5
Hinton Battle – 3
James Earl Jones – 3
LaChanze – 3
Ron Simons – 3
Rashad V. Chambers – 2
Viola Davis – 2
Geoffrey Holder – 2
Bill T. Jones – 2
Debra Martin Chase – 2
Billy Porter – 2
Phylicia Rashad – 2
Irene Gandy - 2
Book of a Musical
Choreography
Costume Design
Costume Design of a Musical
Costume Design of a Play
Direction of a Musical
Direction of a Play
Excellence in Theatre Education Award
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
Lighting Design
Lighting Design in a Play
Musical
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
Orchestrations
Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
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
Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Play
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 and
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
Regional Theatre Tony Award
Revival of a Musical
Revival of a Play
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
Sound Design of a Play
Special Theatrical Event
Special Tony Awards
References
Play Musical Special (non-competitive) Retired
Ceremonies