At last! Tony Awards season has arrived, and Broadway Black is thrilled to congratulate several leads and new legends for their nominations!
Tony 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.
The 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.
Broadway 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.
Featured 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.
For 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.
Prolific 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.
For a full list of nominations, visit TONY.
Congratulations to all of the 2017 nominees!
