The Oscars may suffer from a lack of diversity, but this year’s Tony Awards did not. And, last night’s ceremony was one for the history books.
Thanks to Hamilton and The Color Purple, Black actors swept the major musical acting categories with Daveed Diggs, Leslie Odom, Jr., and Renee Elise Goldsberry taking home the awards for Featured Actor, Lead Actor, and Featured Actress, respectively, for their roles in Hamilton. Cynthia Erivo earned Lead Actress for her role in The Color Purple. This was the first time in the show’s history that all four major musical acting awards went to Black actors.
Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Cynthia Erivo, Danielle Brooks & More Earn 2016 Tony Nominations
And, while Hamilton came just short of breaking The Producers 12-Tony record, the Broadway hit still walked away with an astounding 11 wins, adding to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s already stellar year.
Broadway was incredibly diverse this season and not just because of Hamilton and The Color Purple. Spring Awakening featured Broadway’s first actor in a wheelchair. Eclipsed had a creative team and cast made up entirely of women of color. And, Allegiance included nearly all Asian and Asian-American actors.
We hope the Academy is taking note. This is what diversity looks like.
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