This is a list of Black creatives who have been nominated for a Tony Award for outstanding achievement in Broadway theatre.
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
As of 2025 ceremony:
- George C. Wolfe – 24
- Audra McDonald – 11
- LaChanze – 10
- Paul Tazewell – 10
- August Wilson – 9
- Stephen Byrd – 7
- Rashad V. Chambers – 7
- Kenny Leon – 7
- Harold Wheeler – 7
- Dede Ayite – 6
- Lloyd Richards – 6
- Ron Simons – 6
- Camille A. Brown – 5
- Gregory Hines – 5
- Alia Jones – 5
- Bill T. Jones – 5
- Debra Martin Chase – 5
- Donald McKayle – 5
- Diane Scott Carter – 5
- Emilio Sosa – 5
- 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
- Stew – 4
- Daryl Waters – 4
- Kara Young – 4
- Hilton Battle – 3
- Vinnette Carroll – 3
- Viola Davis – 3
- André De Shields – 3
- Irene Gandy - 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
- Lamar Richardson – 3
- Ruben Santiago-Hudson – 3
- Melvin Van Peebles – 3
- Courtney B. Vance – 3
- Saheem Ali – 2
- 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
- Whoopi Goldberg – 2
- Corey Hawkins – 2
- Luther Henderson – 2
- Stephen McKinley Henderson – 2
- Jon Michael Hill – 2
- Linda Hopkins – 2
- James Monroe Iglehart – 2
- Ernestine Jackson – 2
- LaTanya Richardson Jackson - 3
- Michael R. Jackson – 2
- Samuel L. Jackson - 2
- Branden Jacobs-Jenkins - 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
- Kerry Washington – 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
Multiple wins
As of 2025 ceremony:
- Audra McDonald – 6
- LaChanze – 5
- George C. Wolfe – 5
- Debra Martin Chase – 4
- Ron Simons – 4
- Hinton Battle – 3
- Rashad V. Chambers – 3
- James Earl Jones – 3
- Viola Davis – 2
- Geoffrey Holder – 2
- Branden Jacobs-Jenkins - 2
- Bill T. Jones – 2
- Billy Porter – 2
- Phylicia Rashad – 2
- Paul Tazewell – 2
- Kara Young – 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
|
| 2024
|
CJay Philip
|
Dance & BMore in Baltimore, MD
|
Won
|
| 2025
|
Gary Edwin Robinson
|
Boys and Girls High School in Brooklyn, N.Y.
|
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
|
| 2024
|
LaChanze (as producer), Debra Martin Chase (as producer)
|
The Outsiders
|
Won
|
| Diane Scott Carter (as producer)
|
Suffs
|
Nominated
|
| 2025
|
LaChanze (as producer)
|
Buena Vista Social Club
|
Nominated
|
| Debra Martin Chase (as producer)
|
Death Becomes Her
|
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
|
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), C. J. 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
|
| 2025
|
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (as playwright), Rashad V. Chambers (as producer), Debra Martin Chase (as producer), LaChanze (as producer)
|
Purpose
|
Won
|
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), Diane Scott Carter (as producer), Todd Tucker (as producer)
|
August Wilson's The Piano Lesson
|
Nominated
|
| Jeremy O. Harris (as producer), Diane Scott Carter (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
|
| 2025
|
Stephen C. Byrd (as producer)
|
Romeo + Juliet
|
Nominated
|
| Irene Gandy (as producer), Kenny Leon (as producer)
|
Thornton Wilder's Our Town
|
Nominated
|
Sound Design of a Play
Special Theatrical Event
Special Tony Awards
References
Sources
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| Play | |
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| Musical | |
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| Special (non-competitive) | |
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| Retired | |
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| Ceremonies | |
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| Nominee demographics | |
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* Divided into separate awards for plays and musicals |