The 2023 Tony Nominations: A Showcase of Broadway's Artistic Triumphs
The 2023 Tony Award nominations were announced Tuesday (May 2) and highlighted the best and the brightest of the Great White Way in a season marked by artistic innovation and powerful storytelling.
This year's Tony nominations reflect a wide variety of genres, from groundbreaking musicals to compelling plays that have left audiences in awe. With a powerful lineup of productions, the nominations showcase the incredible range of talent and creativity that defines Broadway.
One of the biggest surprises came with Jordan E. Cooper's play Ain't No Mo' garnering 6 nominations, this coming on the heels of the play having to close earlier than expected last year.
Ain't No Mo' is a play consisting of a series of sketch comedy-style vignettes written by Cooper. The premise of the play is set in an alternate present where the United States government has put forward a program to buy every Black person in America, who wishes, a one-way ticket to Africa.
Last year, in an interview with BET, Cooper spoke about the importance of the play and the push to keep it going.
"So it takes time, especially when you're a Black show, to find your audience and especially when you when you're leaning on traditional Broadway marketing which doesn't necessarily market to Black folks. And, this is a play that was written specifically for Black folks. So, it is imperative right now that we really look into how we market these shows, and really look into where it goes. So people can know that they're invited, and people can know that this is for them, because traditionally, Broadway is not always meant for us, right?" Cooper said.
The play, which was backed by A-list producers like Dwyane Wade (through his company 59th & Prairie Entertainment), RuPaul Charles, Gabrielle Union (through her company I'll Have Another Productions), was given the notice to close only a week after it opened.
But it looks as though closing early didn't affect its Tony nomination dreams as it was nominated for "Best New Play," "Best Featured Actor in a Play," "Best Featured Actress in a Play," "Best Direction of a Play" and "Best Costume Design of a Play".
But Cooper isn't the only person we're praising today! Below is the list of other Black actors and directors (highlighted in bold) who've made the Tony cut this year as well. Congrats to all!
Best Book of a Musical
David Lindsay-Abaire, “Kimberly Akimbo”
Robert Horn, “Shucked”
Matthew López and Amber Ruffin,“Some Like It Hot”
David West Read, “& Juliet”
David Thompson and Sharon Washington, “New York, New York”
Best Costume Design of a Play
Tim Hatley, Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell, “Life of Pi”
Dominique Fawn Hill, “Fat Ham”
Brigitte Reiffensutel, “Leopoldstadt”
Emilio Sosa, “Ain’t No Mo’”
Emilio Sosa, “Good Night, Oscar”
Best Direction of a Play
Saheem Ali, “Fat Ham”
Jo Bonney, “Cost of Living”
Jamie Lloyd, “A Doll’s House”
Patrick Marber, “Leopoldstadt”
Stevie Walker-Webb, “Ain’t No Mo’”
Max Webster, “Life of Pi”
Best Orchestrations
John Clancy, “Kimberly Akimbo”
Jason Howland, “Shucked”
Charlie Rosen and Bryan Carter, “Some Like It Hot”
Bill Sherman and Dominic Fallacaro, “& Juliet”
Daryl Waters and Sam Davis, “New York, New York”
Best Featured Actor in a Musical
Kevin Cahoon, “Shucked”
Justin Cooley, “Kimberly Akimbo”
Kevin Del Aguila, “Some Like It Hot”
Jordan Donica, “Camelot”
Alex Newell, “Shucked”
Best Featured Actor in a Play
Jordan E. Cooper, “Ain’t No Mo’”
Samuel L. Jackson, “The Piano Lesson”
Arian Moayed, “A Doll’s House”
Brandon Uranowitz, “Leopoldstadt”
David Zayas, “Cost of Living”
Best Leading Actor in a Musical
Christian Borle, “Some Like It Hot”
J. Harrison Ghee, “Some Like It Hot”
Josh Groban, “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”
Brian d’Arcy James, “Into the Woods”
Ben Platt, “Parade”
Colton Ryan, “New York, New York”
Best Leading Actor in a Play
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, “Topdog/Underdog”
Corey Hawkins, “Topdog/Underdog”
Sean Hayes, “Good Night, Oscar”
Stephen McKinley Henderson, “Between Riverside and Crazy”
Wendell Pierce, “Death of a Salesman”
Best Featured Actress in a Musical
Julia Lester, “Into the Woods”
Ruthie Ann Miles, “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”
Bonnie Milligan, “Kimberly Akimbo”
NaTasha Yvette Williams, “Some Like It Hot”
Betsy Wolfe, “& Juliet”
Best Featured Actress in a Play
Nikki Crawford, “Fat Ham”
Crystal Lucas-Perry, “Ain’t No Mo’”
Miriam Silverman, “The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window”
Best Leading Actress in a Musical
Annaleigh Ashford, “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”
Sara Bareilles, “Into the Woods”
Victoria Clark, “Kimberly Akimbo”
Lorna Courtney, “& Juliet”
Micaela Diamond, “Parade”
Best Leading Actress in a Play
Jessica Chastain, “A Doll’s House”
Jodie Comer, “Prima Facie”
Jessica Hecht, “Summer, 1976”
Audra McDonald, “Ohio State Murders”
Best New Play
“Ain’t No Mo’”
“Between Riverside and Crazy”
“Cost of Living”
“Fat Ham”
“Leopoldstadt”
Best Play Revival
“A Doll’s House”
“The Piano Lesson”
“The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window”
“Topdog/Underdog”
Best Sound Design of a Play
Jonathan Deans and Taylor Williams, “Ain’t No Mo’”
Carolyn Downing, “Life of Pi”
Joshua D. Reid, “A Christmas Carol”
Ben and Max Ringham, “A Doll’s House”
Ben and Max Ringham, “Prima Facie”
