HARLEM COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
Blacks On Broadway And Off-Broadway Celebrated By New Awards! By Linda Armstrong
T
here’s a brand new Awards
peting in the same category. It was
said, “Let’s celebrate each other and
a musical off-Broadway went to Jas-
Langston Hughes Award and Dharon
show in town and Friday
quite nice to look at a list of nomi-
let’s hold each other up and let’s
mine Cephas Jones for “Cyrano.”
E. Jones received the Welcome
move forward.”
Best solo performance was de-
Award. Michael McElroy, founder
musical
servedly won by Michael Benjamin
of Broadway Inspirational Voices
own types of award categories in ad-
off-Broadway went to the LaChanze
Washington, for his stunning per-
beautifully sang “It’s my way or the
dition to the ones commonly used.
for her tremendous performance in
formance in Anna Deavere Smith’s
highway,” in a ceremony to present
“Fires In The Mirror.”
Tony award winning, legend Chuck
on Juneteenth was its in-
nees and seeing all Black nominees!
auguration, The Antonyo Awards,
The Antonyo Awards created its
created by Broadway Black founder, Drew Shade, celebrate African
Best
actor
in
a
American excellence on Broadway
“For Colored Girls Who Have
“The Secret Life of Bees,” a pro-
and off-Broadway. Winners were
Considered Suicide/when the rain-
duction that also won best original
picked by the public, who voted
bow is enuf” won five Antonyo
score.
online. The virtual evening on You-
Awards for best revival, Camille
Tube was hosted by Shade and the
The Antonyo Award for best
Cooper with the Lifetime Achieve-
book went to Michael R. Jackson
ment Award. Cooper shared, “I am
The Antonyo Award for best
for “A Strange Loop.” Best direc-
honored and a bit surprised. In these
A. Brown won best choreography,
play was won by “BLKS” written
tor was won by Lileana Blain-Cruz
turbulent times there’s a movement
Audra McDonald
Okwui Okpokwasili (The Lady In
by Aziza Barnes. Best actor in a
for “Anatomy of A Suicide,” which
in the world to promote empathy…
Green) won best featured actor, To-
play off Broadway was presented
also received best sound for Rucyl
the social justice, the young people
Secret Life of Bees” and includ-
Black Raoul on Broadway. There
ni-Leslie James won best costume
to Danielle Brooks for her sultry
Frison. “A Soldier’s Play” won
out in the streets are the vanguard of
ed historical information with the
was also a section of the program
design and Nikiya Mathis won best
performance in “Much Ado About
Allen Lee Hughes, an Antonyo for
this vital work.”
Black facts behind different Broad-
that had actors reciting powerful
hair & wig design.
Nothing” at the Delacorte Theatre.
lighting design. Lawrence E. Moten
The National Black Theatre was
way productions. Contemporary
moment from monologues created
“Tina: The Tina Turner Musi-
Brooks was absolutely beaming
III received the Antonyo for best
honored with The Doors of the The-
Black performers sang numbers
by great Black writers like August
cal,” won for best musical and an
as she exclaimed, “This is for the
scenic design for “Native Son.” Best
atre Are Open Award.
from musicals including “Phantom
Wilson.
Antonyo Award for best actor in a
chocolate thick girls, you can be a
orchestration was awarded to “Skin-
romantic lead too.”
folk: An American Show.”
evening featured musical performances from productions like “The
Throughout the evening, the fact that The Antonyo Awards were held
included
musical went to Adrienne Warren.
fle Along,” “Gershwin’s Porgy &
incredible theater icons such as
The marvelous Audra McDonald
Best featured actor in a musical
The Antonyo created its own
on the significant date of Juneteenth,
Bess,” “South Pacific” and “The
Audra McDonald, George Faison,
received the Antonyo for best actor
on Broadway went to Celia Rose
categories like best quarantine con-
was acknowledged. It takes on a
Wiz,” while historical information
Nicolette Robinson, James Mon-
in a play on Broadway for her inno-
Gooding for her riveting perfor-
tent, won by Daniel J. Watts for
much stronger meaning to hold this
was placed on the screen, including
roe Iglehart, Titus Burgess, along
vative work in “Frankie and Johnnie
mance in “Jagged Little Pill.” Best
“The Jam IG Live.” Playwright
ceremony when Blacks found out
mentioning that Norm Lewis was
with Jelani Alladin, Derrick Baskin
at the Claire De Lune.” McDonald
featured actor in a play on Broad-
Loy A. Webb received the Lorraine
they were free, especially with the
the first Black Phantom on Broad-
and Ephraim Sykes. The Antonyo
thanked Broadway Black and ev-
way was won by Chalia La Tour for
Hansberry Award; phenomenal play-
movement currently happening to
way, and Jordan Donica was the first
Awards had men and women com-
eryone at the Antonyo Awards and
“Slave Play.” Best featured actor in
wright Donja R. Love received the
proclaim that “Black Lives Matter.”
of the Opera,” “Lady Day,” “Shuf-
Awards
presenters
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Harlem Community Newspapers | June 25. 2020
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