André De Shields wins Tony for Hadestown—the only Black Person to Win

André De Shields wins Tony for Hadestown—the only Black Person to Win!

The night began with a lot of hope because a slew of talented African-Americans was nominated for the coveted Tony Award including a historic double-nomination for actor Jeremy Pope (Choir Boy, and Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations) but it was only André De Shields that took home the Tony for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical, Hadestown.

Here is what was shared on the red carpet at the 73rd annual Tony Awards held, in New York City at Radio City Music Hall. 

Dominique Morisseau nominated for Best Book of a Musical for Ain't Too Proud—The Life and Times of the Temptations

Dominique Morisseau nominated for Best Book of a Musical for Ain't Too Proud—The Life and Times of the Temptations started the evening on a high with 12 Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical and Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical for star Derrick Baskin, but only took home Best Choreography.  

The Obie-winning playwright and MacArthur genius grant recipient was first introduced to The Temptations by her parents.

 “What I love about telling their story right now is the contemporary relevance that it has,” adds Morisseau “And I think Berry Gordy's vision about using this group to cross all kinds of barriers - and then I think even the vision got beyond what he could've seen - that the Temptations were being used to help unify a divided nation. I - we're in that same moment now.”

Although Ain't Too Proud—The Life and Times of the Temptations was snubbed in multiple categories, the brilliant cast delivered an electrifying performance during the live ceremony which included a medley of Temptations hits. The performance included songs such as “Just My Imagination,” “I Can’t Get Next to You,” and naturally “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg.”

“I am thrilled to be nominated for a Tony Award of course but It’s important that the game changes faster than that,” says Morisseau. “We can’t wait for another 20 years for a woman of color to be a nominee as a writer—especially and I think that where we’ve seen a lot of slowness with representing and acknowledging your worth.  I feel very good to be nominated and to stand here and to stand up for that but I hope that it won’t end with me.”

André De Shields stepped into Broadway history,  in 1975, as the title character in “The Wiz.”  He won his first Tony as Hermes, a Greek god who serves as both narrator and travel guide in Hadestown.

André De Shields stepped into Broadway history, 

Says De Shields, “I wasn’t going to leave Broadway until they gave me one of these [Tony Award] but there are so many other adventures that I want to have. There are so many other mountains, that I want to climb.  I gaze at the stars and the stars gaze at me.  Every decision I make is made as a triple Capricorn and that zodiac sign is of the goat who climbs the mountains, so I  [too] am looking for my next peek.  I realized that the greater work that I want to achieve is ahead of me.