The 2022 Tony nominations are out, and Broadway musicals created by African Americans are topping the nomination’s list. “A Strange Loop” is leading the pack with a record 11 Tony nominations. The new musical is shining a light on the talents of many African Americans. Created by Michael R. Jackson, it is nominated for best musical; best book of a musical and best original score written for the theater—Michael R. Jackson; best performance by an actor in a leading role in a musical—Jaquel Spivey; best performance by an actor in a featured role in a musical—John-Andrew Morrison; and best performance by an actress in a featured role in a musical—L. Morgan Lee. Other nominations also include for best direction; best scenic design; best lighting design; best sound design; and best orchestration.
Right behind “A Strange Loop” with a whopping 10 Tony nominations is the Lynn Nottage musical, “MJ: The Musical”! It is up for best musical; best book of a musical—Lynn Nottage; best performance by an actor in a leading role in a musical—Myles Frost; and best costume design—Paul Tazewell. Other nominations also include best direction; best choreography; best scenic design; best lighting design; best sound design; and best orchestrations.
“Paradise Square” has tied with 10 nominations. It is up for best musical; best book of a musical—Christina Anderson and co-writers Craig Lucas and Larry Kirwan; best original score with lyrics by Nathan Tysen and Masi Asare with music by Jason Howland; best performance by an actress in a leading role in a musical—Joaquina Kalukango; best performance by an actor in a featured role in a musical—Sidney DuPont; best costume design—Toni-Leslie James; and best choreography—Bill T. Jones. Additional nominations include a second actor in a featured role; best scenic design; and best lighting design.
The Ntozake Shange revival of “for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf” has seven nominations. It is up for best revival; best direction and best choreography—which both are to the credit of Camille A. Brown, who makes her Broadway directorial debut with this landmark production. It is also nominated in the category of best performance by an actress in a featured role in a play—Kenita R. Miller (“The Lady in Red”); best costume design—Sarafina Bush; best sound design—Justin Ellington; and one for best lighting design.
“The Skin of Our Teeth” earned six nominations. One of best performances by an actress in a leading role in a play—Gabby Beans; the others were for best direction; best scenic design; best costume design; best lighting design; and best sound design.
A new Lynn Nottage play, “Clyde’s,” is nominated for five Tony Awards: best play; best performance by an actor in a featured role in a play—Ron Cephas Jones; best performance by an actress in a featured role in a play—Uzo Aduba and Kara Young. An additional nomination is best costume design.
The late Alice Childress play, “Trouble In Mind” received four nominations for best revival; best performance by an actress in a leading role in a play—LaChanze; best performance by an actor in a featured role in a play—Chuck Cooper; and best costume design—Emilio Sosa.
“Caroline, or Change” is nominated in three categories: best musical; best performance by an actress in a leading role in a musical—Sharon D. Clarke; and best costume design.
“Macbeth” has three nominations, among them: best performance by an actress in a leading role in a play—Ruth Negga, along with best lighting and sound design.
Dominique Morisseau’s play “Skeleton Crew” also had three nominations: best play; best performance by an actress in a leading role in a play—Phylicia Rashad; and best scenic design.
“Lackawanna Blues” received one nomination for best performance by an actor in a leading role in a play—Ruben Santiago-Hudson.
It is very important that Black talent gets recognized with Tony nominations. The 75th annual Tony Awards will occur on Sunday, June 12, from 8 p.m.-11 p.m. at Radio City Music Hall. It will be broadcast on CBS television network and streamed live and on demand on Paramount+. The Awards will be hosted by African American, Ariana DeBose. To see a full list of all the productions with Tony nominations go to the Tony Awards website at www.tonyawards.com.