The long-awaited nominations are out for the 78th Annual Tony Awards, and Black and Latinx people are beautifully represented for this amazing season on Broadway. The musical “Buena Vista Social Club” has earned a whopping 10 nominations and is receiving a special Tony to be presented to the members of the Buena Vista Social Club band –– Marco Paguia, music director, conductor/piano; David Oquendo, associate music director, guitar; Renesito Avich, tres; Gustavo Schartz, bass; Javier Dias; Roman Diaz; Mauricio Herrera, percussion; Jesus Richardo, trumpet; Eddie Venegas, trombone; Hery Paz, woodwinds and Leonardo Reyna, piano.
Some of the nominations that “Buena Vista Social Club,” playing at the Schoenfeld Theatre on W 45th Street, received include Best Musical; Best Book of a Musical — Marco Ramirez; Best Direction of a Musical — Saheem Ali; Best Choreography — Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck; Best Orchestration — Marco Paguia; Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical — Natalie Venetia Belcon; Best Scenic Design of a Musical — Arnulfo Maldonado; and Best Costume Design of a Musical — Dede Ayite; along with Best Sound Design and Best Lighting Design.
“GYPSY,” playing at the Majestic Theatre on W 44th Street is nominated for Best Musical. Its star, Audra McDonald, who is a six-time Tony Award winner is up for her seventh Tony for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical; Joy Woods is nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical; Camille A. Brown is nominated for Best Choreography.
Jasmine Amy Rogers, making her Broadway debut, is nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for starring in “BOOP! The Musical,” playing at the Broadhurst Theatre. James Monroe Iglehart received a nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a musical for his brilliant work in “A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical.” The Latina-focused and delightful production, “Real Women Have Curves: The Musical,” playing at the James Earl Jones Theatre on W 48th Street, is nominated for Best Original Score (music and/or lyrics) Written for the Theater — Joy Huerta and Benjamin Velez. Paul Tazewell received a nomination for Best Costume Design of a Musical for “Death Becomes Her,” playing at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on W 46th Street.
The dramatic production, “Purpose,” playing at the Hayes Theatre at W 44th Street received six well deserved Tony nominations, for Best Play — Branden Jacobs-Jenkins; Best Performance By An Actor In A Leading Role In A Play — Jon Michael Hill and Harry Lennix; Best Performance By An Actress In A Leading Role In A Play — LaTanya Richardson Jackson; Best Performance By An Actor In A Featured Role In A Play — Glenn Davis; and Best Performance By An Actress In A Featured Role In A Play — Kara Young.
The Tony Awards will take place at Radio City Music Hall on Sunday, June 8 and will be televised on CBS Television Network and streamed on Paramount+. The production will run live from 8-11 p.m. ET and will be hosted by Tony, Emmy, and Grammy award winner Cynthia Erivo. It promises to be a memorable evening as viewers get to see samples of the nominated musicals and plays currently on Broadway or from earlier this season. For more info visit tonyawards.com.