Camille A. Brown became the first black woman choreographer nominated for a Tony Award in over 20 years.
What We Know…
- The last black woman to be nominated for this award was Marlies Yearby for her work on “Rent.” Brown ultimately lost to Sergio Trujillo for his work on “Ain’t to Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations.” She was nominated for her work on the play “Choir Boy,” written by the screenwriter of “Moonlight” Tarell Alvin McCraney.
- Brown has also worked on the Tony-winning play “Once On This Island.” In 2018, Brown choreographed John Legend’s 2018 staging of “Jesus Christ Superstar: Live” on NBC.
- She is the founder of the Camille A. Brown & Dancers dance company based in New York City. Brown has also received many awards and acknowledgments including the TED Fellowship, the Guggenheim Fellowship, a Bessie Award and the Princess Grace Award.
- The 73rd annual Tony Awards aired Sunday, June 9 and were hosted by comedian James Corden. This year’s ratings for the live theater awards show hit an all-time low with under 6 million viewers for the first time on CBS. This is 14 percent lower than the viewership for the 2018 Tony Awards.
- Former “Kinky Boots” star and now actor on “Pose” Billy Porter has hit national news after he wore a hybrid gown-suit, an innovative red carpet outfit he first wore at the Oscars.
- The musical “Hadestown” highlighted the night with an unbelievable eight victories at the Tony Awards, including best new musical. The cast also performed a number during the award show.
Brown was just one of many of the inspiring nominations from the night.
