28 black theater makers drive change

Happy Black History Month! Although hundreds of thousands of incredible black theater artists pour out their heart and soul in their work, Playbill highlights 28 people who work on stage and behind the scenes to change the paradigm of high theater, and what it can do-while they continue to perform the generation definition work.

A comment: Although there are countless legends Still working todaythis list is focused on those who have reached a significantly higher level over the past five years. From 15 to 69 excellence can be achieved at any age, but we are especially impressed by the current work done by these 28 artists.

Cody Renard Richard (Stage manager, producer, educator)

Richard is a multi-hyphenate power station. With 16 Broadway credits in his name on just 37, he is already a legend behind the curtain. In 2020, he founded the Cody Renard Richard Scholarship to encourage more black, Asian, Latinx, indigenous and other color students to follow careers in theater management and artistic fields. The scholarship is managed in collaboration with the Broadway Advocacy Coalition, and is designed to provide a space for the next generation of Bipoc artists to cultivate their leadership skills.

Whitney White (Director, actor, musician)

White is one of the most exciting directors working today. She is a winner Jaja’s African hair sparkle. Her original musical Definition was featured in the 2019 Sundance Theater Lab, and she is currently developing a five -part musical exploration of Shakespeare’s women and ambition, entitled with the title Reach for that reachesunder the command of the American Repertory Theater in Boston. Its also directly directly The last five years‘Long is waiting for Broadway Bow to come this spring.

Raja Feather Kelly (Choreographer, director)

Kelly is an award -winning director and choreographer who is known to have pushed the boundaries in daring ways. Kelly made his Broadway debut with the Pulitzer-winning musical A strange loopand his continued cooperation with Michael R. Jackson Off-Broadway on White girl in danger and Teeth got further praise. Kelly received a special quote from the Obie Awards earlier this month for his original play The firesAnd his work often explores themes of identity, queerness and the complexities of personal and cultural history.

Williams scaffolding (Director, Author, Manufacturer)

Previously an artist in Aida, Chessand HerWilliams switched to an impactful career as director. After a few years of work as a co-worker, she stepped into the spotlight in 2024 with back-to-back Broadway projects: The notebook and The wizard. Outside of the theater, Williams is a competent children’s writer, with a best-selling picture book called Your legacy: a daring recycling of our addicted history and a confirmatory board book Your legacy begins: first words to empower. Williams is one of the co -founders of Black Theater United.

L Morgan Lee (Actor)

Lee was the first openly trans actor nominated for a Tony award for her actions in A strange loop In 2022, her talent and advocacy for transgender representation on stage earned her widespread recognition, and she broke many barriers to transgender actors in the theater, and used her platform to use more inclusive and diverse roles for the LGBTQIA+ community. In 2024, Lee was honored with a visibility award from the Human Rights campaign, which further established her as an inspirational figure.

J. Harrison Ghee (Actor)

Ghee is a Tony-nominated actor and exporter celebrated for their versatile and powerful stage presence. After playing on Broadway Some like it is hot and Kinky bootsGhee is known for their unique mix of charisma and humor, with significant dance talent to back up their punchlines. In 2023 Ghee has the Tony Award for Best Actor in a musical for their performance in Some like it is hotbecomes one of the first two openly -binary actors nominated and to win a Tony award in the same ceremony. Ghee was last seen in the Chicago effort of the Broadway-bound Midnight in the garden of good and evilCompiled by Jason Robert Brown.

Alex Newell (Actor, singer)

Like Ghee, Newell is a barrier artist. Their getaway roll as unique Adams in Joy drove them into the spotlight, where their vast voice and presence became tirable. In 2017, Newell made their Broadway debut in the Tony-winning revival of Once on this island. Then, in 2023, Newell has the Tony Award for Best Actor in a musical for their performance in Shakebecomes one of the first two openly -binary actors nominated and to win a Tony award (along with Ghee in the same ceremony). Outside of Broadway, Newell is a competent singer, with their Nile Rogers collaboration “Kill the Lights” reaching #1 on the US Dance Club cards.

Nikiya Mathis (Hair and wig designer)

Mathis is a well-known hair and wig designer celebrated for her work on Broadway and regional products. Mathis, who is known for her attention to detail and the ability to create transformative appearance that defines characters, receives a special Tony award for 2024 for her work on Jaja’s Africa -Hairwho makes her the first wig designer to ever receive a special Tony award for their work on a specific production. Mathis received 2 Henry Hewes Design Awards, a Drama Desk Award, the Kathleen Perkins behind the Black Women curtain in Broadway, and is one of only two Afro -American wig designers who won Obie awards.

Cynthia erivo (Actor, singer)

Erivo had a banner 2024 as the star of mega success Evil Film adjustment. While Elphaba took her to new heights, Erivo had previously been a force in the industry and won a Tony, Grammy and Emmy Award for playing Celie in the Broadway revival of The color purple. She also has additional Emmy nomination for her actions as Aretha Franklin in Genie: Aretha. Her portrayal of Harriet Tubman in the film Harriet Her first Oscar nomination brought in, and Erivo is again the best honor for her actions as Elphaba in Evil. Show in March 2 to find out if she will take the win home, and officially make her an egot!

Joshua Henry (Actor)

Henry is a beloved match at the Broadway scene, known for his empathic approach on and off the stage. Henry received his first Tony nomination for his actions in sale and EBBs The Scottsboro boysand have two additional nominations for Violin and Carousel. His powerful portrayal of complex characters shot him to the top of the list of dream co-workers for many artists across the industry (including Lin-Manuel Miranda) and his layered baritone is one of the most recognizable on Broadway today. His actions in the New York City Center production of Ragtime have recorded a passionate praise, and many people cross their fingers that we have not yet seen the last of his coal house Walker JR.

Colman Domingo (Actor, director, playwright, producer)

Domingo is an unmistakable power in the stage and screen world. Nowadays, Domingo lends its support to the theater by producing plays (Fat ham on Broadway and the upcoming Retrograde in the West End). He is known for his Oscar-nominated performances in Rust and Singing singingas well as its Tony-nominated display in The Scottsboro boysDomingo is a style icon known for its strong sense of color and shape, which brings the traditional stoic men’s clothing exciting. In 2025, he was co-chair of the Met Gala, where he was personally invited by Anna Wintour to lead the fundraiser with Lewis Hamilton, Asap Rocky, Pharrell Williams, and honorary chairman of Lebron James. The theme of this year is ‘Superfine: Passover Black Style’, in honor of the art of black dandyism and black male tailor -made throughout fashion history. Like Erivo, make sure you join the Oscars on March 2 to see if he will take the top prize for home Singing singing!

Paul Tazewell (Costume designer)

Tazewell is an award -winning costume designer whose work on and off the stage has received critical and operational rofs. He is known for his fearless embrace of color and his carefully pattern pattern and has worked on some of the most iconic Broadway productions of the 21st century, including Hamilton, In the heightsand The color purple. He received 9 Tony nominations (win for Hamilton) and a nomination of the Oscar Award for its designs for the film adjustment of Evil—What are some of the most spoken film costumes that have spoken the most for the past 25 years. He is currently the favorite to win the Oscar on March 2, but only time will know it!

Kirk Cambridge-Del Peaches (Make -up designer, nail consultant)

Cambridge-Del Pesche is one of several experts for cosmetics pushing the industry forward with the light of black beauty. With 16 Broadway credits under its belt – including Potus, Is no mo, Jaja’s Africa -Hair, Merrily we roll together, The notebook, Lempicka, The wizardand even more – he is responsible for some of the most influential character designs on Broadway, and he shows no signs of slowdown. Currently he works with Disney Theatricals to develop the makeup Hercules In London, with several other projects in the pipeline.

Q Between Jean (Costume Designer, Activist)

Quw Jean is the founder of Black Trans Liberation, a community organization that empowers and celebrates people, which does not meet. Quw Jean, who is known for her resourceful approach to silhouettes and advocacy in the LGBTQia+ community, has become an important part of the cross between art and activism, with her costume designs becoming the calling map of some of the most influential works of off -broadway. Her recent off-broadway designs included Cats: The Jellicle Ball, Our dear dead drug lord, One out of two, Brothers and sisters play, Amen corner, Vodde parkland, Good sadness, Othello, Wig out!, Playboy of the Western Indian Islands, A doll houseand the highly award -winning What to send up when it goes off By Aleshea Harris. With rumblings of the highly award -winning Cats: The Jellicle Ball When we return, we are excited to see Q -between Jean’s creations again on the runway.

Brian Anthony Moreland (producer)

Moreland is a Tony-winning Broadway producer known for his dedication to bringing different and innovative works to the stage. With the manufacture of credits over The wizard, The piano lesson, Macbeth, Funny girland more, he is committed to the advocate of new voices and revivals that investigate social and cultural issues. Currently he is the guidance of the Broadway revival of Othellowhile spending his free time on TCG, the Theater Development Fund, serves as trustee for BC/EFA and the American Academy Dramatic Arts, and serves in the Council of Governors for the Broadway League.

Arturo Lyons and Omari Wiles (Choreographers)

Lyons and Wils are perhaps a duo on this list, but make no mistake; They are exemplary artists on their own. Both are key figures in the LGBTQia+ Ballroom scene that used their talents to elevate queer, black and Latinx votes in the arts by representing the ballroom culture at the theater stage. Known for their cooperation on the revival of the hit of Cats: The Jellicle BallLyons and Wiles played an important role in bridging execution art with activism, and used their work to plead for social change and greater representation in the mainstream. The couple shared the 2024 OBIE award for excellent direction with Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch, and many cross fingers as a fresh jellicle choice will return in the future.

Joel Crump (journalist, actor)

At the age of 16, the teenager Crump established himself as a beloved figure on Broadway -red carpets with his eager smile and infectious energy. Crump, who was a second on high school, founded his show Broadway Time During the Covid-19 closure to interview with esteemed Broadway actors, creativities and professionals. He was also a precious face in the 2022 and 2023 Tony Awards Media Room, and during the Jimmy Award. Crump, an artist as well as a pleasant interviewer, hope to be on Broadway one day while sustaining Broadway Time.

Camille A. Brown (Choreographer, director, dance educator)

Brown is a four-time Tony-nominated choreographer and director known for her innovative merger of African-American dance traditions with different contemporary performance styles. Her groundbreaking choreography for Choir boy, Once on this island, Hell’s Kitchenand the current Gypsy Revival is very awarded. In 2022 she made her debut as director choreographer with for colored girls who considered suicide/when the rainbow is enufwhich hindered seven Tony nominations and significant praise. In 2018, Brown created a platform for community involvement, each body movement (EBM) to cultivate creativity through workshops, summer intensive, artistic encounters, educational experiences, public actions and celebrations for people with different abilities, identities and ages.

Joy Woods (Actor)

Woods is one of the brightest rising stars in New York today. Of her history reduction as the first black woman to have the role of Audrey full time in Little Shop or horrors to her viral performance as Middle Allie in The notebookher ominously clear mezzo soprano seems to become one of the dominant voices of the decade. She is currently on Broadway, as a revealing Louise across from Audra McDonald’s Rose in George C. Wolfe’s revival of Gypsy.

Bryan Carter (Musician, orchestra, composer)

Carter, a graduate of Juilliard, is a musical wonder known for his work in jazz and improvising music. He is the first black orchestra that won the outer critics Circle Award for excellent orchestrations, and he and she and she Some like it is hot Co-orchestrator Charlie Rosen was the first orchestras to win the Outer Critics Circle Award, the Drama Desk Award and the Tony Award in a single season. They also received a Grammy for their work. In 2019, Carter Jazz settled at Pride, a non -profit organization, which is dedicated to the celebration and creation of safe spaces for the LGBTQia+ community in the jazz community.

Marc J. Franklin (Photographer)

Franklin, one of Broadway’s most popular photographers, specializes in production photos, editorial portraits, narrative visual storytelling and cultural photography. He previously served as the chief photographer and photo editor of Playbill before working at NBC News and MSNBC Digital. Currently, Franklin’s work can be seen outside the majestic theater and the Shubert Theater, and he served as the Broadway production photographer for Hell’s Kitchen, Uncle Vanya, Purlie Victorious, some like it hot, topdog/underdog, a strange loop, for colored girls who considered suicide/when the rainbow is and is the rainbow, Lesson, and made photo contributions to Gypsy, Oh, Mary!, And many more.

Kenny Leon (Director, producer, actor)

Leon is a Tony award-winning director and legend known to be one of the busiest men on Broadway. He was celebrated for his ability to bring deep cultural insight and emotional resonance to classical texts, and he has directed six plays on Broadway since the Covid-19stet, leading Top Dog/Underdog, Ohio State Murders, Purlie Victorious, Homeand Our town to the stage while also juggling off-broadway commitments and on the screen, where he both directed and acted Robin Roberts offers: Mahaliaa biographical film of the gospel legend of Mahalia Jackson. Leon is one of the co -founders of Black Theater United. Currently Leon brings a revival of William Shakespeare’s Othello After the stage, with his long -standing leading man Denzel Washington.

Dede Ayite (Costume designer)

Ayite is one of the most exciting costume designers on the scene. She earned wide recognition for her work to the Broadway production of Slavewhere her costume designs were praised for their ability to reflect and challenge the complex social dynamics within the play, a trait that continued through her work on contemporary and period work. Ayite’s design philosophy blends historical research with contemporary aesthetics, which create costumes that are not only visually striking, but also deeply embedded in the emotional and narrative arches of the characters. In 2024 she won the Tony for the best costume design in a play on behalf of her work on Jaja’s Africa -Hairbut she was actually nominated three times that night: against herself in the same category for Appropriateand in the best costume design of a musical for Hell’s Kitchen. She can repeat the same achievement again this season, with a remarkable six productions on her lead for 2024–25: Home, Our town, Purpose, Buena Vista Social Club, Othelloand The last five years.

Lachanze (Actor, producer)

Lachanze managed one of the most impressive career pivots in recent theater history. A Tony award-winning actor, her performance as Celie in the original Broadway production of The Color Purple has forever immortalized her in the history of musical theater, with her additional performances in Once on this island, The bubbling black girl casts her chameleon skinand Dessa Rose Govered the lily of her performance career. While she has not stopped acting completely, she made an important pivot in 2022 to receive another 3 Tony Awards for her work together Kimberly Akimbo, Top Dog/Underdogand The outsiders. Lachanze is one of the co -founders of Black Theater United. In short, if it is Lachanze who delivers a show, you want to buy a ticket.

Jocelyn bioh (Actor, playwright)

Bioh is an equally gifted playwright and artist who quickly becomes one of the leading voices in today’s American theater. Known for her comedy Schoolgirls; Or, the African general girls playHer work emphasizes themes of intersectionality, cultural identity and the complexities of gender and race. Her Broadway debut as a playwright came in 2023, when her play Jaja’s Africa -Hair was widely crowned. The piece received the best nominations at the Drama Desk Awards and the Tony Awards, and is currently enjoying a robust, extensive tour in the United States. This spring, Bioh’s musical Goddess will play in the public theater. The pre-mouth-to-mouth is positive, so watch what Bioh writes.

Maleah Joi Moon (Actor, singer)

Moon is the ruling winner of the Tony Award for Best Actress in a musical for her performance in Alicia Keys’ Hell’s Kitchen, and an upcoming star. Just 22 she made her Broadway debut with the Jukebox Music Music, and a Drama Desk Award and a Theater World Award in addition to her Tony. She stays with the production, but all eyes are what can be her next step: to stick to Broadway, or maybe a record deal of her own?

Amber iman (Actor, activist, Creator)

After touring with Lauryn Hill briefly, Iman burst on the Broadway scene in 2013 as the high priests of Soul, Nina Simone, in Silent. A co-founder of the Tony-Wen Organization Broadway Advocacy Coalition, as well as black women on Broadway (with Bioh and Danielle Brooks), is her efforts to demand that a more fair theater industry be widespread. In 2024 she received her first performance Tony nomination for her portrayal of Rafaela in Lempicka. Later Spring will lead his Bioh, Michael Thurber and Saeem Ali’s new musical Goddess In the public theater.