List of Asian Tony Award winners and nominees

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This is a list of Tony Award winners and nominees who are of Asian descent or native to an Asian country. As of the 75th Tony Awards, which were presented on June 12, 2022, there are 14 individual Asian Tony Award winners, including 13 competitive award winners. The first Asian to win a Tony Award was Willa Kim in 1981 when she won the Tony Award for Best Costume Design in a Musical for Sophisticated Ladies .

Contents

Show and technical

Best Musical

Best Musical
YearRecipientShowStatusMilestone / NotesRef(s)
2011 Yasuhiro Kawana Catch Me If You Can Nominated(Shared with Margo Lion, Hal Luftig, Stacey Mindich, Scott & Brian Zeilinger, The Rialto Group, The Araca Group, Michael Watt, Barbara & Buddy Freitag, Jay & Cindy Gutterman/Pittsburgh CLO, Elizabeth Williams, Johnny Roscoe Productions/Van Dean, Fakston Productions/Solshay Productions, Patty Baker/Richard Winkler, Nederlander Presentations, Inc., Warren Trepp, Remmel T. Dickinson, Paula Herold/Kate Lear, Stephanie P. McClelland, Jamie deRoy, Barry Feirstein, Rainerio J. Reyes, Rodney Rigby, Loraine Boyle, Amuse Inc., Joseph & Matthew Deitch/Cathy Chernoff, Joan Stein/Jon Murray, and The 5th Avenue Theatre.)
2013 Kinky Boots WonFirst Asian to win for Best Musical.

(Shared with Daryl Roth, Hal Luftig, James L. Nederlander, Terry Allen Kramer, Independent Presenters Network, CJ E&M, Jayne Baron Sherman, Just for Laughs Theatricals/Judith Ann Abrams, Jane Bergère, Allan S. Gordon & Adam S. Gordon, Ken Davenport, Hunter Arnold, Lucy & Phil Suarez, Bryan Bantry, Ron Fierstein & Dorsey Regal, Jim Kierstead/Gregory Rae, BB Group/Christina Papagjika, Michael DeSantis/Patrick Baugh, Brian Smith/Tom & Connie Walsh, Warren Trepp, and Jujamcyn Theaters.)

 [1]
2014 Jhett Tolentino A Gentlemen’s Guide to Love and Murder WonSecond Asian to win for Best Musical.

(Shared with Joey Parnes, S.D. Wagner, John Johnson, 50 Church Street Productions, Joan Raffe, Jay Alix & Una Jackman, Catherine & Fred Adler, Rhoda Herrick, Kathleen K. Johnson, Megan Savage, ShadowCatcher Entertainment, Ron Simons, True Love Productions, Jamie deRoy, Four Ladies & One Gent, John Arthur Pinckard, Greg Nobile, Stewart Lane & Bonnie Comley, Exeter Capital/Ted Snowdon, Ryan Hugh Mackey, Cricket-CTM Media/Mano-Horn Productions, Dennis Grimaldi/Margot Astrachan, Hello Entertainment/Jamie Bendell, Michael T. Cohen/Joe Sirola, Joseph & Carson Gleberman/William Megevick, Green State Productions, The Hartford Stage, and The Old Globe.)

 [2]
2017 Raymond Poliquit Dear Evan Hansen WonThird Asian to win for Best Musical. [3]

Best Revival of a Musical

Best Revival of a Musical
YearRecipientShowStatusMilestone / NotesRef(s)
2012 Yasuhiro Kawana Evita Nominated(Shared with Hal Luftig, Scott Sanders Productions, Roy Furman, Allan S. Gordon/Adam S. Gordon, James L. Nederlander, Terry Allen Kramer, Gutterman Fuld Chernoff/Pittsburgh CLO, Thousand Stars Productions, Adam Blanshay, Adam Zotovich, Robert Ahrens, Stephanie P. McClelland, Carole L. Haber, Richardo Hornos, Carol Fineman, Brian Smith, and Warren & Jâlé Trepp.)

Best Direction of a Musical

Best Direction of a Musical
YearRecipientShowStatusMilestone / NotesRef(s)
2009 Diane Paulus Hair Nominated—
2012 The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess Nominated
2013 Pippin WonFirst Asian to win for Best Direction of a Musical
2020 Jagged Little Pill Nominated

Best Book of a Musical

Best Book of a Musical
YearRecipientShowStatusMilestone / NotesRef(s)
2003 David Henry Hwang Flower Drum Song Nominated—
2011 Robert Lopez The Book of Mormon WonFirst Asian to win for Best Book of a Musical.

First Asian to win a third Tony Award.

Second Asian to win a second Tony Award.

(Shared with Trey Parker and Matt Stone.)

2025 Hue Park Maybe Happy Ending Won(Shared with Will Aronson.)

Best Original Score

Best Original Score
YearRecipientShowStatusMilestone / NotesRef(s)
2004 Robert Lopez Avenue Q WonFirst Asian to win for Best Original Score.

(Shared with Jeff Marx.)

2011 The Book of Mormon WonFirst Asian to win a third Tony Award.

Second Asian to win a second Tony Award. (Shared with Trey Parker and Matt Stone.)

2018 Frozen Nominated(Shared with Kristen Anderson-Lopez.)
2025 Hue Park Maybe Happy Ending Won(Shared with Will Aronson.)

Best Orchestrations

Best Orchestrations
YearRecipientShowStatusMilestone / NotesRef(s)
2018 Jamshied Sharifi The Band's Visit Won
2025 Marco Paguia Buena Vista Social Club Won—

Best Choreography

Best Choreography
YearRecipientShowStatusMilestone / NotesRef(s)
1989 Kimi OkadaLargely New YorkNominated(Shared with Bill Irwin.)
2004 Farah Khan Bombay Dreams Nominated(Shared with Anthony Van Laast.)

Best Scenic Design in a Musical

Best Scenic Design in a Musical
YearRecipientShowStatusMilestone / NotesRef(s)
1970 Ming Cho Lee Billy Nominated—
2017 Mimi Lien Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet Of 1812 WonFirst Asian to win Best Scenic Design in a Musical.
2023 Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Nominated
2024 Takeshi Kata Water for Elephants Nominated

Best Costume Design in a Musical

Best Costume Design in a Musical
YearRecipientShowStatusMilestone / NotesRef(s)
1975 Willa Kim Goodtime Charley Nominated— [4]
1978 Dancin' Nominated—
1981 Sophisticated Ladies WonFirst Asian to win a Tony Award.

First Asian to win for Best Costume Design in a Musical.

1986 Song & Dance Nominated—
1989 Legs Diamond Nominated—
1991 The Will Rogers Follies WonFirst Asian to win a second Tony Award.
2005 Junko Kushino Pacific Overtures Nominated
2012 Eiko Ishioka Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark Nominated
2014 Linda Cho A Gentlemen's Guide to Love and Murder WonSecond Asian to win for Best Costume Design in a Musical.
2017 Anastasia Nominated—
2018 Clint Ramos Once on This Island Nominated
2023 KPOP Nominated
Sophia ChoiNominated
2024 Linda ChoThe Great GatsbyWon
2025 Clint Ramos Maybe Happy Ending Nominated

Best Lighting Design in a Musical

Best Lighting Design in a Musical
YearRecipientShowStatusMilestone / NotesRef(s)
2023 Lap Chi Chu Lerner & Loewe's Camelot Nominated
2024 Hana S. Kim The Outsiders WonFirst Asian to win for Best Lighting Design of a Musical.
David Bengali Water for Elephants Nominated
2025 Ruey Horng Sun Floyd Collins Nominated

Best Sound Design of a Musical

Best Sound Design of a Musical
YearRecipientShowStatusMilestone / NotesRef(s)
2012 Kai Harada Follies Nominated
2018 The Band's Visit WonFirst Asian to win for Best Sound Design of a Musical.
2023 New York, New York Nominated
2024 Merrily We Roll Along Nominated

Best Play

Best Play
YearRecipientShowStatusMilestone / NotesRef(s)
1988 David Henry Hwang M. Butterfly WonFirst Asian to win for Best Play.

(Shared with Stuart Ostrow and David Geffen.)

1998 Golden Child Nominated(Shared with Benjamin Mordecai, Dori Berinstein, John Kao, Talia Shire, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, South coast Repertory, The Joseph Papp Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival, American Conservatory Theater.)
2013 Jhett Tolentino Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike WonSecond Asian to win for Best Play.

(Shared with Christopher Durang, Joey Parnes, Larry Hirschhorn, Joan Raffe, Martin Platt & David Elliott, Pat Flicker Addiss, Catherine Adler, John O'Boyle, Joshua Goodman, Jamie deRoy/Richard Winkler, Cricket Hooper Jiranek/Michael Palitz, Mark S. Golub & David S. Golub, Radio Mouse Entertainment, ShadowCatcher Entertainment, Mary Cossette/Barbara Manocherian, Megan Savage/Meredith Lynsey Schade, Hugh Hysell/Richard Jordan, Cheryl Wiesenfeld/Ron Simons, S.D. Wagner, John Johnson, McCarter Theatre Center, and Lincoln Center Theater.)

2015 Hand to God Nominated(Shared with Robert Askins, Kevin McCollum, Broadway Global Ventures, CMC, Morris Berchard, Mariano V. Tolentino Jr., Stephanie Kramer, LAMS Productions, DeSimone/Winkler, Joan Raffe, Timothy Laczynski, Lily Fan, Ayal Miodovnik, Jam Theatricals, Ensemble Studio Theatre, and MCC Theater.)

Best Revival of a Play

Best Revival of a Play
YearRecipientShowStatusMilestone / NotesRef(s)
2014 Jhett Tolentino A Raisin in the Sun WonFirst Asian to win for Best Revival of a Play.

(Shared with Scott Rudin, Roger Berlind, Eli Bush, Jon B. Platt, Scott M. Delman, Roy Furman, Stephanie P. McClelland, Ruth Hendel, Sonia Friedman/Tulchin Bartner, The Araca Group, Heni Koenigsberg, Daryl Roth, Joan Raffe, Joey Parnes, S.D. Wagner, and John Johnson.)

2015 This Is Our Youth Nominated(Shared with Scott Rudin, Eli Bush, Roger Berlind, William Berlind, Jon B. Platt, Roy Furman, The Shubert Organization, Ruth Hendel, Scott M. Delman, Stephanie P. McClelland, Sonia Friedman, Tulchin Bartner, The Araca Group, Heni Koenigsberg, Daryl Roth, Joan Raffe, Catherine & Fred Adler, Joey Parnes, Sue Wagner, John Johnson, and Steppenwolf Theatre Company.)

Best Direction of a Play

Best Direction of a Play
YearRecipientShowStatusMilestone / NotesRef(s)
—————

Best Scenic Design in a Play

Best Scenic Design in a Play
YearRecipientShowStatusMilestone / NotesRef(s)
1983 Ming Cho Lee K2 WonFirst Asian to win for Best Scenic Design in a Play.
2020 Clint Ramos Slave Play Nominated

Best Costume Design in a Play

Best Costume Design in a Play
YearRecipientShowStatusMilestone / NotesRef(s)
2016 Clint Ramos Eclipsed WonFirst Asian to win for Best Costume Design of a Play.
2019 Torch Song Nominated
2020 The Rose Tattoo Nominated

Best Lighting Design in a Play

Best Lighting Design in a Play
YearRecipientShowStatusMilestone / NotesRef(s)
2020 Jiyoun Chang Slave Play Nominated
2022 for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf Nominated—
Yi Zhao The Skin of Our Teeth Nominated—
2024 Amith Chandrashaker Prayer for the French Republic Nominated
Jiyoun Chang Stereophonic Nominated
2025 David Bengali Good Night, and Good Luck Nominated

Best Sound Design of a Play

Best Sound Design of a Play
YearRecipientShowStatusMilestone / NotesRef(s)
—————

Performance

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play
YearRecipientShowRoleStatusMilestone / NotesRef(s)
2025 Daniel Dae Kim Yellow Face DHHNominatedFirst Asian to be nominated for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play
YearRecipientShowRoleStatusMilestone / NotesRef(s)
——————
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play
YearRecipientShowRoleStatusMilestone / NotesRef(s)
1988 BD Wong M. Butterfly Song LilingWonFirst Asian to win for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play.
2025 Francis Jue Yellow Face HYH/OthersWon
2025 Conrad Ricamora Oh, Mary! Mary's HusbandNominated
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play
YearRecipientShowRoleStatusMilestone / NotesRef(s)
1998 Julyana Soelistyo Golden Child Ma/Eng AhnNominated
2025 Tala Ashe English ElhamNominated
Marjan Neshat MarjanNominated

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical
YearRecipientShowRoleStatusMilestone / NotesRef(s)
1996 Lou Diamond Phillips The King and I King Mongkut of Siam Nominated— [5]
2015 Ken Watanabe The King and I King Mongkut of Siam NominatedFirst Japanese actor to be nominated in this category. [6]
2025 Darren Criss Maybe Happy Ending OliverWonFirst Asian actor to win in this category

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical
YearRecipientShowRoleStatusMilestone / NotesRef(s)
1991 Lea Salonga Miss Saigon KimWonFirst Asian actress to win a Tony Award.

First Asian to win for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical.

 [7]
June Angela Shōgun: The Musical Lady MarikoNominated—
2016 Phillipa Soo Hamilton Eliza Hamilton Nominated—
2017 Eva Noblezada Miss Saigon KimNominated—
2019 Hadestown Eurydice Nominated—
2025 Nicole Scherzinger Sunset Boulevard Norma Desmond Won
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical
YearRecipientShowRoleStatusMilestone / NotesRef(s)
——————
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical
YearRecipientShowRoleStatusMilestone / NotesRef(s)
1996 Joohee Choi The King and I TuptimNominated
2008 Loretta Ables Sayre South Pacific Bloody Mary Nominated
2015 Ruthie Ann Miles The King and I Lady ThiangWonFirst Asian to win for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical.

Second Asian actress to win a Tony Award.

 [8]
2018 Ashley Park Mean Girls Gretchen WienersNominated
2023 Ruthie Ann Miles Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street The Beggar Woman Nominated

Special awards

Special Tony Award / Lifetime Achievement Award

Special Tony Award / Lifetime Achievement Award
YearRecipientStatusRef(s)
2013 Ming Cho Lee Honoree

Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre

Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre
YearRecipientStatusRef(s)
2022 Asian American Performers Action CoalitionHonoree

Isabelle Stevenson Award

Isabelle Stevenson Award
YearRecipientStatusRef(s)
2017 Baayork Lee Honoree

See also

References

  1. ↑ "NOMINATIONS (YASUHIRO KAWANA)". The American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  2. ↑ "NOMINATIONS (JHETT TOLENTINO)". The American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  3. ↑ Ang, Walter (July 15, 2017). "This Pinoy doctor and Zumba instructor now has a Tony–for coproducing 'Dear Evan Hansen'". Philippine Daily Inquirer . Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  4. ↑ "NOMINATIONS (WILLA KIM)". The American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Lou Diamond Phillips Tony Awards Wins and Nominations". www.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 2024-11-14.
  6. ↑ "Ken Watanabe Tony Awards Wins and Nominations". www.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 2024-11-14.
  7. ↑ "NOMINATIONS (LEA SALONGA)". The American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  8. ↑ "NOMINATIONS (RUTHIE ANN MILES)". The American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
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