List of Asian Tony Award winners and nominees

Last updated

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)

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.)

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.)

Best Orchestrations

Best Orchestrations
YearRecipientShowStatusMilestone / NotesRef(s)

Best Choreography

Best Choreography
YearRecipientShowStatusMilestone / NotesRef(s)

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.

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.
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

Best Lighting Design in a Musical

Best Lighting Design in a Musical
YearRecipientShowStatusMilestone / NotesRef(s)

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.

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.

Best Costume Design in a Play

Best Costume Design in a Play
YearRecipientShowStatusMilestone / NotesRef(s)

Best Lighting Design in a Play

Best Lighting Design in a Play
YearRecipientShowStatusMilestone / NotesRef(s)
2022 Jiyoun Chang for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf Nominated
Yi Zhao The Skin of Our Teeth 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)

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.
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play
YearRecipientShowRoleStatusMilestone / NotesRef(s)

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical
YearRecipientShowRoleStatusMilestone / NotesRef(s)

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.

[5]
June Angela Shōgun: The Musical Lady MarikoNominated
2016 Phillipa Soo Hamilton Eliza Hamilton Nominated
2017 Eva Noblezada Miss Saigon KimNominated
2019 Hadestown Eurydice Nominated
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical
YearRecipientShowRoleStatusMilestone / NotesRef(s)
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical
YearRecipientShowRoleStatusMilestone / NotesRef(s)
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.

[6]
2018 Ashley Park Mean Girls Gretchen WienersNominated

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

Related Research Articles

The Tony Award for Best Musical is given annually to the best new Broadway musical, as determined by Tony Award voters. The award is one of the ceremony's longest-standing awards, having been presented each year since 1949. The award goes to the producers of the winning musical. A musical is eligible for consideration in a given year if it has not previously been produced on Broadway and is not "determined... to be a 'classic' or in the historical or popular repertoire", otherwise it may be considered for Best Revival of a Musical.

The Tony Award for Best Play is an annual award given to the best new (non-musical) play on Broadway, as determined by Tony Award voters. There was no award in the Tonys' first year. The award goes to the authors and the producers of the play. Plays that have appeared in previous Broadway productions are instead eligible for Best Revival of a Play.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical</span> Award conferred by the American Theatre Wing

The Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical is awarded to the best actress in a musical, whether a new production or a revival. The award has been given since 1948, but the nominees who did not win have only been publicly announced since 1956.

The Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical is awarded to librettists of the spoken, non-sung dialogue, and storyline of a musical play. Eligibility is restricted to works with original narrative framework; plotless revues and revivals are ineligible. This award was originally called the Tony Award for Best Author, until musicals were split off from dramas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical</span> Tony Award

The Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical has been presented since 1950. The award was not given at the first three Tony Award ceremonies. Nominees were not announced publicly until 1956.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical</span> Tony Award

The Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical is awarded to the actor who was voted as the best actor in a musical play, whether a new production or a revival. The award has been given since 1948, but the nominees who did not win have only been publicly announced since 1956.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical</span> Stage theatre award

This is a list of the winners and nominations of Tony Award for the Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical. The award has been given since 1947, but the nominees who did not win have only been publicly announced since 1956.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play</span> Award for role in Broadway play

The Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play is an honor presented at the Tony Awards, a ceremony established in 1947 as the Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre. The award is given to actresses for quality leading roles in a Broadway play. Despite the award first being presented in 1947, there were no nominees announced until 1956. There have been two ties in this category, and one three-way tie.

The Tony Award for Best Orchestrations is awarded to acknowledge the contributions of musical orchestrators in both musicals and plays. The award has been given since 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play</span>

The Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play has been given since 1960. Before 1960 there was only one award for both play direction and musical direction, then in 1960 the award was split into two categories: Dramatic and Musical. In 1976 the Dramatic category was renamed to Play. For pre-1960 direction awards please reference Tony Award for Best Director.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Award for Best Choreography</span>

The Tony Award for Best Choreography is awarded to acknowledge the contributions of choreographers in both musicals and plays. The award has been given since 1947, but nominees were not announced until 1956.

Wullah Mei Ok Kim, known as Willa Kim, was an American costume designer for stage, dance, and film.

Tony Award for Best Scenic Design in a Play is an award for outstanding set design of a play. The award was first presented in 1960 after the category of Best Scenic Design was divided into Scenic Design in a Play and Scenic Design in a Musical with each genre receiving its own award. Between 1962 and 2004, the award was re-combined to Best Scenic Design before being split again in 2005.

Tony Award for Best Scenic Design in a Musical is an award for outstanding set design of a musical. The award was first presented in 1960 after the category of Best Scenic Design was divided into Scenic Design in a Play and Scenic Design in a Musical with each genre receiving its own award. Between 1962 and 2004, the award was re-combined to Best Scenic Design before being split again in 2005.

Tony Award for Best Costume Design in a Play is an award for outstanding costume design of a play. The award was first presented in 1961 after the category of Best Costume Design was divided into Costume Design in a Play and Costume Design in a Musical with each genre receiving its own award.

This is a list of winners and nominations for the Tony Award for Best Costume Design in a Musical for outstanding costume design of a musical. The award was first presented in 1961 after the category of Best Costume Design was divided into Costume Design in a Play and Costume Design in a Musical with each genre receiving its own award.

This is a list of winners and nominations for the Tony Award for Best Lighting Design in a Play for outstanding Lighting design of a play. The award was first presented in 2005 after the category of Best Lighting Design was divided into Lighting Design in a Play and Lighting Design in a Musical with each genre receiving its own award.

Tony Award for Best Lighting Design in a Musical is an award for outstanding Lighting design of a musical. The award was first presented in 2005 after the category of Best Lighting Design was divided into Lighting Design in a Play and Lighting Design in a Musical with each genre receiving its own award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eva Noblezada</span> American actress and singer (born 1996)

Eva Maria Noblezada is an American actress and singer.

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. "NOMINATIONS (LEA SALONGA)". The American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  6. "NOMINATIONS (RUTHIE ANN MILES)". The American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards. Retrieved November 21, 2022.