Okay, sure, we just got a Black Elphaba on the big screen. On Broadway, however, the show has run for 21 years and is only now getting a Black principal, Elphaba, in Lencia Kebede. But Kebede isn’t alone.
In 1959, Lorraine Hansberry, writer, activist, and all-around badass, broke every barrier as the first Black woman to have a play produced on Broadway: A Raisin In The Sun. Phylicia Rashad, who portrayed Lena Younger on stage, was the first Black woman to win a Tony for Best Actress in a Play, 46 years after A Raisin in the Sun debuted.
Diahann Carroll was the first Black woman to receive a Tony for Best Leading Actress In A Musical in 1962 for her role in No Strings. By then, the Tonys had been around for 15 years.
One of the most compelling musicals, South Pacific, had a Broadway run before being adapted for film in 1958. In both versions, Juanita Hall had her signature role as Bloody Mary. That role made her the first Black person to get a Tony.
Black women on Broadway have consistently shattered barriers, using their talent and resilience to redefine the theater world. Their stories are a testament to the enduring power of representation, creativity, and determination in shaping the future of theater.