Yalies win Tony Awards as Broadway re-emerges from shutdown

Five Yale alumni took home Tony Awards on Sept. 26 in the categories of acting, directing, scenic design, and costume design.

The Tony Awards celebrate the best of Broadway theater. Yale-trained actors and theater professionals were also well represented as nominees for the prestigious honor.

Tony winners from the Yale community are:

• Andrew Burnap ’16 DRA for Best Actor in Leading Role in a Play, for “The Inheritance”;
• David Alan Grier ’81 DRA for Best Featured Actor in a Play, for “A Soldier’s Play”;
• Alex Timbers ’01 for Best Director of a Musical for “Moulin Rouge/The Musical”;
• Derek McLane ’84 DRA for Best Scenic Design of a Musical for “Moulin Rouge/The Musical”; and
• Catherine Zuber ’84 DRA for Best Costume Design of a Musical for “Moulin Rouge/The Musical.”

“The Inheritance” was also chosen Best Play and “Moulin Rouge” was awarded Best Musical.” “A Soldier’s Play” won for Best Revival of a Play.

Other nominees for Tony Awards from the Yale community included Bess Wohl ’99 ART, ’02 DRA for Best Play for “Grand Horizons”; Jeremy O. Harris ’19 DRA for Best Play for “Slave Play”; Robert O’Hara, a lecturer in directing at the David Geffen School of Drama, for Best Director for “Slave Play”; Fitz Patton ’01 DRA for Best Original Score for “The Rose Tattoo”; Daniel Kluger ’08, a lecturer in sound design at the David Geffen School of Drama, for Best Original Score for “The Sound Inside” and for Best Sound Design for a Play for “The Sound Inside” and “Seawall/A Life”; Ato Blankson Wood ’15 DRA for Best Featured Actor in a Play for “Slave Play”; Chalia La Tour ’16 DRA for Best Featured Actress in a Play for “Slave Play”; Derek McLane ’84 DRA for Best Scenic Design of a Play for “A Soldier’s Play”; Riccardo Hernández ’92 DRA, an associate professor (adjunct) of design at the David Geffen School of Drama, for Best Scenic Design for a Musical for “Jagged Little Pill”; Dede M. Ayite ’11 DRA for Best Scenic Design of a Play for “Slave Play” and “A Soldier’s Play”; Emily Rebholz ’06 DRA for Best Costume Design of a Musical for “Jagged Little Pill”; and Jiyoun Chang ’08 DRA for Best Lighting Design of a Play for “Slave Play.”

Jeremy O. Harris wrote “Slave Play” while studying at the David Geffen School of Drama, where Robert O’Hara was one of his teachers.

The 74th annual Tony Awards presentation honored shows from the 2019–2020 season. Audra McDonald hosted the awards presentation, and Leslie Odom Jr. hosted “Broadway’s Back,” a celebration of Broadway theater’s return following a performance shutdown during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This article recognizes all winners from the Yale community known to Yale News at the time of publication. Please let us know if we overlooked someone: Email the editor at kevin.dennehy@yale.edu.