Is Broadway and the Tonys more diverse than Hollywood and the academy awards?

Well, maybe at the moment, but what we have right now isn't "normal". And those parts are relegated AS black roles, which is not really the same as being diverse.

The whole country still has a way to go.

Updated On: 1/27/16 at 12:11 AM

There is nothing the matter with black roles. Plus, The Trip To Bountiful, On Golden Pond, The Gin Game, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof and A Streetcar Named Desire are not black plays, yet within the past decade they have been produced with predominantly black casts. Many of the roles in Chicago have been cast black as well. Whether it has a long way to go or not, Broadway is a lot more diverse than Hollywood.

"There is nothing the matter with black roles. Plus, The Trip To Bountiful, On Golden Pond, The Gin Game, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof and A Streetcar Named Desire are not black plays, yet within the past decade they have been produced with predominantly black casts. Many of the roles in Chicago have been cast black as well. Whether it has a long way to go or not, Broadway is a lot more diverse than Hollywood."

Excellent post and I agree totally.

I think it is, too. Though the first non-white Best Actress winner wasn't until 2004.

Broadway has a long way to go but it is WAY ahead of Hollywood. Musicals/plays with LGBT+ characters are able to win awards in New York City - Rent, Hedwig, The Color Purple, Fun Home, etc. - meanwhile Carol can't land a Best Picture or Best Director nomination at the Oscars despite deserving those nominations. The only time a queer film will win Academy Awards is when the lead roles are played by masculine and straight actors like Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal.

HighFlyingAdored97 said: "Broadway has a long way to go but it is WAY ahead of Hollywood. Musicals/plays with LGBT+ characters are able to win awards in New York City - Rent, Hedwig, The Color Purple, Fun Home, etc. - meanwhile Carol can't land a Best Picture or Best Director nomination at the Oscars despite deserving those nominations. The only time a queer film will win Academy Awards is when the lead roles are played by masculine and straight actors like Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal.

"

your argument is based on the premise that Carol actually deserves those nominations. there is no consensus on that and i would argue the focus on a same-sex relationship has nothing to do with that. female homosexuality is, in fact, more embraced and accepted than male homosexuality in hollywood.

Updated On: 1/27/16 at 10:14 AM

I just read that currently there are only two shows on Broadway that are directed by a woman. I wonder what the percentage is of directors in the film industry that are women.

I would agree that when it comes to actors in Broadway musicals Broadway is light years ahead of Hollywood, but outside of that catagory Broadway is just monochromatic.

From my count there have been only 10 non-white nominations for Best Score, winners Lin Manuel Miranda (In the Heights), Charlie Smalls (The Wiz) Robert Lopez (Avenue Q and The Book of Mormon), and nominees Stew (Passing Strange), Melvin Van Peebles (Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death), Daryl Waters Zane Mark Ann Duquesnay and George C. Wolfe (Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk), Lebo M. (The Lion King), Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Tug Yourgrau (The Song of Jacob Zulu), Brandfod Marsalis (Fences Denzel Washington). Only 4 of which have occured in the past 10 years.

Lets not forget that Kenny Leon, George C. Wolfe, and Gerald Gutierrez are essentially the only nonwhite directing winners.

And if you are not a minority screen or TV star, you can forget about being cast in a play.

The acting community of Broadway has come a long way, but the behind the scenes are just as white, but maybe not as male, as Hollywood.

"I mean the person with the most Tony's is an African American woman."

I certainly agree with everyone who has stated the theater world is lightyears ahead of Hollywood visa vis diversity (spoken as someone who makes his living in Hollywood).

But the OP's statement is factually wrong.

The top 6 Tony winners in its history are all white men:

Hal Prince

Mike Nichols

Stephen Sondheim

Bob Fosse

Tommy Tune

Jules Fisher

Updated On: 1/27/16 at 11:25 AM

Off the top of my head, I can think of at least 7 Asians/Asian-Americans with a Tony: performers B.D. Wong, Lea Salonga and Ruthie Ann Miles; playwright David Henry Hwang; composer-lyricist Robert Lopez; costume designer Willa Kim, and scenic designer Ming Cho Lee, who also has a lifetime achievement Tony.

(You could count Yul Brynner, too. He has Eurasian heritage, but he was born in Russia, which is part of Asia, though I imagine most folks usually associate Asians with the Far East.)

That said, Asians have a long way to go on the Great White Way. I believe Hwang is the only Asian-American playwright who's been produced on Broadway. I don't even think any Asians have ever been nominated for Director. And more Caucasian actors have WON Tonys for doing ''yellowface'' for Leading Actor ... than actual Asians. No Asian guy has ever won Leading Actor.

Updated On: 1/27/16 at 12:27 PM

I was typing at the same time as Wayman, who has a much more complete list.