The Black Women on Broadway Awards has named the honorees for its fourth annual celebration, set to take place on June 2 at the event space Current at Chelsea Piers in New York City. This awards ceremony spotlights three women whose artistry, leadership and legacy continue to shape and inspire the Broadway community. The 2025 honorees are LaTanya Richardson Jackson, LaChanze and Khaila Wilcoxon.
Richardson Jackson will receive the Audra McDonald Legacy Award, which recognizes an artist who has a storied career and significant theater achievements. Currently appearing on Broadway as Claudine Jasper in “Purpose,” Richardson Jackson received a 2014 Tony Award nomination for her turn as Lena Younger in “A Raisin in the Sun.” Richardson Jackson was Tony-nominated again in 2024 as a producer on the revival of “Purlie Victorious.” Richardson Jackson directed the 2023 Tony-nominated revival of “The Piano Lesson” and also appeared as an actor on Broadway in “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” and “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
LaChanze will receive the Kathy A. Perkins Behind the Curtain Award, which recognizes an artist whose work backstage shines brightest onstage. LaChanze won a 2006 Tony for originating the role of Celie in “The Color Purple.” As a producer, she won a pair of 2023 Tonys for helping to shepherd “Kimberly Akimbo” and “Topdog/Underdog” as well as taking home a 2024 Tony as a co-producer on “The Outsiders.” LaChanze also received acting Tony nods for turns in “Once on This Island,” “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical” and “Trouble in Mind.” She received an additional producing nod for co-producing “Jaja’s African Hair Braiding.” LaChanze directed a recent Off-Broadway revival of “Wine in the Wilderness.”
Wilcoxon will receive the Florence Mills Shining Star Award, which recognizes an early-career talent or a rising artist whose brilliance is just beginning to be widely seen. Wilcoxon is currently appearing onstage as Becca in the new musical “Redwood.” Wilcoxon’s prior Broadway credits include turns in “Hadestown,” “SIX” and “Ruben & Clay’s First Annual Christmas Carol Family Fun Pageant Spectacular Reunion Show.”
“We are delighted to host the fourth annual Black Women on Broadway Awards to honor and celebrate the achievements of Black women in theater,” said co-founders Danielle Brooks, Amber Iman and Jocelyn Bioh in a joint statement. “This year, we are proud to honor these three incredibly talented and hardworking women, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, LaChanze and Khaila Wilcoxon, for all that they have accomplished both on and Off-Broadway.”
Since its inception in 2019, Black Women on Broadway’s goal as an organization is to uplift and celebrate the accomplishments of Black women who work in theater both on and Off-Broadway through free mentorship and fellowship programs. Founded in 2020 by Brooks, Iman and Bioh, the organization seeks to serve and celebrate the accomplishments of Black women in theater through mentorship and fellowship opportunities.
