Juanita Hall
This month’s blogs are all about black theater excellence – those things that cannot be excelled, only equaled. This week’s blog is about firsts. Not just the first black person to accomplish something, but the first person ever to accomplish it.
The first, mentioned last week was Audra McDonald. She won a Tony in all acting categories. Usually no one can win more Tony awards than those that exist, but additional awards can be created.
This is what happened in the case of Juanita Hall. Before 1950, Tony’s were given to the best actor and the best actress. In that year the supporting category was created. Ms. Hall became the first black person to win a Tony, and was the first person in history to win a best supporting actress. Other actors have won this award, including Audra McDonald, but only one was the first.
Geoffrey Holder
Another first is Geoffrey Holder. In 1975 he became the first black person, and the first person to be nominated in the same year for multiple awards. In addition, he was the first black person to be nominated for best director and best costume designer and also the first person to win both categories.
Wining multiple Tony’s in the same night has happened again, but Mr. Holder was the first.