As Broadway celebrates one of its most dynamic and diverse seasons in recent memory, a new event is being created to honor the Black artists, creatives, and producers helping shape this historic moment. The inaugural Black Broadway Nominee Soirée will take place on Friday, June 5th, 2026 at The Skylark in Midtown New York.
The Black Broadway Nominee Soirée will bring together this season’s Black Broadway nominees, breakout performers, debut artists, producers, and industry leaders for an intimate evening dedicated to celebration, community, and recognition. The invitation-only gathering comes during a season that has seen a remarkable showing of Black excellence across Broadway stages, with a wave of first-time nominees, acclaimed debuts, and landmark performances earning industry-wide attention.
The soirée is supported by Morgan Stanley Global Sports & Entertainment, Onyx Impact, and MAC Cosmetics. The event was created and will be hosted by producer Lamar Richardson, the 2-time Tony Award winner and CEO of Ivy Lion Productions, who said the idea was inspired by the significance of this Broadway season and the need to intentionally celebrate the artists contributing to it.
Richardson says, “This year, we saw an exceptional showing of Black talent across Broadway, including many exciting debuts and first-time nominees, and it felt important to create space to recognize and celebrate this momentous occasion intentionally,” Richardson shared. “This birthed the inaugural Black Broadway Nominee Soirée. We founded Ivy Lion Productions to champion underrepresented voices, and the Soirée is an opportunity to bring artists, producers, and creatives together in celebration of the work and community continuing to shape Broadway.”
Richardson continues to make history within the theater industry. In 2024, he became the youngest Black producer ever to win two Tony Awards in a single season at just 31 years old. This season also marked his Lead Producer debut with the critically acclaimed revival of Ragtime, produced in association with Lincoln Center Theater. The production earned 10 Tony Award nominations, including Best Revival of a Musical. His growing list of Broadway credits includes The Wiz, Audra McDonald’s Gypsy, Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal’s Othello, Sarah Paulson’s Appropriate, and Merrily We Roll Along starring Daniel Radcliffe and Jonathan Groff.
The Black Broadway Nominee Soirée arrives at a time when conversations surrounding representation and visibility in theater continue to evolve, offering a dedicated space to celebrate the artists and creatives contributing to Broadway’s changing landscape.