The critically acclaimed Broadway debut of August Wilson’s Jitney, directed by Tony Award winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson at MTC’s Samuel J. Friedman Theatre has garnered six Tony Award nominations including Best Revival of a Play, Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play for John Douglas Thompson, Best Scenic Design of a Play for David Gallo, Best Costume Design of a Play for Toni-Leslie James and Best Lighting Design of a Play for Jane Cox and Best Director of a Play for Santiago-Hudson.
Complete List of 2017 Tony Nominees
The cast featured Harvy Blanks as “Shealy;” Tony Award nominee Anthony Chisholm as “Fielding,” Obie and Theatre World Award winner Brandon Dirden as “Booster;” André Holland as “Youngblood;” Carra Patterson as “Rena,” Michael Potts as “Turnbo,” Ray Anthony Thomas as “Philmore;” Keith Randolph Smith, as “Doub” and Drama Desk Award winner John Douglas Thompson as “Becker.”
Set in the early 1970s, this richly textured piece follows a group of men trying to eke out a living by driving unlicensed cabs, or Jitneys. When the city threatens to board up the business and the boss’ son returns from prison, tempers flare, potent secrets are revealed and the fragile threads binding these people together may come undone at last.
Jitney scooped up three Drama Desk Awards out of six nominations in the categories of Outstanding Play Revival, Outstanding Director for Ruben Santiago-Hudson and Outstanding Music for Bill Sims Jr.
OSLO, JITNEY, COME FROM AWAY, HELLO DOLLY! Among 2017 Drama Desk Award Winners
Livestream the 2017 Drama Desk Awards at The Town Hall Tonight
Other awards include a special citation from the New York Drama Critics’ Circle for director Ruben Santiago-Hudson and the ensemble cast; the 2017 Drama League Award for Outstanding Revival, the 2017 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Revival and the 2017 Drama League Award for Outstanding Revival of a Play.
HELLO DOLLY!, COME FROM AWAY, JITNEY, OSLO and More Garner Outer Critics Circle Awards
The American Theatre Wing’s 71st Annual Tony Awards, hosted by Tony and Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Spacey, will air live from Radio City Music Hall on the CBS Television Network on Sunday, June 11, 2017 (8:00-11:00 PM, ET/delayed PT).
Inside the Opening Night Party with JITNEY Director Ruben Santiago-Hudson and Company
Getting to Know the Cast of August Wilson’s JITNEY at Manhattan Theatre Club; Previews Begin Dec. 28
Inside Rehearsals of MTC’s Broadway Debut of August Wilson’s JITNEY; Previews Begin December 28
Lia Chang is an actor, a multi-media content producer and co-founder of Bev’s Girl Films, making films that foster inclusion and diversity on both sides of the camera. Bev’s Girl Films’ debut short film, Hide and Seek was a top ten film in the Asian American Film Lab’s 2015 72 Hour Shootout Filmmaking Competition, and she received a Best Actress nomination. BGF collaborates with and produces multi-media content for artists, actors, designers, theatrical productions, composers, musicians and corporations. Lia is also an internationally published and exhibited photographer, a multi-platform journalist, and a publicist. Lia has appeared in the films Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and Hide and Seek. She is profiled in Jade Magazine and Playbill.com.
