Atlanta’s Kenny Leon Talks Tony Nominations with Lois Reitzes

A real treat for listeners during this morning’s WABE 90.1 FM pledge drive, Atlanta’s Kenny Leon is having a very good week and he took time to speak live with WABE’s Lois Reitzes about his Tony Award nomination for best director of A Raisin in the Sun.

Leon is the co-founder of Atlanta’s True Colors Theatre Company.

Listen as Kenny Leon talks Tony Awards nominations with Lois!

A Raisin in the Sun, first hit the stage at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre in New York, on March 11, 1959.

A Raisin in the Sun was the first play produced on Broadway by an African-American woman, Lorraine Hansberry.

Hansberry was also the first black playwright and the youngest American to win a New York Critics’ Circle award. 

All total, A Raisin in the Sun received 5 Tony Award nominations including;

Best Director, Kenny Leon

Best revival of a play

Best performance by an actress in a leading role in a play, for LaTanya Richardson Jackson, wife of actor Samuel L. Jackson.

Best performance by an actress in a featured role in a play, for Anika Noni Rose

Best performance by an actress in a featured role in a play, for Sophie Okonedo

The Tony Awards will be broadcast live June 8th on the CBS network.