Dede Ayite
Latest News on Dede Ayite:
BIO
Dede Ayite is a costume designer whose Broadway credits include A Soldier’s Play, Slave Play, American Son, and Children of a Lesser God. Select Off-Broadway credits include Secret Life of Bees, FireFlies, Marie and Rosetta, Tell Hector I Miss Him (Atlantic); By The Way, Meet Vera Stark, JHAT (Signature); BLKS, Collective Rage…, School Girls… (MCC); Slave Play (NYTW); Sugar in Our Wounds (MTC); If Pretty Hurts…, Mankind, Bella: An American Tall Tale (Playwrights Horizons); The Royale (Lincoln Center); Ugly Lies the Bone (Roundabout); and brownsville song [b-side for tray] (LCT3). Regionally, Ayite’s works has appeared at Oregon Shakespeare Festival; Williamstown Theatre Festival; Steppenwolf; American Repertory Theater, Denver Center; California Shakespeare; La Jolla Playhouse; Berkeley Repertory; Baltimore Center Stage; Arena Stage; Cleveland Playhouse; Signature Theatre; and McCarter Theatre, Hartford Stage. She has worked in television with Netflix, Comedy Central, and FOX Shortcoms. Ayite earned her MFA at the Yale School of Drama and has received an Obie, Lucille Lortel, Helen Hayes, Theatre Bay Area, and Jeff Awards, along with four Drama Desk Nominations.
Photos
Productions
Awards and Nominations
Dede Ayite, Goddess
winner
Dede Ayite, Our Town
Dede Ayite, Buena Vista Social Club
Dede Ayite, Buena Vista Social Club
Dede Ayite, Jaja's African Hair Braiding
Dede Ayite, Buena Vista Social Club
Dede Ayite, Hell's Kitchen
winner
Dede Ayite, Jaja's African Hair Braiding
Dede Ayite, Appropriate
Dede Ayite, Topdog/Underdog
winner
Dede Ayite
Dede Ayite, Slave Play
Dede Ayite, A Soldier's Play
Videos
Video: 'I Can Hear the Stars' from BASURA at Alliance Theatre
by Joshua Wright - 2026-05-28 16:39:59
Video: Michelle Obama Highlights the Importance of Black Storytelling in PROOF
by Josh Sharpe - 2026-05-22 13:40:46
Video: CRAZYSEXYCOOL – THE TLC MUSICAL Cast Begins Rehearsals at Arena Stage
by Stephi Wild - 2026-05-19 09:11:09
Video: Alex Lacamoire and BASURA Pay Tribute To Michael Greif On RENT 30th Anniversary
by A.A. Cristi - 2026-04-29 23:30:20
Video: Ayo Edebiri Has a Tattoo of a Quote From Her PROOF Co-Star
by Josh Sharpe - 2026-04-29 09:28:49
Video: Go Inside the First Rehearsal For BASURA at Alliance Theatre
by Michael Major - 2026-04-24 15:58:42
Video: Why Don Cheadle Doesn't Want to Know Who's in the Audience for PROOF
by Josh Sharpe - 2026-04-21 15:48:50
Video: Don Cheadle and Ayo Edebiri Discuss Their Broadway Debuts, Love of Theater on CBS SUNDAY MORNING
by Josh Sharpe - 2026-04-20 10:51:30
Video: THE LAST FIVE YEARS Standbys Noah Kieserman & Nasia Thomas Have Special Performance
by Michael Major - 2025-06-16 09:44:10
Video: Watch HELL'S KITCHEN Perform 'Girl on Fire' & 'No One' on GOOD MORNING AMERICA
by Michael Major - 2025-06-13 14:09:08
Nick Jonas and Adrienne Warren Reflect on Artistic Risk & Social Media Pressure
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-05-27 10:00:40
Video: Nick Jonas Shares the Biggest Difference Between Touring and Broadway
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-05-16 14:00:43
Video: Tank and Amanda Reid Perform 'If I Ain't Got You' From HELL'S KITCHEN; Deluxe Album Out Next Week
by Stephi Wild - 2025-05-16 05:37:09
Video: How Nick Jonas Learned 'The Schmuel Song' From THE LAST FIVE YEARS
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-05-15 15:15:53
Video: Nick Jonas and Adrienne Warren Reveal Their Favorite Moments in THE LAST FIVE YEARS
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-04-11 18:01:08
Video: What Adrienne Warren Wants People to Know About Broadway Previews
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-04-01 12:26:31
Video: Whitney White Shares Why She Cast Nick Jonas and Adrienne Warren in THE LAST FIVE YEARS
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-03-25 16:47:14
Watch Nick Jonas and Adrienne Warren's Performance of 'The Next Ten Minutes' From THE LAST FIVE YEARS on The Tonight Show"
by Stephi Wild - 2025-03-14 10:10:33
Video: Watch Amber Iman Sing 'Honey Sweet' From GODDESS Musical
by Michael Major - 2025-03-05 15:05:36
News
by Cynthia L. Dorsey - Jun 19, 2026
At a time when stories are being challenged, erased, and reimagined in real time, the communities most impacted are often cared for the least, with few industry spaces designed specifically for their support. In 2020, three powerhouse theater artists and Tony Award nominees, Amber Iman, Jocelyn Bioh, and Danielle Brooks, set out to change that. What began as a desire to celebrate Black women working in theater has grown into Black Women on Broadway (BWOB), a thriving community dedicated to mentorship, recognition, wellness, and professional development for Black women working both onstage and behind the scenes.
by Joshua Wright - Jun 12, 2026
Get a first look at production photos from Basura, the new Gloria and Emily Estefan musical now in its world premiere at Atlanta's Alliance Theatre through July 12, 2026.
by Marissa Faith Curley - May 30, 2026
AKW Entertainment and producers of the Grammy and Tony Award-winning musical HELL’S KITCHEN have announced that tickets will go on sale for the Portland engagement that premieres at the Keller Auditorium.
by Joshua Wright - May 28, 2026
Alliance Theatre has released a sneak peek of Zack Calderon (Nunu), Nathan Diaz (Dani), and Dario Alvarez (José) performing 'I Can Hear the Stars' from BASURA, the world premiere musical now playing through July 12, 2026 on the Coca-Cola Stage.
by Josh Sharpe - May 22, 2026
During a recent episode of Michelle Obama's podcast, IMO, she welcomed Proof stars Don Cheadle and Ayo Edebiri to discuss the production and her own involvement as a producer. Check it out now.
by Stephi Wild - May 19, 2026
Arena Stage Artistic Director Hana S. Sharif recently welcomed the company of the world premiere of CRAZYSEXYCOOL – THE TLC MUSICAL to DC for the start of the show's journey. Check out footage from the rehearsal room in the video here!
by Nicole Rosky - May 11, 2026
The Outer Critics Circle (OCC), the official organization of writers on New York theatre for out-of-town, national, and digital news publications, has just announced the winners of the 2026 Outer Critics Circle Awards. We have the full list.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 7, 2026
Tony Award winner Adrienne Warren will join the cast of the first ever Broadway revival of David Auburn’s Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning play Proof in June.
by Stephi Wild - Apr 30, 2026
Proof, in partnership with New York City’s Department of Education, will welcome over 500 New York City public school students and educators to attend the new production at Broadway’s Booth Theatre.
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 29, 2026
Music Supervisor & Orchstrator Alex Lacamoire and the BASURA cast surprised Michael with a special performance from RENT in our rehearsal hall to celebrate the milestone. Watch the video!
by Nicole Rosky - Apr 29, 2026
Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater announced the full cast and creative team for CrazySexyCool – The TLC Musical.
by Stephi Wild - Apr 29, 2026
Black Women on Broadway announced its 2026 honorees, recognizing the contributions of Black women to the Broadway community. Learn more about the honorees here!
by Josh Sharpe - Apr 29, 2026
During a visit to Late Night with Seth Meyers, Ayo Edebiri talked about her matching tattoo, a line spoken by her Proof co-star Don Cheadle in Ocean's Eleven. Watch the interview now.
by Stephi Wild - Apr 27, 2026
The Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical HELL'S KITCHEN will make its Canadian premiere at Toronto's CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre, featuring music by Alicia Keys and a book by Pulitzer Prize finalist Kristoffer Diaz.
by Michael Major - Apr 24, 2026
Rehearsals are officially underway for Basura, which features music and lyrics by Gloria Estefan and Emily Estefan, at the Alliance Theatre! The video features Jaci Calderon, who leads the production, with Mandy Gonzalez, Kevin Del Aguila, and more.
by Josh Sharpe - Apr 21, 2026
Acclaimed actor Don Cheadle is making his Broadway debut in Proof, the new revival of David Auburn's play. Watch the actor discuss the play on The Late Show, where he also looked back on his first stage role as Templeton the Rat in a production of Charlotte's Web.
by Stephi Wild - Apr 21, 2026
Following its first sold-out “dance along performance,” the Tony and Grammy-winning Broadway musical BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB will host an encore “dance along” performance, hosted by John Leguizamo.
by Stephi Wild - Apr 21, 2026
Isa Briones and Sepideh Moafi hosted the live announcement of the 2026 Outer Critics Circle Award Nominations. Check out the full list of nominations here!
by Josh Sharpe - Apr 20, 2026
Celebrated actors Don Cheadle and Ayo Edebiri are both making their Broadway debuts in Proof, which opened last week at the Booth Theatre. Watch them speak about the projects during a segment on CBS Sunday Morning.
by Bruce Glikas - Apr 17, 2026
The first Broadway revival of David Auburn’s Proof is now open at the Booth Theatre. Check out photos of the cast taking their opening night bows here!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Outstanding Costume Design (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Goddess, Outstanding Costume Design of a Pla (Drama Desk Awards) for Our Town, Best Costume Design of a Musical (Tony Awards) for Buena Vista Social Club, Outstanding Costume Design of a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Buena Vista Social Club, Outstanding Costume Design (Broadway or Off-Broadway) (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Jaja's African Hair Braiding, Outstanding Costume Design (The Lortels) for Buena Vista Social Club, Best Costume Design of a Musical (Tony Awards) for Hell's Kitchen, Best Costume Design of a Play (Tony Awards) for Jaja's African Hair Braiding, Best Costume Design of a Play (Tony Awards) for Appropriate, Outstanding Costume Design (Play or Musical) (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Topdog/Underdog, Special Award (Drama Desk Awards), Best Costume Design of a Play (Tony Awards) for Slave Play and Best Costume Design of a Play (Tony Awards) for A Soldier's Play.
Dede Ayite has won the Outstanding Costume Design of a Play at the Drama Desk Awards for Our Town, the Best Costume Design of a Play at the Tony Awards for Jaja's African Hair Braiding, and a Special Award at the Drama Desk Awards.
