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Joaquina Kalukango

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BIO

Joaquina Kalukango is an American actor and singer best known for playing Nelly O'Brien in the Broadway musical Paradise Square, for which she won the 2022 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. She was nominated for Best Actress in a Play in 2020 for portraying Kaneisha in Slave Play. In addition to her theatre work, Kalukango has appeared in One Night in Miami and When They See Us.

Photos

STAGE CREDITS

Jelly's Last Jam Jelly's Last Jam
[Off-Broadway]
Encores! Concert Revival Production, 2024
Anita
Paradise Square Paradise Square
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2022
Nelly Freeman
The Visitor The Visitor
[Off-Broadway]
World Premiere, 2021
Zainab
Slave Play Slave Play
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2019
Kaneisha
The Red Letter Plays: F-ing A The Red Letter Plays: F-ing A
[Off-Broadway]
Signature Theatre Production, 2017
Performer
The Color Purple The Color Purple
[Broadway]
Broadway Revival Production, 2015
Nettie
The Wild Party The Wild Party
[Off-Broadway]
City Center Encores Off-Center Production, 2015
Kate
Holler If Ya Hear Me Holler If Ya Hear Me
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2014
Ensemble
Antony and Cleopatra
[Off-Broadway]
The Public Theater Production, 0
Performer
Hurt Village Hurt Village
[Off-Broadway]
Signature Theatre Production, 2012
Performer
Godspell Godspell
[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 2011
Performer (Understudy)

Movies

Chained for Life
[ 2018 ] Michelle
One Night in Miami...
[ 2020 ] Betty X

Awards and Nominations

Drama Desk Awards - 2022 - Outstanding Actress in a Musical

Joaquina Kalukango, Paradise Square

Drama League Awards - 2022 - Distinguished Performance Awards

Joaquina Kalukango, Paradise Square

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2022 - Outstanding Actress in a Musical

Joaquina Kalukango, Paradise Square


winner
Tony Awards - 2022 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Joaquina Kalukango, Paradise Square


winner
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2020 - Outstanding Actress in a Play

Joaquina Kalukango, Slave Play

Tony Awards - 2020 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play

Joaquina Kalukango, Slave Play


winner
Helen Hayes Awards - 2014 - Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Play

Joaquina KalukangoThe Mountaintop

- 2012 - Theatre Finalists

Joaquina Kalukango

Drama Desk Awards - 2012 - Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play

Joaquina Kalukango, The Hurt Village


winner
Theatre World Awards - 2012 - Outstanding Debut Performance

Joaquina Kalukango, Hurt Village

Videos

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News


Rachel Brosnahan, Joaquina Kalukango & Greg Nobile to be Honored at NYTW's 2025 Gala Photo
Rachel Brosnahan, Joaquina Kalukango & Greg Nobile to be Honored at NYTW's 2025 Gala

New York Theatre Workshop's 2025 Gala will honor Emmy Award winner Rachel Brosnahan, Tony Award winner Joaquina Kalukango, and Tony Award-winning theater and film producer Greg Nobile. Learn more and see how to attend.
AT THIS PERFORMANCE... Returns to the Green Room 42 Photo
AT THIS PERFORMANCE... Returns to the Green Room 42

Stephen DeAngelis will continue his ongoing salute to Broadway and Off-Broadway Standbys, Understudies and Alternates with the next edition in his monthly residency of AT THIS PERFORMANCE… 
Joaquina Kalukango to Make 54 Below Solo Debut in February Photo
Joaquina Kalukango to Make 54 Below Solo Debut in February

Tony Award winner Joaquina Kalukango is set to make her solo debut at 54 Below, showcasing her vocal talents in an intimate setting. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets.
Joaquina Kalukango Will Star as Gloria Gaynor in Lifetime Biopic Photo
Joaquina Kalukango Will Star as Gloria Gaynor in Lifetime Biopic

Tony Award winner Joaquina Kalukango is set to star as Gloria Gaynor in the upcoming Lifetime biopic, 'I Will Survive: The Gloria Gaynor Story'. Lance Gross also has joined the cast in the role of Gaynor’s husband, Linwood Simon.
Photos: Chilina Kennedy, Jenn Colella And More Turn Out for WILD ABOUT YOU Album Rele Photo
Photos: Chilina Kennedy, Jenn Colella And More Turn Out for WILD ABOUT YOU Album Release

Center Stage Records and Keaka Productions celebrated the release of Wild About You – World Premiere Recording: Deluxe Edition at Power Station on Sunday. See photos from the event.
Nichelle Lewis Replaces Joaquina Kalukango in RAGTIME at City Center Photo
Nichelle Lewis Replaces Joaquina Kalukango in RAGTIME at City Center

Nichelle Lewis will join the cast of the Annual Gala Presentation of Ragtime as Sarah. She replaces previously announced Joaquina Kalukango. See who else is starring and learn how to purchase tickets.
Center Stage Records and Keaka Productions Present WILD ABOUT YOU World Premiere Rec Photo
Center Stage Records and Keaka Productions Present WILD ABOUT YOU World Premiere Recording: Deluxe Edition

The WILD ABOUT YOU Deluxe Edition, featuring music and lyrics by Chilina Kennedy, is out today. The album includes two new tracks with performances by Eric McCormack, Ashley Loren, and Troy Iwata.
What's Opening Off-Broadway in Fall 2024 Photo
What's Opening Off-Broadway in Fall 2024

Check out a full list of what's opening Off-Broadway this fall! Productions will star big names including Neil Patrick Harris, Jane Krakowski, and many more! See what Off-Broadway has to offer and check out BroadwayWorld's complete list.
Review: Tony Award Winner Joaquina Kalukango Makes Segerstrom Center Cabaret Debut Photo
Review: Tony Award Winner Joaquina Kalukango Makes Segerstrom Center Cabaret Debut

Blessed with jawdroppingly gorgeous vocals, Tony Award winner Joaquina Kalukango—accompanied by music director Michael Orland—wows in her West Coast solo concert debut at OC's Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa to kick off their 2024-2025 Cabaret Series.
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld September 20, 2024 Photo
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld September 20, 2024

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is September 20, 2024 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
Joaquina Kalukango, John Clay III & Rodd Cyrus Join RAGTIME at City Center Photo
Joaquina Kalukango, John Clay III & Rodd Cyrus Join RAGTIME at City Center

Additional cast members will be joining the Annual Gala Presentation Ragtime at New York City Center, including Joaquina Kalukango, John Clay III and more. Ragtime follows three fictional families in pursuit of the American Dream at the turn of the 20th century. Learn more about the production and see how to purchase tickets.
Spotlight: JOAQUINA KALUKANGO at Samueli Theater Photo
Spotlight: JOAQUINA KALUKANGO at Samueli Theater

Don't miss the Tony-winning star!
Interview: Tony-Winner Joaquina Kalukango Will Be Mixing It Up At Segerstrom Photo
Interview: Tony-Winner Joaquina Kalukango Will Be Mixing It Up At Segerstrom

Tony Award winner Joaquina Kalukango will bring her stunning vocals to the Samueli Theater at Segerstrom Center for the Arts September 19 through 21st.
WILD ABOUT YOU Deluxe Edition Featuring Music And Lyrics By Chilina Kennedy to be Rel Photo
WILD ABOUT YOU Deluxe Edition Featuring Music And Lyrics By Chilina Kennedy to be Released

The WILD ABOUT YOU Deluxe Edition, featuring music and lyrics by Chilina Kennedy, will be released in September.
AT THIS PERFORMANCE... Returns To The Green Room 42 This Month Photo
AT THIS PERFORMANCE... Returns To The Green Room 42 This Month

AT THIS PERFORMANCE... returns to THE GREEN ROOM 42 on September 23, 2024, featuring Broadway understudies and standbys showcasing their talents. Join for an evening of performances from emerging stars.AT THIS PERFORMANCE… will return to The Green Room 42 featuring Standbys, Understudies and Alternates from The Outsiders; Hell's Kitchen; Suffs, Once Upon A Mattress; Cats: “The Jelicle Ball”; The Wiz; and Shucked.
New Musical WILD ABOUT YOU Sets Fall Developmental Workshop; Lili-Anne Brown to Direc Photo
New Musical WILD ABOUT YOU Sets Fall Developmental Workshop; Lili-Anne Brown to Direct

Keaka Productions, LLC (Brian Spector), producer of the new musical Wild About You by Chilina Kennedy and Eric Holmes, has announced the engagement of award-winning director Lili-Anne Brown and a two-week developmental workshop and industry presentations in late September/early October.
AT THIS PERFORMANCE... to Return to The Green Room 42 in August Photo
AT THIS PERFORMANCE... to Return to The Green Room 42 in August

AT THIS PERFORMANCE… will return to The Green Room 42 in August, featuring Broadway's rising stars. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets.
AT THIS PERFORMANCE... to Return to Green Room 42 in July Photo
AT THIS PERFORMANCE... to Return to Green Room 42 in July

AT THIS PERFORMANCE… returns to The Green Room 42 featuring Standbys, Understudies, and Alternates from Hell's Kitchen, Suffs, The Wiz, Water For Elephants, Cats: “the Jellicle Ball”, Back To The Future, and The Heart Of Rock And Roll.
ILLINOISE, MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, OH, MARY! Take Top Honors At LGBTQ Critics' Dorian Photo
ILLINOISE, MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, OH, MARY! Take Top Honors At LGBTQ Critics' Dorian Theater Awards

GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics honored ILLINOISE, MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, and OH, MARY! at the Dorian Theater Awards, celebrating the best of Broadway and Off-Broadway for 2023-24.
MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG And STEREOPHONIC Lead LGBTQ Critics' Dorian Theater Award Nomin Photo
MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG And STEREOPHONIC Lead LGBTQ Critics' Dorian Theater Award Nominations

GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics' 39 theater wing members named their favorites in New York theater for the second annual Dorian Theater Awards, this time toasting the best in Broadway and Off-Broadway for the 2023-2024 season.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has Joaquina Kalukango been in?

Joaquina Kalukango has appeared on Broadway in 5 shows.

How many West End shows has Joaquina Kalukango been in?

Joaquina Kalukango has not appeared in the West End.

What awards has Joaquina Kalukango been nominated for?

Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Paradise Square, Distinguished Performance Awards (Drama League Awards) for Paradise Square, Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Paradise Square, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Paradise Square, Outstanding Actress in a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Slave Play, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for Slave Play, Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Play (Helen Hayes Awards) for The Mountaintop, Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for The Hurt Village and Outstanding Debut Performance (Theatre World Awards) for Hurt Village.

What awards has Joaquina Kalukango won?

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Paradise Square; Outstanding Actress in a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Slave Play; Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Play (Helen Hayes Awards) for The Mountaintop; Outstanding Debut Performance (Theatre World Awards) for Hurt Village.

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