Tonya Pinkins
Birth Place: Chicago, IL, USA
Latest News on Tonya Pinkins:
BIO
Tonya Pinkins is an American actress and filmmaker. Her award-winning debut feature film Red Pill was an official selection at the 2021 Pan African Film Festival, won the Best Black Lives Matter Feature and Best First Feature at The Mykonos International Film Festival, Best First Feature at the Luléa Film Festival, and is nominated for awards in numerous festivals around the globe. Her web-series The Red Pilling of America can be heard on her podcast "You Can't Say That!" at BPN.fm/ycst
She is known for her portrayal of Livia Frye on the soap opera All My Children and for her roles on Broadway. She has been nominated for three Tony Awards (winning one), and has won Obie, Lortel, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, AUDLECO, Garland, L.A. Drama Critics Circle, Clarence Derwent, and NAACP Theater Awards. She has been nominated for the Olivier, Helen Hayes, Noel, Joseph Jefferson, NAACP Image, Soap Opera Digest, and Ovation Awards. She won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for Jelly's Last Jam.
Photos
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 06: Tonya Pinkins and CJ Wilson attend the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center Hosts The 22nd Monte Cristo Award Honoring Lynn Nottage at Capitale on November 06, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for Eugene O'Neill Theater )
From: Photos: Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center Honors Lynn Nottage at the 22nd Monte Cristo Awards
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 06: (L-R) Lisa Arrindell, Quincy Tyler Bernstine, Stacey Sargent, Tonya Pinkins and Kenita Miller attend the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center Hosts The 22nd Monte Cristo Award Honoring Lynn Nottage at Capitale on November 06, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for Eugene O'Neill Theater)
From: Photos: Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center Honors Lynn Nottage at the 22nd Monte Cristo Awards
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 06: (L-R) Guest, Stacey Sargent, Lynn Nottage, Tonya Pinkins and Lisa Arrindell attend the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center Hosts The 22nd Monte Cristo Award Honoring Lynn Nottage at Capitale on November 06, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for Eugene O'Neill Theater )
From: Photos: Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center Honors Lynn Nottage at the 22nd Monte Cristo Awards
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 06: Tonya Pinkins perform onstage while Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center Hosts The 22nd Monte Cristo Award Honoring Lynn Nottage at Capitale on November 06, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for Eugene O'Neill Theater )
From: Photos: Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center Honors Lynn Nottage at the 22nd Monte Cristo Awards
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 06: Tonya Pinkins and Joyce Sylvester perform onstage while Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center Hosts The 22nd Monte Cristo Award Honoring Lynn Nottage at Capitale on November 06, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for Eugene O'Neill Theater )
From: Photos: Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center Honors Lynn Nottage at the 22nd Monte Cristo Awards
STAGE CREDITS
Awards and Nominations
Tonya Pinkins, A Raisin in the Sun
Tonya Pinkins, Rasheeda Speaking
Tonya Pinkins, Rasheeda Speaking
winner
Tonya Pinkins, Rasheeda Speaking
winner
Tonya Pinkins, Milk Like Sugar
Tonya PinkinsBlack Pearl Sings!
Tonya PinkinsCaroline, Or Change
winner
Tonya Pinkins, Caroline, or Change
winner
Tonya Pinkins, Caroline, or Change
Tonya Pinkins, Caroline, or Change
winner
Tonya Pinkins, Caroline, or Change
Tonya Pinkins, Caroline, or Change
Tonya Pinkins, Play On!
winner
Tonya Pinkins, Jelly's Last Jam
Tonya Pinkins, Jelly's Last Jam
winner
Tonya Pinkins , Jelly's Last Jam
Videos
Video: First Look at Billy Porter, Wayne Brady & More in LA CAGE AUX FOLLES at Encores!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - 2026-06-18 15:42:58
Video: Go Inside Rehearsals for LA CAGE AUX FOLLES with Billy Porter & Wayne Brady
by Nicole Rosky - 2026-06-11 09:51:10
Video: Watch Billy Porter, Wayne Brady & More Rehearse LA CAGE AUX FOLLES
by Michael Major - 2026-06-09 12:54:30
Video: First Listen to the Encores! Orchestra Playing LA CAGE AUX FOLLES
by Michael Major - 2026-05-22 13:00:44
Video: Tonya Pinkins Sings 'When It Ends' from THE WILD PARTY at New York City Center Encores!
by Gillian Blum - 2026-03-28 19:22:45
Video: Jordan Donica Sings 'Wouldn't It Be Nice?' in Encores! THE WILD PARTY
by Michael Major - 2026-03-27 11:18:41
Video: Jasmine Amy Rogers & Adrienne Warren Sing 'Best Friend' in THE WILD PARTY
by Michael Major - 2026-03-23 12:51:10
Video: Why THE WILD PARTY is an 'Unusual' Production for Encores!
by Luka Vonier - 2026-03-11 13:51:24
Video: Inside Rehearsal For THE WILD PARTY at New York City Center
by Michael Major - 2026-03-10 12:06:15
Video: Susie Essman Talks Starring In MY FIRST EX-HUSBAND with Best Friend Joy Behar on THE VIEW
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-01-17 15:34:07
VIDEO: Kelly Ripa Talks ABC DAYTIME: BACK ON BROADWAY, Raising Money for Broadway Cares
by Sarah Leiber - 2021-02-11 14:11:09
VIDEO: Watch the Trailer For Tonya Pinkins' Upcoming Political Horror Film, RED PILL
by Stephi Wild - 2020-06-27 09:38:05
VIDEO: Andrea McArdle, Kerry Butler, Christopher Jackson & More Unite to Sing 'Tomorrow'
by Nicole Rosky - 2020-04-24 12:00:45
VIDEO: On This Day, June 19 - HOLLER IF YA HEAR ME Brings Tupac To Broadway
by A.A. Cristi - 2019-06-19 12:01:00
VIDEO: Get A First Look At the Revised HOLLER IF YA HEAR ME in Atlanta
by Alan Henry - 2017-09-20 14:14:51
News
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 18, 2026
You can now get a first look at production footage of La Cage Aux Folles, now running as the final production of the Encores! season. See Billy Porter, Wayne Brady, and more as they take the stage.
by Nicole Rosky - Jun 20, 2026
Rounding out the 2026 New York City Center Encores! season is La Cage Aux Folles, which just opened on June 17. This final production of this Encores! season will run for 15 performances through June 28. The production is led by Director Robert O’Hara and Guest Music Director Joseph Joubert with choreography by Edgar Godineaux and tap choreography by Dormeshia. Check out what the critics are saying!
by Nicole Rosky - Jun 18, 2026
Rounding out the 2026 New York City Center Encores! season is La Cage Aux Folles, which just opened last night, June 17. This final production of this Encores! season will run for 15 performances through June 28. Check out photos of the cast in action here.
by Bruce Glikas - Jun 15, 2026
Rehearsals are now underway for the New York City Center Encores! production of La Cage Aux Folles, starring Billy Porter, Wayne Brady, and more Check out photos of the cast and team in rehearsal here.
by Nicole Rosky - Jun 11, 2026
Tony Award winner Billy Porter stars opposite stage and screen star Wayne Brady in the New York City Center Encores! production of La Cage Aux Folles. Set to open on June 17, this final production of this Encores! season will run for 15 performances through June 28. Watch rehearsal highlights in this video!
by Michael Major - Jun 9, 2026
Step inside the rehearsal room with the cast of La Cage Aux Folles at New York City Center Encores! New videos show Billy Porter, Wayne Brady, Alaman Diadhiou, Rachel Webb, and the complete company perform songs.
by Sidney Paterra - Jun 9, 2026
What’s happening Off-Broadway in June? BroadwayWorld is here to guide you through the top picks for theatre this season. June 2026 is packed with world premiere stage adaptations, musical revivals, and much more.
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 1, 2026
Black Women on Broadway (BWOB) recently held its fifth annual awards celebration, honoring Debra Martin Chase, Whitney White, Alana Raquel Bowers, and Destiny Lilly for their contributions to the theater industry. The event was hosted by BWOB co-founders Danielle Brooks, Amber Iman, and Jocelyn Bioh.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 29, 2026
Sherz Aletaha and Danielle Grabianowski have joined the cat of the 14th annual “Night of a Thousand Judys,” the Pride concert to benefit The Ali Forney Center at Joe’s Pub.
by Michael Major - May 22, 2026
Get your first listen to La Cage Aux Folles as the 28-piece Encores! Orchestra brings the sweeping, original 1983 orchestrations to life. Watch a new video of Guest Music Director Joseph Joubert conduct the orchestra through Jerry Herman’s score.
by Stephi Wild - May 15, 2026
Obie Award-winning Harlem9 announced six playwrights, including Kermit Frazier, Kristen Adele Calhoun, and Naomi Lorrain, for 48HOURS IN…HARLEM®, marking 15 years of the festival with a tribute to the late Woodie King Jr.
by A.A. Cristi - May 7, 2026
Gingold Theatrical Group announced casting for George Bernard Shaw's GETTING MARRIED, featuring Tony winner Tonya Pinkins and an ensemble cast, directed by David Staller at The Players Club in New York.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 5, 2026
Nathan Lee Graham, Jay Armstrong Johnson, Claybourne Elder, and more will headline 14th annual “Night of a Thousand Judys,” the Pride concert to benefit The Ali Forney Center at Joe’s Pub.
by Josh Sharpe - Apr 22, 2026
Billy Porter will soon return to the stage as Albin in the upcoming Encores! production of La Cage aux Folles, starring opposite Wayne Brady as Georges. Watch Porter praise the talents of his co-star during a recent appearance on SiriusXM’s Bevelations.
by Stephi Wild - Apr 22, 2026
Raúl Esparza and Helen J Shen will announce the 70th Annual Drama Desk Awards nominations next week. Learn more about the upcoming event and the awards ceremony here!
by Stephi Wild - Apr 17, 2026
After a one-year hiatus, HARLEM9 will present 48HOURS IN…HARLEM®, honoring the late Woodie King Jr. and New Federal Theatre, with six new 10-minute plays inspired by NFT's catalog.
by - Apr 15, 2026
Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is April 15, 2026 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 14, 2026
The complete cast has been revealed for Encores! La Cage Aux Folles. Tony Award winner Tonya Pinkins joins the cast as Jacqueline, along with Peter Francis James as Edouard, and Rachel Webb as Anne.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 6, 2026
The 14th annual “Night of a Thousand Judys” – the Pride concert to benefit The Ali Forney Center written and hosted by Justin Elizabeth Sayre – will be performed at Joe’s Pub on Monday, June 1.
by Gillian Blum - Mar 28, 2026
Watch Tonya Pinkins sing 'When It Ends' from The Wild Party at New York City Center Encores! in this video from the production, which runs until March 29.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Tonya Pinkins has appeared on Broadway in 10 shows.
Tonya Pinkins has not appeared in the West End.
Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play (The Lortels) for A Raisin in the Sun, Outstanding Actress in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Rasheeda Speaking, Outstanding Actress in a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Rasheeda Speaking, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play (The Lortels) for Rasheeda Speaking, Outstanding Featured Actress (The Lortels) for Milk Like Sugar , Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Play (Helen Hayes Awards) for Black Pearl Sings!, Best Actress In A Musical (Olivier Awards) for Caroline, Or Change, Outstanding Actress - Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Caroline, or Change, Performance (Obie Awards) for Caroline, or Change, Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Caroline, or Change , Outstanding Lead Actress (The Lortels) for Caroline, or Change, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Caroline, or Change, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Play On!, Best Actress - Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Jelly's Last Jam , Outstanding Featured Actress - Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Jelly's Last Jam and Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Jelly's Last Jam.
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play (The Lortels) for Rasheeda Speaking, Outstanding Featured Actress (The Lortels) for Milk Like Sugar, Outstanding Actress - Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Caroline, or Change, Performance (Obie Awards) for Caroline, or Change, Outstanding Lead Actress (The Lortels) for Caroline, or Change, Best Actress - Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Jelly's Last Jam, and Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Jelly's Last Jam.
