LaChanze

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|

American actress, singer, and dancer (born 1961)

LaChanze

LaChanze at the 2022 Tony Awards

Born|

Rhonda LaChanze Sapp

(1961-12-16) December 16, 1961 (age 63)

St. Augustine, Florida, U.S.

Other names| LaChanze Sapp, La Chanze Sapp-Gooding, R. Lachanze Sapp
Occupation(s)| Actress, singer, dancer
Years active| 1986–present
Spouses|

Calvin J. Gooding

(m. 1998; died 2001)​

Derek Fordjour

(m. 2005; div. 2014)​

Children| 2, including Celia Rose Gooding
Website| mslachanze.com

LaChanze Sapp-Gooding, known professionally as LaChanze (/ləˈʃɑːnz/; born December 16, 1961), is an American actress, singer, and dancer. She won a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical in 2006 for her role as Celie Harris Johnson in The Color Purple.[1][2] LaChanze has subsequently received four more Tony Awards for co-producing Kimberly Akimbo, Topdog/Underdog, The Outsiders, and Purpose.[3]

## Career

[edit]

LaChanze's first summer job was as a tap dancer in the ensemble of Uptown... It's Hot! at the Tropicana Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The show opened on Broadway in January 1986, where LaChanze began her professional career in the theater.[4]

LaChanze played the role of Ti Moune in the Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty musical Once on This Island in 1990 and received nominations for the Tony Award as Best Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical at the 45th Tony Awards and the Drama Desk Award as Outstanding Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical.[5][6] In December 1998, she joined the cast of the Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty and Terrence McNally Broadway musical Ragtime, replacing Audra McDonald in the role of Sarah.[7] She played the role of Viveca in the Playwrights Horizons Off-Broadway production of the musical The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin, which opened in June 2000.[8] She received a Drama Desk nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Musical, for her performance.[9] LaChanze participated in an Actors Fund of America benefit concert of Funny Girl, with many performers portraying the character of Fanny Brice, in September 2002.[10]

LaChanze performing in 2006

In 2005, LaChanze played Dessa Rose, a runaway slave in the Ahrens and Flaherty musical Dessa Rose. The musical opened Off-Broadway at the Mitzi Newhouse Theatre at Lincoln Center in March 2005.[11] LaChanze received an Obie Award for Distinguished Performance by an Actress for Dessa Rose.[12][13] LaChanze appeared as Celie Harris Johnson in the Broadway musical The Color Purple, from its opening in 2005 to November 2006.[14][15] She won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for this performance at the 60th Tony Awards.

In September 2008, LaChanze participated in the Boston Pops concert, Handel's Messiah Rocks at Emerson College. The performance was filmed by Public Broadcasting Service.[16] She was in the Off-Broadway production of Inked Baby, written by Christina Anderson, which opened in March 2009 at Playwrights Horizons Peter Jay Sharp Theater.[17] In June and July 2009, she played the role of Glinda in the New York City Center Encores! staged Summer Stars concert production of The Wiz.[18]

LaChanze published her first picture book, Little Diva, in 2010. She was in the Broadway production of If/Then in 2014, starring as Kate. In 2018, she appeared in Summer: The Donna Summer Musical on Broadway, playing Diva Donna/Mary Gaines,[citation needed] for which she received a Tony Award nomination at the 72nd Tony Awards. In 2019, she appeared in A Christmas Carol on Broadway, starring as the Ghost of Christmas Present.

In January 2022, LaChanze took a star turn on Broadway in Trouble in Mind, written by Alice Childress in 1955. She earned a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play nomination for her performance as Wiletta Mayer at the 75th Tony Awards.[19]

In 2022, LaChanze began her career as a Broadway producer. She produced Topdog/Underdog with David Stone, Rashad V. Chambers, Marc Platt, Debra Martin Chase, and the Shubert Organization.[20] She also produced Kimberly Akimbo on Broadway with David Stone, Aaron Glick, Patrick Catullo and James L. Nederlander.[21] She was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play as a producer for Kimberly Akimbo and Topdog/Underdog on May 2, 2023. She was announced as a winner for both shows during the 76th Tony Awards telecast on June 11, 2023.[22]

In 2022, she launched Tima Productions with friend and former Ragtime castmate Marylee Fairbanks.[23] Together they co-produced The Outsiders, for which she won another Tony Award for Best Musical at the 77th Tony Awards. She also received a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Play for Jaja's African Hair Brading at the same ceremony.[24][25] In 2024 she launched a multimedia company called LC Productions.[26]

## Personal life

[edit]

LaChanze married securities trader Calvin Gooding in August 1998, two years after they met.[27] Together they had daughters Celia and Zaya, but when LaChanze was eight months pregnant with Zaya, Calvin was killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks. He had been at work at Cantor Fitzgerald in Tower One of the World Trade Center.[28]

LaChanze remarried in 2005, to Derek Fordjour. They separated in 2013,[29] and finalized their divorce on March 27, 2014, in Westchester County.[citation needed]

On September 6, 2002, LaChanze sang the National Anthem at a joint meeting of Congress in Federal Hall National Memorial, the first meeting of Congress in New York since 1790.[30][31] On May 15, 2014, she performed "Amazing Grace" at the dedication of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, in tribute to her late husband.[citation needed]

In 2019, LaChanze and the elder of her two children, Celia Rose Gooding, simultaneously appeared on Broadway, with LaChanze starring in A Christmas Carol and Gooding starring in Jagged Little Pill.[32] The two repeated the rare event of mother and child starring in simultaneous Broadway shows, following Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher in 1983.[33][34][35]

## Acting credits

[edit]

Sources:

* The New York Times[36]
* TCM[37]

### Film

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

1992  | My New Gun | Kelly Jane  |
Leap of Faith | Georgette  |
1993  | For Love or Money | Nora  |
1997  | David Searching | God Truth  |
Hercules | Terpsichore | Voice role
2002  | Heartbreak Hospital | Lisa  |
2006  | Black Sorority Project: The Exodus | —  | Executive producer
2009  | Handel's Messiah Rocks | Singer  |
Breaking Upwards | Maggie  |
2011  | The Help | Rachel Jefferson  |
2013  | Side Effects | Wards Islands Desk Nurse  |
2018  | Diane | Jennifer  |
Melinda | Melinda LaCroix  |
Knights in Newark | The Witch/Mrs. Conroy  | Short film
2023  | Birth/Rebirth | Colleen  |
Genie | Grandma Patty  |
2025  | Highest 2 Lowest | Det. Bell  |
TBA  | By Any Means | TBA | Filming

### Television

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

1988–1989  | The Cosby Show | Sylvia  | 2 episodes
1993  | For Love and Glory | Tanzi  | Television film
1994  | The Cosby Mysteries | Dr. Weeks  | 2 episodes
1996  | New York Undercover | Mariah Barton  | Episode: "Tough Love"
1997  | Total Security | Wanda Robitaille  | Episode: "Look Who's Stalking"
1998  | Hercules: The Animated Series | Terpsichore (voice)  | 19 episodes
1999  | The Gregory Hines Show | Julia  | Episode: "Sister-in-Law, Sister-in-Law"
Hercules: Zero to Hero | Tepsichore (voice)  | Television film
Sex and the City | Hostess  | Episode: "Ex and the City"
2000–2022  | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Ms. Pivik/Amber/Rosa Freeman  | 3 episodes
2003  | Lucy | Harriett  | Television film
2011  | One Life to Live | Yvonne Moreau  | 3 episodes
2015  | The Battery's Down | TiMoune  | Episode: "Reunion"
2016  | Person of Interest | Mona  | 2 episodes
The Night Of | Mrs. Stone  | Episode: "Subtle Beast"
2018  | Pinkalicious & Peterrific | Blue Fairy (voice)  | Episode: "Fairy House/Pinkabotta & Peterbotta"
2019  | The Village | Wendy Parker  | Episode: "Yes or No"
2019–2020  | The Good Fight | Julius' Wife  | 2 episodes
2021  | The Blacklist | Anne Foster  | 4 episodes
The Underground Railroad | Ms. Reva  | Episode: "Chapter 8: Indiana Autumn"
2022–2023  | East New York | Simone Bentley  | 3 episodes
2022–2024  | Firebuds | Jenna Jones (voice)  | 11 episodes
2023  | Gossip Girl | Naomi  | Episode: "I Am Gossip"
2024  | Dee & Friends in Oz | Grandma / Miss Emerald (voice)  | 17 episodes

### Theatre

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Venue  | Notes

|
|
|
|

1985  | Uptown... It's Hot! | Tap Dancer  | Tropicana Hotel, Atlantic City  |
1986  | Lunt-Fontanne Theatre,Broadway | Broadway debut
1987  | Dreamgirls | Ensemble  | Ambassador Theatre, Broadway  | (u/s Deena Jones, Michelle Morris)
1990  | Once on This Island | Ti Moune  | Playwrights Horizons, Off-Broadway |
1990–1991  | Booth Theatre, Broadway  |
1991  | From the Mississippi Delta | Various  | Cincinnati Playhouse, Cincinnati  |
1995  | Spunk | Missy Mae/Delia  | John W. Huntington Theatre, Hartford  |
Out of This World | Chloe  | New York City Center Encores! |
Company | Marta  | Criterion Center Stage Right, Broadway  |
1996  | Comfortable Shoes | Performer  | Paper Mill Playhouse, Millburn  |
1997  | Ragtime | Sarah  | Shubert Theatre, Los Angeles  |
1998  | Meridian Arts Centre |
Nederlander Theatre |
1999  | The Vagina Monologues | Performer  | Westside Theatre, Off-Broadway  |
1999–2000  | Ragtime | Sarah  | Ford Center for the Performing Arts. Broadway  | Replacement
2000  | The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin | Viveca  | Playwrights Horizons, Off-Broadway  |
2002  | Funny Girl | Fanny Brice | New Amsterdam Theatre, Broadway  | New York Actor's Benefit Fund Concert
Once on This Island | Ti Moune  | Winter Garden Theatre, Broadway  | Broadway reunion concert
2004  | The Color Purple | Celie Harris Johnson  | Alliance Theatre, Atlanta  | Out-of-town tryout
Baby | Pam  | Paper Mill Playhouse, Millburn  |
2005  | Dessa Rose | Dessa Rose  | Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre, Off-Broadway  |
2005–2006  | The Color Purple | Celie Harris Johnson  | Broadway Theatre, Broadway  |
2009  | Inked Baby | Performer  | Playwrights Horizons, Off-Broadway  |
The Wiz | Glinda | New York City Center Encores!  |
2012  | Handel's Messiah Rocks: A Joyful Noise | Performer  | National tour  |
2013  | If/Then | Kate  | National Theatre, Washington, D.C.  | Out-of-town tryout
2014–2015  | Richard Rodgers Theatre, Broadway  |
2015–2016  | National tour  |
2016  | Cabin in the Sky | Wanda  | New York City Center Encores!  |
2017  | Summer: The Donna Summer Musical | Diva Donna/Mary Gaines  | La Jolla Playhouse, La Jolla  | Out-of-town tryout
2018  | Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, Broadway  |
2019  | The Secret Life of Bees[38] | August Boatwright  | Atlantic Theater Company, Off-Broadway  |
A Christmas Carol | Ghost of Christmas Present | Lyceum Theatre, Broadway  |
2021  | Trouble in Mind | Wiletta  | American Airlines Theatre, Broadway  |
2024  | Gutenberg! The Musical! | Producer  | James Earl Jones Theatre, Broadway  | One night only

### Video games

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role

|
|

1997  | Hercules | Terpsichore

## Discography

[edit]

* Once On This Island (Original Broadway Cast Recording), 1990
* Disney's Princess Favorites, featured artist, 2002
* Dessa Rose (off-Broadway Cast Recording), 2005
* The Color Purple (Original Broadway Cast Recording), 2006
* Disney Collection 1, featured artist, 2006
* The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin (Studio Cast Recording), 2007
* Handel's Messiah Rocks: A Joyful Noise, featured artist, 2009
* Nice Fighting You: A 30th Anniversary Celebration Live at 54 Below, featured on four songs, 2014
* If/Then (Original Broadway Cast Recording), 2014
* Summer: The Donna Summer Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording), 2018

## Concerts

[edit]

* September 6, 2002 - Federal Hall National Memorial
* 2008 - Handel's Messiah Rocks, Emerson College
* Dec 1 & 2, 2008 - Joe's Pub
* December 5, 2010 - Playhouse Square Center
* December 16, 2012 - Birdland
* May 15, 2014 - National September 11 Memorial and Museum
* February 13, 2015 - Kennedy Center
* 2016/17 - Feeling Good Tour

## Accolades

[edit]

Year  | Award  | Category  | Nominated work  | Result

|
|
|
|

1991  | Theatre World Award | Outstanding Broadway Debut  | Once on This Island | Won
Tony Award | Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical | Nominated
Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Nominated
2001  | The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin | Nominated
2005  | Dessa Rose | Nominated
Obie Award | Performance | Won
2006  | Tony Award | Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical | The Color Purple | Won
Broadway.com Audience Award  | Favorite Actress in a Musical  | Won
Favorite Diva Performance  | Won
Favorite Onstage Pair (w/ Elisabeth Withers)  | Nominated
2010  | Chicago / Midwest Emmy Award[39] | Outstanding Achievement for Individual Excellence on Camera: Programming – Performer  | Handel's Messiah Rocks | Won
2014  | Broadway.com Audience Award  | Favorite Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical  | If/Then | Won
2018  | Tony Award | Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical  | Summer: The Donna Summer Musical | Nominated
Drama Desk Award  | Outstanding Actress in a Musical  | Nominated
2019  | AUDELCO Awards[40] | Lead Actress in a Musical  | The Secret Life of Bees | Won
2020  | Lucille Lortel Awards[41] | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical  | Nominated
Drama Desk Award[42] | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Nominated
Antonyo Awards[43] | Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical Off-Broadway  | Won
Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Play on Broadway  | A Christmas Carol | Nominated
2022  | Tony Award | Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play | Trouble in Mind | Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Awards[44] | Outstanding Actress in a Play  | Won
Drama League Award | Distinguished Performance Award | Nominated
2023  | Tony Award | Best Musical | Kimberly Akimbo | Won
Best Revival of a Play | Topdog/Underdog | Won
2024  | Tony Award | Best Musical  | The Outsiders | Won
Best Play | Jaja's African Hair Braiding | Nominated
2025  | Tony Award | Best Musical  | Buena Vista Social Club | Nominated
Best Play  | Purpose | Won

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Gioia, Michael (August 4, 2013). "Anthony Rapp Will Join Tony Winners Idina Menzel and LaChanze in Broadway-Bound Musical If/Then". Playbill. Archived from the original on August 4, 2013.
2. ^ "LaChanze". Oprah.com. Archived from the original on April 29, 2013. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
3. ^ "'I Added a New Hyphen!' LaChanze Is Now a Two-Time Tony-Winning Producer". Playbill. June 12, 2023. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
4. ^ "Uptown...It's Hot". ibdb.com. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
5. ^ "LaChanze Career". masterworksbroadway.com. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
6. ^ "Listing, see Awards". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
7. ^ Lefkowitz, David; Viagas, Robert; Ehren, Christine (December 18, 1998). "Bway's Ragtime To Get All-New Leads, Incl. Rubinstein, Alton White & LaChanze". playbill.com. Archived from the original on April 3, 2012.
8. ^ "Listing". lortel.org. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
9. ^ Jones, Kenneth; Simonson, Robert (May 20, 2001). "Drama Desk Winners Include Producers, Proof and Mnemonic". playbill.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012.
10. ^ Simonson, Robert (September 17, 2002). "More Fannys: LaChanze, Kayden, Murney Join Funny Girl Concert". playbill.com. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013.
11. ^ Simonson, Robert. "LaChanze and Rachel York Begin Previews in 'Dessa Rose' at Mitzi Newhouse, Feb. 17" Archived December 12, 2013, at the Wayback Machine February 17, 2005
12. ^ "Search 2005" Archived May 30, 2013, at the Wayback Machine villagevoice.com, accessed August 29, 2013
13. ^ Simonson, Robert. "Shanley, Hughes, Culkin, Marvel, O'Connell Among 2005 Obie Winners" Archived December 12, 2013, at the Wayback Machine playbill.com, May 16, 2005
14. ^ Hernandez, Ernio. "LaChanze Confirmed as Leading Lady of 'Color Purple' Musical; Broadway Cast Announced" playbill.com, September 7, 2005
15. ^ Hernandez, Ernio. "Tony Winner LaChanze to End Her Run in Broadway's 'The Color Purple' Nov. 5" playbill.com, October 18, 2006
16. ^ Gans, Andrew. PBS to Film LaChanze, Spencer and Boston Pops in Handel's Messiah Rocks" Archived October 29, 2013, at the Wayback Machine playbill.com, September 5, 2008
17. ^ Jones, Kenneth. " 'Inked Baby', Starring LaChanze, Opens March 23 in NYC" Archived October 29, 2013, at the Wayback Machine playbill.com, March 23, 2009
18. ^ Gans, Andrew; Hetrick, Adam (May 7, 2009). "Jones, LaChanze, Arnold, Lewis, Henry, and More Will Join Ashanti in The Wiz". playbill.com. Archived from the original on August 29, 2013.
19. ^ "'Trouble in Mind' Broadway Review: LaChanze Leads Alice Childress Play to Overdue Triumph". November 19, 2021.
20. ^ "'Topdog/Underdog' Returning to Broadway with Corey Hawkins & Yahya Abdul-Mateen II". June 14, 2022.
21. ^ "Acclaimed off Broadway Musical 'Kimberly Akimbo' Plans Move to Broadway with Original Cast". February 25, 2022.
22. ^ "Tony Awards Winners: 'Kimberly Akimbo' Takes Best Musical; 'Leopoldstadt' Named Best Play – Complete List". June 12, 2023.
23. ^ Adri Pray (August 2, 2024). "Marylee Fairbanks, co-producer of award-winning 'The Outsiders,' is a multifaceted force". The Boston Globe. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
24. ^ "5 minutes with a Tony nominee: Producers LaChanze and Jamie Forshaw". Broadway News. June 13, 2024. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
25. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (June 16, 2024). "The Outsiders Wins Best Musical at the 2024 Tony Awards". Playbill.
26. ^ Huston, Caitlin (May 29, 2024). "LaChanze Launches Production Company for Theater and More". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
27. ^ "911 Living Memorial: Calvin J. Gooding". Voices Center for Resilience. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
28. ^ Gordon, Meryl. "The Lives Left Behind" New York, accessed March 19, 2016
29. ^ Gioia, Michael (June 18, 2014). ""My If/Then Moment": LaChanze Recounts the Divine Intervention Leading Her to the 9/11 Memorial". Playbill. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
30. ^ "Joint Meeting of Congress". C-SPAN. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
31. ^ Lehrer, Sari. "Weddings" New York Magazine, Summer 2006, retrieved August 29, 2013
32. ^ "Video: LaChanze & Celia Rose Gooding Are the First Mother/Daughter Duo On Broadway". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
33. ^ Haun, Harry (April 1, 2020). "From the Archives: When Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher Simultaneously Starred on Broadway". Playbill. Retrieved August 23, 2023. "Now that Raquel Welch has left Woman of the Year, the part has passed along—with Einstein-like logic—to the ever-peppy Debbie Reynolds, who arrived in that title role last month almost by divine right. … [Simultaneously] her daughter, Carrie Fisher, is appearing on the other side of Broadway, at the Music Box in Agnes of God, which, like her mom's, is a Tony-winning role. … 'The two of us on Broadway at the same time—it's a whole new thought for me,' Debbie admits."
34. ^ "Agnes of God – Broadway Play – Original". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved August 23, 2023. "Replacements: Carrie Fisher; Agnes; Jan 03, 1983 - Apr 10, 1983"
35. ^ "Woman of the Year – Broadway Musical – Original". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved August 23, 2023. "Replacements: Debbie Reynolds; Tess Harding; Feb 13, 1983 - Mar 13, 1983"
36. ^ Filmography The New York Times, accessed August 29, 2013
37. ^ Filmography tcm.com, accessed August 29, 2013
38. ^ "'The Secret Life Of Bees' Takes On A 2nd Life As Musical Theater". NPR.org. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
39. ^ "2009-2010 Emmy Winners: Chicago/Midwest Chapter" (PDF). National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. p. 7. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
40. ^ Meyer, Dan (October 15, 2019). "The Secret Life of Bees, Much Ado About Nothing Lead 2019 AUDELCO's VIV Award Nominations". Playbill. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
41. ^ "2020 Lucille Lortel Awards Nominations". Lortel Award. Archived from the original on October 19, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
42. ^ "'The Inheritance,' 'Strange Loop,' 'Moulin Rouge' Among Drama Desk Award Winners". Variety. June 14, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
43. ^ Mcphee, Ryan (June 20, 2020). "Here Are the Winners of Broadway Black's Inaugural Antonyo Awards". Playbill. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
44. ^ "71st Outer Critics Circle Awards". Outer Critics Circle Awards. Retrieved May 17, 2022.

## External links

[edit]

* LaChanze at the Internet Broadway Database
* LaChanze at IMDb
* LaChanze at the Internet Off-Broadway Database (archived)
* LaChanze \- Downstage Center interview at American Theatre Wing.org

* v
* t
* e

Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical

1948–1975|

* Grace Hartman (1948)
* Nanette Fabray (1949)
* Mary Martin (1950)
* Ethel Merman (1951)
* Gertrude Lawrence (1952)
* Rosalind Russell (1953)
* Dolores Gray (1954)
* Mary Martin (1955)
* Gwen Verdon (1956)
* Judy Holliday (1957)
* Thelma Ritter / Gwen Verdon (1958)
* Gwen Verdon (1959)
* Mary Martin (1960)
* Elizabeth Seal (1961)
* Anna Maria Alberghetti / Diahann Carroll (1962)
* Vivien Leigh (1963)
* Carol Channing (1964)
* Liza Minnelli (1965)
* Angela Lansbury (1966)
* Barbara Harris (1967)
* Patricia Routledge / Leslie Uggams (1968)
* Angela Lansbury (1969)
* Lauren Bacall (1970)
* Helen Gallagher (1971)
* Alexis Smith (1972)
* Glynis Johns (1973)
* Virginia Capers (1974)
* Angela Lansbury (1975)

1976–2000|

* Donna McKechnie (1976)
* Dorothy Loudon (1977)
* Liza Minnelli (1978)
* Angela Lansbury (1979)
* Patti LuPone (1980)
* Lauren Bacall (1981)
* Jennifer Holliday (1982)
* Natalia Makarova (1983)
* Chita Rivera (1984)
* No Award (1985)
* Bernadette Peters (1986)
* Maryann Plunkett (1987)
* Joanna Gleason (1988)
* Ruth Brown (1989)
* Tyne Daly (1990)
* Lea Salonga (1991)
* Faith Prince (1992)
* Chita Rivera (1993)
* Donna Murphy (1994)
* Glenn Close (1995)
* Donna Murphy (1996)
* Bebe Neuwirth (1997)
* Natasha Richardson (1998)
* Bernadette Peters (1999)
* Heather Headley (2000)

2001–present|

* Christine Ebersole (2001)
* Sutton Foster (2002)
* Marissa Jaret Winokur (2003)
* Idina Menzel (2004)
* Victoria Clark (2005)
* LaChanze (2006)
* Christine Ebersole (2007)
* Patti LuPone (2008)
* Alice Ripley (2009)
* Catherine Zeta-Jones (2010)
* Sutton Foster (2011)
* Audra McDonald (2012)
* Patina Miller (2013)
* Jessie Mueller (2014)
* Kelli O'Hara (2015)
* Cynthia Erivo (2016)
* Bette Midler (2017)
* Katrina Lenk (2018)
* Stephanie J. Block (2019)
* Adrienne Warren (2020/21)
* Joaquina Kalukango (2022)
* Victoria Clark (2023)
* Maleah Joi Moon (2024)
* Nicole Scherzinger (2025)

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF
* FAST
* WorldCat

National|

* United States
* France
* BnF data

Artists|

* MusicBrainz

Other|

* Yale LUX

*[m.]: married
*[div.]: divorced
*[TBA]: To be announced
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