The Tony Awards Administration Committee announced three special Tony Awards will be presented to David Byrne’s American Utopia, Freestyle Love Supreme and the Broadway Advocacy Coalition.
“In what has been such an unusual year in theater, we are thrilled to be presenting these Special Tony Awards to three such deserving recipients,” said American Theatre Wing President and CEO Heather Hitchens and Broadway League President Charlotte St.
In American Utopia, which began as an album released by Talking Heads superstar David Byrne in 2018, the music legend is joined by 11 musicians from around the globe in a jubilant celebration of live music, community and connection.
It was created by Thomas Kail, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Anthony Veneziale and what started out with a loose format in the basement of the Drama Bookshop in 2004 worked its way to the Booth Theatre on Broadway in 2019.
Founded in 2016 by several Black members of the Broadway community, it has since grown into a multidisciplinary organization which unites artists, legal experts and community advocates to create lasting impact and collaborations on policy issues ranging from criminal justice reform to education equity to immigration.
As previously reported, CBS and Tony Award Productions will celebrate the return of live theater on Broadway with a multi-platform event, The Tony Awards Present: Broadway’s Back! on September 26 beginning at 9PM ET on CBS.