Actors' Equity Awards '110 in the Shade' & 'Les Mis' Excellence in Diversity

Actors' Equity Association's Equal Employment Opportunity Committee, as part of Black History Month, will present the First Annual Extraordinary Excellence in Diversity on Broadway Awards to last season's 110 in the Shade and Les Miserables on Monday, February 25, 2008 at a private reception.

Actors' Equity Association (Equity) presents this award to Broadway Productions that best exemplify the goals of diversity, inclusion and the principals of equal opportunity for all who work in the theatre industry. Through this award, Equity acknowledges that these productions of 110 in the Shade and Les Miserables each challenged traditional stereotypes and were both wholly committed to diversity and inclusiveness in its casting.

110 in the Shade opened officially on Wednesday, May 9, 2007 and played an extended limited engagement at the Roundabout Theater Company through July 29, 2007.  This production was nominated for five Tony Awards including Best Revival of a Musical and starred Tony Award winner Audra McDonald as "Lizzie Curry" and Tony Award winner John Cullum as "H. C. Curry." 

Les Miserables, one of Broadway's longest running shows, opened its most recent revival on November 6, 2006 and closed January 6, 2008, at the Broadhurst Theatre. Les Miserables has won over 50 international awards, including 8 Tony Awards (including Best Musical) and 2 Grammy Awards.

Actors' Equity Association, founded in 1913, represents more than 47,000 professional stage actors and stage managers nationwide.  Equity seeks to advance, promote and foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of our society.  We encourage employment and production opportunities in all theatrical disciplines and areas of theatrical production to include persons of every race, color, culture, age, gender, physical disability and sexual orientation, thereby achieving a theatre industry, both on and off stage, that reflects the full diversity of American society.