Joaquina Kalukango
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.
Latest News on Joaquina Kalukango:
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
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STAGE CREDITS
See how Joaquina Kalukango connects to other Broadway stars and creatives.
Six Degrees of Broadway Beta
See how many degrees separate Joaquina Kalukango from another Broadway star or creative.
Joaquina Kalukango
Connection
Movies
[ 2018 ] Michelle
[ 2020 ] Betty X
[ 2025 ] Gloria Gaynor
Awards and Nominations
Joaquina Kalukango, Paradise Square
Joaquina Kalukango, Paradise Square
Joaquina Kalukango, Paradise Square
winner
Joaquina Kalukango, Paradise Square
winner
Joaquina Kalukango, Slave Play
Joaquina Kalukango, Slave Play
winner
Joaquina Kalukango, The Mountaintop
Joaquina Kalukango
Joaquina Kalukango, The Hurt Village
winner
Joaquina Kalukango, Hurt Village
Videos
Video: THE HEART Finds Its Pulse in Rehearsals- Meet the Company
by Sam Anctil - 2026-09-22 13:03:49
Video: Watch Joaquina Kalukango Sing Joni Mitchell, PARADISE SQUARE at 54 Below
by Michael Major - 2025-05-07 16:39:32
Video: Watch 'The Whole World's Waitin' to Sing Your Song' from JELLY'S LAST JAM
by Blair Ingenthron - 2024-02-28 14:25:38
Video: Nicholas Christopher, Billy Porter & More in JELLY'S LAST JAM
by Nicole Rosky - 2024-02-21 13:54:50
Video: Watch Cynthia Erivo Sing With Joaquina Kalukango & Ben Platt in PBS Concert Preview
by Michael Major - 2023-12-29 11:47:02
VIDEO: Watch Joaquina Kalukango, Matt Doyle & More Perform on PBS' New Year's Eve Special
by Michael Major - 2023-01-03 10:08:25
Video: Watch Joaquina Kalukango Perform 'Last Midnight' in INTO THE WOODS
by Chloe Rabinowitz - 2022-12-29 12:34:05
Video: Joaquina Kalukango Gets Ready to Step Into INTO THE WOODS
by Nicole Rosky - 2022-12-12 15:32:46
Listen: Hear Joaquina Kalukango's 'Let It Burn' From the PARADISE SQUARE Cast Recording
by Chloe Rabinowitz - 2022-06-23 14:14:49
VIDEO: Joaquina Kalukango Discusses Her PARADISE SQUARE Tony Awards Performance on TODAY
by Michael Major - 2022-06-22 11:23:36
VIDEO: Watch Joaquina Kalukango Make First Entrance Since Tony Win
by Nicole Rosky - 2022-06-15 16:22:26
VIDEO: Joaquina Kalukango Opens Up About Embracing the Power of PARADISE SQUARE
by Nicole Rosky - 2022-06-07 18:30:20
Meet the 2022 Tony Nominees: PARADISE SQUARE's Joaquina Kalukango
by Nicole Rosky - 2022-06-01 18:00:20
News
by Nicole Rosky - Oct 13, 2026
Previews are officially underway for The Heart, which will open officially on Thursday, October 29, 2026 at the Laura Pels Theatre in the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre. This is a limited engagement through Sunday, December 6, 2026. Check out a clip of 'Keep Up' in rehearsals in this video.
by Nicole Rosky - Oct 13, 2026
Previews are officially underway for The Heart, which will open officially on Thursday, October 29, 2026 at the Laura Pels Theatre in the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre. This is a limited engagement through Sunday, December 6, 2026. Check out a first look at the cast in action here.
by Rachel Stone - Oct 5, 2026
Tony nominee Bill Russell releases a new memoir chronicling his journey from Wyoming to Broadway, with book events featuring theatre stars Alice Ripley, Erin Davie, and Joe DiPietro.
by Stephi Wild - Oct 2, 2026
The monthly cabaret series spotlighting Broadway and Off-Broadway standbys, understudies, and alternates will feature performers from TITANIQUE, SIX THE MUSICAL, HEATHERS THE MUSICAL, and other productions.
by Nicole Rosky - Sep 29, 2026
Rehearsals are officially underway for the New York premiere production of The Heart with book and additional lyrics by Kait Kerrigan, music and lyrics by Anne Eisendrath and Ian Eisendrath, music supervision by Ian Eisendrath, choreography by Mandy Moore and direction by Tony Award-winner Christopher Ashley based on Maylis de Kerangal's novel Réparer les vivants. Check out photos here!
by Sam Anctil - Sep 22, 2026
Next up at Roundabout Theatre Company is the New York premiere production of The Heart with book and additional lyrics by Kait Kerrigan, music and lyrics by Anne Eisendrath and Ian Eisendrath. Watch in this video as the cast and creative chat more about what audiences can expect from the new musical.
by Stephi Wild - Sep 22, 2026
Arts Ignite has announced the performers and presenters of their 20th Anniversary Gala event, entitled Illuminate, taking place next month. Learn more here.
by Sidney Paterra - Sep 16, 2026
BroadwayWorld has your official fall 2026 Off-Broadway preview, a complete guide to everything opening Off-Broadway! See West End transfers, stars in play revivals, multiple world premieres and more.
by Bruce Glikas - Sep 11, 2026
Roundabout Theatre Company will soon present the New York premiere production of The Heart with book and additional lyrics by Kait Kerrigan, music and lyrics by Anne Eisendrath and Ian Eisendrath, music supervision and arrangements by Ian Eisendrath, choreography by Mandy Moore and direction by Tony Award-winner Christopher Ashley based on Maylis de Kerangal's novel Réparer les vivants. The cast just met the press and you can check out photos here!
by Stephi Wild - Aug 21, 2026
Stephen DeAngelis will host the 199th edition of his monthly series, featuring standbys and understudies from DEATH BECOMES HER, A WALK ON THE MOON, and MONTE CRISTO: A NEW MUSICAL.
by - Aug 21, 2026
Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is August 21, 2026 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
by A.A. Cristi - Aug 20, 2026
Roundabout Theatre Company announced the complete cast and design team for THE HEART, featuring Joaquina Kalukango and Heidi Blickenstaff, at the Laura Pels Theatre.
by Stephi Wild - Aug 12, 2026
Two-time Tony nominee Bill Russell has written a memoir chronicling his path from a South Dakota upbringing to a career as a Broadway writer, with a New York book signing planned to mark its release.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jul 8, 2026
Stephen DeAngelis' monthly series At This Performance... will return to The Green Room 42, featuring standbys, understudies, and alternates from current Broadway productions.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 11, 2026
Adirondack Theatre Festival revealed the full cast for the world premiere of Douglas Lyons' Mother. Daughter. Father. Son., with Tony winner Lillias White.
by Stephi Wild - May 11, 2026
Stephen DeAngelis will present the 196th edition of AT THIS PERFORMANCE…, spotlighting understudies from RAGTIME, BEACHES, THE WILD PARTY, MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, and GODDESS at The Green Room 42.
by Stephi Wild - Apr 1, 2026
AT THIS PERFORMANCE… will return to The Green Room 42 featuring Standbys, Understudies and Alternates from Wicked; Chess; The Outsiders; Operation Mincemeat; Bigfoot! A New Musical; Going Bachrach: The Songs Of An Icon, and About Time.
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 17, 2026
Wellesley Repertory Theatre will present 'LIFTED,' the seventh installment in the Ufot Family Cycle, with performances scheduled across three venues in March.
by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - Feb 22, 2026
Current star of Masquerade Telly Leung discusses with Jennifer Ashley Tepper playing the Phantom in the immersive production, the full circle from Rent fan to Rent actor, Gavin Creel’s leadership during a production that never was, and much more.
by Nicole Rosky - Jan 29, 2026
It's time to meet Broadway's new creatures of the night! Roundabout Theatre Company has announced the complete cast for Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show, with direction by Tony Award winner Sam Pinkleton.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Joaquina Kalukango has appeared on Broadway in 5 shows.
Joaquina Kalukango has not appeared in the West End.
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.
Joaquina Kalukango has won the following awards: **Tony Awards** – Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for Paradise Square **Outer Critics Circle Awards** – Outstanding Actress in a Play for Slave Play **Helen Hayes Awards** – Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Play for The Mountaintop **Theatre World Awards** – Outstanding Debut Performance for Hurt Village
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