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Kara Young

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BIO

KARA YOUNG recently starred on Broadway as ‘Lutiebelle Gussie Mae Jenkins’ in Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch, for which she won a 2024 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play. She had made history prior to her win, as her third consecutive Tony nomination makes her the first Black performer to be nominated three years in a row. Additionally, her performance in Purlie Victorious has earned her an Outer Critics Circle Award, Drama Desk Award and Drama League nomination. Young was most recently seen starring in MCC Theater’s Table 17. In 2022, she made her Broadway debut in Lynn Nottage’s Clyde’s, for which she earned a Theatre World Award and her first Tony nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play. In 2023, she was Tony nominated for her work in Cost of Living and won an Obie Award for her performance in the Classical Theatre of Harlem’s production of Twelfth Night. Kara can next be seen starring in the feature film Is God Is. She can also be seen in Boots Riley’s I’m a Virgo for Prime Video, which earned her an Indie Spirit Nomination for Best Breakthrough Performance. She appeared in HBO Max’s “The Staircase” as well as Netflix’s “The Punisher” and starred in the winning Sundance Short, Hair Wolf. Kara also starred in MCC Theater’s All The Natalie Portmans, for which she received a Lucille Lortel Award Nomination. Her other stage credits include Halfway Bitches Go Straight To Heaven, New Englanders, Revolving Cycles Truly and Steadily Roll’d and Pretty Hunger.

Photos

STAGE CREDITS

The Whoopi Monologues
[Off-Broadway]
2026
Ensemble
Gruesome Playground Injuries
[Off-Broadway]
2025
Kayleen
Purpose Purpose
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2025
Performer
Table 17 Table 17
[Off-Broadway]
MCC Theatre Off-Broadway Premiere Production, 2024
Jada
Purlie Victorious Purlie Victorious
[Broadway]
Broadway Revival Production, 2023
Lutiebelle Gussie Mae Jenkins
Cost of Living Cost of Living
[Broadway]
Manhattan Theatre Club Original Broadway Production, 2022
Jess
Clyde's Clyde's
[Broadway]
2021
Performer
All the Natalie Portmans All the Natalie Portmans
[Off-Broadway]
MCC Theater's Off-Broadway World Premiere, 2020
Cast
Halfway Bitches Go Straight to Heaven Halfway Bitches Go Straight to Heaven
[Off-Broadway]
Atlantic Theatre's Off-Broadway World Premiere, 2019
The New Englanders The New Englanders
[Off-Broadway]
Manhattan Theatre Club Off-Broadway World Premiere, 2019
Performer
The Revolving Cycles Truly and Steadily Roll'd
[Off-Broadway]
World Premier Production, 2018
Karma

Movies

Lunatics Lovers & Actors
[ 2009 ] Leticia
Saving Julian
[ 2012 ] Kara
Cybornetics
[ 2012 ] Lisa
Cybornetics: Urban Cyborg
[ 2013 ] Lisa
Fishbowl
[ 2015 ] Audition Monitor
Bruce!!!!
[ 2017 ] DJ Love Jones
Meat Puppet: The Filmed Experience
[ 2017 ] Harley Patrón
King of Knives
[ 2020 ] Darla
Materna
[ 2020 ] Kara
Chemical Hearts
[ 2020 ] LolaLaHaynes
Blow Up My Life
[ 2022 ] Charlie August
Master
[ 2022 ] Scha
We Strangers
[ 2024 ] Mari Winters
The Hand That Feeds
[ 2025 ] Fatima
Is God Is
[ 2026 ]

TV Shows

Great Performances
Lutiebelle Gussie Mae Jenkins

Awards and Nominations


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 2025 - Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play

Kara Young, Purpose

Drama League Awards - 2025 - DISTINGUISHED PERFORMANCE

Kara Young, Purpose

Drama League Awards - 2025 - DISTINGUISHED PERFORMANCE

Kara Young, Table 17

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2025 - Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Play

Kara Young, Purpose


winner
Tony Awards - 2025 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play

Kara Young, Purpose

Drama Desk Awards - 2024 - Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play

Kara Young, Purlie Victorious

Drama League Awards - 2024 - Distinguished Performance

Kara Young, Purlie Victorious


winner
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2024 - Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Play

Kara Young, Purlie Victorious


winner
Tony Awards - 2024 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play

Kara Young, Purlie Victorious

Drama Desk Awards - 2023 - Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play

Kara Young, Cost of Living

Drama Desk Awards - 2023 - Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play

Kara YoungTwelfth Night

Tony Awards - 2023 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play

Kara Young, Cost of Living


winner
Obie Awards - 2022 - Performance Award

Kara YoungTwelfth Night


winner
Theatre World Awards - 2022 - Theatre World Awards

Kara Young, Clyde's

Tony Awards - 2022 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play

Kara Young, Clyde's

Videos

More Videos

News


Photos: Colt Coeur Celebrates Opening Night of THE SURGEON AND HER DAUGHTERS Photo
Photos: Colt Coeur Celebrates Opening Night of THE SURGEON AND HER DAUGHTERS
by A.A. Cristi - Dec 3, 2025

On Saturday, November 29 Colt Coeur kicked off their 15th anniversary season with the World Premiere of The Surgeon and Her Daughters by Chris Gabo. See photos of the opening night celebration!
Spotlight: #SAYHERNAME at El Museo del Barrio Photo
Spotlight: #SAYHERNAME at El Museo del Barrio
by BWW Special Offer - Dec 2, 2025

#SayHerName: The Lives That Should Have Been
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld December 1, 2025- Broadway At the 2025 Thanksgiving Day Pa Photo
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld December 1, 2025- Broadway At the 2025 Thanksgiving Day Parade and More
by - Dec 1, 2025

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is December 1, 2025 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed over the weekend. 
Photos: Leslie Odom Jr., Helen J. Shen, & More Attend Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Photo
Photos: Leslie Odom Jr., Helen J. Shen, & More Attend Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
by Josh Sharpe - Nov 28, 2025

On Thursday, November 27, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade ushered in the holiday season with its 99th march. During the parade, several Broadway stars attended as VIP guests, including Leslie Odom Jr., Jessica Chastain, Helen J. Shen, Andrew Barth Feldman, Kara Young, Ana Gasteyer, and more. Check out photos here.
Photos: GRUESOME PLAYGROUND INJURIES Celebrates Opening Night Off-Broadway Photo
Photos: GRUESOME PLAYGROUND INJURIES Celebrates Opening Night Off-Broadway
by Bruce Glikas - Nov 25, 2025

Pulitzer Prize Finalist Rajiv Joseph’s Gruesome Playground Injuries is back on the New York stage, and recently celebrated its gala opening for its off-Broadway run. Check out photos from the opening night here!
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld November 25, 2025- First Look At CHICAGO's Newest Stars an Photo
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld November 25, 2025- First Look At CHICAGO's Newest Stars and More
by - Nov 25, 2025

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is November 25, 2025 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
Review Roundup: GRUESOME PLAYGROUND INJURIES Opens Off-Broadway Photo
Review Roundup: GRUESOME PLAYGROUND INJURIES Opens Off-Broadway
by Stephi Wild - Nov 24, 2025

Pulitzer Prize Finalist Rajiv Joseph’s Gruesome Playground Injuries is back on the New York stage in a new production starring three-time Emmy Award nominee Nicholas Braun and two-time Tony Award winner Kara Young. Read the reviews here!
Video: Kara Young Picks the Shows That Shaped Her Photo
Video: Kara Young Picks the Shows That Shaped Her
by Joey Mervis - Nov 22, 2025

In this video, watch as two-time Tony Award winner Kara Young walks us through the aisles of the Drama Book Shop to tell us all about the plays that made her the artist she is today. Can you guess which classics she most adores?
AAPF to Present Staged Reading of #SAYHERNAME: THE LIVES THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN In Dec Photo
AAPF to Present Staged Reading of #SAYHERNAME: THE LIVES THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN In December
by A.A. Cristi - Nov 20, 2025

The African American Policy Forum will present a fundraising staged reading of #SayHerName: The Lives That Should Have Been on December 8, 2025, in New York City.
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld November 17, 2025- AIDA Oral History Dives Deep On the Ico Photo
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld November 17, 2025- AIDA Oral History Dives Deep On the Iconic Musical and More
by - Nov 17, 2025

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is November 17, 2025 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed over the weekend.
Review: TABLE 17 at Geffen Playhouse Photo
Review: TABLE 17 at Geffen Playhouse
by Evan Henerson - Nov 16, 2025

The fervor of a given audience – kind of its own character in this play - probably helps distract from the fact that, its sweet vibes aside, there’s not a lot of there in Lyons’ play. It’s a good time, but it’s light as a spritz of air freshener.
Video: Nicholas Braun & Kara Young Talk Starring in GRUESOME PLAYGROUND INJURIES on T Photo
Video: Nicholas Braun & Kara Young Talk Starring in GRUESOME PLAYGROUND INJURIES on TODAY
by Josh Sharpe - Nov 6, 2025

Two-time Tony Award winner Kara Young and Succession star Nicholas Braun stopped by TODAY on Thursday to talk about their roles in the off-Broadway revival of the play Gruesome Playground Injuries. Watch the interview now.
Spotlight on Plays: November 2025 Photo
Spotlight on Plays: November 2025
by Team BWW - Nov 1, 2025

​The Fall 2025 season is in full swing, and with it, comes new plays for theatre lovers of all kinds. Whether you live for intense dramas or would rather escape with zaney comedies, there's something for everyone both on and off-Broadway in November 2025.
From Chicago to NYC: Steppenwolf’s Broadway Boom Photo
From Chicago to NYC: Steppenwolf’s Broadway Boom
by Stephi Wild - Nov 1, 2025

Many Steppenwolf productions have made the jump to Broadway, with three shows transferring in 2025 alone. Learn more about Purpose, Bug, The Minutes, and more!
Photos: Jonathan Bailey, Kara Young, Helen J. Shen and More Attend TIME100 Next Gala Photo
Photos: Jonathan Bailey, Kara Young, Helen J. Shen and More Attend TIME100 Next Gala
by A.A. Cristi - Oct 31, 2025

TIME recently hosted its fourth annual TIME100 Next Gala, celebrating TIME’s list of 100 rising stars who are defining the next generation of leadership in business, entertainment, sports, politics, and more at Current in New York City. The event included appearances from Broadway luminaries inclduing Tony Award-winner Kara Young, Helen J. Shen, and Wicked: For Good star Jonathan Bailey.
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld October 21, 2025- BEETLEJUICE First Look and More Photo
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld October 21, 2025- BEETLEJUICE First Look and More
by - Oct 21, 2025

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is October 21, 2025 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
Photos: Aubrey Plaza Shines at LET'S LOVE! Opening Night Photo
Photos: Aubrey Plaza Shines at LET'S LOVE! Opening Night
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Oct 20, 2025

Discover photos from the opening night of Ethan Coen's Let's Love! starring Aubrey Plaza and more at Atlantic Theater Company.
Photos: Nicholas Braun & Kara Young Star in Gruesome Playground Injuries Photo
Photos: Nicholas Braun & Kara Young Star in Gruesome Playground Injuries
by Nicole Rosky - Oct 20, 2025

Check out photos of Nicholas Braun and Kara Young in the upcoming production of Gruesome Playground Injuries, starting November 7 in NYC.
Videos You Missed This Week: RAGTIME, ROMY & MICHELE and More Photo
Videos You Missed This Week: RAGTIME, ROMY & MICHELE and More
by Sidney Paterra - Oct 17, 2025

Fall has officially arrived and a new season is very much in swing. Catch up on all the latest from the week ending October 17, 2025 with videos from Ragtime, Romy & Michele, and more!
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld October 16, 2025- SCHMIGADOON! Finds Its Leads and More Photo
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld October 16, 2025- SCHMIGADOON! Finds Its Leads and More
by - Oct 16, 2025

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is October 16, 2025 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
More News

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has Kara Young been in?

Kara Young has appeared on Broadway in 4 shows.

How many West End shows has Kara Young been in?

Kara Young has not appeared in the West End.

What awards has Kara Young been nominated for?

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Purpose, DISTINGUISHED PERFORMANCE (Drama League Awards) for Purpose, DISTINGUISHED PERFORMANCE (Drama League Awards) for Table 17, Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Purpose, Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for Purpose, Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Purlie Victorious, Distinguished Performance (Drama League Awards) for Purlie Victorious, Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Purlie Victorious, Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for Purlie Victorious, Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Cost of Living, Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Twelfth Night, Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for Cost of Living, Performance Award (Obie Awards) for Twelfth Night, Theatre World Awards (Theatre World Awards) for Clyde's and Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for Clyde's.

What awards has Kara Young won?

Kara Young has won several prestigious awards for her performances. She received the Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play at the Drama Desk Awards for Purpose, as well as the Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play at the Tony Awards for Purpose. She was also honored with the Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Play at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for Purlie Victorious, along with the Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play at the Tony Awards for the same production. Additionally, Kara Young earned a Performance Award at the Obie Awards for Twelfth Night and was recognized with a Theatre World Award for her work in Clyde's.

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