Video: Black Theatre United's 2nd Gala Honors Black Excellence

The second annual gala for Black Theatre United (BTU) was a joyous event, filled with an outpouring of Black excellence! Broadway Time’s Joel Crump was on the red carpet, where he chatted with a host of stars including Norm Lewis, Tamara Tunie, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Rhonda Ross, Kenny Leon, Allyson Tucker, Irene Gandy, Kandi Burruss, Josh Groban, Richard Jay-Alexander, André De Shields, Kara Young, NaTasha Yvette Williams, George Faison, Nichelle Lewis, Schele Williams and honoree Linda Twine.

The gala honored three trailblazers: renowned conductor, composer, and music director Linda Twine, who received the 2024 Accountability Award; Maxine Williams, Chief Diversity Officer of Meta, honored with the 2024 Advocacy Award; and Alicia Keys, the 16-time GRAMMY® Award-winning artist, presented with the 2024 Aspire Award.

On the heels of a watershed moment in American society, Black Theatre United was formed in 2020 by a passionate group of theater professionals committed to ensuring advances in their beloved theater community. BTU’s mission is to provide access for up-and-coming Black artists, pathways for art makers, and opportunities for industry professionals historically marginalized within the theater world and beyond.