‘David Byrne’s American Utopia’, ‘Freestyle Love Supreme’ and Broadway Advocacy Coalition to receive special Tonys

The 74th Tony Awards will take place on September 26.

Ahead of this year's Tony Awards ceremony, the Tony Awards Administration Committee has announced three special awards will be given, honoring outstanding productions, artists and organizations. The Broadway Advocacy Coalition (BAC) will receive an award, as well as David Byrne's American Utopia and freestyle love supreme, with both shows returning to Broadway this fall.

"In what has been such an unusual year in theatre, we are thrilled to be presenting these Special Tony Awards to three such deserving recipients." said Heather Hitchens, CEO and President of the American Theatre Wing and Charlotte St. Martin, President of The Broadway League.

Formed in 2016, BAC aims to dismantle the systemic racism within the Broadway and wider theatre community through the power of storytelling. Earlier this year, BAC hosted their inaugural Fellowship Hall festival, and has also been named in Variety's Broadway "To Watch" list.

David Byrne's American Utopia ran at the Hudson Theatre for a limited engagement in 2019, championing live music and the power of communities. In a review of American Utopia, "Broadway has long been a showcase for the best in popular theatre, but it has also become a valuable experimental space for challenging different expectations of what it can be -- and American Utopia offers dazzling new possibilities." 

David Byrne's American Utopia returns to Broadway in 2021, with performances at St. James Theatre from September 17 - Jan. 16, 2022. Find out more about American Utopia on Broadway here. 

17 years since freestyle love supreme was founded, the hip-hop improvisational show made its Broadway premiere in 2019 at the Booth Theatre. Created by Hamilton star Lin-Manuel Miranda alongside Thomas Kail and Anthony Veneziale, freestyle love supreme sees performers spinning stories and songs out of audience suggestions. In a review of freestyle love supreme, the show takes "the crown for the most ambitious "yes-and" in town... here to spread love and positivity and, packed into a healthy 80 minutes, they are a supremely entertaining avenue for it."

freestyle love supreme returns to the Booth Theatre in 2021 from October 7 - Jan. 2, 2022. Find out more about freestyle love supreme on Broadway here. 

The 74th Tony Awards will take place on September 26, with shows nominated including Slave Play, Jagged Little Pill and Moulin Rouge! The Musical.

^{Photo credit: David Byrne's American Utopia and Freestyle Love Supreme (Photos by Matthew Murphy and Joan Marcus respectively)}