Theatre Gap salutes Broadway powerhouse LaChanze

Tony Award-winning actor and producer LaChanze will be present the Theatre Gap Initiative's second Trailblazer Award for impact on theater March 7.

One of Broadway’s brightest lights has earned an award from a Charlotte nonprofit.

LaChanze is the second recipient of Charlotte-based Theatre Gap Initiative’s second Trailblazer Award for her impact on American theater as a performer and producer. LaChanze will be celebrated at TGI Mixtape, Volume IV: Stay Gold on March 7 at the Parr Center on the main campus of Central Piedmont Community College. 

A Tony Award-winning actress, LaChanze has a best actress in a musical prize for her portrayal of Celie in “The Color Purple” and has performed in “Once on This Island,” “Company,” “Ragtime,” and “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical.” 

The Trailblazer Award honors artists whose careers exemplify courage, excellence, and a commitment to opening doors for others. Actress and activist Lillias White won the inaugural award.

LaChanze is also a producer and arts advocate. She was lead producer of the Broadway revival of “Trouble in Mind,” which earned Tony Award nominations for highlighting issues of race, power, and equity in the theatre industry. As a  producer, LaChanze has lobbied for expanded access, amplification of underrepresented voices, and challenging the field expand inclusivity. 

Some of her other projects include “Kimberly Akimbo,” “Buena Vista Social Club,” “The Outsiders,” “Topdog/Underdog,” Brandon Jacob’s “Purpose,” and “Cats: The Jellicle Ball.”

TGI Mixtape, a combination of music, storytelling and stage celebration, is Theatre Gap Initiative’s major fundraiser. The nonprofit founded by theatre educator and Tony winner Corey Mitchell aims to improve access to career opportunities in the arts by training and mentoring young creatives from moderate- and low-income backgrounds. 

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