First Jewish Recipient of the Tony Award for Original Musical Score
Record holder
Record value
Original Musical Score — Street Scene, 6 April 1947
Kurt Weill became the first Jewish recipient of the Tony Award for Original Musical Score at the inaugural ceremony on 6 April 1947. He was recognized for Street Scene, the Broadway work combining his score with Elmer Rice's dramatic book and lyrics by Langston Hughes and Rice. According to the official Tony Awards winner list, Weill won the category in 1947, the first year of the awards, leaving no earlier ceremony or earlier winner in that category. Born in Dessau, Germany, Weill grew up in a Jewish religious household, where his father served as a cantor. He later emigrated after the Nazi rise to power and developed a distinguished American musical-theatre career. His award marks a documented first in Broadway's award history and illustrates the contributions of Jewish composers to American musical theatre.
- Country represented
- United States
- Achievement location
- New York, New York, United States
- Achievement date
- 6 April 1947