Sharon Washington

Did you know?!

1. First role

   In 1987, while she was still studying at Yale Drama School, Washington launched her professional career as Grace in the world premiere of August Wilson's The Piano Lesson, staged at the Yale Repertory Theatre with Lloyd Richards directing.

2. First role

   Washington's Broadway debut came in 2010, playing The Lady in the Kander and Ebb musical The Scottsboro Boys at the Lyceum Theatre, with Susan Stroman directing. That production got a record 12 Tony Award nominations.

3. Early training

   After finishing college, Washington became an assistant to Barry Grove, who was Executive Producer of Manhattan Theatre Club. She went on to receive an M.F.A. in Acting from the Yale School of Drama in 1988.

4. First role

   After Yale, Washington first appeared Off-Broadway at The Public Theater as Valeria in William Shakespeare's Coriolanus, playing opposite Christopher Walken in the title role. Steven Berkoff directed the production.

5. Behind the camera

   With David Thompson, Washington wrote the book for the 2023 Broadway musical New York, New York, whose songs have music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb and Lin-Manuel Miranda. It received nine Tony Award nominations, among them Best Book of a Musical.

6. First role

   In the 1992 Spike Lee film Malcom X, Washington played Estelle, which was her first role on the big screen.