Carnegie Mellon Alumni Goldsberry, Odom, Jr. Win Tony Awards

"Hamilton" Stars Take Home Broadway's Highest Honor; Theatre Educator Recognized

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Jun 13, 2016, 01:19 ET

PITTSBURGH, June 13, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Carnegie Mellon University congratulates CMU alumni Renée Elise Goldsberry and Leslie Odom, Jr., who received Tony Awards on Sunday night at the Beacon Theatre in New York City. These two winners increase the number of Tonys received by Carnegie Mellon alumni to 43.

Goldsberry and Odom, Jr., received two of the 11 Tony Awards bestowed on the musical "Hamilton," which was nominated for a record 16 Tonys.

Carnegie Mellon University alumni Leslie Odom, Jr. and Renee Elise Goldsberry received two of the 11 Tony Awards bestowed on the musical "Hamilton."

Goldsberry, a 1993 graduate, earned her first Tony Award for best performance by an actress in a featured role in the musical "Hamilton," where she played Angelica Schuyler. Goldsberry boasts a multitude of film and stage credits and most recently held a recurring role on CBS' "The Good Wife." She also starred in the 2001 film "All About You."

Odom, Jr. took home his first Tony Award for best performance by an actor in a leading role for his portrayal of Aaron Burr in "Hamilton." After making his Broadway debut at the age of 17 in "Rent," he graduated from CMU in 2003 and held recurring roles in numerous television series.

"We are very proud of Renée and Leslie for the great work they've done on Broadway and throughout their careers," said Dan J. Martin, dean of CMU's College of Fine Arts. "Thanks to a firm foundation in K-12 arts education and the benefits of Carnegie Mellon's conservatory training, our graduates continue to achieve great things and the Tony Awards are one example of that success."

CMU, Tony Awards Honor Theatre Educator Marilyn McCormick
During the Tony Awards broadcast on CBS, Carnegie Mellon and the Tony Awards announced that Marilyn G. McCormick, a teacher at Cass Technical High School in Detroit, won the Excellence in Theatre Education Award. She was recognized during the show by another CMU alumnus, Blair Underwood, who introduced McCormick from the audience. The award is the first, national recognition program to honor kindergarten through high-school (K-12) theatre educators who demonstrate a monumental impact on the lives of students and who embody the highest standards of the profession. Nearly 1,200 nominations were received from across the United States for the award.

For more information: http://www.cmu.edu/news/stories/archives/2016/june/goldsberry-odom-win-tonys.html

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SOURCE Carnegie Mellon University