Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical
Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical | |
---|---|
2023 recipient: Victoria Clark for Kimberly Akimbo | |
Awarded for | Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical |
Location | New York City |
Presented by | American Theatre Wing The Broadway League |
Currently held by | Victoria Clark for Kimberly Akimbo (2023) |
Website | TonyAwards.com |
The Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical is awarded to the best actress in a musical, whether a new production or a revival. The award has been given since 1948, but the nominees who did not win have only been publicly announced since 1956.[1]
History
The award was not presented in 1947 or 1985.[2] Ken Mandelbaum wrote about the 1985 season: "Things get bad enough musically to require the elimination of the Best Musical Actor and Actress categories, as well as the choreography prize."[3] There have been three ties in this category, in 1958, 1962 and 1968.[4]
In 1965, Liza Minnelli, age 19, became the youngest actress to win the award, a record she still holds as of 2023. She is followed by Lea Salonga, age 20, in 1991. In 2017, Bette Midler, age 71, became the oldest actress to win the award, a record she still holds as of 2023. She is followed by Victoria Clark, age 63, in 2023.
Winners and nominees
1940s
Year | Actress | Musical | Role(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1948 (2nd) | ||||
Grace Hartman | Angel in the Wings | Nettie / Mrs. Blodgett / Ruth / Mrs. Hutchinson | ||
1949 (3rd) | ||||
Nanette Fabray | Love Life | Susan Cooper |
1950s
Year | Actress | Musical | Role(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1950 (4th) | ||||
Mary Martin | South Pacific | Ensign Nellie Forbush | ||
1951 (5th) | ||||
Ethel Merman | Call Me Madam | Sally Adams | ||
1952 (6th) | ||||
Gertrude Lawrence | The King and I | Anna Leonowens | ||
1953 (7th) | ||||
Rosalind Russell | Wonderful Town | Ruth Sherwood | ||
1954 (8th) | ||||
Dolores Gray | Carnival in Flanders | Cornelia | ||
1955 (9th) | ||||
Mary Martin | Peter Pan | Peter Pan | ||
1956 (10th) | ||||
Gwen Verdon | Damn Yankees | Lola | [5] | |
Carol Channing | The Vamp | Flora Weems / Delilah | ||
Nancy Walker | Phoenix '55 | Various Characters | ||
1957 (11th) | ||||
Judy Holliday | Bells Are Ringing | Ella Peterson | [6] | |
Julie Andrews | My Fair Lady | Eliza Doolittle | ||
Ethel Merman | Happy Hunting | Liz Livingstone | ||
1958 (12th) | ||||
Thelma Ritter | New Girl in Town | Marthy Owen | [7] | |
Gwen Verdon | Anna Christopherson | |||
Lena Horne | Jamaica | Savannah | ||
Beatrice Lillie | Ziegfeld Follies of 1957 | Various Characters | ||
1959 (13th) | ||||
Gwen Verdon | Redhead | Essie Whimple | [8] | |
Miyoshi Umeki | Flower Drum Song | Mei-Li |
1960s
Year | Actress | Musical | Role(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1960 (14th) | ||||
Mary Martin | The Sound of Music | Maria von Trapp | [9] | |
Carol Burnett | Once Upon a Mattress | Princess Winnifred | ||
Dolores Gray | Destry Rides Again | Frenchy | ||
Eileen Herlie | Take Me Along | Lily Miller | ||
Ethel Merman | Gypsy | Rose | ||
1961 (15th) | ||||
Elizabeth Seal | Irma La Douce | Irma La Douce | [10] | |
Julie Andrews | Camelot | Guenevere | ||
Carol Channing | Show Girl | Various Characters | ||
Nancy Walker | Do Re Mi | Kay Cram | ||
1962 (16th) | ||||
Anna Maria Alberghetti | Carnival! | Lili Daurier | [11] | |
Diahann Carroll | No Strings | Barbara Woodruff | ||
Molly Picon | Milk and Honey | Clara Weiss | ||
Elaine Stritch | Sail Away | Mimi Paragon | ||
1963 (17th) | ||||
Vivien Leigh | Tovarich | Tatiana Petrovna | [12] | |
Georgia Brown | Oliver! | Nancy | ||
Nanette Fabray | Mr. President | Nell Henderson | ||
Sally Ann Howes | Brigadoon | Fiona MacLaren | ||
1964 (18th) | ||||
Carol Channing | Hello, Dolly! | Dolly Gallagher Levi | [13] | |
Beatrice Lillie | High Spirits | Madame Arcati | ||
Barbra Streisand | Funny Girl | Fanny Brice | ||
Inga Swenson | 110 in the Shade | Lizzie Curry | ||
1965 (19th) | ||||
Liza Minnelli | Flora the Red Menace | Flora Mezaros | [14] | |
Elizabeth Allen | Do I Hear a Waltz? | Leona Samish | ||
Nancy Dussault | Bajour | Emily Kirsten | ||
Inga Swenson | Baker Street | Irene Adler | ||
1966 (20th) | ||||
Angela Lansbury | Mame | Mame Dennis | [15] | |
Barbara Harris | On a Clear Day You Can See Forever | Daisy Gamble / Melinda Wells | ||
Julie Harris | Skyscraper | Georgina Allerton | ||
Gwen Verdon | Sweet Charity | Charity Hope Valentine | ||
1967 (21st) | ||||
Barbara Harris | The Apple Tree | Eve / Princess Barbara / Ella and Passionella | [16] | |
Lotte Lenya | Cabaret | Fraulein Schneider | ||
Mary Martin | I Do! I Do! | She (Agnes) | ||
Louise Troy | Walking Happy | Maggie Hobson | ||
1968 (22nd) | ||||
Patricia Routledge | Darling of the Day | Alice Challice | [17] | |
Leslie Uggams | Hallelujah, Baby! | Georgina | ||
Melina Mercouri | Illya Darling | Illya | ||
Brenda Vaccaro | How Now, Dow Jones | Cynthia Pike | ||
1969 (23rd) | ||||
Angela Lansbury | Dear World | Countess Aurelia | [18] | |
Maria Karnilova | Zorba | Madame Hortense | ||
Dorothy Loudon | The Fig Leaves Are Falling | Lillian Stone | ||
Jill O'Hara | Promises, Promises | Fran Kubelik |
1970s
Year | Actress | Musical | Role (s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1970 (24th) | ||||
Lauren Bacall | Applause | Margo Channing | [19] | |
Katharine Hepburn | Coco | Coco Chanel | ||
Dilys Watling | Georgy | Georgina "Georgy" Parkin | ||
1971 (25th) | ||||
Helen Gallagher | No, No, Nanette | Lucille Early | [20] | |
Sandy Duncan | The Boy Friend | Maisie | ||
Susan Browning | Company | April | ||
Elaine Stritch | Joanne | |||
1972 (26th) | ||||
Alexis Smith | Follies | Phyllis Rogers Stone | [21] | |
Jonelle Allen | Two Gentlemen of Verona | Silvia | ||
Dorothy Collins | Follies | Sally Durant Plummer | ||
Mildred Natwick | 70, Girls, 70 | Ida Dodd | ||
1973 (27th) | ||||
Glynis Johns | A Little Night Music | Desiree Armfeldt | [22] | |
Leland Palmer | Pippin | Fastrada | ||
Debbie Reynolds | Irene | Irene O'Dare | ||
Marcia Rodd | Shelter | Maud | ||
1974 (28th) | ||||
Virginia Capers | Raisin | Lena Younger | [23] | |
Carol Channing | Lorelei | Lorelei Lee | ||
Michele Lee | Seesaw | Gittel Mosca | ||
1975 (29th) | ||||
Angela Lansbury | Gypsy | Rose | [24] | |
Lola Falana | Doctor Jazz | Edna Mae Sheridan | ||
Bernadette Peters | Mack & Mabel | Mabel Normand | ||
Ann Reinking | Goodtime Charley | Joan of Arc | ||
1976 (30th) | ||||
Donna McKechnie | A Chorus Line | Cassie Ferguson | [25] | |
Vivian Reed | Bubbling Brown Sugar | Marsha / Young Irene | ||
Chita Rivera | Chicago | Velma Kelly | ||
Gwen Verdon | Roxie Hart | |||
1977 (31st) | ||||
Dorothy Loudon | Annie | Miss Hannigan | [26] | |
Clamma Dale | Porgy and Bess | Bess | ||
Ernestine Jackson | Guys and Dolls | Sarah Brown | ||
Andrea McArdle | Annie | Annie | ||
1978 (32nd) | ||||
Liza Minnelli | The Act | Michelle Craig | [27] | |
Madeline Kahn | On the Twentieth Century | Lily Garland / Mildred Plotka | ||
Eartha Kitt | Timbuktu! | Shaleem La Lume | ||
Frances Sternhagen | Angel | Eliza Gant | ||
1979 (33rd) | ||||
Angela Lansbury | Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street | Mrs. Lovett | [28] | |
Tovah Feldshuh | Saravá | Dona Flor | ||
Dorothy Loudon | Ballroom | Bea Asher | ||
Alexis Smith | Platinum | Lila Halliday |
1980s
1990s
Year | Actress | Musical | Role(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1990 (44th) | ||||
Tyne Daly | Gypsy | Rose | [39] | |
Georgia Brown | The Threepenny Opera | Celia Peachum | ||
Beth Fowler | Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street | Mrs. Lovett | ||
Liliane Montevecchi | Grand Hotel | Elizaveta Grushinskaya | ||
1991 (45th) | ||||
Lea Salonga | Miss Saigon | Kim | [40] | |
June Angela | Shōgun: The Musical | Lady Mariko | ||
Dee Hoty | The Will Rogers Follies | Betty Blake | ||
Cathy Rigby | Peter Pan | Peter Pan | ||
1992 (46th) | ||||
Faith Prince | Guys and Dolls | Miss Adelaide | [41] | |
Jodi Benson | Crazy for You | Polly Baker | ||
Josie de Guzman | Guys and Dolls | Sarah Brown | ||
Sophie Hayden | The Most Happy Fella | Rosabella | ||
1993 (47th) | ||||
Chita Rivera | Kiss of the Spider Woman | Aurora / Spider Woman | [42] | |
Ann Crumb | Anna Karenina | Anna Karenina | ||
Stephanie Lawrence | Blood Brothers | Mrs. Johnstone | ||
Bernadette Peters | The Goodbye Girl | Paula McFadden | ||
1994 (48th) | ||||
Donna Murphy | Passion | Fosca | [43] | |
Susan Egan | Beauty and the Beast | Belle | ||
Dee Hoty | The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public | Mona Stangley | ||
Judy Kuhn | She Loves Me | Amalia Balash | ||
1995 (49th) | ||||
Glenn Close | Sunset Boulevard | Norma Desmond | [44] | |
Rebecca Luker | Show Boat | Magnolia Hawks | ||
1996 (50th) | ||||
Donna Murphy | The King and I | Anna Leonowens | [45] | |
Julie Andrews (nomination declined)[46] | Victor/Victoria | Victoria Grant / Count Victor Grazinski | ||
Crista Moore | Big: The Musical | Susan Lawrence | ||
Daphne Rubin-Vega | Rent | Mimi Marquez | ||
1997 (51st) | ||||
Bebe Neuwirth | Chicago | Velma Kelly | [47] | |
Pamela Isaacs | The Life | Queen | ||
Tonya Pinkins | Play On | Lady Liv | ||
Karen Ziemba | Steel Pier | Rita Racine | ||
1998 (52nd) | ||||
Natasha Richardson | Cabaret | Sally Bowles | [48] | |
Betty Buckley | Triumph of Love | Hesione | ||
Marin Mazzie | Ragtime | Mother | ||
Alice Ripley & Emily Skinner | Side Show | Violet and Daisy Hilton | ||
1999 (53rd) | ||||
Bernadette Peters | Annie Get Your Gun | Annie Oakley | [49] | |
Carolee Carmello | Parade | Lucille Frank | ||
Dee Hoty | Footloose | Vi Moore | ||
Siân Phillips | Marlene | Marlene Dietrich |
2000s
2010s
2020s
Year | Actress | Musical | Role(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2020 (74th) | ||||
Adrienne Warren | Tina | Tina Turner | ||
Karen Olivo | Moulin Rouge! | Satine | ||
Elizabeth Stanley | Jagged Little Pill | Mary Jane Healy | ||
2022 (75th) | ||||
Joaquina Kalukango | Paradise Square | Annabelle "Nelly" Freeman | [70] | |
Sharon D. Clarke | Caroline, or Change | Caroline Thibodeaux | ||
Carmen Cusack | Flying Over Sunset | Clare Boothe Luce | ||
Sutton Foster | The Music Man | Marian Paroo | ||
Mare Winningham | Girl from the North Country | Elizabeth Laine | ||
2023 (76th) | ||||
Victoria Clark | Kimberly Akimbo | Kimberly Levaco | [71] | |
Annaleigh Ashford | Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street | Mrs. Lovett | ||
Sara Bareilles | Into the Woods | The Baker's Wife | ||
Lorna Courtney | & Juliet | Juliet | ||
Micaela Diamond | Parade | Lucille Frank | ||
2024 (77th) | Eden Espinosa | Lempicka | Tamara de Lempicka | |
Maleah Joi Moon | Hell's Kitchen | Ali | ||
Kelli O’Hara | Days of Wine and Roses | Kirsten Arnesen-Clay | ||
Maryann Plunkett | The Notebook | Allison “Allie” Calhoun (older) | ||
Gayle Rankin | Cabaret | Sally Bowles |
Notes
- ^ The category was not given due to an insufficient number of musicals during the season.
Multiple wins
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Multiple nominations
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Multiple character wins
- 3 Wins
- Anna Leonowens from The King and I
- Rose from Gypsy
- 2 Wins
- Desiree Armfeldt from A Little Night Music
- Celie Harris Johnson from The Color Purple
- Dolly Gallagher Levi from Hello, Dolly!
Multiple character nominations
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- Characters nominated for both the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play and the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical
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Musicals with multiple lead nominations
Winners are in boldface
- New Girl in Town – Thelma Ritter and Gwen Verdon (tie)
- Company – Susan Browning and Elaine Stritch
- Follies – Dorothy Collins and Alexis Smith
- Chicago – Chita Rivera and Gwen Verdon
- Annie – Dorothy Loudon and Andrea McArdle
- Dreamgirls – Jennifer Holliday and Sheryl Lee Ralph
- The Rink – Liza Minnelli and Chita Rivera
- Black and Blue – Ruth Brown and Linda Hopkins
- Guys and Dolls – Josie de Guzman and Faith Prince
- Urinetown – Nancy Opel and Jennifer Laura Thompson
- Wicked – Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel
- War Paint – Christine Ebersole and Patti LuPone
- The Prom – Caitlin Kinnunen and Beth Leavel
Multiple awards and nominations
Actress who have been nominated multiple times in any acting categories
See also
- Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play
- Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play
- Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical
- Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical
- List of Tony Award-nominated productions
References
- ^ Gelb, Arthur. "Popularizing the 'Tony' Awards", The New York Times, April 1, 1956, p.93
- ^ Freedman, Samuel G. The New York Times, June 3, 1985, p.C15
- ^ Mandelbaum, Ken."Ken Mandelbaum's Aisle View: Tony Highs And Lows" playbill.com, May 11, 1997
- ^ History, Ties in Tony History" tonyawards.com, accessed June 13, 2014
- ^ "1956 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "1957 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "1958 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "1959 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "1960 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "1961 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "1962 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "1963 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "1964 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "1965 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "1966 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "1967 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "1968 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "1969 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "1970 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "1971 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "1972 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "1973 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "1974 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "1975 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "1976 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "1977 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "1978 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "1979 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "1980 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "1981 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "1982 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "1983 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "1984 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ Winship, Frederick M. (1985-06-03). "'Big River,' 'Biloxi Blues' win Tony Awards". UPI. Retrieved 2016-12-03.
- ^ "1986 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "1987 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "1988 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "1989 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "1990 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "1991 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "1992 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "1993 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "1994 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "1995 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "1996 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ Viagas, Robert. "Julie Andrews Declines Tony Nomination" playbill.com, May 8, 1996
- ^ "1997 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "1998 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "1999 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "2000 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "2001 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "2002 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "2003 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "2004 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "2005 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "2006 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "2007 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "2008 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "2009 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "2010 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
- ^ "2011 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
- ^ "2012 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
- ^ "2013 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
- ^ "2014 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
- ^ "Tony Nominations 2015: Full List". Variety. April 28, 2015. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
- ^ "2016 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
- ^ "2017 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
- ^ "2018 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
- ^ "2019 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
- ^ "2022 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
- ^ "2023 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. May 2, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
External links
- Internet Broadway Database Awards Archive
- Official Tony Awards Website Archive
- v
- t
- e
- Grace Hartman (1948)
- Nanette Fabray (1949)
- Mary Martin (1950)
- Ethel Merman (1951)
- Gertrude Lawrence (1952)
- Rosalind Russell (1953)
- Dolores Gray (1954)
- Mary Martin (1955)
- Gwen Verdon (1956)
- Judy Holliday (1957)
- Thelma Ritter / Gwen Verdon (1958)
- Gwen Verdon (1959)
- Mary Martin (1960)
- Elizabeth Seal (1961)
- Anna Maria Alberghetti / Diahann Carroll (1962)
- Vivien Leigh (1963)
- Carol Channing (1964)
- Liza Minnelli (1965)
- Angela Lansbury (1966)
- Barbara Harris (1967)
- Patricia Routledge / Leslie Uggams (1968)
- Angela Lansbury (1969)
- Lauren Bacall (1970)
- Helen Gallagher (1971)
- Alexis Smith (1972)
- Glynis Johns (1973)
- Virginia Capers (1974)
- Angela Lansbury (1975)
- Donna McKechnie (1976)
- Dorothy Loudon (1977)
- Liza Minnelli (1978)
- Angela Lansbury (1979)
- Patti LuPone (1980)
- Lauren Bacall (1981)
- Jennifer Holliday (1982)
- Natalia Makarova (1983)
- Chita Rivera (1984)
- No Award (1985)
- Bernadette Peters (1986)
- Maryann Plunkett (1987)
- Joanna Gleason (1988)
- Ruth Brown (1989)
- Tyne Daly (1990)
- Lea Salonga (1991)
- Faith Prince (1992)
- Chita Rivera (1993)
- Donna Murphy (1994)
- Glenn Close (1995)
- Donna Murphy (1996)
- Bebe Neuwirth (1997)
- Natasha Richardson (1998)
- Bernadette Peters (1999)
- Heather Headley (2000)
- Christine Ebersole (2001)
- Sutton Foster (2002)
- Marissa Jaret Winokur (2003)
- Idina Menzel (2004)
- Victoria Clark (2005)
- LaChanze (2006)
- Christine Ebersole (2007)
- Patti LuPone (2008)
- Alice Ripley (2009)
- Catherine Zeta-Jones (2010)
- Sutton Foster (2011)
- Audra McDonald (2012)
- Patina Miller (2013)
- Jessie Mueller (2014)
- Kelli O'Hara (2015)
- Cynthia Erivo (2016)
- Bette Midler (2017)
- Katrina Lenk (2018)
- Stephanie J. Block (2019)
- Adrienne Warren (2020/21)
- Joaquina Kalukango (2022)
- Victoria Clark (2023)