Vineyard Theatre Artistic Directors Douglas Aibel and Sarah Stern, and actor-playwright-director-producer Colman Domingo announce that Reggie D. White will be the second recipient of the Colman Domingo Award. Seeded in 2019 from the longtime collaboration between The Vineyard and Domingo, the Colman Domingo Award is bestowed annually to a multi-faceted Black male or male-identifying theatre artist to provide support and resources to create new work. Recipients are selected directly by The Vineyard and Mr. Domingo and receive a cash stipend, workshops and other developmental opportunities, access to writing and studio space, mentorship, and the ongoing support of The Vineyard. York Walker received the inaugural award in 2021.

Reggie D. White is a New York-based multidisciplinary theatremaker and educator. Last year he co-conceived and appeared in Vineyard Theatre’s virtual piece, Lessons in Survival, which was named Best Theatre of 2020 by The New York Times. His play In Case You Haven’t Heard premiered virtually this year at Bay Street Theater.
 

Colman Domingo says, “It has been my hope to support the next generation of multi-hyphenate theatre artists in some impactful way. Not only by mentorship, but with a financial award. I knew that this was a perfect partnership with Vineyard Theatre which has been a New York home for me for over 10 years. They helped me flex my artistic muscles as an actor and playwright with my productions of A Boy and His Soul and Dot. They were the cheerleader who helped me see that I had something to offer The Scottsboro Boys, for which I am eternally grateful. I was so honored that they chose to honor my body of work at the 2019 gala. I wanted to give a gift back in return. To create an award for an African American man who could use the hand, access and support that The Vineyard and I could provide. I’ve watched Reggie blossom into an artist of true conviction and grace. He is a born leader and innovator. I look forward to seeing what he creates next.”

Mr. Aibel and Ms. Stern said, “Reggie D. White is a true multi-hyphenate artist — a triple-threat performer, director, educator, and playwright, whose ability to illuminate our shared humanity shines through his work. We are delighted and thrilled that he will be the next recipient of the Colman Domingo Award, and to be able to provide support as his creativity continues to find new paths of expression. We look forward immensely to collaborating with him as an artist-in-residence, and to the stories that he will tell.

Reggie D. White says, “For his entire career, Colman has shattered convention, laughed at limitations, and created art that stands the test of time – as an actor, writer, and as a director. And as a young artist who also started his career in the SF Bay Area, Colman was the prototype of what was possible for a black gay man who fully stepped into his power and embraced every corner of his identity and his passions. He continues to demonstrate that there is rich worth in our bodies, our unknowable complexity, our love, our heartbreak, and our joy. And that no one has the right to dictate to us what is ‘beyond our grasp’ or ‘not in our lane’. For the last 9 years, I’ve had the great privilege of calling him a friend and mentor, and I’m beyond grateful to be the recipient of this year’s Colman Domingo Award. I have witnessed first hand how the Vineyard has championed artists with brave, vulnerable, curious voices and I’m honored to have the Vineyard’s support of my voice as a writer and direction in addition to my work as an actor. What a tremendous gift to be invited to stretch every facet of my artistic wings at an institution as storied as Vineyard Theatre. I hope I can continue to follow in Colman’s incredible footsteps and leave the world better by my work and my example.”

The 2021 Colman Domingo Award is made possible through the generosity of Joe and Mary Ann Allen.

Colman Domingo hosts and is Executive Producer of Bottomless Brunch at Colman’s for AMC.  In 2020, he received his Honorary Doctorate Degree in Humane Letters from Ursinus College. He is a Juilliard School Creative Associate and has guest lectured at USC, UCSD as well as on faculty of the National Theater Institute. Mr. Domingo is a Tony®, Lawrence Olivier, Drama Desk, Drama League and NAACP Theatre Award nominee and an OBIE and Lucille Lortel Award-winning actor, playwright, director and producer. He has been recently celebrated as a Newport Beach Film Festival’s Artist of Distinction and honored by Vineyard Theatre for his thirty year body of work. Domingo recently filmed Without Remorse, with Michael B. Jordan for Paramount. Colman stars in A24’s Zola, The God Committee alongside Kelsey Grammar and Julia Stiles, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom  alongside Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman, produced by Denzel Washington, and MGM’s Candyman written and produced by Jordan Peele. Colman  recurs on the critically acclaimed Euphoria on HBO. Going into its sixth season, Colman stars on AMC’s global hit Fear The Walking Dead as Victor Strand. Domingo is a recipient of The Best Drama Actor from The 2018 Independent Television Festival presented by the Television Academy®  in Nothingman directed by Eli Kooris and Joshua Shaffer. Colman is a recent recipient of the Sundance Feature Film Program Grant. Mr. Domingo has developed a one hour original drama series for television, titled West Philly, Baby, for AMC studios, based on his award winning play Dot. He also has in development a half hour comedy for HBO, entitled Peaches. He is the CEO and Executive Producer of Edith Productions which has a first look deal with AMC Networks.