George C. Wolfe posing in the press room at the 77th Annual Tony Awards held at The David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York, NY on Sunday, June 16, 2023.
In June George C. Wolfe ’76 received the 2024 Special Tony Award for “Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre” at the 77th annual ceremony.
Wolfe has been nominated for 23 Tony Awards and won five, including Best Direction of a Play for Angels in America: Millennium Approaches and Best Direction of a Musical for Bring in ‘da Noise, Bring in ‘da Funk. Additionally, Wolfe was the producer of The Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival from 1993 to 2005, directed/adapted Spunk, and created Harlem Song for the Apollo Theatre.
Wolfe’s work outside of theatre includes directing and co-writing the HBO film co-wrote the HBO film The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, as well as Lackawanna Blues, for which he earned The Directors Guild Award, a National Board of Review Award, a Christopher Award, and the Humanitas Prize. For Netflix he directed Rustin and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, which was nominated for five Academy Awards.
“[Wolfe’s] stellar contributions as a playwright, director, producer and artistic director, including his unforgettable direction in productions like Angels in America and Bring in ‘da Noise…, have left a lasting impression on audiences,” said Heather Hitchens, president and CEO of the American Theatre Wing. “Beyond his tremendous dedication to storytelling, he has shown an unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusion throughout his illustrious career that has shifted culture and elevated the theatre community.”
Wolfe is the chief creative officer of the Center for Civil and Human Rights, and from 2009 to 2017 served on The President’s Committee on the Arts and The Humanities. Additional awards include the NAACP Theatre Lifetime Achievement Award, NYU’s Distinguished Alumni Award, and induction in the Theatre Hall of Fame. Wolfe was named a “Library Lion” by the New York Public Library and a “Living Landmark” by the New York Landmarks Conservancy.