"South Pacific" wins 9 Tony Awards 1950

South Pacific, one of the greatest Broadway musicals from Rogers and Hammerstein, took home 9 Tony Awards at the 4th ceremony April 9, 1950.  

It won for Best Musical, Best Actor in a Musical (Ezio Pinza), Best Actress in a Musical (Mary Martin), Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Myron McCormick), Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Juanita Hall), Best Producer, Best Director (Joshua Logan), Best Libretto (Oscar Hammerstein), and Best Original Score (Richard Rodgers).

Celebrating Black History Month: Juanita Hall, first African-American to win a Tony Award

Juanita Hall, born November 6, 1901 in Keyport, New Jersey, is the first African-American to win a Tony Award.   Hall appeared in Rogers and Hammerstein's South Pacific on Broadway which opened in 1949.  In 1950, she won the Tony for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Bloody Mary.

She reprised her role in the movie version of the musical.

She passed away February 29, 1968 from complications from diabetes.