“Ragtime’s” Joshua Henry took home his first Tony Award for his role as Colehouse Walker, Jr winning Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical at the 2026 Tony Awards.
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Other nominees in Henry’s category included Nicholas Christopher for “Chess,” Luke Evans for “Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show,” Sam Tutty for “Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York),” and Brandon Uranowitz, also for “Ragtime.”
The win was the actor’s first having been nominated four times before. Henry plays Colehouse Walker in the “Ragtime” revival that originally starred Tony winners Audra McDonald and Brian Stokes Mitchell. A passionate Henry thanked the pair during his acceptance speech.
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“Speaking on excellence for a second, Audra McDonald and Brian Stokes Mitchell, thank you for your black-don’t-crack legacy of artistic brilliance, showing us that we can shine in the fullness of who we are,” Henry said in his speech. “It is an honor to play this role, Coalhouse Walker, Jr., a Black musician whose art led him to his love and to his dream. And even in the face of pain and tragedy, he found a way to be heard. Every artist in this room, every artist at home, fight, fight, fight to be heard.”
Backstage, the father of two was looking forward to relaxing at home with his boys and taking a relaxing stroll through Central Park.
“[I look forward to going] home and hugging my boys,” he said backstage after his win. “Get a good wrestling session in with my little boys, and go for a walk in Central Park just to reflect on the last two years. It’s been quite a journey with [Ragtime] but, I’m feeling incredible. I just want to spend some time in silence and in gratitude, taking it all in.”
Henry’s career goes back 20 years to some of his earlier roles, including one of his early role in “In The Heights,” “Porgy and Bess,” “Waitress,” and “Into The Woods.” But for Henry, tonight was the right time to win.
“I was supposed to go to Broadway with Hamilton, and I didn’t. I’ve auditioned for so many things that broke my heart, um, and I’ve been involved with so many different projects that just didn’t pan out. And so, as an artist, as a human, it’s like, then what? What do you know? What I know is that there’s a place for me.”
The actor wants to let those hoping to perform on Broadway, Henry encourages hopefuls to be patient and study your craft.
“I would say to young people who want to do theater, you can’t rush a good meal. You can’t rush a seasoned performance. You can’t. There’s a reason that grandma’s meals tastes a lot better than microwavable meals. And that’s how it is for your career. Two years into this, I could not have played Coalhouse. I’m 20 years into my career, and I feel ready. I couldn’t have done it four years ago, not three years ago. So, if you want to master something, if you want to get great at something, and theater is really freaking hard, you’re not talking about six months. You’re talking about a lifestyle that you got to dedicate yourself to. So you want to live a creative life, not just a creative moment. You got to have a lot of patience.”
About Ragtime
RAGTIME is a sweeping musical adaption of E.L. Doctorow’s novel that follows three fictional families in pursuit of the American Dream at the dawn of the 20th Century: Black pianist Coalhouse Walker, Jr. and his beloved Sarah, Jewish immigrant Tateh and his little girl, and a wealthy white family led by matriarch Mother. All grasping for the same dream, if only they can hold on to it.
“Ragtime” will continue through August 2 at the Beaumont with a North American Tour in 2027. Henry’s co-star Caissie Levy, also won a Tony for Leading Actress in a Musical.
For tickets or more information, visit: Ragtime Musical
Catch up on all news on Awards Shows including, the Tony Awards in our Awards Shows category for red carpet premieres, photos, celebrity interviews, and event highlights.
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