Time Magazine's annual Time100 list of the most influential people in the world is out, and among those recognized are theatre favorites Alex Edelman, Leslie Odom, Jr., Colman Domingo, Fantasia Barrino, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, and Jeffrey Wright.
The list features introductions written by fellow luminaries.
Edelman was introduced in writing by fellow master of comedy Phoebe Waller-Bridge, honoring his solo show Just For Us: "Over the past 15 years, I鈥檝e had the privilege of watching Alex Edelman consistently dazzle audiences in basement clubs, backs of taxis, comedy festivals, friends鈥� kitchens, and iconic London theatres. Alex鈥檚 ability to hold people in the palm of his hand is otherworldly...It was no surprise then that when his tour de force show Just for Us鈥�about racist white nationalists, internet trolling, and antisemitism鈥�landed on Broadway earlier this year, it was lauded as one of the funniest, most human pieces of work in years," wrote Waller-Bridge.
Kate Hudson honored Leslie Odom, Jr. for his impactful performances in Hamilton and Purlie Victorious, writing: "I didn鈥檛 know Leslie Odom Jr. the night I watched him take the stage as Aaron Burr in Hamilton, but his performance hit me like a ton of bricks...Leslie is committed to the arts and gracefully moves between music, theatre, and film. His performances鈥攊ncluding his recent Broadway run in Purlie Victorious鈥攁re palpable. It feels like a matter of life or death, the way he gives his absolute all to every character."
Actor, playwright, and Fat Ham co-producer Colman Domingo was acknowledged for his starring role in the film Rustin, released last year. Lenny Kravitz wrote: "The characters Colman plays onscreen are all over the map鈥攆rom an addict in recovery to civil rights activist Bayard Rustin鈥攚hich shows his depth as an actor and a creative. Seeing how his work continues to evolve is inspiring, and I love that he鈥檚 finally getting his flowers. I鈥檓 proud to know him as a friend, as a human being, and as a fellow artist. There鈥檚 only one Colman Domingo鈥攁nd he鈥檚 truly one of the greats."
Taraji P. Henson provided the introduction for Grammy award-winning singer and former The Color Purple star on Broadway Fantasia Barrino, writing: "Fantasia is a living testimony that we鈥檙e all going to go through storms. But at the end of a storm, what happens? The sun comes out. Whatever comes next for her will be so beautiful. She deserves everything. I see such big things for Fantasia鈥攖he sky鈥檚 the limit. Well, beyond the sky for her. It鈥檚 her time."
Uzo Aduba recalls seeing Da'Vine Joy Randolph on Broadway in Ghost: The Musical: "The ease with which she existed on that stage and the power she commanded in that room was unbelievable. Here was this girl, fresh out of Yale, totally reinventing an iconic role. She was exceptional. It鈥檚 exciting that now we all get to experience the fullness of what Da鈥橵ine can do. Her performance in 罢丑别鈥疕辞濒诲辞惫别谤蝉 was balletic, just so deliberate and crafted."
Stage and screen star Jeffrey Wright was honored by Octavia Spencer. Since last performing on Broadway in 2010, Wright has appeared onscreen in The Hunger Games franchise, Westworld, and Rustin. "The first time I watched Jeffrey Wright act, I wanted to devour all his work. An actor who can disappear inside a role is, to me, the hallmark of genius. I believed him in The Hunger Games, in Angels in America, in Shaft. In American Fiction, Jeffrey captured what it feels like for me as an artist: there鈥檚 what the world wants to see and the stereotypes it expects鈥攁nd there鈥檚 the determination to defy those expectations. Jeffrey has always challenged what society thinks a Black actor should or should not be," writes Spencer.
See the complete 2024 Time100 list at .
