WMU Alumna Crystal Lucas-Perry Hosting The Obie Awards

This year is the 66th Obie Awards, which highlight and celebrate the best theatre artists and groups in New York City. The Obie Awards stand for the Off-Broadway Theatre Awards and are presented by the Village Voice newspaper up until 2014 when the American Theatre Wing joined in, now both entities present the awards.

This year's awards are a little more special for those of us here in the Kalamazoo area as one of our own will have a spotlight during the night. Crystal Lucas Perry, a Grand Blanc and Powers Catholic native and former WMU Bronco will be hosting the awards show this year.

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Crystal Lucas-Perry received her B.F. A in acting from Western Michigan University before moving to the east coast and finding success on the biggest stage. Lucas-Perry is known for her roles in Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, The Last OG, and Goodnight Mommy, but it's her theatre acting that has stolen the show.

She has won the Lucille Lortel Award for her excellence in Off-Broadway theatre for her role as passenger 5 in Broadway's showing of "Aint No Mo" and she also has gotten recognition for her role as John Adams in the Broadway Show 1776. She also received a 2020 Antonyo Award Nomination for Best Featured Actor in 'Zillah’ in A Bright Room Called Day.

This year's awards will take place on Monday, February 27 at Terminal 5 in New York City and both the Village Voice Newspaper, and the American Theatre Wing will jointly present the awards again this year. Both parties are excited about the show and here's what they had to say.

Crystal was asked how she felt about the opportunity to host the Obie Awards and she expressed that she is incredibly honored, thrilled, and inspired by the talent, artistry, and efforts of our community and look forward to leading an evening celebrating theatrical excellence during the show.

Meanwhile, Heather Hitchens, President & CEO of the American Theatre Wing said We’re thrilled for Crystal to host our Obies this year! She's not only the absolute embodiment of the Off-Broadway spirit, a riveting performer and respected collaborator but a cherished member of the New York Theater Community.