Down the Rabbit Hole: Kara Young
In these uncertain post-COVID times on Broadway, there has been one single consistency on which the industry can rely: Kara Young giving a stirring (and frequently Tony-nominated or -winning) performance. No one has opened more new productions than Young, and if you’ve had the chance to watch her onstage, it’s no surprise she’s become one of the most sought-after actors on the boards.
Here, we go down the rabbit hole to reflect on some of Young’s greatest onstage moments—and check back next year, when there will inevitably be at least one new addition to this list: Young is already slated to star in Mix and Master beginning in January 2027.
Clyde’s (2021):
In her Broadway debut, Young earned her first Tony nomination in Clyde’s playing Tish, a single mother attempting to rebuild her life following incarceration. Watch any moment of her scenes, and the qualities that are now known as her trademark skills: impeccable comic timing, seemingly endless endurance, and the ability to swivel on a dime from laugh-out-loud to so deeply poignant you’ll swear she body-swapped in the span of a line delivery. Needless to say, this performance made clear to Broadway it had a major new talent on its hands.
Cost of Living (2022):
Like clockwork, a year later Young was back on the boards, this time in the Pulitzer Prize-winning play The Cost of Living. As Jess, a caregiver for a young man with cerebral palsy, Young gave an emotionally wrought performance. But she also somehow still mined humor and honesty, where lesser actors may have gotten stuck in the drama. The role displayed a different side of Young’s chops—and notched her second Tony nomination, of course.
Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch (2023):
Another year, another Tony-nominated role. The only difference is, this time Young won the award for Best Featured Actress in a Play, for her role as Lutiebelle Gussie Mae Jenkins. For those keeping track at home, this was as definitive a “star-making” moment as any for Young, delivering a performance that became the lightning rod for discussion that season. Hilarious and heartbreaking, it was an utterly fearless performance, that brought the entire room to its feet when her name was called during the Tonys ceremony.
Purpose (2025):
At this point, being on Broadway and Tony-nominated every season wasn’t enough for Young; she needed to up the ante. So following her 2024 Tony Award win, she turned around and became the first Black performer in history to win back-to-back Tonys. In an ensemble of absolute powerhouse performers, Young still managed to pop as Aziza, bringing empathy, wit, and of course humor, to an evening of theater that grew more explosive with every minute that went by.
Proof (2026):
You know Young is an actor’s actor because after her two-peat back-to-back Tony wins, instead of chasing flashy leading roles, she stepped into the shoes of Claire in Proof. Acting alongside Ayo Edebiri and Don Cheadle, Young was truly supporting in the revival, doing nuanced, understated, deeply tender work. It’s somehow even more impressive that she didn’t earn a Tony nomination for the role, as it demonstrates how committed to the work she is as opposed to seeking out awards. That said, surely many more are in her future.
