Local Play Wins Four NAACP Awards

Last night's star-studded 17th Annual Beverly Hills/Hollywood NAACP Awards brought prestigious wins for local play 'Da Kink In My Hair and playwright trey anthony. The play started as a one-woman Fringe Festival production and enjoyed multiple sold-out runs in Toronto until expanded by the Mirvishes at the Princess of Wales Theatre last year.

Set in a West Indian hair salon on Eglinton Avenue, the production involves the stories of multiple women who pass through its doors and who receive the wise, therapeutic words of its proprietor, Novelette. The success of 'Da Kink brought it on tour to San Diego and London, and it's currently being turned into a television series for Global.

Last night's NAACP ceremony was hosted by Chandra Wilson ("The Nazi" of Grey's Anatomy) and Steve Harris (The Practice) and featured Ben Stiller, Magic Johnson, and Sheryl Lee Ralph as presenters. trey anthony took home an award for Best Playwright, and the play also won NAACP Theater Awards for Best Director, Best Ensemble Cast and Best Sound Design.

anthony told Torontoist how the strangest part was having designers calling her for the first time to offer gowns for the red carpet. The playwright, comedian and queer activist also founded Toronto's 'dat girl 'sho is funny! comedy festival and is currently writing a novel. Her most recent play I Am Not A Dinner Mint, which was co-written with Rachael-Lee Rickards and had two Toronto runs last year, is re-opening at Harbourfront Centre this summer.