SE Valley Times

Colleen Jennings-Roggensack is set to receive a Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theater on June 16, recognizing her decades-long commitment to inclusivity at ASU Gammage and within the theater community. As Arizona’s sole Tony Awards voter, Jennings-Roggensack frequently travels to New York to assess Broadway shows for both voting purposes and potential performances in Tempe.

Jennings-Roggensack expressed her surprise at receiving this recognition, stating, “I am completely overwhelmed.” Her contributions have been acknowledged by the American Theater Wing and the Broadway League due to ASU Gammage's mission of "Connecting Communities," which has provided arts experiences to diverse groups including military families and students from low-income communities.

The upcoming 77th annual Tony Awards will feature Ariana DeBose as host and be broadcasted on CBS with live streaming available on Paramount +.

Highlighting some of ASU Gammage’s initiatives, Jennings-Roggensack noted programs like Military Family First Nights that offer tickets to military families, allowing them interaction with show casts. The School to Work program also offers high school students insights into arts careers through workshops and performances.

Jennings-Roggensack's tenure at ASU since 1992 includes bringing challenging works like “Angels in America” to local audiences. She believes theater should reflect America's diversity, noting its power in fostering understanding through storytelling.

Following George Floyd’s murder in 2020, she played a role in advocating for more representation within the Broadway League Board of Directors, resulting in nine African Americans joining the board after bylaws were changed.

During the pandemic shutdowns, Jennings-Roggensack was pivotal in efforts to reopen Broadway and "the road," participating extensively across numerous task forces focused on safety protocols.

Her proactive measures ensured that ASU Gammage remained operational without significant disruptions during COVID-19 challenges. Reflecting on these efforts she said, “We never closed down.”

Jennings-Roggensack will cast her Tony vote via an app by June 14 before being honored during the awards ceremony where her pre-recorded acceptance speech may be featured briefly amidst other presentations.