Who Was the First Black Woman to Star in a Broadway Play?

Debut

• Waters made her first Broadway appearance in 1927 at the Palace Theater, performing in "Africana."
  
  

Starring Role

• In 1931, Waters starred on Broadway in the musical "Rhapsody in Black."
  
  

Casting Breakthrough

• In 1933, she became the first black woman to appear with an all-white cast in the musical "As Thousands Cheer."
  
  

Dramatic Role

• Waters played Hagar in "Mamba's Daughters" in 1939, her first dramatic role on Broadway and another first for black women. She received 17 curtain calls on opening night.
  
  

Accolades

• New York Drama Critics named Waters as Best Actress for Broadway's "The Member of the Wedding" in 1950.