Why We’re Choosing to Honor Melba Moore… and Why You Should Join Us

This year, on Monday, November 3, at the Kimmel Center, Mazzoni Center Honors is proud to celebrate Melba Moore, an artist whose revolutionary career has transformed Broadway, music, television, and activism.

Just as Mazzoni Center has been a revolutionary force in Philadelphia, breaking down barriers in LGBTQ+ health, creating affirming spaces, and championing equity long before it was the norm, Melba Moore has shattered ceilings and redefined what’s possible.

Here are just 10 of the many reasons Melba Moore is a trailblazer:

•  Tony Award Winner & Barrier Breaker – In 1970, she won a Tony Award for Purlie, becoming the first Black actress to be named Best Featured Actress in a Musical.
• History-Maker on Broadway – In 1968, she became the first Black woman to replace a white actress in a lead Broadway role (Hair).
• Television Pioneer – Starred in The Melba Moore–Clifton Davis Show, one of the earliest variety shows hosted by Black artists.
• Chart-Topping Crossover Artist – From R&B to pop to Broadway, she mastered multiple genres, scoring hits while remaining a stage powerhouse.
• Groundbreaking Female Producer – Took creative control in an era when Black women rarely held such power.
• Role Model for Black Broadway Artists – Opened doors for future generations of performers of color in non-stereotypical roles, including the first Black actor to portray Fantine in Les Miserables.
• Activist, Advocate, and Ally – A consistent voice for civil rights, HIV/AIDS awareness, education, and domestic violence prevention; and her music has long been a soundtrack in gay dance clubs.
• Longevity in Entertainment – With over five decades of reinvention, she proves women, especially Black women, can thrive in an industry that too often sidelines them.
• Preserved in the Library of Congress – Melba’s landmark 1990 recording of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” the Black national anthem, is one of only two versions recognized by the Library of Congress, honoring her role in carrying forward a defining anthem of resilience and freedom..
• Cultural Icon – Honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and induction into the Official R&B Hall of Fame.

Melba Moore’s career is revolutionary because it blends artistry and activism, just as Mazzoni Center’s work blends care and justice. Both have transformed their fields, inspired communities, and paved the way for others to thrive.

On November 3, we’ll gather to honor Melba Moore with unforgettable performances, moving tributes, and a celebration of her legacy – all from a star-studded line-up unmatched in Philadelphia.

We hope you’ll join us as we celebrate two revolutionary legacies: Melba Moore and Mazzoni Center.

To see our full line-up of performers and purchase your tickets today, click here.