Jhett Tolentino

Jhett Tolentino (born December 28, 1976) is a Filipino film and theatre producer. He is known for being the second Philippine-born awardee of the Tony Award, behind Lea Salonga. Having won three Tony Awards for his producing work between 2013 and 2015 and received his first Grammy Award in February 2017, he holds the record for the most wins of any naturalized Filipinos. In 2018, Tolentino was honored the Pamana ng Pilipino Award by the President of the Philippines for his non-profit work.

Early life According to his self-produced biographical documentary Life Is What You Make It, Tolentino is the youngest child of Gloria Dizon, a native of Prieto Diaz, Sorsogon and Arthur Tolentino, a native of Iloilo whose roots come from Bataan. Tolentino grew up in a severely impoverished area of Barangay Calumpang, Molo, Iloilo City, which was a few meters across the shore of the Iloilo Strait.

Tolentino attended Calumpang Elementary School (since renamed as Esteban Juntado, Sr. Elementary School) from 1983 to 1989. He entered the Basic Education Unit of University of Iloilo as a high school freshman and took up his secondary education from 1989 to 1993.

His high school education was enabled by a scholarship program promoted by the Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Parish. The scholarship grant is funded by the Meguko Society, a student organization operating at the Jesuit-run Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan. He worked as a nursing assistant in 2006, and when the market crashed as part of the 2008 financial crisis, he worked in the healthcare industry full-time.

While in New York and working in finance and healthcare, he started writing reviews of theatre shows on his blog.

In February 2016, Tolentino was given recognition by the government of the Philippines through the National Commission for Culture and the Arts-Ani ng Dangal for giving international recognition to the Philippines; and was among The Outstanding Young Men and Women of the Philippines who were awarded the same year by President Rodrigo Duterte at Malacañang Palace in December of the same year. In 2019 Tolentino won Best Short Documentary at the NVIFF Awards in Amsterdam. In 2021, Blogtalk with MJ Racadio named him one of the "75 Most Influential Filipino-Americans".

Affiliations Organizations Organization Position Stint The Recording Academy (Grammy Awards) Voting Member 2016–present The Broadway League (Tony Awards) Voting Member 2015–2017 The Order of the Knights of Rizal-New York Chapter Deputy Chapter Commander 2015–2018

Music credits Recordings Year Album Credits Label Notes 2016 The Color Purple: New Broadway Cast Recording Producer Broadway Records 59th Annual Grammy Awards winner 2015 Side Show: Added Attractions Live at Feinstein's/54 Below2014 Side Show: Original 2014 Broadway Cast Recording Leslie Odom Jr. Associate Producer CD Baby Re-recorded in 2016 A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder: Original Broadway Cast Recording Co-Executive Producer Sh-K-Boom Records 57th Annual Grammy Awards nominee 2013 Matilda the Musical: Original Broadway Cast Recording Associate Producer Broadway Records 56th Annual Grammy Awards nominee

Theatre credits

Filmography

Notable awards and nominations Awards and Nominations Year Award Production Role Results2018 Aliw Award for Best PlayM. ButterflyProducer 2017 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album The Color Purple Co-Producer 2013 Tony Award for Best Play Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike Producer Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play Drama League Award for Outstanding Production of a Play Outer Critics Circle Award Best New Broadway Play Outer Critics Circle Award Best New Off-Broadway Play My Name is Asher Lev Off Broadway Alliance Award Best New Play

Special citations Special Citations Year Title Award-giving Body Venue 2018 Pamana ng Pilipino Award Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas Malacañan Palace, Manila2016 Ten Outstanding Young Men and Women of the Philippines Junior Chamber International-Philippines Philippine Immersion Program Delegate Filipino Young Leaders Program Philippine Embassy, Washington, D.C. Ani ng Dangal National Commission for Culture and the ArtsSMX Aura Convention Center, Taguig 2014 The Outstanding Filipino American for Entertainment The Outstanding Filipino American-New York Carnegie Hall, New York City