GRWM: Playwright Jordan E. Cooper Gives EBONY the Inside Scoop on His Lit Tony Awards Look

Award-nominated actor and playwright Jordan E. Cooper is continuing to soar to great heights. From working on BET+'s Ms. Pat Show to writing his own dramedy, Ain't No Mo', for Broadway, Jordan has an exceptional mind that has allowed him to blaze his own trail and set the tone for Black creatives. Proving his trajectory of success and favor, at this year's Tony Award, he was up for six nominations for Ain't No Mo'—which imagines what would happen if Black folks were gifted a ticket to the continent of Africa.

Cooper, who is also the youngest Black playwright to have a show on Broadway deserves to revel in his accomplishments and have a night where he looks just as fly doing it. He graciously invited EBONY into his space to share his pre-Tony Awards "get ready with me" routine.

"When my stylist Ebony Brown showed me this Off-White suit I knew it was the one. There’s groups of people painted on the suit, walking towards or away from something and my play, Ain’t No Mo, is about the notion of Black people in America getting a plane ticket back to Africa," says Cooper of his lit leather ensemble by the hot luxury label founded by the late visionary Virgil Abloh, and which is now helmed by the celebrated Black stylist and creative Ib Kamara. "The groups of people on the suit feels symbolic and feels like community. They sent the entire runway look. I’m also wearing Off-White boots."

Brown also surprised Cooper with a custom airplane chain from H. Crowne. "Again, this is symbolic of the Black people in my play getting a plane ticket to Africa, and whenever I’m speaking about the play I end every speech with 'enjoy your flight'—so it’s perfect,” adds the Tony Award nominee.

For his grooming, Cooper wanted to keep it simple so as not to compete with standout outfit. "I used a Smashbox hydrating primer and paired it with almond oil. I wanted my grooming to feel clean and natural,” shares the playwright. And nothing finishes off a fresh style, from head-to-toe, better than a fresh scent. Chanel's Bleu de Chanel Eau de Parfum was Cooper's go-to juice to complete his look.

“What it means to be the youngest Black playwright in Broadway history is an honor. I know that I’m not going to be the last, you know? Hopefully, it just opens the door for somebody else to come on through because I am following the footsteps of Lorraine Hansberry. Before me, the youngest was Lorraine Hansberry with “A Raisin in the Sun” and also Ntozake Shange with “For Colored Girls.” So, the fact that I’m following in the lineage of those brilliant Black women with a play like "Ain’t No Mo’" is a great and heavy privilege to take on, really.”Image: Rashida Zagon.

Check out the details of his leather Off-White suit. Image: courtesy of Gold Standard Productions.

The evening's drip. Image: Rashida Zagon.

My stylist, Ebony Brown, surprised me with a custom airplane chain from H. Crowne. This is symbolic of "Ain’t No Mo’" premise of Black people getting a plane ticket to Africa and whenever I’m speaking about 'enjoy your flight,' so it’s perfect.” Image: courtesy of Gold Standard Productions.

Off-White combat boots to complete the look. Image: Rashida Zagon.

Getting ready with kin folk. Image: Rashida Zagon.

Cooper's stylist Brown ensuring that the fit is perfect. Image: courtesy of Gold Standard Productions.

Cooper with his dad and mother who were there with him on his big evening. Image: Rashida Zagon.

Cooper kept his grooming simple. All he used was Smashbox primer, almond oil and Chanel cologne—and he was good to go. Image: courtesy of Gold Standard Productions.

Prayers with fam before the big moment. Image: Rashida Zagon.

The final look, from head-to-toe. Image: courtesy of Gold Standard Productions.