Hasty Pudding Honors Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance with 8th Order of the Golden Sphinx

Shortly before 5 p.m. on March 2, students and faculty gathered in the lobby of Farkas Hall dressed in black-tie evening wear, chattering with excitement at the return of a performing arts award unseen for the last five years: the Order of the Golden Sphinx.

This year, the Institute awarded Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance ’82 with the 8th Order of the Golden Sphinx. The pair are the first dual recipients of the honor. Bassett and Vance chose Heartfelt Education through the Arts, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit performing arts company abbreviated as the H.E.ART., as the recipient of the $50,000 donation associated with the award.

Established in 2013, the Order of the Golden Sphinx is the Institute’s highest honor and recognizes performing artists for their extraordinary contributions to the field with a donation to a charitable arts organization of their choice.

Bassett and Vance are a Hollywood power couple and entertainment legends in their own right. Bassett is an Academy Honorary Award recipient, Emmy Award-winning actress, director, and executive producer known for her dynamic, moving performances in iconic films like “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” “Malcolm X,” and “Black Panther” as well as television shows like “9-1-1.” She has also received a SAG Award and 17 NAACP Image Awards, and has appeared on Women of the Year lists for both Time and Glamour magazines.

Vance is an Emmy, Tony, and Critics’ Choice Award-winning actor, author, and executive producer with a prolific cinematic career spanning films like “The Hunt for Red October” and television shows such as “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story” and “Lovecraft Country.” He has also received 2 NAACP Image Awards and serves as President and Chairman of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation.

Before the ceremony, audience members eagerly awaited the opportunity to hear from the iconic duo, who have touched the hearts of countless viewers.

“I believe this event would ground me in my own artistic practice by cultivating community within and across artistic disciplines,” said Salome P. Agbaroji ’27.

Agbaroji is a performing artist herself, a spoken word poet who served as the 2023 National Youth Poet Laureate of the United States.

Bassett and Vance’s own production company — Bassett Vance Productions — drew audience interest from a business perspective.

“I would love to hear how [Bassett] navigated the entertainment industry as a Black woman. I think her experiences would resonate with me as a woman of color as well,” said Gowri Rangu ’26, who attended the event with Harvard Undergraduate Women in Business.

The event itself kicked off with ensemble performances by the Hasty Pudding Theatricals, composed specifically for the event and rehearsed over two days. Pudding members clad in their signature suits, dresses, and bird costumes serenaded the awardees with whimsical, energetic singing and dancing.

Andrew L. Farkas ’82, Graduate Chairman of the Hasty Pudding Institute, then led a Q&A session between the awardees and the audience. Bassett and Vance offered insight into discovering their passions and building successful careers.

Vance emphasized college as a time for exploration, encouraging undergraduates to take advantage of the freedom to pursue their interests. He provided an anecdote from his early acting career, encouraging the audience to “not be ashamed” of a lack of knowledge when approaching something new.

“When I was cast in ‘Fences,’ I didn’t know upstage from downstage,” he said, standing up and walking around the stage to demonstrate the directions.

Bassett also affirmed the importance of self-confidence, especially in pursuing one’s passions. She warned the audience against becoming cynical.

“Keep the joy-stealers at bay. Maintain your joy,” she said.

The pair also credited each other’s support throughout their lives.

“We’re a team,” said Vance. “She’s my inspiration.”

The donation’s recipient, Heartfelt Education through the Arts, is a multicultural performing arts company that empowers actors, dancers, and singers of all ages to cultivate their confidence and talents. Eartha Robinson, the H.E.ART’s founder and instructor, taught Bassett choreography for her portrayal of Tina Turner in “What’s Love Got to Do with It.”

“She did it with such love, since I was like ‘I’m no triple threat! I’ve got to sing and dance!’ but she encouraged me every step of the way,” Bassett said.

Bassett and Vance were also honored with a golden sphinx-shaped trophy, presented by their twin children, Bronwyn G. Vance ’28 and Slater J. Vance.

“I’m grateful, and thank you, thank you so much,” said Bassett upon the ceremony’s conclusion.

—Staff writer Jackie Chen can be reached at jackie.chen@thecrimson.com.