This year’s Tony Awards is shattering the internet domes’ expectations and actual wins. With the reinvigoration of Broadway shows at an all time high, our favorite movie stars are making it big in the playwright universe.
At the 77th annual Tony Awards, top accolades were claimed by the productions "Stereophonic," "Merrily We Roll Along," and "The Outsiders," alongside standout performances from Jeremy Strong and Daniel Radcliffe.
The 77th Annual Tony Awards was hosted by American actress, Ariana DeBose. She celebrated what she termed an “ambitious Broadway season” with 36 new productions, remarking on the sanctuary that theatre provides amidst often terrifying headlines. She later humorously referenced her viral BAFTA rap from the previous year, joking about developing a three-hour musical based on it.
"Stereophonic," which set a record with 13 nominations, emerged victorious with five awards, including Best Play. This production centers on a 1970s British-American rock band struggling to record an album. Playwright David Adjmi reflected on his decade-long journey to bring the story to the stage, emphasizing the need for greater arts funding in America. “It’s really hard to make a career in the arts, we need to fund the arts in America,” Adjmi said on stage.
In the Best Musical category, “The Outsiders" was up against “Hell’s Kitchen,” “Illinoise,” “Suffs," and “Water for Elephants.” The competition was fierce, with industry insiders unsure of the outcome until the last moment, though “Hell’s Kitchen” and “The Outsiders” were strong contenders. Ultimately, “Stereophonic” also secured wins for Best Direction, Lighting Design, and Sound Design.
Daniel Radcliffe, accepting his award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role, for "Merrily We Roll Along," thanked his parents for introducing him to Sondheim’s music and hailed the production as one of the highlights of his career. He expressed deep gratitude to his cast and crew, remarking, “I will never have it this good again.”
Jonathan Groff, twice previously nominated, delivered an emotional speech, crediting musical theatre with saving his soul, “musical theatre is still saving my soul,” and expressed heartfelt thanks to his parents for their unwavering support. The actor won the award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical, for "Merrily We Roll Along."
Succession's Jeremy Strong won Best Lead Actor in a Play for his role in “An Enemy of the People,” surpassing Liev Schreiber and William Jackson Harper. He described Henrik Ibsen’s environmental play as “a cry from the heart” that confronts “difficult truths that are staring us down right now.”
The evening saw many A-listers, including Oscar winner Angelina Jolie, Oscar nominee Taraji P. Henson, and Hillary Clinton, who received a standing ovation and spoke about the significance of voting while introducing a song from the musical “Suffs.”
The Best Revival of a Play award went to the dark comedy “Appropriate,” with Sarah Paulson winning Best Actress for her lead role, besting Jessica Lange and Rachel McAdams. In her acceptance speech, Paulson thanked playwright Branden Jacob-Jenkins for creating a character that longed to be seen, and highlighted the power of theatre in exploring human identity. The play also won for Lighting Design.
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