NEW YORK (AP) – The Tony Awards, known for their infectious joy, transformed Radio City Music Hall into a vibrant theater camp reunion on Sunday night. This year's ceremony celebrated Broadway's finest, culminating in a major win for the musical "Schmigadoon!", which triumphed with the coveted award for Best Musical.
The evening was marked by emotional reunions, including a special performance by the original cast of "The Book of Mormon" to commemorate the show's 15th anniversary. This performance, featuring Josh Gad, Nikki M. James, and Andrew Rannells, captivated the audience, particularly with Gad's rendition of the song "Man Up."
Acceptance speeches were as heartfelt as ever, with winners expressing gratitude towards their families. Notably, one recipient acknowledged the babysitters who have supported their careers, bringing a refreshing perspective to the evening.
New host Pink electrified the audience right from the start. In her opening number, she humorously pretended to struggle with her role as Peter Pan, before receiving encouragement from seasoned host Neil Patrick Harris. As the show progressed, Pink led an impressive ensemble of approximately 170 Broadway performers in a rendition of "Lady Marmalade," celebrating the current season's shows, which received an enthusiastic response from the crowd.
When "Schmigadoon!" secured the Best Musical award, producer Lorne Michaels noted the importance of topics like humor and joy in theater. Christine Schwarzman, also a producer, delivered a tongue-in-cheek thank-you to Apple TV for canceling the show’s third season. Her comment, acknowledging how this decision enabled their Broadway adaptation, elicited laughter from the audience.
One of the night’s most emotional highlights occurred when Joshua Henry finally won a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his powerful performance as Coalhouse Walker Jr. in the revival of "Ragtime." His heartfelt speech included gratitude for his first voice teacher, earning lengthy applause from the audience. He also recognized legendary actors Audra McDonald and Brian Stokes Mitchell, who had previously portrayed roles in the 1998 run of "Ragtime."
In an endearing moment, Caissie Levy, Henry's co-star in "Ragtime," celebrated her own first Tony win for Best Actress in a Musical. During her acceptance speech, she made a memorable mention of babysitters, saying, "Thank you to every babysitter who’s made it possible for me to be both a Broadway actor and a mother."
The ceremony also recorded a historic win when Bess Wohl's play "Liberation" took home the award for Best Play. In her acceptance speech, Wohl became the first American woman to win this award since Wendy Wasserstein's win for "The Heidi Chronicles" in 1989. She encouraged young women and girls to speak their truths and aspire to be heard.
In a humorous note, Cole Escola brought laughter to the usually somber story of "Oedipus" while presenting the award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play. He referenced contemporary themes of women’s struggles, which resonated with the audience, especially when veteran actress Lesley Manville won for her portrayal of Jocasta in the modern retelling of the classic tragedy.
During the event, John Leguizamo, introducing a segment of the show, light-heartedly declared his support for the Knicks with the remark, "Knicks in four!" This prompted enthusiastic cheers from the full house, given that the Knicks were leading the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals.
Even during commercial breaks, the energy in Radio City Music Hall was palpable. Audience members participated in learning choreography for the "Cats: The Jellicle Ball" number, celebrating diversity and queer ballroom culture, as well as practicing dance moves for a "Time Warp" number from "The Rocky Horror Show."
Overall, the 79th Tony Awards provided a night filled with nostalgia, joy, and recognition of the hard work and dedication of Broadway artists, while also ensuring a festive atmosphere that reverberated throughout the venue.
