The 78th Tony Awards: A Night to Remember
The 78th Tony Awards, held on Sunday, saw a number of outstanding productions and performances take home top honours. According to Variety, the ceremony was a celebration of the best of Broadway, with many winners using their time on stage to criticise the current political climate. As Variety reports, the theatre community is a liberal one, and many winners used their platform to speak out against authoritarianism and discrimination.
In a closely watched race, "Maybe Happy Ending," a love story involving two abandoned robots, was named best musical. The prize for best play went to "Purpose," a blisteringly funny look at a Civil Rights icon’s dysfunctional family, as reported by Variety. The revamped production of "Sunset Boulevard" took home the award for best musical revival, while "Eureka Day," a comedy about vaccine mandates, won best play revival.
Nicole Scherzinger, star of "Sunset Boulevard," was named best leading actress in a musical, beating out Audra McDonald of "Gypsy." Scherzinger’s performance as a Hollywood icon prematurely put out to pasture was a career-redefining role for the "Pussycats Doll" singer, who has publicly admitted to experiencing ageism in the entertainment industry. As Variety quotes, Scherzinger said in her acceptance speech, "You all have made me feel like I belong, and I have come home at last… If there’s anyone out there who feels like they don’t belong or your time hasn’t come, don’t give up. Just keep on giving, because the world needs your love and your light now more than ever."
Sarah Snook won best leading actress in a play for her one-woman tour de force "The Picture of Dorian Gray," in which she plays 26 different roles. Cole Escola, who wrote and starred in "Oh, Mary!", took home the award for best leading actor in a play. Escola’s speech was a humorous one, with the actor thanking Amy Sedaris and "Tebow from Grindr," as reported by Variety.
Sam Pinkleton, who helped turn "Oh, Mary!" into a Broadway smash, won the award for best director of a play. "Maybe Happy Ending," which initially struggled at the box office, picked up a leading six Tony Awards, including prizes for Darren Criss’ leading performance and Michael Arden’s direction. The show won a total of six awards, including best musical, best book of a musical, best original score, and best choreography.
The theatre business seems to have recaptured its stride after a long and painful post-pandemic recovery, with ticket sales for the season topping out at a record $1.89 billion. As Variety notes, Cynthia Erivo, who served as Tony host for the first time, joked that "Broadway is officially back, provided we don’t run out of cast members from ‘Succession.’" The ceremony was filled with milestones, including Brendan Jacobs-Jenkins becoming only the third playwright to win Tonys in consecutive years.
The Tonys also recognised the 10th anniversary of "Hamilton," bringing back its creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and original cast members for a medley of the show’s greatest hits. As Variety reports, Erivo noted that when "Hamilton" opened, Barack Obama was president, and the show has had a lasting impact on how Americans view their own history.
A full list of winners can be found below:
- Best Musical: Maybe Happy Ending (WINNER)
- Best Play: Purpose (WINNER)
- Best Revival of a Musical: Sunset Blvd. (WINNER)
- Best Revival of a Play: Eureka Day (WINNER)
- Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical: Nicole Scherzinger, Sunset Blvd. (WINNER)
- Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical: Darren Criss, Maybe Happy Ending (WINNER)
- Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play: Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray (WINNER)
- Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play: Cole Escola, Oh, Mary! (WINNER)
- Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical: Jak Malone, Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical (WINNER)
- Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical: Natalie Venetia Belcon, Buena Vista Social Club (WINNER)
- Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play: Francis Jue, Yellow Face (WINNER)
- Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play: Kara Young, Purpose (WINNER)
