91Ƶ

Skip to content

91ƵThe Outsiders91Ƶ best musical, 91ƵStereophonic91Ƶ best play at Tony Awards

Women make strides in annual theatre awards gala
web1_20240616200620-666f81a22863b2db9eae03b7jpeg
Host Ariana DeBose performs 91ƵThis Party91Ƶs for You91Ƶ during the 77th Tony Awards on Sunday, June 16, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)

91ƵThe Outsiders,91Ƶ a gritty adaptation of the classic young adult novel, became the essence of a Broadway insider on Sunday, winning for best new musical on a night when women made strides.

The musical based on the beloved S. E. Hinton book is about rival gangs of haves and have-nots in 1960s Oklahoma. The win meant a producer, landed her first Tony, too.

Producer Matthew Rego, in his acceptance speech, thanked Hinton, in the audience at Manhattan91Ƶs Lincoln Center: 91ƵSusie, I91Ƶm here to tell you that your story and its eternal message of love and family and staying gold has forever changed all of our lives.91Ƶ

the play about a Fleetwood Mac-like band recording an album over a turbulent and life-changing year, won best new play and had the night91Ƶs most total awards at five. It was written by David Adjmi, with songs by former

91ƵOh, no. My agent gave me a beta blocker, but it91Ƶs not working,91Ƶ Adjmi said. He added the play took 11 years to manifest.

91ƵThis was a very hard journey to get up here,91Ƶ he said. 91ƵWe need to fund the arts in America.91Ƶ

Two special guests electrified the crowd 91Ƶ Jay-Z and Hillary Rodham Clinton. The latter, a producer of , presented 91ƵSuffs.91Ƶ

91ƵI have stood on a lot of stages, but this is very special,91Ƶ Clinton said. 91ƵI know a little bit about how hard it is to make change.91Ƶ

appeared at a piano as the cast of her semi-autobiographical musical, presented a medley of songs. She sang her and Jay-Z91Ƶs 2009 smash 91ƵEmpire State of Mind,91Ƶ joining the rapper on interior steps to wild applause.

Later, newcomer Maleah Joi Moon won best leading actress for 91ƵHell91Ƶs Kitchen,91Ƶ brushing aside a challenge from veteran Kelli O91ƵHara. The 21-year-old, who plays a role loosely based on Keys91Ƶ life, dedicated her award to her parents.

Danya Taymor 91Ƶ whose aunt is Julie Taymor, the first woman to win a Tony Award for directing a musical 91Ƶ became the sixth woman to win the same award for 91ƵThe Outsiders.91Ƶ

Then Shaina Taub, only the second woman in Broadway history to write, compose and star in a Broadway musical, won for best score, the ninth woman to do so. The 91ƵSuffs91Ƶ creator had already won for best book earlier in the night.

91ƵIf you are inspired by the story of 91ƵSuffs,91Ƶ please make sure you and everyone you know have registered to vote and vote, vote, vote!91Ƶ she said. Taub said the win was for all the loud girls out there: 91ƵGo for it.91Ƶ

took home the first big award of the night. The 91ƵSuccession91Ƶ star landed his first Tony for his work in the revival of Henrik Ibsen91Ƶs 1882 political play 91ƵAn Enemy of the People.91Ƶ The award for best lead actor in a play will sit next to his Emmy, Screen Actors Guild Award and Golden Globe.

Kara Young, the first Black performer to be nominated for a Tony three consecutive years in a row, won this time as best featured actress in a play for 91ƵPurlie Victorious,91Ƶ the story of a Black preacher91Ƶs plan to reclaim his inheritance and win back his church from a plantation owner.

91ƵThank you to my ancestors,91Ƶ she said, giving thanks to a list that included playwright Ossie Davis and co-star Ruby Dee, who originated her role.

91ƵHarry Potter91Ƶ star cemented his stage career pivot by winning featured actor in a musical, his first trophy in five Broadway shows. He won for the revival of 91ƵMerrily We Roll Along,91Ƶ the George Furth musical that goes backward in time.

91ƵThis is one of the best experiences of my life,91Ƶ Radcliffe said. 91ƵI will never have it as good again.91Ƶ He also thanked his parents for playing Sondheim in the car growing up.

91ƵMerrily91Ƶ was also named best musical revival and earned his first Tony, for leading actor in a musical. Groff 91Ƶ previously nominated for 91ƵSpring Awakening91Ƶ and 91ƵHamilton91Ƶ 91Ƶ thanked co-stars Lindsay Mendez and Radcliffe, both emotional in the audience.

Groff, who said he used to watch the Tonys in Pennsylvania as a kid, also thanked his parents and brother for letting him act out scenes from 91ƵI Love Lucy91Ƶ as a child.

91ƵThank you for always allowing my freak flag to fly without ever making me feel weird about it,91Ƶ he said.

who plays a formidable piano teacher in 91ƵHell91Ƶs Kitchen,91Ƶ took home her first Tony, too. The 40-year veteran made her Broadway debut at 18 in the original company of 91ƵDreamgirls.91Ƶ

91ƵThis moment is the one I dreamed of for those 40 years,91Ƶ she said. 91ƵDon91Ƶt give up!91Ƶ

91ƵAppropriate,91Ƶ Branden Jacobs-Jenkins91Ƶ show centered on a family reunion in Arkansas, was named best play revival. Jacobs-Jenkins also thanked Davis, saying there would be no 91ƵAppropriate91Ƶ without 91ƵPurlie Victorious.91Ƶ

91ƵAppropriate91Ƶ star Sarah Paulson added a best leading actress in a play Tony to her awards cabinet. Paulson said she was thrilled to be able to interrogate the human condition: 91ƵThis is the heart and soul of what we do and I am so honored to be amongst you.91Ƶ

Three-time Tony-honored got a special tribute from Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell and Bebe Neuwirth. Images of her work in 91ƵChicago,91Ƶ 91ƵKiss of the Spider Woman91Ƶ and 91ƵWest Side Story91Ƶ were projected while dancers performed her hit numbers. who won an Oscar in Rivera91Ƶs 91ƵWest Side Story91Ƶ role of Anita, joined in.

DeBose, a three-time host, also co-choreographed the opening original number, 91ƵThis Party91Ƶs for You.91Ƶ The song cheered those who sacrifice for their art and took a gentle swipe at other entertainment types: 91ƵYou91Ƶll learn that film and TV can make you rich and make you famous. But theater will make you better.91Ƶ

The performances also included an intense, creepy version of 91ƵWillkommen91Ƶ from the 91ƵCabaret91Ƶ revival led by Eddie Redmayne, Pete Townshend playing guitar for 91ƵThe Who91Ƶs Tommy91Ƶ and a messy rumble from 91ƵThe Outsiders91Ƶ that included falling water, buckets of dirt, various carpets and an onstage truck.

The telecast teased upcoming shows, inviting Nicole Scherzinger 91Ƶ slated to star in a 91ƵSunset Boulevard91Ƶ revival 91Ƶ to sing the 91ƵIn Memoriam91Ƶ section. Nick Jonas and Adrienne Warren 91Ƶ announced today as stars of 202591Ƶs 91ƵThe Last Five Years91Ƶ 91Ƶ presented.

Scherzinger sang 91ƵWhat I Did for Love91Ƶ as the names appeared, including and actors and

READ ALSO:





(or

91Ƶ

) document.head.appendChild(flippScript); window.flippxp = window.flippxp || {run: []}; window.flippxp.run.push(function() { window.flippxp.registerSlot("#flipp-ux-slot-ssdaw212", "Black Press Media Standard", 1281409, [312035]); }); }