The 76th Tony Awards opened like no different. Two-time host Ariana DeBose flipped the pages of a clean script after which carried out in a gap quantity that was completely instrumental, that includes dancers from a number of Broadway exhibits.
DeBose went on to clarify that in deference to the Writers’ Guild’s ongoing strike, she—and each presenter of the night time—can be talking off the cuff. The 2 teleprompters housed within the famed United Palace in Washington Heights, New York, the place this yr’s awards occurred, would solely be used as an award speech countdown.
The present leaned closely on performances, together with playwright Sharon Washington’s New York, New York and Tony winner Alex Newell’s musical Shucked.
Listed below are a number of of probably the most memorable moments from this yr’s 76th Tony Awards:
Playwright Suzan-Lori Parks wins for Greatest Revival of a Play
Parks took residence the highest award for Greatest Revival of a Play for Prime Canine/Beneath Canine, which gained a Pulitzer Prize in 2002. “This implies an entire lot to an entire lot of individuals,” she declared, including that, “the theater is the nice treatment. Thanks for acknowledging our contribution.” With this award, Parks grow to be the primary Black lady to win within the Greatest Revival of a Play class.
Alex Newell wins Greatest Featured Actor in a Musical
Newell is the primary brazenly non-binary performer to win a Tony for his or her position as Lulu within the corn-loving musical Shucked. “I shouldn’t be up right here as a queer, nonbinary, fats, Black little child from Massachusetts,” Newell stated of their acceptance speech. “And to anybody that thinks that they will’t do it, I’m going to look you useless in your face that you are able to do something you place your thoughts to.” Newell entered the Actor class, stating in an interview that they regarded on the phrase actor as a genderless method to outline their vocation.
J. Harrison Ghee wins Greatest Lead Actor in a Musical
Doubling historical past in a single night time, Ghee grew to become the second brazenly non-binary performer winner for his or her efficiency as Jerry/Daphne within the remake of Some Like It Scorching. The musical provides an inclusive twist as Daphne explores being a transgender feminine, whereas Adrianna Hicks, a Black actress, steps into the position made well-known by Marilyn Monroe within the 1959 movie.
Denée Benton will get in a dig at a Republican presidential candidate
Whereas this yr’s present was not scripted, The Gilded Age star Denée Benton took a swipe at Florida Governor Ron DeSantis by calling the Republican presidential hopeful a “Grand Wizard” as she introduced an award for theater training. She additionally known as for a reputation change for the Florida city, Plantation, and its faculty South Plantation Excessive.
