Broadway’s biggest night also saw grand performances and big wins for women.
“The Outsiders,” a musical based on S.E. Hinton’s coming-of-age novel, emerged as the biggest winner of Sunday’s Tony Awards, bagging the coveted Best Musical. “Merrily We Roll Along,” a critically acclaimed revival of a Stephen Sondheim opus, and “Stereophonic,” a tale of a 1970s rock band, also won big.
The ceremony, which took place for the first time at New York City’s Lincoln Center, saw bigwins for women, one of the most notable being Angelina Jolie’s first-ever Tony Award as lead producer for “The Outsiders.”
Co-producer Matthew Rego, in his acceptance speech, thanked Hinton who was in the audience: “Susie, I’m 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.”
Hosting the ceremony was Tony-nominated and Oscar-winning actress Ariana DeBose for the third year in a row. This year, the 33-year-old also produced and choreographed the original song-and-dance number that opened the show, “This Party’s for You.” The song is a tribute of sorts to those who sacrifice for their art and took a gentle swipe at other entertainment types: “You’ll learn that film and TV can make you rich and make you famous. But theater will make you better,” as reported by Reuters.
“Stereophonic,” the play about a Fleetwood Mac-like band recording an album over a turbulent year, won best new play and had the night’s most total awards at five. Written by David Adjmi, the play features songs by former Arcade Fire member Will Butler and is the most nominated play in Tonys history with 13 nominations.
Two special guests further added excitement to the program—Jay-Z and Hillary Rodham Clinton. The former US First Lady and Secretary of State appeared on stage to a standing ovation to introduce the cast performance of “Suffs,” the Broadway play she co-produced with Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai and Tony winner Shaina Taub.
“I know a little bit about how hard it is to make a change, so I am extremely proud of this original American musical,” Clinton said. She went on to mention the upcoming election, saying “we need to be reminded about how important it is to vote.”
For the first musical presentation, Alicia Keys appeared at a piano as the cast of her semi-autobiographical musical, “Hell’s Kitchen,” presented a medley of songs. She sang her and Jay-Z’s 2009 hit “Empire State of Mind,” electrifying the audience.
Newcomer Maleah Joi Moon, meanwhile, won best leading actress for “Hell’s Kitchen.” The 21-year-old, who plays a role loosely based on Keys’ life, dedicated her award to her parents.
Danya Taymor—whose aunt is Julie Taymor, the first woman to win a Tony Award for directing a musical — became the sixth woman to win the same award for “The Outsiders.” Taymor’s win was seen as an upset over favored “Merrily We Roll Along” director Maria Friedman.
36-year-old Taub also had a big night. Taub is only the second woman in Broadway history to write, compose, and star in a Broadway musical, winning for best score, the ninth woman to do so. The “Suffs” creator had already won for best book earlier in the night. “If you are inspired by the story of ‘Suffs,’ please make sure you and everyone you know have registered to vote and vote, vote, vote!” she said.
“Succession” star Jeremy Strong took home the first big award of the night and his first-ever Tony for his work in the revival of Henrik Ibsen’s 1882 political play “An Enemy of the People.” The talented actor now has a Tony Award sitting next to his Emmy, Screen Actors Guild, and Golden Globe awards.
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 “Purlie Victorious.” The play follows the story of a Black preacher’s plan to reclaim his inheritance and win back his church from a plantation owner. “Thank you to my ancestors,” she said in her acceptance speech, mentioning playwright Ossie Davis and co-star Ruby Dee, who originated her role.
Daniel Radcliffe of “Harry Potter” fame solidified his theater career by winning best actor in a musical, his first trophy in five Broadway shows. He won for the revival of “Merrily We Roll Along,” the Stephen Sondheim- George Furth musical that goes backward in time. “This is one of the best experiences of my life,” Radcliffe said. “I will never have it as good again.” He also thanked his parents for playing Sondheim in the car as a young boy.
“Merrily We Roll Along” was also named best musical revival and earned Jonathan Groff his first Tony, for leading actor in a musical. Groff was previously nominated for “Spring Awakening” and “Hamilton.”
The musical has been a favorite among audiences and critics, a revived production of Sondheim’s “most famous flop,” which closed after 52 previews and 16 performances in its first go-round on Broadway in 1981.
Kecia Lewis, who plays a formidable piano teacher in “Hell’s Kitchen,” took home her first Tony as well. The 40-year-old veteran made her Broadway debut at 18 in the original company of “Dreamgirls.” “This moment is the one I dreamed of for those 40 years,” she said. “Don’t give up!”
“Appropriate,” Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ show centered on a family reunion in Arkansas, was named best play revival. The play’s star Sarah Paulson added a best leading actress in a play Tony to her awards collection, marking her halfway point to EGOT status, a person who has won Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards.
Three-time Tony winner and Broadway legend Chita Rivera got a special tribute from Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and Bebe Neuwirth. Rivera died in January at the age of 91.
Images of her work in “Chicago,” “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” and “West Side Story” were projected while dancers performed her hit numbers. Host DeBose, who won an Oscar in Rivera’s “West Side Story” role of Anita, joined the performance.
The production numbers also included an intense version of “Willkommen” from the “Cabaret” revival led by Eddie Redmayne, Pete Townshend playing guitar for “The Who’s Tommy,” and a “messy rumble” from “The Outsiders.”
Justin Peck won best choreography for the dance musical “Illinoise,” which brought Sufjan Steven’s 2005 concept album “Illinois” to the stage.
During a pre-show event hosted by actors Julianne Hough and Utkarsh Ambudkar, Tonys were awarded mostly in technical categories. Director Jack O’Brien and writer, director and producer George C. Wolfe each received the 2024 Special Tony Award for lifetime achievement in the theater.
