My favorite award show was last night – The Tonys!!! it was such a good show, probably my favorite in a long time, and not just because it was the #hamiltonys, there were a lot of fabulous and heartfelt things going. Here is my recap, and if you want to watch the whole ceremony its here on the CBS website.
My favorite moments (not performances)
- Lin Manuel’s speech. he made me cry, and after the events of Orlando, his sonnet could not have been more perfect and such an important message. Love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love should be everyone’s new mantra. If you cant see the video above click this link to see the video. As for the sonnet here it is:
- My wife’s the reason anything gets done. She nudges me towards promise by degrees.
She is a perfect symphony of one, our son is her most beautiful reprise.
We chase the melodies that seem to find us
until they’re finished songs and start to play.
When senseless acts of tragedy remind us
that nothing here is promised, not one day.
This show is proof that history remembers.
We live through times when hate and fear seem stronger.
We rise and fall and light from dying embers.
Remembrances that hope and love live longer.
And love is love is love is love is love is love is love cannot be killed or swept aside.
As sacred as a symphony, Eliza tells her story and fills the world with music love and pride.
- My wife’s the reason anything gets done. She nudges me towards promise by degrees.
- James Corden – he was just amazing. From his opening to carpool to the Hillary and Donald Trump skit, he was on point all show long. Even Oprah agreed! https://twitter.com/Oprah/status/742371036742684672
- Everything that is Cynthia Erivo– from her incredible performance to her winning, to the fact that she won two standing ovations – so deserved. she is beautiful and she is here! (And if you don’t get that see the video of her performance below!)
- The Hamilton love– I wish they could have tied the producers (i do love me some Hamilton much more than the Producers) in wins, but it was still great to see all the love (And the two that they didn’t win the other winners were so deserved I can’t complain). I shouted for joy when Renee and Daveed won, but the best part was that Leslie won the best actor – unexpected and cool.
- Frank Langella’s speech– pure class. “When something bad happens we have three choices: we let it define us, we let it destroy us, or we let it strengthen us.”
- The fact that the award show was dedicated to Orlando victims
- Barbara!!! (although could she maybe have sung a few bars?
- The #ham4ham inspired snipets outside leading to commercial – they were so cute.
- I loved the fact that all the acting categories went to people of color. After the whole #oscarsowhite controversy, its great so see the theater world be so diverse and embracing
- The law and order sketch
- Andrew Lloyd Webber Playing the Tambourine
- This wasn’t on the live show but has to be seen ‘ Lin Manuel’s book award speech
My favorite performances (in order of love) (if the embedded files don’t work, click the on this link that has all the performances in the Tony Website as well as in TVLine )
- James Corden Opener was absolutely amazing (including the Hamilton intro)
- Hamilton — I wasnt a fan of the song choice but can’t deny that the staging is totally representing of what the show did. In my mind I would have prefered something that highlighted Leslie more than Christopher Jackson or something with the Sisters.However, they totally redeemed themselves when they sang the song I wanted at the end -The Schyler Sisters, in their gowns!! total Hamilton love.
and the closing number :
- Color Purple – like I said above Cynthia Erivo can do no wrong (this song is spectacular) plus add Heather Headley and I was a little girl in a candy store
- Waitress – the combination of Sarah Bareilles and Jessie Mueller was everything!
- School Of Rock – these kids are just too cute
- She Loves me– I need some vanilla ice cream now :). also I was glad they showed Jane Krakowski insane acrobatics
- Gloria Estefan and the Cast of On Your Feet – they were so much fun and I loved seeing Gloria Up there
for all the other performances see the links in the end of the post.
The winners
- Best Musical: “Hamilton”
- Best Revival of a Musical: “The Color Purple”
- Best Play: “The Humans”
- Best Revival of a Play: “Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge”
- Best Lead Actor in a Musical: Leslie Odom Jr., “Hamilton”
- Best Lead Actress in a Musical: Cynthia Erivo, “The Color Purple”
- Best Lead Actor in a Play: Frank Langella, “The Father”
- Best Lead Actress in a Play: Jessica Lange, “Long Day’s Journey Into Night”
- Best Featured Actress in a Play: Jayne Houdyshell, “The Humans”
- Best Featured Actress in a Musical: Renee Elise Goldsberry, “Hamilton”
- Best Featured Actor in a Musical: Daveed Diggs, “Hamilton”
- Best Featured Actor in a Play: Reed Birney, “The Humans”
- Best Original Score: “Hamilton,” Lin-Manuel Miranda
- Best Book of a Musical: “Hamilton,” Lin-Manuel Miranda
- Best Direction of a Play: Ivo Van Hove, “Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge”
- Best Direction of a Musical: Thomas Kail, “Hamilton”
- Best Orchestrations: Alex Lacamoire, “Hamilton”
- Best Lighting Design of a Musical: Howell Binkley, “Hamilton”
- Best Lighting Design of a Play: Natasha Katz, “Long Day’s Journey Into Night”
- Best Scenic Design of a Musical: David Rockwell, “She Loves Me”
- Best Scenic Design of a Play: David Zinn, “The Humans
- Best Costume Design of a Musical: Paul Tazewell, “Hamilton”
- Best Costume Design of a Play: Clint Ramos, “Eclipsed”
- Best Choreography: Andy Blankenbuehler, “Hamilton”
The Best fashion












All the rest of the Performances
- Shuffle Along
- Fiddler – really a lost opportunity
- Bright Star- Carmen Cusack can SANG but again not my favorite
- Spring Awakening
Media Coverage
- The Best Moments From the 2016 Tony Awards
- Proud Papa Lin-Manuel Miranda Had the Best Reactions As Hamilton Swept the Tonys
- 2016 Tony Awards: 16 Weird, Wonderful Moments
- Photo Flash: Highlights from the 70th Annual TONY AWARDS
- Tony Awards Hail ‘Hamilton’ and Denounce Hate
- The Tony’s a polished night of selling Broadway
- vanity Fairs Tony Best Dressed
- Video Roundup: Watch All the Full Performances from the 70th ANNUAL TONY AWARDS
- Watch Lin-Manuel Miranda Read a Moving Poem About His Wife and Tragedy at the Tonys
- Tony Awards: 5 Biggest Snubs and Surprises
- Tony Awards Make History: All Four Musical Acting Categories Go to People of Color
- They’re Beautiful, And They’re Here: Broadway.com Breaks Down the Performances at the 2016 Tony Awards
- The Tony Awards and the Audacity of Joy on a Day of Hate
- Of Humans and Hamilton: A Review of the 70th Annual Tony Awards
- Six moments that made last night’s Tony Awards one of the best ones yet
- Relive the Best of the 2016 Tony Awards: Why This Year Marks a Historic Moment
- Tony Awards 2016: Best Moments
- Tony’s Red Carpet Moments
- The Tonys ceremony is both classy and fun, with only one miss
- Tony Awards 2016 highlights and winners
- Hamilton Tops Tony Awards With 11 Wins
- See All the Looks From the 2016 Tony Awards
- The Award for Warm Humanity Goes to the Tonys (‘Hamilton’ Did OK, Too)
- Jake Gyllenhaal Sang ‘A Whole New World’ During a Commercial Break at the Tonys, and Honestly, Commercials, How Dare You?
- Thumbs Up! Tony Host James Corden Made Broadway’s Biggest Night a Fun, Farcical & Fantastic Affair