FEATURE: 2019 Tony Awards Recap
James Corden returned to host the 73rd annual Tony Awards at Radio City Hall last night. As Broadway’s biggest night—and thus the biggest night in American theatre—the awards show celebrated the best of the 2018-2019 season with an unmistakable message about the urgent need for greater diversity and inclusion. Once again, the telecast struggled with its coverage of plays vs. musicals—which is disappointing given that this past season was a banner one for new plays.
Miss the show? Here are my top takeaways:
“Hadestown” was the biggest winner of the evening—collecting eight awards from 14 nominations, including the coveted top prize of Best Musical; my favorite of the season, this sweep for “Hadestown” represents yet another triumph for the downtown/nonprofit pipeline in New York theatre, having been developed and premiered at the East Village’s New York Theatre Workshop in 2016
“The Ferryman” was the other top winner of the night, picking up Best Play, Best Director of a Play (Sam Mendes), and awards for set and costume design
In terms of numbers, “Beetlejuice” and “The Prom” were the biggest losers, netting no awards from 8 and 7 nominations, respectively; both shows need a boost at the box office to keep running
“Ain’t Too Proud” won only one award (choreography) from a stunning 12 nominations, but their boffo performance and booming box office will more than make up for that; meanwhile, box office sensation “To Kill a Mockingbird”, snubbed of a Best Play nomination, won only one award (Best Featured Actress) from nine nominations, and “Gary” won none, from a whopping 7 noms
Everything went largely as expected; the biggest upsets being Sergio Trujillo winning for Best Choreography for “Ain’t Too Proud” over Warren Carlyle for “Kiss Me, Kate”, and Rachel Hauck winning for Best Set Design of a Musical for “Hadestown” over David Korins for “Beetlejuice”
Mart Crowley winning a Tony Award for the Broadway production of his groundbreaking play “The Boys in the Band”, 51 years after writing it (at the time, a year before the Stonewall riots) was particularly special and poignant moment (watch his speech here)
Ali Stroker made history as the first actor in a wheelchair to be nominated for and win a Tony Award (watch her speech here)
Rachel Chavkin, Anaïs Mitchell, and André De Shields gave the best acceptance speeches of the night, watch here, here, and here
James Corden led a fabulous opening number (watch here) featuring the full casts of every nominated musical, paying homage to theatre as a live medium, taking a not-so-subtle knock on television and film; and his parody of “Michael in the Bathroom” from “Be More Chill”—with cameos by last year’s hosts, Sara Bareilles and Josh Groban—was hilarious (despite the lack of proper framing to give credit to Tony-nominated songwriter Joe Iconis)
Watch all the performances here
Out of 26 categories, I correctly predicted only 15 wins (58%). Below is the list of nominees and winners (bolded and italicized); also noted for each category are my (pretty lousy!) “should win/will win” predictions. Show names hyperlink to my reviews and where to buy tickets. Here’s to another great season!
Best Play
“Choir Boy”, by Tarell Alvin McCraney
“The Ferryman”, by Jez Butterworth
“Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus”, by Taylor Mac
“Ink”, by James Graham
“What the Constitution Means to Me”, by Heidi Schreck
SHOULD WIN: “What the Constitution Means to Me”
WILL WIN: “What the Constitution Means to Me”
DID WIN: “The Ferryman”, by Jez Butterworth
Best Musical
“Ain’t Too Proud—The Life and Times of The Temptations”
“Beetlejuice”
“Hadestown”
“The Prom”
“Tootsie”
SHOULD WIN: “Hadestown”
WILL WIN: “Tootsie”
DID WIN: “Hadestown”
Best Revival of a Play
“All My Sons”
“The Boys in the Band”, by Mart Crowley
“Burn This”
“Torch Song”, by Harvey Fierstein
“The Waverly Gallery”, by Kenneth Lonergan
SHOULD WIN: “All My Sons”
WILL WIN: “All My Sons”
DID WIN: “The Boys in the Band”, by Mart Crowley
Best Revival of a Musical
“Kiss Me, Kate”
“Oklahoma!”
SHOULD WIN: “Oklahoma!”
WILL WIN: “Oklahoma!”
DID WIN: “Oklahoma!”
Best Director of a Play
Rupert Goold, “Ink”
Sam Mendes, “The Ferryman”
Bartlett Sher, “To Kill a Mockingbird”
Ivo van Hove, “Network”
George C. Wolfe, “Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus”
SHOULD WIN: Bartlett Sher, “To Kill a Mockingbird”
WILL WIN: Sam Mendes, “The Ferryman”
DID WIN: Sam Mendes, “The Ferryman”
Best Director of a Musical
Rachel Chavkin, “Hadestown”
Scott Ellis, “Tootsie”
Daniel Fish, “Oklahoma!”
Des McAnuff, “Ain’t Too Proud”
Casey Nicholaw, “The Prom”
SHOULD WIN: Rachel Chavkin, “Hadestown”
WILL WIN: Daniel Fish, “Oklahoma!”
DID WIN: Rachel Chavkin, “Hadestown”
Best Choreography
Camille A. Brown, “Choir Boy”
Warren Carlyle, “Kiss Me, Kate”
Denis Jones, “Tootsie”
David Neumann, “Hadestown”
Sergio Trujillo, “Ain’t Too Proud”
SHOULD WIN: Warren Carlyle, “Kiss Me, Kate”
WILL WIN: Warren Carlyle, “Kiss Me, Kate”
DID WIN: Sergio Trujillo, “Ain’t Too Proud”
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play
Paddy Considine, “The Ferryman”
Bryan Cranston, “Network”
Jeff Daniels, “To Kill a Mockingbird”
Adam Driver, “Burn This”
Jeremy Pope, “Choir Boy”
SHOULD WIN: Bryan Cranston, “Network”
WILL WIN: Bryan Cranston, “Network”
DID WIN: Bryan Cranston, “Network”
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play
Annette Bening, “All My Sons”
Laura Donnelly, “The Ferryman”
Elaine May, “The Waverly Gallery”
Janet McTeer, “Bernhardt/Hamlet”
Laurie Metcalf, “Hillary and Clinton”
Heidi Schreck, “What the Constitution Means to Me”
SHOULD WIN: Heidi Schreck, “What the Constitution Means to Me”
WILL WIN: Elaine May, “The Waverly Gallery”
DID WIN: Elaine May, “The Waverly Gallery”
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play
Bertie Carvel, “Ink”
Robin De Jesús, “The Boys in the Band”
Gideon Glick, “To Kill a Mockingbird”
Brandon Uranowitz, “Burn This”
Benjamin Walker, “All My Sons”
SHOULD WIN: Gideon Glick, “To Kill a Mockingbird”
WILL WIN: Gideon Glick, “To Kill a Mockingbird”
DID WIN: Bertie Carvel, “Ink”
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play
Fionnula Flanagan, “The Ferryman”
Celia Keenan-Bolger, “To Kill a Mockingbird”
Kristine Nielsen, “Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus”
Julie White, “Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus”
Ruth Wilson, “King Lear”
SHOULD WIN: Celia Keenan-Bolger, “To Kill a Mockingbird”
WILL WIN: Celia Keenan-Bolger, “To Kill a Mockingbird”
DID WIN: Celia Keenan-Bolger, “To Kill a Mockingbird”
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical
Stephanie J. Block, “The Cher Show”
Caitlin Kinnunen, “The Prom”
Beth Leavel, “The Prom”
Eva Noblezada, “Hadestown”
Kelli O’Hara, “Kiss Me, Kate”
SHOULD WIN: Beth Leavel, “The Prom”
WILL WIN: Stephanie J. Block, “The Cher Show”
DID WIN: Stephanie J. Block, “The Cher Show”
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical
Brooks Ashmanskas, “The Prom”
Derrick Baskin, “Ain’t Too Proud”
Alex Brightman, “Beetlejuice”
Damon Daunno, “Oklahoma!”
Santino Fontana, “Tootsie”
SHOULD WIN: Santino Fontana, “Tootsie”
WILL WIN: Santino Fontana, “Tootsie”
DID WIN: Santino Fontana, “Tootsie”
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical
André De Shields, “Hadestown”
Andy Grotelueschen, “Tootsie”
Patrick Page, “Hadestown”
Jeremy Pope, “Ain’t Too Proud”
Ephraim Sykes, “Ain’t Too Proud”
SHOULD WIN: André De Shields, “Hadestown”
WILL WIN: André De Shields, “Hadestown”
DID WIN: André De Shields, “Hadestown”
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical
Lilli Cooper, “Tootsie”
Amber Gray, “Hadestown”
Sarah Stiles, “Tootsie”
Ali Stroker, “Oklahoma!”
Mary Testa, “Oklahoma!”
SHOULD WIN: Ali Stroker, “Oklahoma!”
WILL WIN: Ali Stroker, “Oklahoma!”
DID WIN: Ali Stroker, “Oklahoma!”
Best Book of a Musical
“Ain’t Too Proud”, by Dominique Morisseau
“Beetlejuice”, by Scott Brown and Anthony King
“Hadestown”, by Anaïs Mitchell
“The Prom”, by Bob Martin and Chad Beguelin
“Tootsie”, by Robert Horn
SHOULD WIN: “The Prom”, by Bob Martin and Chad Beguelin
WILL WIN: “Tootsie”, by Robert Horn
DID WIN: “Tootsie”, by Robert Horn
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
“Be More Chill”, by Joe Iconis
“Beetlejuice”, by Eddie Perfect
“Hadestown”, by Anaïs Mitchell
“The Prom”, by Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin
“To Kill a Mockingbird”, by Adam Guettel
“Tootsie”, by David Yazbek
SHOULD WIN: “Hadestown”, by Anaïs Mitchell
WILL WIN: “Hadestown”, by Anaïs Mitchell
DID WIN: “Hadestown”, by Anaïs Mitchell
Best Orchestrations
Michael Chorney and Todd Sickafoose, “Hadestown”
Larry Hochman, “Kiss Me, Kate”
Daniel Kluger, “Oklahoma!”
Simon Hale, “Tootsie”
Harold Wheeler, “Ain’t Too Proud”
SHOULD WIN: Michael Chorney and Todd Sickafoose, “Hadestown”
WILL WIN: Daniel Kluger, “Oklahoma!”
DID WIN: Michael Chorney and Todd Sickafoose, “Hadestown”
Best Scenic Design of a Play
Miriam Buether, “To Kill a Mockingbird”
Bunny Christie, “Ink”
Rob Howell, “The Ferryman”
Santo Loquasto, “Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus”
Jan Versweyveld, “Network”
SHOULD WIN: Rob Howell, “The Ferryman”
DID WIN: Rob Howell, “The Ferryman”
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Robert Brill and Peter Nigrini, “Ain’t Too Proud”
Peter England, “King Kong”
Rachel Hauck, “Hadestown”
Laura Jellinek, “Oklahoma!”
David Korins, “Beetlejuice”
SHOULD WIN: David Korins, “Beetlejuice”
DID WIN: Rachel Hauck, “Hadestown”
Best Costume Design of a Play
Rob Howell, “The Ferryman”
Toni-Leslie James, “Bernhardt/Hamlet”
Clint Ramos, “Torch Song”
Ann Roth, “Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus”
Ann Roth, “To Kill a Mockingbird”
SHOULD WIN: Rob Howell, “The Ferryman”
DID WIN: Rob Howell, “The Ferryman”
Best Costume Design of a Musical
Michael Krass, “Hadestown”
William Ivey Long, “Beetlejuice”
William Ivey Long, “Tootsie”
Bob Mackie, “The Cher Show”
Paul Tazewell, “Ain’t Too Proud”
SHOULD WIN: Bob Mackie, “The Cher Show”
DID WIN: Bob Mackie, “The Cher Show”
Best Lighting Design of a Play
Neil Austin, “Ink”
Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer, “Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus”
Peter Mumford, “The Ferryman”
Jennifer Tipton, “To Kill a Mockingbird”
Jan Versweyveld and Tal Yarden, “Network”
SHOULD WIN: Jan Versweyveld and Tal Yarden, “Network”
DID WIN: Neil Austin, “Ink”
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Kevin Adams, “The Cher Show”
Howell Binkley, “Ain’t Too Proud”
Bradley King, “Hadestown”
Peter Mumford, “King Kong”
Kenneth Posner and Peter Nigrini, “Beetlejuice”
SHOULD WIN: Bradley King, “Hadestown”
DID WIN: Bradley King, “Hadestown”
Best Sound Design of a Play
Adam Cork, “Ink”
Scott Lehrer, “To Kill a Mockingbird”
Fitz Patton, “Choir Boy”
Nick Powell, “The Ferryman”
Eric Sleichim, “Network”
SHOULD WIN: Eric Sleichim, “Network”
DID WIN: Fitz Patton, “Choir Boy”
Best Sound Design of a Musical
Peter Hylenski, “Beetlejuice”
Peter Hylenski, “King Kong”
Steve Canyon Kennedy, “Ain’t Too Proud”
Drew Levy, “Oklahoma!”
Nevin Steinberg and Jessica Paz, “Hadestown”
SHOULD WIN: Drew Levy, “Oklahoma!”
DID WIN: Nevin Steinberg and Jessica Paz, “Hadestown”
Total Wins:
“Hadestown” – 8 wins/14 nominations
“The Ferryman” – 4 wins/9 nominations
“Ink” – 2 wins/6 nominations
“Oklahoma!” – 2 wins/8 nominations
“The Cher Show” – 2 wins/3 nominations
“Tootsie” – 2 wins/11 nominations
“Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times of the Temptations” – 1 wins/12 nominations
“Choir Boy” – 1 win/4 nominations
“Network” – 1 win/5 nominations
“The Boys in the Band” – 1 win/2 nominations
“The Waverly Gallery” – 1 win/2 nominations
“To Kill a Mockingbird” – 1 win/9 nominations
No Awards:
“Beetlejuice” – 8 nominations
“Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus” – 7 nominations
“The Prom” – 7 nominations
“Kiss Me, Kate” – 4 nominations
“All My Sons” – 3 nominations
“Burn This” – 3 nominations
“King Kong” – 3 nominations*
“Bernhardt/Hamlet” – 2 nominations
“Torch Song” – 2 nominations
“What the Constitution Means to Me” – 2 nominations
“Be More Chill” – 1 nomination
“Hillary and Clinton” – 1 nomination
“King Lear” – 1 nomination
*Sonny Tilders and Creature Technology Company, the “King Kong” puppet creators, were honored with a Special Tony Award
