Here's the buzz on Tony Awards 2023, including winners
2023 Tony Awards: Broadway lovers Ilana Keller and Bill Canacci shared their thoughts on who will win, and live-tweeted throughout the broadcast. You can follow them @billcanacci and @ilanakeller.
The 2023 Tony Awards Sunday night got off to a very Jersey start - "We first want to thank the great state of New Jersey," said David Lindsay-Abaire as he and Jeanine Tesori took home the Tony for Best Original Score for "Kimberly Akimbo," the first award of the night. The musical is set in Bergen County, mentions lots of towns by name, and Great Adventure plays a role.
Fittingly, it was "Kimberly Akimbo" that put a capper on the evening, taking home the Tony Award for Best Musical.
And it made plenty of noise in between, with Victoria Clark taking Best Leading Actress honors, Bonnie Milligan claiming Best Featured Actress in a Musical, Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score awards.
Among plays, "Leopoldstadt" led the way, winning Best Play, a Best Featured Actor award for Brandon Uranowitz, and best directing and costumes for a play honors.
Alex Newell ("Shucked") and J. Harrison Ghee ("Some Like It Hot") made history as the first openly nonbinary performers to win acting Tony Awards, as best featured and lead actor, respectively. .
The 76th annual awards took place Sunday, June 11, at the United Palace Theatre in Washington Heights, hosted by Ariana DeBose.
Below are tidbits and highlights from the evening. Scroll down for the full list of winners.
Memorable 2023 Tony Awards moments
Composer John Kander brought laughs, saying "this is a very big deal" as he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award. He gave credit to longtime collaborator Fred Ebb and the performers and creatives who worked on his shows.
"I am grateful for music, which has invaded me early on, from the time I was a baby, and has stayed my friend my entire life, and has promised to stick with me to the end," he said.
Fellow Lifetime Achievement Award winner Joel Grey brought down the house by opening his speech by singing the first strains of "Willkommen" from "Cabaret." He was introduced by his daughter, actor Jennifer Grey.
Jerry Mitchell was also honored for his contributions to the Broadway community.
The Tony Awards wasted no time addressing the impact the WGA writers' strike had on the show - DeBose kicked things off by flipping to the first page of a blank script. The rest of the opening consisted of music and dance through the historic theater to New York and Broadway themed songs.
Mention of the writers' strike got warm applause from the audience as she explained that each presenter will be unscripted. There are no teleprompters, and two monitors that counted down the speech time. Various winners showed support for the WGA and solidarity with the strike throughout the night.
Another theme throughout the evening was support for the LGBTQ community, particularly queer youth. You are loved, you are accepted, you have a place in this world, they said.
An emotional Brandon Uranowitz, who won a Tony for Best Featured Actor in a Play, ended his speech saying, "To anyone who is watching who is a parent, when your child tell you who they are, believe them."
On a similar note, Bonnie Milligan, Best Featured Actress in a Musical winner, said "you belong somewhere," regardless of sexuality, identity, weight or anything else someone says isn't right - "it's right," while director Michael Arden made a statement of defiance and triumph not safe for television, but which brought the audience (and the Twitterverse) to its feet.
Alex Newell made history as the first openly nonbinary person to win an acting Tony for best featured actor in a musical ("Shucked").
"To anyone that thinks they can't do it, I'm gonna look you dead in the face that you can do anything you put your mind to," they said, after saying they "shouldn't" be up there as a queer, fat, Black, nonbinary actor from Massachusetts.
J. Harrison Ghee doubled the first later in the evening when they won the Tony for best lead actor in a musical for "Some Like It Hot."
"This has to be the first time an Oscar won a Tony," Sean Hayes said in accepting the Tony for Best Leading Actor in a Play for his work in Good Night, Oscar."
2023 Tony Awards winners
Winners are in bold.
Best Book of a Musical
"Kimberly Akimbo," David Lindsay-Abaire
"& Juliet," David West Read
"New York, New York," David Thompson and Sharon Washington
"Shucked," Robert Horn
"Some Like It Hot," Matthew López and Amber Ruffin
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
"Kimberly Akimbo," Music: Jeanine Tesori, Lyrics: David Lindsay-Abaire
"Almost Famous," Music: Tom Kitt, Lyrics: Cameron Crowe and Tom Kitt
"Kimberly Akimbo," Music: Jeanine Tesori, Lyrics: David Lindsay-Abaire
"KPOP," Music and Lyrics: Helen Park and Max Vernon
"Shucked," Music and Lyrics: Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally
"Some Like It Hot," Music: Marc Shaiman, Lyrics: Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
Sean Hayes, "Good Night, Oscar"
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Suzan-Lori Parks' "Topdog/Underdog"
Corey Hawkins, Suzan-Lori Parks' "Topdog/Underdog"
Sean Hayes, "Good Night, Oscar"
Stephen McKinley Henderson, "Between Riverside and Crazy"
Wendell Pierce, Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman"
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Jodie Comer, "Prima Facie"
Jessica Chastain, "A Doll's House"
Jodie Comer, "Prima Facie"
Jessica Hecht, "Summer, 1976"
Audra McDonald, "Ohio State Murders"
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
J. Harrison Ghee, "Some Like It Hot"
Christian Borle, "Some Like It Hot"
Josh Groban, "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
Josh Groban, "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
Brian d'Arcy James, "Into the Woods"
Ben Platt, "Parade"
Colton Ryan, "New York, New York"
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Victoria Clark, "Kimberly Akimbo"
Annaleigh Ashford, "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
Sara Bareilles, "Into the Woods"
Victoria Clark, "Kimberly Akimbo"
Lorna Courtney, "& Juliet"
Micaela Diamond, "Parade"
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Brandon Uranowitz, "Leopoldstadt"
Jordan E. Cooper, "Ain't No Mo'"
Samuel L. Jackson, August Wilson's "The Piano Lesson"
Arian Moayed, "A Doll's House"
Brandon Uranowitz, "Leopoldstadt"
David Zayas, "Cost of Living"
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Miriam Silverman, "The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window"
Nikki Crawford, "Fat Ham"
Crystal Lucas-Perry, "Ain't No Mo'"
Miriam Silverman, "The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window"
Katy Sullivan, "Cost of Living"
Kara Young, "Cost of Living"
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Alex Newell, "Shucked"
Kevin Cahoon, "Shucked"
Justin Cooley, "Kimberly Akimbo"
Kevin Del Aguila, "Some Like It Hot"
Jordan Donica, Lerner & Loewe's "Camelot"
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Bonnie Milligan, "Kimberly Akimbo"
Julia Lester, "Into the Woods"
Ruthie Ann Miles, "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
Bonnie Milligan, "Kimberly Akimbo"
NaTasha Yvette Williams, "Some Like It Hot"
Betsy Wolfe, "& Juliet"
Best Scenic Design of a Play
Tim Hatley and Andrzej Goulding, "Life of Pi"
Miriam Buether, "Prima Facie"
Rachel Hauck, "Good Night, Oscar"
Rachel Hauck, "Good Night, Oscar"
Richard Hudson, "Leopoldstadt"
Dane Laffrey and Lucy Mackinnon, "A Christmas Carol"
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Beowulf Boritt, "New York, New York"
Mimi Lien, "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
Michael Yeargan and 59 Productions, Lerner & Loewe's "Camelot"
Scott Pask, "Shucked"
Scott Pask, "Some Like It Hot"
Best Costume Design of a Play
Brigitte Reiffenstuel, "Leopoldstadt"
Tim Hatley, Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell, "Life of Pi"
Dominique Fawn Hill, "Fat Ham"
Brigitte Reiffenstuel, "Leopoldstadt"
Emilio Sosa, "Ain't No Mo' "
Emilio Sosa, "Good Night, Oscar"
Best Costume Design of a Musical
Gregg Barnes, "Some Like It Hot"
Susan Hilferty, "Parade"
Jennifer Moeller, Lerner & Loewe's "Camelot"
Clint Ramos and Sophia Choi, "KPOP"
Paloma Young, "& Juliet"
Donna Zakowska, "New York, New York"
Best Lighting Design of a Play
Tim Lutkin, "Life of Pi"
Neil Austin, "Leopoldstadt"
Natasha Chivers, "Prima Facie"
Jon Clark, "A Doll's House"
Bradley King, "Fat Ham"
Tim Lutkin, "Life of Pi"
Jen Schriever, Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman"
Ben Stanton, "A Christmas Carol"
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Natasha Katz, "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
Ken Billington, "New York, New York"
Lap Chi Chu, Lerner & Loewe's "Camelot"
Heather Gilbert, "Parade"
Howard Hudson, "& Juliet"
Natasha Katz, "Some Like It Hot"
Best Sound Design of a Play
Carolyn Downing, "Life of Pi"
Jonathan Deans & Taylor Williams, "Ain't No Mo'"
Joshua D. Reid, "A Christmas Carol"
Ben and Max Ringham, "A Doll's House"
Ben & Max Ringham, "Prima Facie"
Best Sound Design of a Musical
Nevin Steinberg, "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
Kai Harada, "New York, New York"
John Shivers, "Shucked"
Scott Lehrer and Alex Neumann, "Into the Woods"
Gareth Owen, "& Juliet"
Best Direction of a Play
Patrick Marber, "Leopoldstadt"
Saheem Ali, "Fat Ham"
Jo Bonney, "Cost of Living"
Jamie Lloyd, "A Doll's House"
Patrick Marber, "Leopoldstadt"
Stevie Walker-Webb, "Ain't No Mo'"
Max Webster, "Life of Pi"
Best Direction of a Musical
Michael Arden, "Parade"
Lear deBessonet, "Into the Woods"
Casey Nicholaw, "Some Like It Hot"
Jack O'Brien, "Shucked"
Jessica Stone, "Kimberly Akimbo"
Best Choreography
Casey Nicholaw, "Some Like It Hot"
Steven Hoggett, "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
Casey Nicholaw, "Some Like It Hot"
Susan Stroman, "New York, New York"
Jennifer Weber, "& Juliet"
Jennifer Weber, "KPOP"
Best Orchestrations
Charlie Rosen and Bryan Carter, "Some Like It Hot"
Bill Sherman and Dominic Fallacaro, "& Juliet"
John Clancy, "Kimberly Akimbo"
Jason Howland, "Shucked"
Charlie Rosen and Bryan Carter, "Some Like It Hot"
Daryl Waters and Sam Davis, "New York, New York"
Best Play
"Leopoldstadt," Author: Tom Stoppard
"Ain't No Mo'," Author: Jordan E. Cooper
"Between Riverside and Crazy," Author: Stephen Adly Guirgis
"Cost of Living," Author: Martyna Majok
"Fat Ham," Author: James Ijames
Best Musical
"Kimberly Akimbo"
"& Juliet"
"Kimberly Akimbo"
"New York, New York"
"Shucked"
"Some Like It Hot"
Best Revival of a Play
Suzan-Lori Parks' "Topdog/Underdog"
August Wilson's "The Piano Lesson"
"A Doll's House," New Version by: Amy Herzog
"The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window"
Suzan-Lori Parks' "Topdog/Underdog"
Best Revival of a Musical
"Parade"
"Into the Woods"
Lerner & Loewe's "Camelot"
"Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
Tony Award nominations by production
"Some Like It Hot" - 13
"& Juliet" - 9
"New York, New York" - 9
"Shucked" - 9
"Kimberly Akimbo" - 8
"Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" - 8
"Ain't No Mo'" - 6
"A Doll's House" - 6
"Into the Woods" - 6
"Leopoldstadt" - 6
"Parade" - 6
"Cost of Living" - 5
"Fat Ham" - 5
Lerner & Loewe's "Camelot" - 5
"Life of Pi" - 5
"Prima Facie" - 4
"A Christmas Carol" - 3
"Good Night, Oscar" - 3
"KPOP" - 3
Suzan-Lori Parks' "Topdog/Underdog" - 3
Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman" - 2
August Wilson's "The Piano Lesson" - 2
"Between Riverside and Crazy" - 2
"The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window" - 2
"Almost Famous" - 1
"Ohio State Murders" - 1
"Summer, 1976" - 1
How to watch the 2023 Tony Awards
The 2023 Tony Awards are set for Sunday, June 11. Hosted by Ariana DeBose, the awards ceremony will air live from United Palace in Washington Heights, Manhattan, from 8 to 11 p.m. on CBS, and live and on demand on Paramount+.
"The Tony Awards: Act One," a pre-show of live content leading into the 76th annual awards, will air from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Pluto TV, a free streaming television service. Viewers can access it on a smart TV, streaming device, mobile app or online by going to Pluto TV and clicking on the “Pluto TV Celebrity” channel. No payment, registration or sign-in is required.
Ilana Keller is an award-winning journalist and lifelong New Jersey resident who loves Broadway and really bad puns. Reach out on Twitter: @ilanakeller; [email protected]
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Tony Awards 2023 winners: Live updates from the awards here
