As a result, the Tony Awards can boast being the first televised tribute to the victims and their families. This year can also boast the most diverse set of nominations and winners in Tony history and the highest viewing figures for 15 years - all of this almost single-handedly because of the trailblazer musical, Hamilton, by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
James Corden was on hand to pay tribute and lift sallow spirits and did so expertly. His opening bit reminded everyone of his own Tony Award winning theatrical talents. Other performers included the casts of the winners of all top four awards. Noteworthy wins went to first-timer Jessica Lange for Best Actress in a Play (Long Day's Journey Into the Night), otherwise famous for her award-winning turn in American Horror Story on TV, in a category made up entirely by Emmy/Golden Globe/Oscar winning actresses, Hamilton winning an eye-watering 11 Tonys in one night - one short of the record 12 set by The Producers - and British actress, Cynthia Erivo, won the coveted award for Best Actress in a Musical (The Color Purple). The other high profile British win of the night came for the predominantly British cast of the Best Revival of a Play, View From A Bridge, including Mark Strong, Russell Tovey, Nicola Walker, and Phoebe Fox. The Humans won four awards including for Best Play.
Here is the full list of winners.
Best Play
Eclipsed
The Father
The Humans - WINNER
King Charles III
Best Musical
Bright Star
Hamilton - WINNER
School of Rock – The Musical
Shuffle Along
Waitress
Best Revival of a Play
The Crucible
A View from the Bridge - WINNER
Blackbird
Long Day's Journey Into Night
Noises Off
Best Revival of a Musical
The Color Purple - WINNER
Fiddler on the Roof
She Loves Me
Spring Awakening
Best Book of a Musical
Bright Star – Steve Martin
Hamilton – Lin-Manuel Miranda - WINNER
School of Rock – The Musical – Julian Fellowes
Shuffle Along – George C Wolfe
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
Bright Star – music: Steve Martin and Edie Brickell. Lyrics: Edie Brickell
Hamilton – music and lyrics: Lin-Manuel Miranda - WINNER
School of Rock — The Musical – music: Andrew Lloyd Webber. Lyrics: Glenn Slater
Waitress – music and lyrics: Sara Bareilles
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
Gabriel Byrne – Long Day's Journey Into Night
Jeff Daniels – Blackbird
Frank Langella – The Father - WINNER
Tim Pigott-Smith – King Charles III
Mark Strong – A View from the Bridge
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Jessica Lange – Long Day's Journey Into Night - WINNER
Laurie Metcalf – Misery
Lupita Nyong'o – Eclipsed
Sophie Okonedo – The Crucible
Michelle Williams – Blackbird
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Alex Brightman – School of Rock – The Musical
Danny Burstein – Fiddler on the Roof
Zachary Levi – She Loves Me
Lin-Manuel Miranda – Hamilton
Leslie Odom Jr – Hamilton - WINNER
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Laura Benanti – She Loves Me
Carmen Cusack – Bright Star
Cynthia Erivo – The Color Purple - WINNER
Jessie Mueller – Waitress
Phillipa Soo – Hamilton
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Reed Birney – The Humans - WINNER
Bill Camp – The Crucible
David Furr – Noises Off
Richard Goulding – King Charles III
Michael Shannon – Long Day's Journey Into Night
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Pascale Armand – Eclipsed
Megan Hilty – Noises Off
Jayne Houdyshell – The Humans - WINNER
Andrea Martin – Noises Off
Saycon Sengbloh – Eclipsed
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Daveed Diggs – Hamilton - WINNER
Brandon Victor Dixon – Shuffle Along
Christopher Fitzgerald – Waitress
Jonathan Groff – Hamilton
Christopher Jackson – Hamilton
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Danielle Brooks – The Color Purple
Renée Elise Goldsberry – Hamilton - WINNER
Jane Krakowski – She Loves Me
Jennifer Simard – Disaster!
Adrienne Warren – Shuffle Along
Best Scenic Design of a Play
Beowulf Boritt – Thérèse Raquin
Christopher Oram – Hughie
Jan Versweyveld – A View from the Bridge
David Zinn – The Humans - WINNER
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Es Devlin and Finn Ross – American Psycho
David Korins – Hamilton
Santo Loquasto – Shuffle Along
David Rockwell – She Loves Me - WINNER
Best Costume Design of a Play
Jane Greenwood – Long Day's Journey Into Night
Michael Krass – Noises Off
Clint Ramos – Eclipsed - WINNER
Tom Scutt – King Charles III
Best Costume Design of a Musical
Gregg Barnes – Tuck Everlasting
Jeff Mahshie – She Loves Me
Ann Roth – Shuffle Along
Paul Tazewell – Hamilton - WINNER
Best Lighting Design of a Play
Natasha Katz – Long Day's Journey Into Night - WINNER
Justin Townsend – The Humans
Jan Versweyveld – The Crucible
Jan Versweyveld – A View from the Bridge
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Howell Binkley – Hamilton - WINNER
Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer – Shuffle Along
Ben Stanton – Spring Awakening
Justin Townsend – American Psycho
Best Direction of a Play
Rupert Goold – King Charles III
Jonathan Kent – Long Day's Journey Into Night
Joe Mantello – The Humans
Liesl Tommy – Eclipsed
Ivo Van Hove – A View from the Bridge - WINNER
Best Direction of a Musical
Michael Arden – Spring Awakening
John Doyle – The Color Purple
Scott Ellis – She Loves Me
Thomas Kail – Hamilton - WINNER
George C Wolfe – Shuffle Along
Best Choreography
Andy Blankenbuehler – Hamilton - WINNER
Savion Glover – Shuffle Along
Hofesh Shechter – Fiddler on the Roof
Randy Skinner – Dames at Sea
Sergio Trujillo – On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio & Gloria Estefan
Best Orchestrations
August Eriksmoen – Bright Star
Larry Hochman – She Loves Me
Alex Lacamoire – Hamilton - WINNER
Daryl Waters – Shuffle Along
Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre
Sheldon Harnick
Marshall W Mason
Special Tony Award
National Endowment for the Arts
Miles Wilkin
Regional Theatre Tony Award
Paper Mill Playhouse
Millburn, NJ
Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award
Brian Stokes Mitchell
Tony Honours for Excellence in the Theatre
Seth Gelblum
Joan Lader
Sally Ann Parsons
Image courtesy of Flickr/CathBoblet
YAAAY Hamilton!!