MERRY We Roll Along took home the gold at the 77th Annual Tony Awards – and fans say the recognition is long overdue.
Actors Jonathan Groff and Daniel Radcliffe won Best Actor in a Musical and Best Featured Actor in a Musical for their performances in Stephen Sondheim’s musical.
After Jonathan won his first-ever Tony, he ran across the awards show audience to hug his co-star Daniel in a moment that left fans in tears.
“Oh don’t mind me. Just sobbing over Tony Winner Jonathan Groff and Tony Winner Daniel Radcliffe in the same night,” one wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Oh, Jonathan Groff has me sobbing right before I need to go to bed,” another shared.
“I love Jonathan Groff so much. This is so well-deserved and long overdue. Also, Daniel running to hug him…,” a third wrote.
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Inside the number of this year’s musical revivals
Like plays, there were several musical revivals this year, most of which were nominees at the awards.
Here is a list:
- Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
- Guttenberg! The Musical
- Merrily We Roll Along
- Spamalot
- The Who’s Tommy
- The Wiz
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Inside the number of this year’s play revivals
There were several play revivals this year, all of which were nominees at the awards.
Here is a list:
- Appropriate
- Doubt: A Parable
- An Enemy of the People
- Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp through the Cotton Patch
- Uncle Vanya
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Eligibility requirements for this year’s nominees
The Broadway season of 2023–2024 will have Tony Awards eligibility from April 28, 2023, to April 25, 2024.
The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing have established additional eligibility standards that must be fulfilled by the productions.
A production must be shown in one of the 41 authorized Broadway theaters in order to be eligible for award consideration.
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List of last night’s presenters
Here are the list of presenters at last night’s ceremony:
- Utkarsh Ambudkar
- Nate Burleson
- Cynthia Erivo
- Jesse Tyler Ferguson
- Josh Gad
- Renée Elise Goldsberry
- Sean Hayes
- Taraji P. Henson
- Julianne Hough
- Jennifer Hudson
- Angelina Jolie
- Nick Jonas
- Idina Menzel
- Ashley Park
- Jim Parsons
- Wendell Pierce
- Ben Platt
- Anthony Ramos
- Andrew Rannells
- Solomon Thomas
- Taylor Tomlinson
- Pete Townshend
- Tamara Tunie
- Adrienne Warren
- Patrick Wilson
- Jeffrey Wright
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History was made for nonbinary actors last year
Shucked star Alex Newell became the first openly nonbinary actor to win the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical in 2023.
J. Harrison Ghee also made history by being the first nonbinary actor to win Best Leading Actor in a Musical the same year.
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The Who’s Tommy misses out on award
The Who’s Tommy missed out on the “best revival of a musical” award to Merrily We Roll Among at the Tony’s last night.
The original Ken Russell-directed movie – which centred around a pinball wizard – featured Jack Nicholson, Elton John and Ann Margret.
The Who’s songwriter Pete Townshend attended the ceremony in New York last night – and was more red than blue following the announcement …
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In pictures – Tony Awards
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Audrey Hepburn achieved EGOT status posthumously
Actress Audrey Hepburn won an Academy Award in 1953 and a Tony in 1954.
In the year of her death, 1993, Hepburn received an Emmy, and she was awarded a Grammy in 1994.
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Paulson wins award
Sarah Paulson, star of American Horror Story, won the “best performance by an actress in a leading role in a play” award for her part in Appropriate.
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Rita Moreno is also an EGOT winner
Actress Rita Moreno is an EGOT winner.
She earned an Oscar in 1961 and won two Emmys in the 1970s.
Moreno added a Grammy to her accolades in 1972 and completed the EGOT with a Tony in 1975.
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First female EGOT winner revealed
Helen Hayes, an actress active throughout the 1900s, was the first woman to achieve EGOT status.
She won her first Academy Award in 1932, followed by a Tony in 1947.
Hayes earned her Emmy in 1953 and completed the quartet with a Grammy in 1977.
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Life after Harry Potter
British star Daniel Radcliffe, pictured below with wife Erin Darke, has won his first Tony award for his starring role in Merrily We Roll Along, during a ceremony dominated by first time winners.
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Richard Rodgers was the first-ever EGOT winner
Composer Richard Rodgers was the first to achieve EGOT status.
He won an Academy Award in 1945 and collected numerous Tony Awards throughout the 1950s.
Rodgers secured his first Grammy in 1960 and an Emmy in 1962.
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Vocab check: What is an EGOT?
EGOT status is bestowed upon individuals who have achieved the remarkable feat of winning at least one Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award — the most prestigious accolades in show business.
Actor Philip Michael Thomas first coined the term “EGOT” in 1984, expressing his aspiration to attain this illustrious distinction.
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DeBose got her start on Broadway
Following her Broadway debut as Nautica in Bring It On, Ariana DeBose began carving out a significant presence in the theater community.
She served as an understudy for the role of Diana Ross in Motown: The Musical (2013), and portrayed Mary Wilson.
In subsequent years, Ariana appeared in productions such as Pippin (2014), Hamilton (2015), and A Bronx Tale (2016).
She made a comeback to Broadway in 2018 with Summer: The Donna Summer Musical.
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Know your host: Ariana DeBose
Ariana DeBose, born on January 25, 1991, and hailing from Wilmington, North Carolina, hosted the Tony Awards in 2023.
She began her journey after training at the CC & Co Dance Complex in Raleigh, making her television debut on So You Think You Can Dance in 2009.
Following this, she transitioned to a role on One Life to Live before appearing on stages at the North Carolina and Alliance Theatres.
Ariana then joined the touring cast of Bring It On, soon after making her Broadway debut.
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Unscripted ceremony last year
The Tony Awards had no script for the show due to the Writers Guild of America strike last year.
Pre-show host Julianne Hough spoke about the change in an Instagram post at the time.
“This year the Tony’s will look a little different, with no script – supporting the WGA, but let’s put it out there that it won’t feel too different,” she wrote.
“The energy of this community is what makes being a part of the Broadway community an absolute privilege.
“I’m so grateful that we are able to celebrate and honor the best of the best tomorrow!”
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This is the Tony Awards’ 77th year
The tradition of the Tony Awards began in 1947, originating as a platform to honor outstanding achievements in theatre.
Annually presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League, the awards ceremony is hosted in New York City.
In 2023, the Tony Awards featured a total of 27 competitive categories, as listed on its official website.
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Two generations of Elphabas present Best Musical
Original Elphaba in Wicked Idina Menzel and Elphaba in the upcoming movie adaptation of the same musical are presenting the award for Best Musical to The Outsiders.
The musical stars Brody Grant, Sky Lakota Lynch, Joshua Boone, Brent Comer, Jason Schmidt, Emma Pittman, Daryl Tofa, Kevin William Paul, Dan Berry, and Jordan Chin, among others.
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‘You are soulmates’
Jonathan Groff said to his Merrily We Roll Along co-stars Daniel Radcliffe and Lindsay Mendez that they are more than his friends, they “are soulmates.”
Groff was in tears as he gave his speech.
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Jonathan Groff takes home Lead Actor in a Musical
Performer Jonathan Groff has won a Tony Award for his performance in Merrily We Roll Along.
This is Groff’s first-ever win out of three nominations.
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Lead Actress in a Musical goes to Maleah Joi Moon
Nick Jonas and Adrienne Warren are now taking the stage to present the award for Lead Actress in a Musical to Maleah Joi Moon.
This is the star’s first nomination and win.
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In Memoriam segment
Nicole Scherzinger is now on stage performing her rendition of What I Did For Love from the musical A Chorus Line.
She is paying tribute to those who died this year.
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Sarah Paulson wins Lead Actress in a Play
Sean Hayes has just presented the award for Lead Actress in a Play to Sarah Paulson.
She wins for her role in Appropriate.
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Jennifer Hudson presents award for Best Revival of a Musical
Merrily We Roll Along has won the award for Best Revival of a Musical, presented by singer Jennifer Hudson.
The musical stars Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff, Lindsay Mendez, Krystal Joy Brown, Katie Rose Clarke, Reg Rogers, Max Rackenberg, Rocco Van Auken, Brady Wagner, and more.
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