The 76th Tony Awards opened like no other. Two-time host Ariana DeBose flipped the pages of a blank script and then performed in an opening number that was entirely instrumental, featuring dancers from several Broadway shows.
DeBose went on to explain that in deference to the Writers' Guild’s ongoing strike, she—and every presenter of the night—would be speaking off the cuff. The two teleprompters housed in the famed United Palace in Washington Heights, New York, where this year’s awards took place, would only be used as an award speech countdown.
The show leaned heavily on performances, including playwright Sharon Washington's New York, New York and Tony winner Alex Newell’s musical Shucked.
Here are a few of the most memorable moments from this year's 76th Tony Awards:
Playwright Suzan-Lori Parks wins for Best Revival of a Play
Parks took home the top award for Best Revival of a Play for Top Dog/Under Dog, which won a Pulitzer Prize in 2002. “This means a whole lot to a whole lot of people,” she declared, adding that, “the theater is the great cure. Thank you for acknowledging our contribution.” With this award, Parks become the first Black woman to win in the Best Revival of a Play category.
Alex Newell wins Best Featured Actor in a Musical
Newell is the first openly non-binary performer to win a Tony for their role as Lulu in the corn-loving musical Shucked. “I should not be up here as a queer, nonbinary, fat, Black little baby from Massachusetts,” Newell said in their acceptance speech. “And to anyone that thinks that they can’t do it, I’m going to look you dead in your face that you can do anything you put your mind to.” Newell entered the Actor category, stating in an interview that they looked at the word actor as a genderless way to define their vocation.
J. Harrison Ghee wins Best Lead Actor in a Musical
Doubling history in one night, Ghee became the second openly non-binary performer winner for their performance as Jerry/Daphne in the remake of Some Like It Hot. The musical adds an inclusive twist as Daphne explores being a transgender female, while Adrianna Hicks, a Black actress, steps into the role made famous by Marilyn Monroe in the 1959 film.
Denée Benton gets in a dig at a Republican presidential candidate
While this year's show was not scripted, The Gilded Age star Denée Benton took a swipe at Florida Governor Ron DeSantis by calling the Republican presidential hopeful a “Grand Wizard” as she presented an award for theater education. She also called for a name change for the Florida town, Plantation, and its school South Plantation High.
