“The Outsiders” won two big Tony Award tonight — Best Musical and Best Director. It didn’t win any acting prizes, or its music or writing.
The musical based on S.E. Hinton’s famous young adult novel got excellent reviews. But through tonight’s Tonys, “Suffs” and “Hell’s Kitchen” seemed like better bets.
“Harry Potter” star Daniel Radcliffe had the sweetest win for Best Featured Actor in a Musical, for “Merrily We Roll Along.” He’s worked hard to overcome the Potter stigma with lots of theater. It’s paid off handsomely.
The Tony Awards were an odd show. They were stuffed into a small theater, the Koch at Lincoln Center. The theater was so small that Jay Z and Alicia Keys had to perform on the staircase outside the main room. Very weird. The producers had to add dining room seats in the front of the orchestra to accommodate nominees. When a show won, half its producers had to appear on a video screen above the stage, piped in from outside.
On screen there were few recognizable people in the orchestra. Variety noted that even Vogue editor Anna Wintour got a lousy seat way in the back.
Host Ariana De Bose’s opening number seemed like a stumble. It was all about her and not the Tonys or Broadway. But the show finally found its rhythm. The whole first hour was stuffed to the gills before viewers might turn to HBO for “House of the Dragon.” The highlight was The Who’s Pete Townshend, who introduced the cast and played guitar on “Pinball Wizard.”
The biggest ovation of the night was for Hillary Clinton, who introduced the musical, “Suffs.” She had a producer’s credit. The crowd at the Koch went crazy since the late David Koch was such an arch conservative and backed Donald Trump.
The nicest surprise was Nicole Scherzinger, who sang “What I Did for Love” over the In Memoriam. Not only was the segment elegantly produced by Scherzinger was sublime. She stars next season in “Sunset Boulevard.” Who knew she had that voice? (I guess the people in London.)
It was a good Tonys for the theater community and a crappy one for a lot of people who support it all year long. Many next year the Theater Wing can book a venue big enough for everyone.
On a personal note, many congrats to Sarah Paulson and Jeremy Strong. Also I called it on Kecia Lewis, who kills it in “Hells Kitchen,” and I knew Shaina Taub would win for those “Suffs” songs.
Best Musical
The Outsiders
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Jonathan Groff, Merrily We Roll Along
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Maleah Joi Moon, Hell’s Kitchen
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Sarah Paulson, Appropriate
Best Revival of a Musical
Merrily We Roll Along
Best Play
Stereophonic
Author: David Adjmi
Best Revival of a Play
Appropriate
Author: Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
Suffs
Music & Lyrics: Shaina Taub
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Daniel Radcliffe, Merrily We Roll Along
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Kecia Lewis, Hell’s Kitchen
Best Direction of a Musical
Danya Taymor, The Outsiders
Best Direction of a Play
Daniel Aukin, Stereophonic
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Kara Young, Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Will Brill, Stereophonic
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
Jeremy Strong, An Enemy of the People
Best Sound Design of a Play
Ryan Rumery, Stereophonic
Best Sound Design of a Musical
Cody Spencer, The Outsiders
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Brian MacDevitt and Hana S. Kim, The Outsiders
Best Lighting Design of a Play
Jane Cox, Apropriate
Best Costume Design of a Play
Dede Ayite, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding
Best Costume Design of a Musical
Linda Cho, The Great Gatsby
Best Choreography
Justin Peck, Illinoise
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Tom Scutt, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Best Scenic Design of a Play
David Zinn, Stereophonic
Best Orchestrations
Jonathan Tunick, Merrily We Roll Along
Best Book of a Musical
Suffs
Shaina Taub
