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| Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tony Awards Production |
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It came as no surprise that Stereophonic, a play depicting a rock band's journey to create a hit album, dominated Sunday night's 77th annual Tony Awards, winning multiple accolades including Best New Play. With an impressive 13 nominations, it held the record for most nominations ever received by a play.
However, the evening's most unexpected twist occurred in the category of Best Musical. Hell’s Kitchen, a musical loosely inspired by Alicia Keys' life and featuring her music, had been heavily favored with its 13 nominations. Yet, midway through the ceremony, the original musical Suffs emerged as a contender, securing Tonys early on for both its book and score, attributed to creator and star Shaina Taub. Ultimately, the final award of the night went to The Outsiders, a vibrant adaptation of S.E. Hinton’s beloved YA novel and subsequent film, directed by Danya Taymor, who also claimed a Tony. Hell’s Kitchen managed to secure only two awards, notably for star Maleah Joi Moon and Kecia Lewis in her role as mentor. The energetic reception for The Outsiders suggests that perhaps Broadway is in need of this kind of excitement right now, a sentiment underscored by the Tonys themselves.
1. The Tony Awards Fell Flat:**
The overall tone of the evening was rather lackluster. Despite the outstanding performances, many presenters and winners stumbled through their speeches, often reduced to mundane lists of thank-yous. A notable exception was Jonathan Groff, delivering a heartfelt acceptance speech for his leading role in a musical, recounting his upbringing with parents who, despite their misunderstandings, consistently supported him. Host Ariana DeBose, known for her vivacious presence, also failed to inject the usual sparkle into the event.
Reflecting on last year's absence of scripts due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, one might wonder if reverting to such unscripted spontaneity could inject more life into future ceremonies.
2.A Vague Political Undertone:**
The past theater season featured several politically themed productions: Suffs focused on women's suffrage, Enemy of the People tackled environmental disasters, and Patriots explored Putin's rise to power. These themes extended onto the Tony stage, with numerous presenters and winners urging the audience to vote in the upcoming election year and advocating for social change. However, these appeals remained relatively ambiguous. Few speakers named specific candidates, addressed current issues, or highlighted overlooked matters in the media.
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3. **Celebrity Presence:**
The Tony Awards pulled out all the stops with a star-studded lineup of presenters including Angelina Jolie, Hillary Clinton, Cynthia Erivo, Nick Jonas, and Brooke Shields. Jay-Z and Alicia Keys performed their iconic anthem “Empire State of Mind,” featured in Hell’s Kitchen, even though they aren’t part of the Broadway production. Pete Townshend from The Who joined the cast of Tommy on guitar for “Pinball Wizard” (also not part of the current Broadway show). Acting awards went to Daniel Radcliffe, Jeremy Strong, and Sarah Paulson, while Eddie Redmayne performed alongside the cast of Cabaret. The Tonys clearly aimed to integrate Broadway and celebrity culture, striving for a cool vibe that unfortunately came across as somewhat desperate.
4. The Return of Plays:**
Broadway currently exudes a slightly desperate vibe, and it’s no surprise. Despite a robust season with 36 Tony-eligible productions, including 14 premiering in the final weeks of April alone, audience attendance hasn’t yet rebounded to pre-2019 levels. Musicals typically draw tourists and dominated the Tony Awards with performances from each nominee. However, the inclusion of Stereophonic, a play without major stars but featuring compelling performances, sharp writing, and memorable music, reflects a desire for fresh, innovative content on Broadway. This stands in contrast to musicals, which often rely on safe bets like adaptations of popular movies, books, or albums. While this season’s musicals showcased moments of innovation and creativity, as a whole they played it disappointingly safe.
Stereophonic is emblematic of a broader trend. Plays like Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' Appropriate, winner of Best Revival of a Play, captivate audiences with intense performances, striking sets, and intricate family dramas. Broadway’s current lineup ensures that catching a play this season is a solid choice, offering diverse and compelling experiences across the board.
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5. Making the case for theater
Most of the most resonant speeches happened before the main Tonys began; the special achievement and many of the design awards were streamed on Pluto TV before the main event.
One of the best of those was from director George C. Wolfe, the winner of a special achievement Tony, who made the case for theater’s importance to society.
He said theater “doesn’t need to look like you to be about you.” And, he said, at an “incredibly complicated time in this country,” theater is “celebrating and exploring the human heart.”
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