77th Tony Awards: ‘The Outsiders,’ ‘Merrily We Roll Along’ Win Big
By • June 17, 2024 0 130
The 77th Annual Tony Awards aired on CBS yesterday evening. The telecast was hosted for the third time by Broadway star Ariana DeBose, whose talent and boundless energy were on full display all night.
A Must-See: Hell’s Kitchen
Alicia Keys’ semi-autobiographical musical “Hell’s Kitchen” earned accolades, including 13 nominations. It ended up taking home two—one for lead actress in a musical (Maleah Joi Moon) and best performance by a featured actress in a musical (Kecia Lewis). One highlight from the show involving “Hell’s Kitchen” was a surprise appearance by Jay-Z, who joined Keys in a medley from the musical during their 2009 hit “Empire State of Mind.”
Jonathan Groff Wins His First Tony…
Jonathan Groff, 39, won his first Tony Award after nominations for Spring Awakening in 2007 and Hamilton in 2016. Groff won lead actor in a musical for his work in “Merrily We Roll Along,” a revival of a Sondheim musical about three friends and how their lives and friendships change over the course of two decades.
…And So Did Daniel Radcliffe!
Groff’s co-star Daniel Radcliffe (aka Harry Potter) also snagged his first Tony for featured actor in a musical for “Merrily We Roll Along.” It’s no wonder why the show collected so many trophies, as Groff, Radcliffe, and their co-star Lindsay Mendez are good friends in real life!
Angelina Jolie is Halfway to EGOT Status
Angelina Jolie won her first Tony Award for producing “The Outsiders,” which won for best musical. Jolie helped produce the musical, which takes place in 1960s Oklahoma and focuses on conflict between two rival gangs (it’s also based on S.E. Hinton’s 1967 novel of the same name). With this win and Jolie’s best supporting actress Oscar win for “Girl, Interrupted” in 1999, she is halfway to an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony award, a feat only 19 have accomplished.
…And So is Sarah Paulson!
Sarah Paulson, who won for lead actress in a play for “Appropriate.” The play is about the Lafayette family, who returned to their late father’s home in Arkansas to work through his estate. Paulson thanked her longtime love Holland Taylor in her speech, and acknowledged her fellow nominees, including Rachel McAdams.
Hillary Clinton Introduces Performance for Musical She Produced
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made an appearance to introduce the musical “Suffs,” which she produced. Suffs is about the early 1900s women’s movement and suffragettes.
Clinton said during her speech: “Now, I have stood on a lot of stages, but this is very special. And I know a little bit about how hard it is to make change, so I’m extremely proud of this original American musical by Shaina Taub—now a two-time Tony winner.”
Fashion Were Mostly Wins
Some of the best-dressed stars included Groff, in a perfectly tailored black suit and white shirt, Keys in a maroonish-red sequined dress with matching opera gloves, and DeBose in an Oscar de la Renta strapless gown reminiscent of stained glass windows.
Some of the fashion faux pas included Brooke Shields, who wore bright yellow Crocs underneath her matching bright yellow dress. Angelina Jolie chose an Atelier Versace dress that ended up looking like it overpowered her frame.
