“Kimberly Akimbo,” a tale of a teenager aging in reverse, and Tom Stoppard’s autobiographical play “Leopoldstadt” emerged victorious at the Tony Awards, which proceeded amid the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike.
The Tony Awards broadcast on CBS, spanning three hours, was helmed by Ariana DeBose, a Tony and Academy Award-winner. The event occurred at the United Palace in Washington Heights, Northern Manhattan, marking its debut at this location. The ceremony largely revolved around musical presentations from the nominated plays and other performances, including a dance tribute for the 2023 lifetime achievement award recipients Joel Grey and John Kander.
Best Director of a Play was awarded to Patrick Marber for “Leopoldstadt,” Marber and other winners voiced their support for the strike in their acceptance speeches. Marber also humorously noted that the evening was proceeding smoothly despite the absence of writers, attributing this to actors’ improvisational skills.
“Kimberly Akimbo” clinched the Best Musical award, overcoming big-budget competitors like “New York, New York” and “Some Like It Hot.” Victoria Clark won her second Tony Award for her titular role in “Kimberly Akimbo,” after her first win in 2005 for “The Light in the Piazza.”
“Leopoldstadt,” awarded Best Play, is a poignant narrative tracing the lives of a Jewish family in Vienna over half a century. The play had previously won the 2020 Olivier Award for Best New Play in London.
Sean Hayes won Best Lead Actor in a Play for portraying Oscar Levant in “Goodnight, Oscar.”
J. Harrison Ghee and Alex Newell etched their names into Tony Awards history by becoming the first openly nonbinary actors to win. Ghee’s performance in “Some Like It Hot” bagged him Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical, while Newell won Best Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical for the role of Lulu in “Shucked.”
Upon winning, Ghee expressed, “I saw an opportunity to inspire, represent, touch lives where they could see themselves grow, learn, and evolve. This is not a responsibility I take lightly. It’s a dream come true, truly.”
Jodie Comer won Best Actress in a Play for her brilliant portrayal of barrister Tessa in the one-woman show “Prima Facie.”
The Tony for Best Direction of a Musical went to Michael Arden for the revival of “Parade.”
The Best Revival of a Play award was claimed by “Topdog/Underdog.”
In the pre-show, streamed on Pluto TV and hosted by actors Julianne Hough and Skyler Astin, awards were primarily distributed in technical categories. The pre-show also saw the Pasadena Playhouse winning Best Regional Theater and Jerry Mitchell bagging the Isabelle Stevenson Award.
On a night that celebrated the persistence and passion of Broadway, the Tony Awards served as a powerful reminder of the indomitable spirit of theatre, even amid industry strikes. Despite the absence of writers, the actors and other participants stepped up to the challenge, making it an unforgettable evening of achievements, firsts, and tributes. The celebration spotlighted the year’s standout performances and drew attention to the evolving landscape of theatre, making it more inclusive and diverse than ever before.
