Tony Winners for 2016
Monday, June 13, 2016 at 8:04AM A lot of us needed that awards show last night - a celebration of passion, talent, and love for community - given the horrific events of the weekend.
In the opening number the musical acting nominees joined James Corden on stage (from left to right: Benanti, Corden, Krakowski, Miranda, Goldsberry, Levi, and Danielle Brooks
The Tonys were particularly defiantly joyous Sunday evening with an exuberant musical production, which featured the fun curveball conceit of having each performing cast do a miniature version of a classic showtune outside the theater before or after they performed their show's number onstage inside. Other highlights included: Audra McDonald doing a high kick while pregnant; James Corden's bit with the Tony accountants; Frank Langella being more concerned with the tragedy in Orlando than his Tony; and a hilarious view of the nominees through the prism of their guest star work in the Law & Order franchise. Poor Danny Burstein! Or, rather, 'well employed Danny Burstein' who guest starred on Law & Order so many times it was like watching a man age in time lapse photography...
While the Tonys remain a money loser for CBS, they're a hugely important tradition reminding easily distracted Americans that live theater exists, that many of the actors they enjoy on screens have the opportunity to really stretch on stage, and that the American Theater Wing is often a progressive institution. Tales of little boys and girls watching them when young and becoming fascinated with the performing arts are legion. Though we didn't see it last night, when nearly all the winners were straight, the Tonys usually come with a healthy dose of gay pride, too... it's practically the only awards show where you can usually expect to hear someone thank their same sex partner or spouse or new love. But at the Tonys, with that tight-knit diverse theater community, you can count on straight allies to carry the flag of "love is love" in the absence of actually gay acceptance speeches.
Lin-Manuel Miranda, composer and star of "Hamilton"
Tony Award Winners
Musical
Hamilton (I'm finally seeing it Wednesday woohoo)
Play
The Humans
Revival, Musical
The Color Purple (this is the first revival of the show, the original did not win best musical)
Revival Play
A View From the Bridge (This show has been on Broadway 5 times, 2nd win in this category)
Actress in a Musical
Cynthia Erivo, The Color Purple (Broadway debut, 1st nom & win)
Actor in a Musical
Leslie Odom, Jr Hamilton (3rd show, 1st nom & win)
Actress in a Play
Jessica Lange, Long Day's Journey Into Night (3rd show, 1st nom & win). LANGE NOW HAS THE TRIPLE CROWN!
Actor in a Play,
Frank Langella, The Father (18th show, 7th nom, 4th win)
Featured Actress in a Musical
Renée Elise Goldsberry, Hamilton (5th show, 1st nom & win)
Featured Actor in a Musical
Daveed Diggs, Hamilton (Broadway debut, 1st nom & win)
Featured Actress in a Play
Jayne Houdyshell, The Humans (9th show, 3rd nom, 1st win)
Featured Actor in a Play
Reed Birney, The Humans (4th show, 2nd nom, 1st win)
Mary Elizabeth Winstead presented the Tony to Renée Elise Goldsberry
Score
Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton (He's written 2 shows, won for both)
Book of a Musical
Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton
Director of a Play
Ivo Van Hove, A View from the Bridge (Broadway debut, 2 noms, 1st win)
Director of a Musical
Thomas Kail, Hamilton (2 noms, 1st win)
Scenic Design, Play
David Zinn, The Humans (4 noms, 1st win)
Scenic Design Musical,
David Rockwell, She Loves Me (6 noms, 1st win)
Lighting Design, Play
Natasha Katz, Long Day's Journey Into Night (13 noms, 6 wins -- 3 consecutive years now)
Lighting Design, Musical
Howell Binkley, Hamilton (7 noms, 2 wins)
The Tony nominated actresses of "Eclipsed"
Costume Design, Play
Clint Ramos, Eclipsed (1st nom, 1st win)
Costume Design, Musical
Paul Tazewell, Hamilton (6 noms, 1st win)
Choreography
Andy Blankenbuehler, Hamilton (4 noms, 2 wins)
Orchestrations
Alex Lacamoire, Hamilton (2 noms, 2 wins)
Special (Non-Competitive) Honors
Lifetime Achievement Sheldon Harnick and Marshall W Mason
Special Tony Awards National Endowment for the Arts and Miles Wilkin
Regional Theater Tony Paper Mill Playhouse, New Jersey
Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award Brian Stokes Mitchell
Tony Honours for Excellence in Theater Seth Gelblum, Joan Lader, and Sally Ann Parsons
Trivia from the Night
• Hamilton (11), The Humans (4) were the big winners of the night. The only other multiple Tony winners were A View From the Bridge, The Color Purple, and Long Day's Journey Into Night which each won two trophies.
• Lin-Manuel Miranda has been nominated for a Tony 5 times now, winning 3 times in writing categories. Both of his losing nominations were for Leading Actor in a Musical (The Heights and Hamilton)
• Though people of color have often won Tonys (it's not like the Oscars in that regard), this is the first year where every single musical acting award went to a person of color.
• Hamilton is now the second most winning show in history (The Producers won 12)- losing only two of its categories: Best Actress and Scenic Design)
• Danny Burstein, always a treat onstage, lost on his sixth nomination. This is an all time record. Danny Burstein was previously tied for most nominated without winning at 5 with George C. Scott, Dana Ivey, John McMartin, Tom Aldredge and Jan Maxwell.
• Tevye is the most nominated character for men in musical theater though only one man has ever won playing him. Fiddler on the Roof has been on Broadway six times with five different men nominated for playing him: Zero Mostel played him twice (65 - win / 77 - not nominated); Herschel Bernardi (82), Topol (91), Alfred Molina (05), and Danny Burstein (16) were also nominated playing him.
Reader Comments (39)
So happy for Goldberry! She's been doing consistent work for years now, its nice to finally see her recognized.
It was also nice to randomly see Mary Elizabeth Winstead who has also been doing remarkable work without being acknowledged for it.
Nathaniel-I didn't realize that about Burstein, but it looks to be right. Jan Maxwell and John McMartin both are at five but it doesn't look like any actor is at six.
Unfortunately I will likely never be able to watch The Color Purple live, but every performance I have seen online of Cynthia Erivo has moved me. She is very gifted, I am happy for her Tony win! :)
Lin-Manual Miranda's acceptance speech had us in tears, as did Frank Langella's.
Total bummer that She Loves Me lost Best Musical Revival, but it at least got Best Scenic Design.
GENEVA PINE just won a Tony!!!
Mark Strong was robbed, but Frank Langella has always been a treat.
Now The Father has won best actor both in the Olivier and the Tony on the same year. Make that as a movie, Hollywood, and get Frank that Oscar.
So happy for literal Acting Queen Jessica Lange on getting her first Tony!
I don't love Jessica Lange but she makes a consummate Triple Crown winner. You can't say she hasn't gamely (and successfully) moved between TV, stage, and screen throughout her career. It's an appropriate honor for an actress I don't get at all.
Hayden -- agreed 100% I also don't totally 'get' the enthusiasm but she is an enduring talented woman with a consistent cross medium presence.
In addition to the hugely exciting sweep of the musical acting awards by people of color it is also interesting that the four acting winners from plays are all over the age of 60.
What are the chances of ever seeing either of those scenarios at the oscars?
Terrific show, better than last year. Big quibble--not allowing enough time for craft awards and lifetime achievement. That REALLY bugs me.
Minor quibble--WTF, Jake Gyllenhaal! Couldn't you have smiled even once and looked like you were happy to be there? Camera operator should have shifted to Danielle Brooks or Uzo for some real emotion, or any number of the hundreds of other happy people in that audience for reaction shots.
So I guess Jessica Lange should really consider recording audiobooks now?
Guys, get on board...it's time. Jessica Lange is just as great as Meryl Streep. There, I said it. I was overjoyed last night when she won. Highlight of the night for me.
So happy for her and Rene (who played Evangeline on my beloved soap One Life To Live).
Frank Langella is a treasure to us all.
Laura Benanti and Zachary Levi were bewitching in their peformance.
I am not that familiar with Corden, but he killed it. Brava!
Wonderful show. And Hamilton deserved all those awards.
Also doesn't LMM also get a Tony for Best Musical wins of Heights and Hamilton?
Christopher, we almost came close to three winners of color in 2007, but the Academy decided to deny Eddie Murphy for Dreamgirls at the last minute because of Norbit or baby mama drama with Scary Spice or something dumb.
Until last night I actively had been avoided all things Hamilton because I'm that guy whom everyone hates. I'm sure it's everything that everyone says it is, but based on last night's performance, I still have no desire to see it.
Why does no one ever want to revive something that hasn't been on a Broadway stage in more than 10-15 years? Every year it feels as though most of the nominated remounts never left to begin with.
It kills me that Ms. Streep has not won a Tony. It's crazy to me. My brother was at Yale when she was and he has always said the work she did on stage while she was there was unbelievable. I actually saw her in her musical HAPPY END not that that was Tony worthy but still...
Jessica Lange is an outstanding talent and a brilliant actress but she is no Meryl Streep.
It kills me that Ms. Streep has not won a Tony. It's crazy to me. My brother was at Yale when she was and he has always said the work she did on stage while she was there was unbelievable. I actually saw her in her musical HAPPY END not that that was Tony worthy but still...
Jessica Lange is an outstanding talent and a brilliant actress but she is no Meryl Streep.
Leslie Odom Jr.'s suit and sockless style were perfection indeed.
Was glad to see Langella win because that play and his performance were incredible. They should make a movie out of it actually and get him the big O. I saw most of the other noms and I know Langella had 3 befores this one, but his performance was hands down the most deserving. He was incredible!! A true master of the stage.
I'm a big fan of James Corden, and he killed it as host last night, and the ratings are up for the Tony's as well.
The Wrap reports "CBS’ Tony Awards hauled in 8.73 million total viewers, up 35 percent from last year. The growth was even more dramatic in the key 18-49 demographic, with the James Corden-hosted show’s 1.6 rating marking a 60 percent rise from 2015"
Now I'm sure some of this is Hamilton fever, but I wouldn't discount the appeal of Corden, his Carpool Karaoke with broadway stars probably attracted some younger viewers as well.
I loved Laura Benanti's performance - can she be in a musical every year?
Nathaniel, please add to your list the Tony Honors for Excellence in Theater Education that went to Marilyn McCormick (she's the lady in the audience that Blair Underwood acknowledged). Her younger sister, who accompanied her to the Tonys, is a friend of mine and understandably proud. Ms. McCormick teaches at Cass Technical High School in Detroit, the alma mater of Diana Ross, Lily Tomlin, Ellen Burstyn, David Alan Grier and Della Reese.
I knew Jane Krakowski is crazy-talented, but I did not expect her to be able to do that split. Wowza!
Lange has wanted that Tony for a long time...not sure why it took so long since she did Journey on the West End in 2003 and got the Olivier for it, oh I guess she had to wait for a revival since Vanessa Redgrave took that production to Broadway and Redgrave won instead :P
Lange's first 2 times on Broadway were not good, so like I read in the New York Post today, her win is a comeback, or an acceptance of her as a New York Theatre Actress ( which she most definitely has not been labeled before). I'm sure her being 60+ and having new fans from stuff like Grey Gardens and Horrors Story makes her a more worthy choice as well.
Michelle Williams also was somewhat vindicated after what happened with her and CABARET. I wonder if she will look to do more Broadway??
I'm still shocked Lupita was able to move Eclipsed to Broadway just because of her star-power and then wrange a LEAD actress Tony nomination for her Broadway debut. She probably thought she was going to win. I know Lupita has training in theatre, so will be interesting to see if this is something she continues.
Lola -- Lupita looked disappointed to me when she lost. but you can't win every time you're up for something. She was just wonderful in the show and believably seemed like a teenage girl.
Hollywood is just shooting themselves in the foot by not throwing things at her.
Raul -- that gets the crowd going in the show, too :)
James Corden was superb. Hit just the right tone. Producers should be recruiting him for the AAs.
I thought it was funny that Ryan Murphy received no applause when Jessica mentioned his name. I am happy for her - it was due to Ryan Murphy in both instances, but she did manage to come back effectively on TV and stage. She never will match Meryl's long-term movie star charisma, but she does now have a Tony to go along with her Oscars and Emmys, so good for her.
Billybil, you have to be in a play or musical on Broadway to be eligible for Tonys. Meryl Streep hasn't done so in nearly forty years.
I wish live theater was not relegated to the Broadway stage for Tony recognition. I love the idea we can all participate in seeing live theater when it's affordable. The Tonys feel more elitist than the Academy -- at least with movies we all have access to them (those with domestic distribution).
Very happy The Color Purple musical adaptation redeemed itself after the miscalculated first production which only managed to award its leading lady. This time the show was a lot less cluttered (their initial attempt was to carry the extra detail from the book and movie versions). Now Celie is a multi-winner character for the theater. Now The Color Purple can receive further revisions for more exciting productions in the future. God knows no one misses the bloated original show.
Jessica Lange as an actress and human being is more interesting than Meryl Streep. Streep's popularity will always frustrate me because she's so damn boring.
Lange got very bad reviews when she did her Broadway debut in Streetcar. A lesser actress would have never returned. I respect her for that. If you give up, you're dead.
It's funny because she has always been a prestigious actress, but she was never popular in the 80s. All her movies were huge flops. The cult surrounding her nowadays fascinates me.
The Tonys are great. I'm so sad I feel like binge-watching all the 80 ceremonies on Youtube again.
Lange to me is as great as Streep, sometimes even better. By the way, did anyone feel that Barbra Streisand looked like a wax figure with all that fillers and botox or whatever? I mean she's beautiful in her own way - why does she have to make herself look like that?
Of course I have not seen Hamilton, but I did see Daveed Diggs in one of his two appearances in Law & Order: SVU... and -I don't know how else to put this- he sucked! His reading was off and not natural at all. He didn't know what to do with his arms. I remember it called my attention because the quality of acting is quite good on the show. Is he really that good in Hamilton?
I bought a ticket to see The Father this Thursday after reading that this is its last week. Excited to see it.
I'm happy for Lange--the production was bloated and somewhat of a chore, but she was a good fit for it.
As for Williams--I generally LOVE her on film, but she was mannered beyond belief in Blackbird. I was shocked she was nominated. Conversely, I thought she was under-appreciated in Cabaret (but I've never seen the film, so I wasn't comparing her to Liza)
Barbra is really determined to make Gypsy with a new face on. I don't think that look works in cinema now for any male or female, but she has a dream.
PS, Dustin Hoffman told Streep she would never go back to the stage. Apart from productions for the Public Theater, that has been true. The camera has loved her from early on.
vladdy - my whole point was it kills me she hasn't done any Broadway show in all those years - let alone the right ones. Streep would have been brilliant in Sunset Boulevard in '95; she could have done a wonderful Anna in King and I in '96; she certainly could have done a great job with the Baker's Wife in Into the Woods in '88; and although LuPone was brilliant Streep could have done an excellent job with Evita in '80. Then there's Elephant Man in '79; Burn This in '88; Death and the Maiden in '92; The Heiress in '95; I'm tempted to say Master Class in '96 but Caldwell was amazing; Private Lives in '02; Doubt in '05; August, Osage County in '08; and these are just the roles that won the award. I think Streep may have been able to win with some of the roles other actresses did that were nominated but didn't win. I'm a die hard fan of Ms. Streep and I have been for more than 45 years now so you're not going to change my mind. I just wish she had gone back to the theatre and I still hope she'll do so in the future.
Yes, billybil, having seen Streep on stage four times, I feel deprived of her takes on Tennessee Williams, Sondheim, O'Neill, Shaw, Pinter and Stoppard. (Not to mention her Momma Rose.)
Jessica Lange was supposed to star in the production Vanessa Redgrave did a decade ago, but dropped out at the last minute. Leading man Brian Dennehy was publicly called out Lange for her behavior.
Gotcha, billybil. I completely misunderstood your original post. I thought you were blaming the Tonys for not giving her one! It's a complete mystery to me why she hasn't returned to Broadway. Maybe like Streisand she just prefers movies.
My goal is to read the Hamilton biography by Chernow, along with the compaion, and maybe Chernow's Washington biography, and probably David McCollough's bibliography, and maybe I'll be able to afford tickets for the show by then. Or it'll start touring. Either way, everyone is in love with Hamilton, and trying to plan a Seattle-to-New York trip for a musical is no easy feat.
Immensely excited about their wins. I adore the cast recording, and I have heard of multiple people repeatedly listening to it at the gym, me included. Would love to see most of the plays. I'm very intrigued by The Humans, and I'm sad I still haven't gotten around to listening to The Color Purple revival.
I'm glad I am finally seeing Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder, Beautiful, and Fun Home over the next year. Hopefully Curious Incident... and Hedwig too.