Thank you and good bye!
Like any show, this loveblog, too, has to come to an end.
Here is a quick summary of tonight’s events:
- Hamilton won 11 of the 16 Tony awards it was nominated for, including one for best musical. The musical, however, did not break the record set by The Producers, which won 12 Tonys during the 55th Tony awards
- The Color Purple won a Tony for a best revival of a musical
- The Humans won a Tony for a best play and A View from the Bridge won a Tony for a best revival of a play.
- Frank Langella, who won a Tony for his performance in The Father, is now tied with Boyd Gaines for most Tony Awards won by a male actor. They both have won 4 Tonys each
- All four of the musical acting awards have gone to people of color - Daveed Diggs, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Cynthia Erivo and Leslie Odom Jr
- Leslie Odom Jr won a Tony award for the best actor in a musical while Lin Manuel won a Tony for best book of a musical and best score
- Tonight’s show was dedicated to the victims of last night’s shooting in Orlando, which is the deadliest mass shooting in the US
Thank you for following along with us tonight. Good bye!
Here is our complete list of winners:
It’s been almost 15 minutes since the latest batch of Hamilton tickets went on sale and all I am hearing is that the site keeps crashing.
I've selected @HamiltonMusical seats three times now and have had @Ticketmaster crash on me losing my seats! I'm distraught!
— Traci Oshiro (@TreTre0) June 13, 2016
Frank Langella is now tied (w/ Boyd Gaines) for most #TonyAwards male actor wins - 4. Bravo! pic.twitter.com/ztdzCPS3kY
— The Tony Awards (@TheTonyAwards) June 13, 2016
The Hamilton acceptance speech ends with one of the most popular lines from the musical:
“Look around, look around how lucky we are to be alive right now!”
The Hamilton cast also sings us out - singing the Schuyler sisters song, which goes a little bit like this:
Look around, look around at how lucky we are to be alive right now!
History is happening in Manhattan and we just happen to be in the greatest city in the world!
Indeed, history did happen in Manhattan tonight. Tonight, was the first time in 70 years that all four of the musical acting awards have gone to people of color - Daveed Diggs, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Cynthia Erivo and Leslie Odom Jr.
Hamilton wins a Tony for the best musical
The award was announced by Barbara Streisand, who looked like an extra for the musical.
“Thank God, I picked the right outfit,” she says as she opens the envelope.
For the first time in #TonyAwards history, all four musical acting awards have gone to people of color.
— The Tony Awards (@TheTonyAwards) June 13, 2016
I just received an email informing me that the tickets to Hamilton will go on sale at 11:15 pm ET. Get your wallets ready.
Erivo’s win, however, means that Phillipa Soo - who plays Elizabeth Schuyler in Hamilton - did not win in her category.
As such, Hamilton can at this point win at most 11 Tony awards, leaving The Producers as the reigning champion with a recording-breaking 12 Tony awards.
Cynthia Erivo wins a Tony for best actress in a musical
Erivo wins a Tony for her performance in The Color Purple.
“Hi, mommy, look!” she says through tears as her mother stands up in the audience and blows her a kiss.
Leslie Odom Jr wins a Tony for best actor in a musical
YES! Leslie was definitely favor for this award over Lin Manuel Miranda. Just like in Hamilton, the two were rivals tonight after being nominated within the same category.
“I will cherish this,” said Odom Jr, adding “Lin Manuel, God bless you, man.”
The Color Purple wins a Tony for best revival of a musical
Here is our review of the musical:
A quick parody of what musicals would look like if they were based on current presidential candidates.
“Hello, my name is Donald Trump and I would like to build a wall that goes straight through your house,” sings Andrew Rannells, who would play Trump in The Book of Moron.
“I really need this job, Oh God I need this job. I got to get this job,” sings Glenn Close, who would play Clinton in A Clinton Line.
#TheBookOfMoron 😂😂😂 https://t.co/QIBgdPJGtH #TonyAwards pic.twitter.com/zPO6zsLwFA
— GIPHY (@giphy) June 13, 2016
"Hello, my name is Donald Trump and I would like to build a wall that goes straight through your house" - Trump Book of Mormon spoof
— issie lapowsky (@issielapowsky) June 13, 2016
Andrew Rannells as Donald Trump in "Book of Moron" pic.twitter.com/z6mSIP3eFw
— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) June 13, 2016
According to Playbill, there might some Hamilton tickets up for sale after tonight’s Tony awards:
A new block of tickets for the Broadway smash Hamilton is scheduled to go on sale to the general public starting at 11:10 PM June 12, according to Ticketmaster. It was originally scheduled to go on sale at 8 PM, but was moved later so as not to conflict with the Tony Awards broadcast.
James Corden introduces his parents and his dad says what we are all (secretly) thinking: “It’s going on for a bit, isn’t it?” After Corden laughs, he adds: “Get on with it!”
He does, however, compliment his son on his opening number.
Updated
The Humans wins a Tony for best play
Stephen Karam, who wrote The Humans, has a message to anyone struggling with a day job while trying to create their art: “Keep the faith.”
The Humans has won a total of four Tonys thus far.
Updated
"I urge you, Orlando, to be strong." - Frank Langella ❤️ 💛 💙 💜 @TheTonyAwards #TonyAwards https://t.co/NECixkVm48 pic.twitter.com/vMZdxXVExY
— GIPHY (@giphy) June 13, 2016
All of us at work tomorrow. https://t.co/KebBMvZlOX #TonyAwards pic.twitter.com/uAoRLSmxcl
— GIPHY (@giphy) June 13, 2016
Earlier tonight, we saw a special performance by the Spring Awakening cast using American Sign Language.
Last year, Alex and Kayla Epstein went to one of the ASL performances. Here is what they had to say:
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama introduce the Hamilton cast via pre-recorded message.
Obama recounts Miranda’s visit to the White House from a seven years ago when Miranda told him he was writing a musical about America’s first treasury secretary, Alexander Hamilton.
“We all laughed, but who is laughing now?” says Obama, describing Hamilton as America’s favorite civics lesson.
A View from the Bridge wins for best revival of a play
This was a tough category. All of these revivals were so well-done.
Here is our review of A View from the Bridge:
Frank Langella, who won a Tony for his role in The Father, offered his thoughts to Orlando. https://t.co/K4hdqLlxMs pic.twitter.com/DZi0VuHF8m
— Guardian US (@GuardianUS) June 13, 2016
🚨🚨🚨 HAMILTON IS UP NEXT. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. MAN YOUR STATIONS 🚨🚨🚨 #TonyAwards
— Kayla Epstein (@KaylaEpstein) June 13, 2016
Here is our review of The Father:
Confession: I wept through the entire last five minutes of the play. I also, however, was convinced that Mark Strong was going to win in this category.
Frank Langella wins his fourth Tony award
Frank Langella wins his fourth Tony award for his performance in The Father. He won in the best actor in a leading role category.
As he accepts his speech, he admits he consulted an astrologer when he arrived in New York and she told him his successes would come later on in his career.
“I thought she meant 30,” he says, to laughter from the audience. “The fact is there is really no late in an actor’s career.”
Langella also addresses the tragic events that took place in Orlando last night. He urges everyone to be strong.
“We will be with you every step of the way,” he says.
In The Father, Langella says he plays a man who is “losing his now” as his brother Andrew is right now.
Updated
What is that dress, Cate Blanchett?
A quick Google search reveals it’s Louis Vuitton.
And while we are all busy watching the carpool karaoke Broadway edition (again!), Hamilton has just won yet ANOTHER Tony award.
This one is for best choreography.
And the Tony goes to... #AndyBlankenbuehler for @HamiltonMusical. #TonyAwards pic.twitter.com/3xFotaEvQo
— The Tony Awards (@TheTonyAwards) June 13, 2016
If I’ve got it right, that’s #9.
We are almost two hours into the 70th Annual Tony awards. Here is a quick look at some of the performances that we have seen thus far:
Here is the entire sonnet that Miranda used as his acceptance speech earlier this evening (via The New York Times):
My wife’s the reason anything gets done;
She nudges me towards promise by degrees;
She is a perfect symphony of one;
Our son is her most beautiful reprise.
We chase the melodies that seem to find us
Until they’re finished songs and start to play
When senseless acts of tragedy remind us
That nothing here is promised, not one day.
This show is proof that history remembers
We lived through times when hate and fear seemed stronger;
We rise and fall and light from dying embers, remembrances that hope and love last longer
And love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love cannot be killed or swept aside.
I sing Vanessa’s symphony, Eliza tells her story
Now fill the world with music, love and pride.
Updated
Jessica Lange wins a Tony for best actress in a play
Lange wins a Tony for best actress in a play for her performance in Long Day’s Journey Into Night.
Look, it’s Nathan Lane!
Reminder: The Producers currently holds the record for winning 12 Tony awards.
.@SteveMartinToGo strumming on the banjo = life goals. @TheTonyAwards #TonyAwards https://t.co/6Josh0GuIn pic.twitter.com/WWkSa4A4TT
— GIPHY (@giphy) June 13, 2016
Don’t know who any of these Tony nominees are?
No worries. James Corden reminds us that we have seen most of them at one point or another in our favorite show: Law and Order.
[law & order gavel sounds] pic.twitter.com/lIb2NqKcSb
— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) June 13, 2016
That brings us to .... eight Tony awards for Hamilton this far.
Let’s count:
- one for lyrics
- one for book
- one for costumes
- one for lighting
- one for orchestrations
- one for the director, Thomas Kail
- one for the best actor in a featured role, Daveed Diggs
- one for the best actress in a featured role, Renée Elise Goldsberry
And ANOTHER win for Lin Manuel Miranda and Hamilton. This time for best book of a musical.
And the Tony goes to... @Lin_Manuel for @HamiltonMusical. #TonyAwards pic.twitter.com/2kLHrpWsgS
— The Tony Awards (@TheTonyAwards) June 13, 2016
A performance from The Color Purple is next.
We're getting ready to sing out! #TheColorPurple performs next at @TheTonyAwards on @CBS! #TonyAwards pic.twitter.com/ah23TCoooX
— The Color Purple (@BwayColorPurple) June 13, 2016
Steve Martin with one of the zingers of the night while introducing the cast of Bright Star:
“To be on Broadway, you have to work hard and study for years and years. Or you can do what I did: already be famous.”
Also, while we were all busy watching commercials, Hamilton won ANOTHER Tony. This one was for best orchestrations.
And the Tony goes to... @LacketyLac for @HamiltonMusical. #TonyAwards pic.twitter.com/ALadC1TUq2
— The Tony Awards (@TheTonyAwards) June 13, 2016
Reed Birney wins the award for best actor in a feature role in a play for The Humans.
This is a third Tony tonight for The Humans.
And here is a quick look at the stars as they arrive for the 70th annual Tony awards:
And now, a performance from Fiddler on the Roof followed by a quick commercial break.
I have also recently been informed that Lin Manuel Miranda staged a wedding surprise performance of Fiddler for his wife Vanessa. You can see it here:
"Love is love is love is love." - @Lin_Manuel @TheTonyAwards #TonyAwards https://t.co/hLac9A0zYe pic.twitter.com/YzELnx9LST
— GIPHY (@giphy) June 13, 2016
Kail thanks Lin Manuel Miranda.
“Lin, oh dear Lin,” he says, before adding that he exists to build and interpret what Miranda has created. “The answer is always with the writer.”
Another win for Hamilton!
Thomas Kail wins the award for best direction of a musical for Hamilton. This is his first award.
Ivo Van Hove wins the award for best direction of a play for A View from the Bridge.
“New York has been so welcoming to us this season,” he says as he accepts his award.
Confession: I saw A View from the Bridge twice.
When I asked my friend and a Guardian writer Sarah Galo to describe She Loves me, she told me: “She Loves Me feels like a nice breezy throwback, a comforting classic like the vanilla ice cream that Laura Benati sings of in the second act.”
She was right.
Updated
Lin-Manuel Miranda's rhymed speech was very moving. ""Love is love is love is love is love ... cannot be killed or swept aside" #TonyAwards
— Alex Needham (@alexneedham74) June 13, 2016
Next is a performance from She Loves Me - which has already ruined Hamilton’s chance at winning a record-breaking 13 Tony awards when it won for the best scenic design earlier in the evening.
And, of course, Lin Manuel Miranda wins the Tony for the best original score. He won the award in 2008 for In the Heights.
And the Tony goes to...@Lin_Manuel for @HamiltonMusical. #TonyAwards pic.twitter.com/2XlZsUrlBr
— The Tony Awards (@TheTonyAwards) June 13, 2016
Daveed Diggs wins the award for the best actor in a featured role in a musical.
Diggs plays both Madison and Jefferson in Hamilton. He is fantastic.
One of the reasons that Hamilton was able to rack up the record-breaking 16 nominations is because Diggs as well as Jonathan Groff, who plays King George, and Christopher Jackson, who plays George Washingon, were also nominated in this category.
Daveed Diggs ... c’mon.
Here is a quick look at Corden’s opening montage ...
Updated
.@JKCorden kicking off the evening at @TheTonyAwards with extremely powerful words. ❤️ 💛 💙 💜 #TonyAwards pic.twitter.com/umhFOkyW3A
— GIPHY (@giphy) June 13, 2016
For those keeping track at home, Hamilton is still on track to tie with The Producers for the record of 12 Tony awards.
Renée Elise Goldsberry wins the award for the best actress in a featured role in a musical.
Goldsberry plays Hamilton’s sister-in-law Angelica Schuyler.
YESSSSS ANGELICA
— Sarah Galo (@SarahEvonne) June 13, 2016
“Hamilton is one once in a lifetime moment after another,” she says.
.... and we are still outside, except this time with the cast of Shuffle Along.
I am so confused by what is happening right now.
James Corden has taken us outside the theatre where artists will be performing throughout the night.
... is that Steve Martin on the guitar we spy?
Yes, yes it is. And he is accompanied by Andrew Lloyd Weber on tambourine.
My colleague Ross Maghielse, who actually saw School of Rock musical, says: “It was awesome and the kids do actually play all the real music themselves.”
Updated
And now a performance from School of Rock musical ... I hope it’s better than the movie.
Updated
Jayne Houdyshell, The Humans, wins the award for the best actress in a featured role in a play.
The award was announced by Jake Gyllenhaal, who began by saying: “As Hillary Clinton showed us this week, women can do anything.”
The cast of @HamiltonMusical watches the opening number from backstage. #TonyAwards pic.twitter.com/eQxKLtrqVV
— The Tony Awards (@TheTonyAwards) June 13, 2016
Corden went on to descibe the Tonys as “The Oscars, but with diversity ... it’s so diverse that Donald Trump has threatened to build a wall around this theatre. This is the Super Bowl for people who don’t know what the Super Bowl is.”
And the show has started ...
To start, James Corden dedicated tonight’s show to victims of the Orlando mass shooting.
“Your tragedy is our tragedy,” he says, adding that people of all races, sexual orientations and walks of life are welcomed in theatre. “Hate will never win.”
James Corden opened the Tony awards by saying:
All around the world people are trying to come to terms with the horrific events that took place in Orlando. Our hearts go out to all those affected by this atrocity. You are not on your own, your tragedy is our tragedy. Theater is a place where every race, creed, sexuality and gender is equal, embraced and loved. Hate will never win. Together we have to make sure of that. Tonight’s show stands a a symbol and celebration of that principle.
Updated
Let’s be honest -- it’s no surprise that Hamilton did not win the award for the best scenic design. The set was beautiful but very simple.
Hamilton just won its first two Tony awards - one for best costume design of a musical and one for the best lighting design of a musical.
HOWEVER, Hamilton lost out to She Loves Me in the scenic design of a musical category, which means that at this point it cannot beat The Producers’ record of 12 Tony awards. Will it be a tie?
And the Tony goes to... @paulgtazewell for @HamiltonMusical. #TonyAwards pic.twitter.com/nEOKOXbmpW
— The Tony Awards (@TheTonyAwards) June 12, 2016
Other awards that were just announced include:
Best costume design of a musical: Paul Tazewell, Hamilton
Best costume design of a play: Clint Ramos, Eclipsed
Best scenic design of a play: David Zinn, The Humans
Best scenic design of a musical: David Rockwell, She Loves Me
Best lighting design of a play: Natasha Katz, Long Day’s Journey Into Night
Best lighting design of a musical: Howell Binkley, Hamilton
Of course, we would be remiss if we did not mention the endless quest some of the theatre fans have gone on to get their hands on a ticket to see Hamilton. The show is currently sold out through January of next year.
Our colleague Amber Jamieson stopped by the Richard Rodgers theatre earlier this week and spoke to a handful of Hamilton’s die hard fans. Some of them have been sleeping outside the theatre in order to be at the very front of the cancellation line. She writes:
The cancellation line requires a considerable time commitment. The first in line for the Wednesday matinee performance was a woman who had arrived on Monday afternoon and had slept outside for two nights running. She declined to give her name and said she wasn’t familiar with the play or had listened to the soundtrack, but had just heard great reviews of the show and was waiting for one of the $177 tickets to become available. “I want to go home so that I can change my clothes and brush my teeth,” she said.
About 20 people deep in the line was Katie Mcguire, 18, from Dartmouth, describing herself as “obsessed – we’re theatre kids”. She had driven four hours from Massachusetts at 2am with her friend Patrick Kitchen, 18, to get into the cancellations line. Despite arriving in the line just after 7am and waiting until 8:30pm that night, neither got tickets to either the matinee or evening Hamilton performances – although they plan to return next week to try again.
You can read the entire story here:
Need a quick refresher about who the nominees are? Here is the list of all of the nominees. We will also be listing all the winners here as they happen:
Our Alexis Soloski has also put together a list of all of the nominees she believes should win and those who she thinks will win. You can check it out here:
Tonight’s show is dedicated to those killed in Orlando last night.
Fifty people were killed last night in what is being described as the deadliest mass shooting in the US history.
“Our hearts are heavy for the unimaginable tragedy that happened last night in Orlando,” the show said in a statement earlier today. “Our thoughts are with the families and friends of those affected. The Tony awards dedicate tonight’s ceremony to them.”
Our hearts are heavy for the unimaginable tragedy that happened last night in Orlando. (1/2)
— The Tony Awards (@TheTonyAwards) June 12, 2016
Our thoughts are with the families and friends of those affected. The Tony Awards dedicate tonight's ceremony to them. (2/2)
— The Tony Awards (@TheTonyAwards) June 12, 2016
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) June 12, 2016
Updated
Welcome!
Hello and welcome to our live blog of the 70th annual Tony awards! We’ll be live blogging and commentating throughout the night. The broadcast begins at 8pm Eastern/7pm Central on CBS.
Hamilton has already made history this year when it was announced that the musical was nominated for a record-breaking 16 awards. Billy Elliot (2009) and The Producers (2001) shared the previous record of 15 nominations. The Producers won 12 of its 15 nominations back in 2001. Will Hamilton break that record?
Follow along with us to find out!
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