(New York) The Outsiders, a realistic adaptation of the classic young adult novel, became the epitome of a Broadway insider on Sunday, winning the Tony Award for best new musical on a night where the story theater was made for women as directors and writers of Broadway music.
The musical, an adaptation of S. E. Hinton’s beloved novel, is about rival gangs of haves and have-nots in 1960s Oklahoma. The win means producer Angelina Jolie also nabbed her first Tony.
Stereophonic, the play about a Fleetwood Mac-type band recording an album during a turbulent, life-changing year, won best new play. It was written by David Adjmi, with songs by former Arcade Fire member Will Butler.
“Getting here was a very difficult journey,” Adjmi said, adding that the piece took 11 years to manifest. “We need to fund the arts in America. »
Two special guests electrified the crowd: Jay-Z and Hillary Rodham Clinton. The latter, producer of Suffs, presented the show.
“I have been on many stages, but this one is very special,” said the politician. “I know a little bit about how hard it is to make changes. »
During the first musical presentation, Alicia Keys appeared at the piano as the cast of her semi-autobiographical musical, Hell’s Kitchen, performed a medley of songs.
Later, newcomer Maleah Joi Moon won Best Lead Actress for Hell’s Kitchen, fending off a challenge from veteran Kelli O’Hara.
Danya Taymor – whose aunt is Julie Taymor, the first woman to win a Tony Award for directing a musical – became the 11th woman to win the award, for The Outsiders.
Next, Shaina Taub, the second woman in Broadway history to write, compose and star in a Broadway musical, won Best Score. Taub, the force behind Suffs, had already won the award for best libretto, earlier in the night. Her musical chronicles the heroic final years of the fight to allow women to vote, leading to the passage of the 19th Amendment.
“If Suffs’ story inspires you, make sure you and everyone you know is registered to vote and vote, vote, vote! » she exclaimed.
Host Ariana DeBose kicked off the ceremony from Lincoln Center with an original, acrobatic number, followed by Jeremy Strong winning the first big prize of the evening, Best Leading Actor in a Play. Strong, the star of Succession, nabbed his first Tony for his work in the revival of Henrik Ibsen’s 1882 political play, An Enemy of the People.
Kara Young, the first black performer to be nominated for a Tony three years in a row, won best actress in a play this time for Purlie Victorious, the story of a black preacher’s plan to reclaim his inheritance and reconquer his inheritance and recover his church, monopolized by a plantation owner.
Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe cemented his career pivot on stage by winning the Tony for best supporting actor in a musical, his first trophy in five Broadway shows. He won for the Stephen Sondheim-George Furth cover of Merrily We Roll Along, which goes back in time.
“It’s one of the best experiences of my life,” Radcliffe enthused.
The musical was also named best musical revival and earned Jonathan Groff his first Tony, for leading actor in a musical.
Appropriate star Sarah Paulson added the Tony for best lead actress in a play to her Emmy, SAG and Golden Globe wins.
DeBose, a three-time emcee, co-choreographed the opening number, to the original song This Party’s for You, which had a disco vibe with hip-hop elements and multiple acrobatic lifts. The song was an encouragement to those who sacrifice for their art and took a gentle dig at other types of entertainment: “You will learn that movies and television can make you rich and make you famous. But theater will make you better. »
