The 74th Annual Tony Awards, hosted by Cynthia Erivo, will take place on Sunday night on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. The ceremony promises to be an exciting event, with a diverse range of nominees vying for top honors.
Notable Productions
This year’s crop of plays has been particularly impressive. Two Pulitzer Prize-winning productions have made their mark:
- A Strange Loop: Won earlier this month after being delayed due to COVID-19 issues when it opened off-Broadway last fall.
- The Lehman Trilogy: Won last year but wasn’t eligible until this season because its original run ended before April 30.
Best Play Nominees
The nominees for Best Play include:
- A Strange Loop
- The Lehman Trilogy
- Oh!: An irreverent revisionist history centered on Mary Todd Lincoln.
- John Proctor Is The Villain
- The Hills Of California
Musical Nominations
On the musical side, several shows lead nominations with ten apiece, tied atop all nominees overall. These include:
- Mr. Saturday Night: About a pair of singing androids.
- New York, New York: About an alcoholic drifter whose embalmed body becomes a prized possession over half a century.
- A satirical take on longtime frenemies who drink a magic potion that grants them eternal youth and beauty.
Other Notable Contenders
- Death Becomes Her: Boasts eight nominations, including Best Actress in a Musical for Patti LuPone.
- Buena Vista Social Club: Has seven nods, including Best Director of Choreography for Camille Assaf.
Special Recognition
Harvey Fierstein will receive special recognition at Sunday’s ceremony via the Lifetime Achievement Award. He notes, "We’re going through this strange period," adding, "I would think someday we can draw a line from COVID to this as you can draw a line from the early eighties with the AIDS explosion."
Record-Setting Performers
- Audra McDonald: Holds the record for the most recognized performer in theater awards history with six acting wins and could add more thanks to her leading turn in the acclaimed revival of Gypsy.
- Nicole Scherzinger: Wow audiences in Sunset Blvd.
- Kara Young: The first Black female actor to be nominated for four consecutive years could become the first Black person to win two consecutively should she win for Purpose.
Potential Back-to-Back Winners
- Danya Taymor: Hopes to follow up her win for Outsiders with another for John Proctor Is The Villain.
- Branden Jacobs-Jenkins: Won for Appropriate last year and could win for Purpose this season.
- Daniel Dae Kim: Could become the first Asian winner in the category for leading actor in a play for his work in Yellow Face.
- Marjan Neshat and Tala Ashe: Co-stars who could become the first female actors of Iranian descent to win a Tony.
Young Talent on Broadway
Noteworthy is the dominance of young people on Broadway, with Alt-Rock emerging in stories pitched by Gen Z and Millennials.
The Sunday telecast will feature a musical number from each show vying for the top prize, including a celebration of Hamilton marking ten years on Broadway.
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