The 2023 tony awards looked a little different than most years. Not only was this year’s ceremony at the United palace up in Washington Heights for the first time, but it was completely unscripted. Host Ariana DeBose acknowledged the choice out of respect to the Writers Guild of America who are currently on strike. She kicked off the show with a massive dance and music number.
Kimberly Akimbo took home the most awards of the night, five in total, including the coveted prize for Best Musical.
On Stage Host Frank DiLella caught up with the winners at the ceremony.
"The beauty of the show ["Kimberly Akimbo"] has helped me through grief and I've been thinking a lot about my dad, about my grandma and my grandpa, who are all gone, who were such fierce supporters of me from the beginning. And I just feel really proud and really excited," said Bonnie Milligan, winner of Best Featured Actress in a Musical.
"It's weird. It's so bizarre that, like, this thing is heavy. You can touch it with your hands, you can feel it, and it still doesn't feel real. Like, there's this disconnect between my body and my brain right now that I'm trying to work through," shared Brandon Uranwitz, who took home a Tony for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his work in "Leopoldstadt."
Patrick Marber, who won Best Director of a Play for "Leopoldstadt" shared what is next for him: "I am doing some writing. I've got a backlog of scripts that well, I can't write them yet because I'm on strike, as you can see from the badge. I mean, the WGA. But really, I need to get back to my desk."
Playwright Suzan-Lori Parks, whose "Topdog/Underdog" won Best Play, shared a sweet moment she shared while preparing for the awards: "Before we left the house with my husband, we were all dressed up and our son, you know, he's 11, so he's sitting on the couch going, 'Mom, it's okay if you don't win.' 'You're so sweet,' I said, 'Don't worry, Baby. I'm bringing it.'
Sean Hayes won the award for Best Leading Actor in a Play for his work in "Good Night, Oscar." "I'm not an eloquent enough speaker to give, you know, the advice I wish I could sound brilliantly, at giving, but it's just as simple as if you really believe in something, stick to it and it doesn't matter. The result, if you believe in it, just stick with it and you'll learn something from it and something will come of it."
Actors Alex Newell and J. Harrison Ghee made history as the first out non-binary performers to win Tonys.
"It means a moment of representation, a moment of visibility, and especially in this time of legislation against LGBTQIA plus trans humans. This is a moment to stand in the light and the sun and know that your life has worth. You have power and anything is possible," proclaimed J. Harrison Ghee, Tony winner for Best Lead Actor in a Musical.