Stage-struck: Broadway stars shine at the Tony Awards
Whether you’re sitting in a crowded grade school gymnasium or in the velvet seats of a posh playhouse, there’s nothing quite like live theater. Every year, millions of eager spectators flock to Broadway to take in a show. Now the stars of those shows are ready to gather and celebrate their accomplishments. Sara Bareilles (“The Sing-Off”) and Josh Groban (“Crazy, Stupid, Love,” 2011) will honor the best of Broadway as they co-host the 72nd Annual Tony Awards, airing Sunday, June 10, on CBS.
Established in 1947 in honor of Antoinette “Tony” Perry, a co-founder of the American Theatre Wing, the awards celebrate outstanding achievement in Broadway productions and performances, as well as regional theater. There are also non-competitive awards, such as the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, which this year will go to both Andrew Lloyd Webber (“The Phantom of the Opera”) and Chita Rivera (“The Mystery of Edwin Drood”).
Seasoned musicians Groban and Bareilles may be relatively fresh faces on the Broadway scene, but they’ve quickly made their mark, making them the perfect co-hosts for this year’s event. Bareilles composed the music and wrote the lyrics for the hit musical “Waitress,” a gig that earned her a Tony nomination for Best Original Score in 2016. Groban made his debut in “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812” on the Great White Way in 2016, which earned him a 2017 Tony nomination for Best Actor in a Musical. Both performers expressed their excitement to be hosting this year’s Tonys in an official CBS release.
“The theater has completely transformed my life in every way possible,” Bareilles said. “I feel incredibly lucky to get to spend an evening celebrating and applauding this outstanding collective of artists, friends, collaborators and creatives.”
She and Groban welcome performers and those who work behind the scenes on a variety of productions, from gritty dramas to lighthearted musicals. This year’s list of nominees include theatrical classics, musical revivals, comedies and productions based on a television show, a movie and a book. Nominees in the coveted Best Play category are “The Children,” “Farinelli and the King,” “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two,” “Junk” and “Latin History for Morons.”
Perhaps the biggest surprise on Broadway this year has been the success and acclaim of the initially underestimated “SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical.” Based on the popular Nickelodeon animated series, the Broadway production gained nominations in 12 categories, including one for Best Musical. The show is tied for the top spot with “Mean Girls,” which also earned 12 nominations for its take on Tina Fey’s (“Saturday Night Live”) 2004 big-screen comedy of the same name. Like “SpongeBob,” “Mean Girls” is up for Best Musical, a category that also includes “The Band’s Visit” and the stage adaptation of the film “Frozen.”
“The Band’s Visit” has secured 11 nominations and stars Tony Shalhoub (“Monk”) in the story of an Egyptian police band that ends up in a remote dessert village. The revival of Tony Kushner’s “Angels in America” has earned 11 nominations also, notably star Andrew Garfield (“The Amazing SpiderMan,” 2012) for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play and Broadway stalwart Nathan Lane (“The Birdcage,” 1996) for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play. It’s been a good year for revivals as the latest production of “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel” is up for 11 nominations, including being against the classic “My Fair Lady” and original ‘90s hit “Once on This Island” in the Best Revival of a Musical category.
Other notable awards include the aforementioned Lifetime Achievement Awards for Lloyd Webber and Rivera, as well as a Special Tony Award for John Leguizamo (“Moulin Rouge!,” 2001) for his commitment to theater and his body of work, which includes his oneman show “Latin History for Morons.” Bruce Springsteen will receive a Special Tony Award as well for “Springsteen on Broadway.” This year’s Regional Theatre Tony Awards will go to La MaMa E.T.C. of New York City. The Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award for volunteer time and effort on behalf of a charitable organization will be awarded to Nick Scandalios from the Nederlander Organization for LGBTQ advocacy. Theater photographer Sara Krulwich, costume beader Bessie Nelson and dry cleaning company Ernest Winzer Cleaners will all receive Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre. A full list of nominees is available online at www.tonyawards.com.
With such a stellar list of nominees and dynamic duo Bareilles and Groban on deck to host, theater fans won’t want to miss this year’s Tony Awards. Last year’s broadcast was nominated for four Emmys and won the award for Outstanding Special Class Program. The show has been so successful for the network that CBS recently inked a deal to continue broadcasting the Tonys through to 2026.
In an age of almost limitless screens, theater is a unique and cherished experience for many. Contrary to what you might think, the prevalence of easy-toaccess, stay-at-home entertainment like videogames, streaming services and apps haven’t diminished the allure of Broadway for theater fans. In fact, attendance has been up and holding steady for the past few years. Celebrate the magic of the stage by tuning into The 72nd Annual Tony Awards, airing Sunday, June 10, on CBS.