Now, I know what happens at the Tony Awards. I’ve watched them closely for years, sometimes with friends and themed snacks (I’m looking at you, 2022’s “A Strange Fruit Loop”), sometimes at a more formal viewing party. At regular intervals I’ll also revisit “Bigger,” Neil Patrick Harris’s joyous opening number at the 2013 ceremony, knowing I will feel the same swelling in my heart every time he arrives at the climax of his rap: “We were that kid.” (Is someone cutting onions in here?) Still, nothing could quite prepare me for being in the room where it happens (…sorry!) during the 77th Annual Tony Awards on Sunday night.
Below, I’ve rounded up four things you likely didn’t catch watching the Tonys from home. We’re live in five…four…three…can I get applause, please?
The pre-show (which is actually very charming)
Yes, you can watch the pre-show at home via Pluto TV, but most people only know to switch on the Tonys for the CBS broadcast at 8 p.m. Hosted by Julianne Hough and Utkarsh Ambudkar, however, “The Tony Awards: Act One” was a delight, representing a welcome transition from the frenzy of the red carpet to the live show—and giving well-deserved recognition to the creative and design teams behind each production. Directors George C. Wolfe and Jack O’Brien also received their Special Tony Awards for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre during that time, giving two very endearing speeches. “Most of the people here tonight were discouraged by their parents, teachers, lovers, financial advisors,” O’Brien joked (but not really) of beginning a career in the theater. “But we couldn’t help it, could we?” The crowd loved this.
The weirdness of the commercial breaks
After the pre-show, guests had 10 quick minutes to do, well, everything: use the restroom, get a refreshment, recap the latest wins, take some final pictures before the sun went down, pick up a complimentary packet of corn chips—if there were any left. (The chips were delicious, and I went back for two more baggies throughout the show.) Time was fleeting, though, and if you were wearing a huge tulle Markarian gown (as I was), you needed 37 extra seconds simply to wiggle out of your seat. During the regularly scheduled commercial breaks, I caught friends taking pictures together, castmates dashing across the aisles to hug their newy Tony-minted costars, and couples sneaking whispers or even closing their eyes for a quick moment. (Some of these people had done a matinee earlier that day!)
During one commercial break about three-quarters of the way into the show, host Ariana DeBose walked onto the stage. “Anyone got any good jokes?” she asked the room, warmly. “It’s so quiet here!” Her playful banter made the venue feel less like a 2,586-person theater and more like an East Village open-mic night. A little later, Ashley Park ran up to offer DeBose some mid-show snacks; I wonder if they were the free corn chips.
The logistics behind the performances
Some performance highlights this year included a fantastic showcase for The Outsiders (with a fight scene that left the audience breathless), Eddie Redmayne turning the Koch Theater stage into a raunchy cabaret club, and the gorgeous display of camaraderie between Jonathan Groff, Daniel Radcliffe, and Lindsay Mendez before, during, and after they took the stage for “Old Friends.” But the surprise that had everyone on their feet was Jay-Z joining Alicia Keys for a medley from Hell’s Kitchen: cue standing, dancing, and people linking arms.
From where I was seated, I could see into the wings a little bit, and catching cast members do a little “I’m so excited!” dance just before performing on live television was almost as entertaining as the show itself. It was also fascinating to see the set changes between performances; unlike at your standard Broadway show, the curtain never came down on the Tonys’ hardworking stage crew.
The surprises…and the seat-fillers
Only recently did I become privy to the concept of seat-filling, and truly, it’s a choreographed art. If I thought I was racing against the clock to get a water during commercial break, these people were literally running through the aisles to make sure the camera never picked up an empty seat. Indeed, a stage manager asked a friend of mine to sit just behind Broadway directing legend Kenny Leon, giving him some quality airtime.
It was a starry crowd this year, what with Hillary Clinton showing up to introduce Suffs, which she produced; a radiant Angelina Jolie introducing The Outsiders, which she produced; Nick Jonas and Adrienne Warren presenting the Tony for best lead actress in a musical mere hours after being announced as the stars of a new Broadway production of The Last Five Years (be still, my 13-year-old heart); and two Elphabas, Cynthia Erivo and Idina Menzel, sharing the stage to present the Tony for best new musical. Next year, I wouldn’t mind trying my hand at seat-filling; maybe I’ll land a spot next to Neil Patrick Harris and get to rap his 2013 verse back to him.
