The day has finally arrived - it’s Tony Awards Night! For us theater lovers, it’s like Christmas, Hanukkah, Halloween, our birthdays and the 4th of July all wrapped up in one, with a big Broadway bow! Stars of the stage will kick, turn, split, sing and act up a storm tonight as they showcase what’s been wowing Broadway audiences this past year. And for a very lucky few, a coveted Tony Award, in all it’s shining glory, will take pride of place on their mantel Monday morning.
As we warm up for tonight’s festivities, we are looking back over some of our favorite Tony Awards moments from the ceremony through the years, that have left us saying…oh…my…TONY!
NEIL PATRICK HARRIS OPENING (2013)
Star of stage and screen, Neil Patrick Harris (NPH) secured his spot as a Tony Awards legend, having hosted the ceremony an impressive 4 times (only one short of the record-holder Dame Angela Lansbury). So kicking us off on our run-down of iconic moments, we thought it best to open with an opening number and NPH does it best. Check out what can only be described as a musical marathon by NPH from the 2013 ceremony.
DREAM GIRLS (1982)
‘And I am Telling You I’m Not Going’ - a Broadway showtune that has been covered time after time, but for us none can compare to the first, the best, the original Effie White, a one Ms. Jennifer Holiday. A powerhouse of a performer, Holiday stole the show back in 1982 with her performance of the iconic song at the 36th Tony Awards.
ANYTHING GOES (1988)
A musical theater tour de force, no Tony Awards countdown could go by without a nod to Patti Lupone. A fireball of talent, Lupone showcased her legendary singing chops in the 1988 Tony Awards performance with ANYTHING GOES.
JERSEY BOYS (2009)
The year is 2009, it's three years after JERSEY BOYS wins for Best Musical. "What's this show doing at the Tony Awards?" you ask yourself... and the answer is bringing out all FIVE Frankie Vallis from their current productions to sing "Can't Take My Eyes Off You." We have now entered the JERSERY BOYS multiverse!
NATHAN LANE & GREGORY HINES (1995)
Not all magic moments from Tony Awards night are from nominated show performances. A great host is essential for a successful show and what a trio we had in ’95 with Glenn Close, Gregory Hines, and Nathan Lane. We loved Hines and Lane’s salute to the women of Broadway in their comedic medley ‘Broadway Songs We've Never Done, and Never Will’. Watch, listen, laugh…enjoy.
WICKED (2004)
We’ve seen the show, we know the songs, we’ve come to terms with whether we’re more of an Elphaba or a Glinda in our friendship group. WICKED without a doubt is a musical theater staple, performing on Broadway for the past 20 years - the forth longest running show in Broadway history. But let’s cast our mind back to a time when this now megamusical was all shiny and new…and green. Featuring two Broadway legends, the 2004 Tony Award performance by Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth was one for the history books!
THE COLOR PURPLE (2016)
From Idina to Erivo. Taking on the role of Elphaba in the much anticipated screen adaption of WICKED, Cynthia Erivo made her broadway debut and solidified her star with her performance of Celie in the revival of THE COLOR PURPLE. Just before snapping up the award for Best Actress in a Musical, Erivo left Tony Award audiences stunned with her rendition of "I’m Here" at the 2016 ceremony…goosebumps!
HAMILTON (2016)
It still brings tears to our eyes. A game-changer. A moment in musical theater history. HAMILTON is a Broadway blockbuster like no other and their performance at the 2016 Tony Awards showcased that perfectly to audiences across the world. The passion, power and poetic genius from Lin Manuel’s masterpiece stole the show at the 70th Tony Awards ceremony.