Schmigadoon! and Death of a Salesman also dominated the night as Pink brought down the house at Radio City Music Hall
The 79th Annual Tony Awards landed at Radio City Music Hall on June 7 and delivered one of the most entertaining broadcasts the ceremony has seen in years. CATS: The Jellicle Ball and Schmigadoon! emerged as the night’s biggest winners, while Death of a Salesman walked away with six Tonys total, the most of any production this season. Ragtime’s Joshua Henry and Caissie Levy took home the top musical acting prizes, and the energy in the room was fueled by a host who made it clear she came to perform.
Pink opened the CBS broadcast descending from the ceiling dressed as Peter Pan, moved through snatches of Les Miserables and Wicked, and eventually led most of Broadway in a rewritten version of “Lady Marmalade” alongside Megan Thee Stallion and roughly 170 performers stretching across the Radio City stage. The lyrics were reworked for the occasion by Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, and Mark Sonnenblick. Former host Neil Patrick Harris joined her, and the number set a tone the rest of the evening worked hard to match.
Performances from every nominated musical followed throughout the night. The Rocky Horror Show cast tore through “Time Warp,” CATS: The Jellicle Ball brought the house down with its ballroom world, and Chicago got a 30th anniversary tribute featuring Alex Newell and Pink belting side by side. Rachel Zegler performed “What I Did for Love” to honor the 50th anniversary of A Chorus Line, and Leslie Odom Jr. sang “Without You” from Rent during the In Memoriam segment. The Book of Mormon received a 15th anniversary tribute as well.
Bess Wohl’s Liberation took Best Play, marking the first time an American woman playwright had taken that prize in 37 years. John Lithgow won Best Actor in a Play for Giant and Lesley Manville won Best Actress in a Play for Oedipus, both having previously won Olivier Awards for the same roles in London. Joshua Henry and Caissie Levy won Best Actor and Actress in a Musical for their performances as Coalhouse Walker Jr. and Mother in Ragtime.
In the pre-show on Pluto TV, hosted by Laura Benanti and Tituss Burgess, Qween Jean won Best Costume Design for CATS: The Jellicle Ball, becoming the first openly transgender woman to win a Tony in any category.
Here is the full list of winners:
Best Musical: Schmigadoon!
Best Play: Liberation, Bess Wohl
Best Revival of a Musical: Ragtime
Best Revival of a Play: Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical: Joshua Henry, Ragtime
Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical: Caissie Levy, Ragtime
Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Play: John Lithgow, Giant
Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Play: Lesley Manville, Oedipus
Best Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical: Ali Louis Bourzgui, The Lost Boys
Best Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical: Shoshana Bean, The Lost Boys
Best Actor in a Featured Role in a Play: Alden Ehrenreich, Becky Shaw
Best Actress in a Featured Role in a Play: Laurie Metcalf, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
Best Direction of a Musical: Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch, CATS: The Jellicle Ball
Best Direction of a Play: Joe Mantello, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
Best Book of a Musical: Cinco Paul, Schmigadoon!
Best Original Score: Cinco Paul, Schmigadoon!
Best Choreography: Omari Wiles and Arturo Lyons, CATS: The Jellicle Ball
Best Orchestrations: Doug Besterman and Mike Morris, Schmigadoon!
Best Scenic Design of a Musical: Dane Laffrey, The Lost Boys
Best Scenic Design of a Play: Chloe Lamford, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
Best Costume Design of a Musical: Qween Jean, CATS: The Jellicle Ball
Best Costume Design of a Play: Jeff Mahshie, Fallen Angels
Best Lighting Design of a Musical: Jen Schriever and Michael Arden, The Lost Boys
Best Lighting Design of a Play: Jack Knowles, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
Best Sound Design of a Musical: Kai Harada, Ragtime
Best Sound Design of a Play: Mikaal Sulaiman, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman