Former Broadway understudy turned Oscar winner Ariana DeBose hosted the ceremony. Image Source: THR
The 75th Annual Tony Awards were held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on June 12, 2022. The awards presentation, which celebrates Broadway plays and musicals and returned to its regular schedule after a long pandemic hiatus, celebrated work that premiered between Feb. 20, 2020, and May 4, 2022.
Former Broadway understudy turned Oscar winner Ariana DeBose presented the three-hour broadcast part of the Tony Awards on CBS, which was preceded by a one-hour section on Paramount+ hosted by Darren Criss and Julianne Hough.
Here are the winners of the Tony Awards 2022:
Best Play- The Lehman Trilogy - Stefano Massini and Ben Power
Best Musical- A Strange Loop
Best Revival of a Play- Take Me Out
Best Revival of a Musical- Company
Best Book of a Musical- A Strange Loop - Michael R. Jackson
Best Original Score (Music and /or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre- SIX: The Musical, Music and Lyrics- Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss
Best Direction of Musical- Marianne Elliot- Company
Best Direction of Play- Sam Mendes- The Lehman Trilogy
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play- Simon Russell Beale- The Lehman Trilogy
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play- Deirdre O’Connell- Dana H.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical- Myles Frost- MJ
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical- Joaquina Kalukango- Paradise Square
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Featured Role in a Play- Jesse Tyler Ferguson - Take Me Out
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Featured Role in a Play- Phylicia Rashad- Skeleton Crew
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Featured Role in a Musical- Matt Doyle- Company
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Featured Role in a Musical- Patti LuPone - Company
Best Scenic Design of a Play- Es Devlin- The Lehman Trilogy
Best Scenic Design of a Musical- Bunny Christie- Company
Best Costume Design of a Play- Montana Levi Blanco- The Skin of Our Teeth
Best Costume Design of a Musical- Gabriella Slade- SIX: The Musical
Best Lighting Design of a Play- Jon Clark- The Lehman Trilogy
Best Lighting Design of a Musical- Natasha Katz- MJ
Best Sound Design of a Play- Mikhail Fiksel- Dana H
Best Sound Design of a Musical- Gareth Owen- MJ
Best Choreography- Christopher Wheeldon- MJ
Best Orchestrations- Simon Hale- Girl From the North Country
Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement – Angela Lansbury
Isabella Stevenson Award- Robert E. Wankel
Special Tony- James C. Nicola
Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre- Asian American Performers Action Coalition
Broadway for All
Feinstein’s/54 Below
Emily Grishman
United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829, IATSE
Ariana DeBose, a gifted actress, used the chance to perform a one-of-a-kind song in appreciation of all of the nominees, cast, and crew that work diligently to bring Broadway to life. Ariana DeBose, clad in a dazzling white jumpsuit and a white top and hat, took the stage to perform a song dedicated to every team, every cast member in the audience who will be working in theatre in the future, and who have already donated their sweat and agony to the theatre. She went on to say via her song that the people been doing theatre and making Broadway proud for almost seventy-five years which is huge but someone has to keep the pace and work going. Ariana expressed her gratitude and added that, as people in the audience are aware that the program wouldn't be able to continue until they all come together as one and appreciate theatre. The actress then went on to perform a mash-up of some of the most successful Broadway shows over the past 75 years, which lead to her receiving a standing ovation and a lot or appreciation.
The event, she stated in her monologue, is about recognizing and appreciating the individuals who, with their energy and devotion, make the nominated performances happen. This season has been packed with ups and downs for a lot of people, like a roller-coaster ride, with starts and stops, dramatic twists and turns, and corporations reconnecting after nearly two years apart, according to Ariana (because of the pandemic). She went on to explain how happy she is to be hosting the first Tony Awards since Broadway's comeback post-pandemic as well as how thrilled she is that the theater is becoming more reflective of the people who love it. As a consequence, the theatre has managed to attract a whole new bunch of performers, creative teams, and fans which has shown the people that theatre has broadened their world and mind and are ready to accept everyone with open arms.
Ariana DeBose pointed out that this season features new changes in the theatre industry where seven black writers are featured as well as a gender-flipped performance of the 'Company'. The former theatre artist shared that Lynn Nottage was nominated twice for the play Clyde's and the book MJ, making her the first writer to get nominations in both categories in the same year. She also recognized L. Morgan Lee of A Strange Loop, who was the first openly transgender person to be nominated for a Tony, and Toby Marlow of Six, who was the first non-binary Tony winner.
Congratulations to the winners!
