Jodie Comer won one of the top prizes at the Tony Awards as the theater world gathered together again on Sunday evening for the annual celebration of all things Broadway.
The 30-year-old Last Duel star was clearly emotional as she accepted the award for Best Leading Actress in a Play, but it was comically marred when presenter Marcia Gay Harden accidentally called her ‘Julie Comer’ before correcting herself.
‘I don’t have my glasses on!’ she quickly added.
Comer starred in Prima Facie, which also marked her Broadway debut. She stars in the one-woman play as a criminal defense attorney known for defending men accused of sexual assault whose faith in the law is shaken when she becomes a victim of the same crime.
Alex Newell and J. Harrison Ghee also made history as the first openly nonbinary actors to win Tony Awards.
This year’s ceremony is the latest production to be impacted by the ongoing Writers Guild of America Strike, as film and television writers fight against major studios and streamers for better pay and residuals, along with assurances that they won’t be phased out in favor of AI-created scripts. It marks the first time in 35 years that the Tonys were afflicted by the WGA strike. Despite the challenges, the show will still go on.
Winner! Jodie Comer won Best Leading Actress in a Play at the 2023 Tony Awards for the one-woman play Prima Facie
Master of ceremonies: West Side Story actress — and Academy Award winner — Ariana DeBose hosted this year’s event from the United Palace Theatre in Washington Heights. She said the show featured no script in solidarity with the WGA strike
Breaking barriers: Alex Newell and J. Harrison Ghee also made history as the first openly nonbinary actors to win Tony Awards. Newell won Featured Actor in a Musical for Shucked, while Ghee won Lead Actor in a Muscial for Some Like It Hot
‘This woman and this play have been my greatest teacher,’ Comer said as she accepted her award. ‘To every person who feels represented by Tessa, this has been my greatest honor.’
Newell looked glamorous in a glittering gold off-the-shoulder gown as they declared that they had earned Broadway’s highest honor despite being a ‘queer, nonbinary, fat, little black baby from Massachusetts.’
‘And to anyone that thinks that they can’t do it, I’m going to look you dead in your face and tell you that you can do anything you put your mind to,’ they added on an inspirational note.
Newell had previously described themself as nonbinary and gender nonconforming, and they have clarified multiple times that they are not trans, despite often presenting with a feminine appearance.
They are seemingly only the second openly nonbinary person to win any Tony Award, as Toby Marlow won the award for Best Original Score — with Lucy Moss — for SIX The Musical at least year’s show.
It didn’t take long for a second nonbinary actor to win, as J. Harrison Ghee was honored for Best Leading Actor of a Musical for the stage remake of the classic comedy film Some Like It Hot.
The ceremony airs on CBS in an unscripted format, and the union has agreed not to picket the event after negotiations. Broadway icon Lin-Manuel Miranda has also dropped out as writer of the opening segment in solidarity with the WGA.
West Side Story actress — and Academy Award winner — Ariana DeBose hosted this year’s event from the United Palace Theatre in Washington Heights.
She opened the show in a backstage dressing room as a saxophonist played Billy Strayhorn and Duke Ellington’s Take The ‘A’ Train as dancers flooded the theater.
Nominee Samuel L. Jackson even made an appearance when she invited him to stand up from his seat in the audience, though he lost out on the first award of the evening.
DeBose also referenced opening a script with blank pages in the dance and noted that it was in solidarity with members of the WGA, before explaining how the Tony’s and the Writers Guild found a compromise.
Brandon Uranowitz and Bonnie Milligan were the first big winners of the evening.
She starred in Prima Facie, which also marked her Broadway debut. She stars in the one-woman play as a criminal defense attorney known for defending men accused of sexual assault whose faith in the law is shaken when she becomes a victim of the same crime
Living it up: Newell looked glamorous in a glittering gold off-the-shoulder gown as they declared that they had earned Broadway’s highest honor despite being a ‘queer, nonbinary, fat, little black baby from Massachusetts’
Winner! Brandon Uranowitz was the first big winners as the theater world gathered together again on Sunday evening for the Tony Awards, an annual celebration of all things Broadway
Featured actress: He won for Leopoldstadt, while Bonnie Milligan followed close behind with a win for Kimberly Akimbo
Uranowitz joked that his ‘imposter syndrome is on fire’ as he made an emotional speech to accept the Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play, while Milligan won for Kimberly Akimbo in the Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical category.
In his impassioned speech, Uranowitz spoke out about antisemitism and the ‘false promise of assimilation,’ both of which are explored in his play Leopoldstadt. He also addressed his parents in a teary moment.
‘The only thing I’ve wanted in this life is to be able to repay you for the sacrifices you’ve made for me,’ he said, addressing them in the audience.
Milligan said that she had her late father’s voice, and she brought him with her everywhere.
The acclaimed playwright Suzan-Lori Parks was honored with the award for best revival for her play Topdog/Underdog, which premiered off-Broadway in 2001.
Later, the already-awarded Parade won the award for best musical revival.
The next award was for Best Direction of a Play. Patrick Marber won for directing Tom Stoppard’s play Leopoldstadt, and he joked about how the non-actors didn’t get the same excitement from the show.
Michael Arden won Best Direction of a Musical for Parade. He spoke out in support of transgender youths and queer performers.
‘Everyone in this room needs you and will fight alongside you, and we’ll win,’ he said defiantly before reclaiming an anti-gay slur.
Living legend: The acclaimed playwright Suzan-Lori Parks was honored with the award for best revival for her play Topdog/Underdog, which premiered off-Broadway in 2001
A classic: Later, the already-awarded Parade won the award for best musical revival
Something’s different: Patrick Marber won for directing Tom Stoppard’s play Leopoldstadt, and he joked about how the non-actors didn’t get the same excitement from the show
Proud: Michael Arden won Best Direction of a Musical for Parade. He spoke out in support of transgender youths and queer performers. ‘Growing up, I was called the F-word more times than I can remember, and now all I can say is that I’m a f***** with a Tony,’ he said to boisterous applause
‘Growing up, I was called the F-word more times than I can remember, and now all I can say is that I’m a f***** with a Tony,’ he said, which brought the crowd to its feet in applause and cheers.
Miriam Silverman was awarded Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play for The Sign In Sidney Brustein’s Window, written by Lorraine Hansberry.
She emphasized her support for the WGA strike and remembered her late father, noting that he was ‘the one who told me that day in the ICU that I should stick with this play, no matter what, even if I wanted to quit, knowing how much it meant to me.’
David Lindsay-Abaire was named the winner of best book for writing everything but the songs and lyrics for Kimberly Akimbo.
Viewers will still be entertained with plenty of performances from a variety of Tony-nominated musicals on stage.
Audience members will be serenaded by the casts of Into the Woods; New York, New York; Shucked; Beautiful Noise; Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street; and more.
It will also feature performances from the cast of the Lea Michele–led musical Funny Girl.
As far as nominations, Some Like It Hot, the musical adaptation of the classic Marilyn Monroe–starring comedy, is up for the most Tonys with a whooping 13 nominations.
It will be battling it out for Best Musical against & Juliet; Kimberly Akimbo; New York, New York; and Shucked.
Supporting part: Miriam Silverman was awarded Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play for The Sign In Sidney Brustein’s Window, written by Lorraine Hansberry
Script star: David Lindsay-Abaire was named the winner of best book for writing everything but the songs and lyrics for Kimberly Akimbo
Stunner: Jessica Chastain was among the A-list nominees for Best Leading Actress of a Play for A Doll’s House. Josh Groban was nominated for Leading Actor in a Musical for the title role in Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Nominations for Best Play include Ain’t No Mo’, Between Riverside and Crazy, Cost of Living, Fat Ham and Leopoldstadt.
In a statement, Jack Sussman, executive vice president of specials, music, live events and alternative programming at CBS, said of the show: ‘CBS has been home to the Tony Awards for more than 40 years.
‘We are proud to once again celebrate the best of theater this season, and continue our support for Broadway, the broader theater community and all the incredible artistic talents both on stage and behind the scenes who bring the shows to life.’
‘This year’s Tony Award nominees are a reflection of a tremendous year of Broadway,’ Charlotte St. Martin, president of The Broadway League and Heather Hitchens, president and CEO of the American Theatre Wing, said in a statement.
‘The show will feature performances by Broadway’s brightest lights — from breakthrough performers to industry icons — in recognition of the momentous productions wowing audiences worldwide.’
The Tony Awards marks the latest product impacted by the ongoing picket lines.
Drew Barrymore dropped out of hosting the MTV Movie & Television Awards last month in solidarity with the writers, and the event moved forward in a significantly stripped-down, pre-recorded fashion.
Film and television writers are on strike over complaints that studios have underpaid them for years, particularly when it comes to streaming programs that offer almost no residuals over time. They are also fighting back against studios’ attempts to shrink writers’s rooms, to shorten the number of episodes of television seasons and to leave open the possibility of replacing human writers with so-called ‘AI’ programs.
TONY AWARD NOMINATIONS 2023
Best Musical
& Juliet
Kimberly Akimbo
New York, New York
Shucked
Some Like It Hot
Some Like It Hot
Best Play
Ain’t No Mo’
Between Riverside and Crazy
Cost of Living
Fat Ham
Leopoldstadt
Best Musical Revival
Bob Fosse’s Dancin’
Camelot
Into The Woods
Parade — WINNER
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street
Best Revival of a Play
A Doll’s House
The Piano Lesson
The Sign In Sidney Brustein’s Window
Suzan-Lori Parks’ Topdog/Underdog — WINNER
Best Leading Actress of a Musical
Annaleigh Ashford — Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street
Sara Bareilles — Into The Woods
Victoria Clark — Kimberly Akimbo
Lorna Courtney — & Juliet
Micaela Diamond — Parade
Jessica Chastain, A Doll’s House
Best Leading Actress of a Play
Jessica Chastain — A Doll’s House
Jodie Comer — Prima Facie — WINNER
Jessica Hecht — Summer, 1976
Audra McDonald — Ohio State Murders
Best Leading Actor of a Musical
Christian Borle — Some Like It Hot
J. Harrison Ghee — Some Like It Hot — WINNER
Josh Groban — Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street
Brian D’Arcy James — Into The Woods
Ben Platt at the Met Gala 2023
Ben Platt — Parade
Colton Ryan — New York, New York
Best Leading Actor of a Play
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II — Topdog/Underdog
Corey Hawkins — Topdog/Underdog
Sean Hayes — Good Night, Oscar
Stephen McKinley Henderson — Between Riverside and Crazy
Wendell Pierce — Death of a Salesman
Best Book of a Musical
& Juliet — David West Read
Kimberly Akimbo — David Lindsay-Abaire — WINNER
New York, New York — David Thompson & Sharon Washington
Shucked — Robert Horn
Some Like It Hot — Matthew López & Amber Ruffin
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Jordan E. Cooper — Ain’t No Mo’
Samuel L. Jackson — August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson
Arian Moayed — A Doll’s House
Brandon Uranowitz — Leopoldstadt — WINNER
David Zayas — Cost Of Living
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Kevin Del Aguila — Some Like It Hot
Kevin Cahoon — Shucked
Justin Cooley — Kimberly Akimbo
Jordan Donica — Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot
Alex Newell — Shucked — WINNER
Best Scenic Design of a Play
Tim Hatley & Andrzej Goulding — Life Of Pi — WINNERS
Miriam Buether — Prima Facie
Rachel Hauck — Good Night, Oscar
Richard Hudson — Leopoldstadt
Dane Laffrey & Lucy Mackinnon — A Christmas Carol
Best Costume Design of a Play
Brigitte Reiffenstuel — Leopoldstadt — WINNER
Tim Hatley, Nick Barnes & Finn Caldwell — Life Of Pi
Dominique Fawn Hill — Fat Ham
Emilio Sosa — Ain’t No Mo’
Emilio Sosa — Good Night, Oscar
Best Lighting Design of a Play
Neil Austin — Leopoldstadt
Natasha Chivers — Prima Facie
Jon Clark — Jon Clark
Bradley King — Fat Ham
Tim Lutkin — Life Of Pi — WINNER
Jen Schriever — Arthur Miller’s Death Of A Salesman
Ben Stanton — A Christmas Carol
Best Direction of a Play
Saheem Ali — Fat Ham
Jo Bonney — Cost Of Living
Jamie Lloyd — A Doll’s House
Patrick Marber — Leopoldstadt — WINNER
Stevie Walker-Webb — Ain’t No Mo’
Max Webster — Life Of Pi
Best Sound Design of a Play
Carolyn Downing — Life Of Pi — WINNER
Joshua D. Reid — A Christmas Carol
Ben & Max Ringham — A Doll’s House
Ben & Max Ringham — Prima Facie
Jonathan Deans & Taylor Williams — Ain’t No Mo’
Best Choreography
Casey Nicholaw — Some Like It Hot — WINNER
Steven Hoggett — Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street
Susan Stroman — New York, New York
Jennifer Weber — & Juliet
Jennifer Weber — KPOP
Best Original Score (music and/or lyrics) Written for the Theatre
Kimberly Akimbo — David Lindsay-Abaire/Jeanine Tesori — WINNER
Almost Famous — Tom Kitt/Cameron Crowe & Tom Kitt
KPOP — Helen Park & Max Vernon
Shucked — Brandy Clark & Shane McAnally
Some Like It Hot — Marc Shaiman/Scott Wittman & Marc Shaiman
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Nikki Crawford — Fat Ham
Crystal Lucas-Perry — Ain’t No Mo’
Miriam Silverman — The Sign In Sidney Brustein’s Window — WINNER
Katy Sullivan — Cost Of Living
Kara Young — Cost Of Living
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Julia Lester — Into The Woods
Ruthie Ann Miles — Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street
Bonnie Milligan — Kimberly Akimbo — WINNER
NaTasha Yvette Williams — Some Like It Hot
Betsy Wolfe — & Juliet
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Beowulf Boritt — New York, New York — WINNER
Mimi Lien — Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street
Scott Pask — Shucked
Scott Pask — Some Like It Hot
Michael Yeargan & 59 Productions — Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot
Best Costume Design of a Musical
Gregg Barnes — Some Like It Hot — WINNER
Clint Ramos & Sophia Choi — KPOP
Susan Hilferty — Parade
Jennifer Moeller — Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot
Paloma Young — & Juliet
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Ken Billington — New York, New York
Lap Chi Chu — Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot
Heather Gilbert — Parade
Howard Hudson — & Juliet
Natasha Katz — Some Like It Hot
Natasha Katz — Sweeney Todd: THe Demon Barber Of Fleet Street — WINNER
Best Direction of a Musical
Michael Arden — Parade — WINNER
Lear deBessonet — Into The Woods
Casey Nicholaw — Some Like It Hot
Jack O’Brien — Shucked
Jessica Stone — Kimberly Akimbo
Best Sound Design of a Musical
Kai Harada — New York, New York
Scott Lehrer & Alex Neumann — Into The Woods
Gareth Owen — & Juliet
John Shivers — Shucked
Nevin Steinberg — Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street — WINNER
Best Orchestrations
Charlie Rosen & Bryan Carter — Some Like It Hot — WINNERS
John Clancy — Kimberly Akimbo
Daryl Waters & Sam Davis — New York, New York
Bill Sherman & Dominic Fallacaro — & Juliet
Jason Howland — Shucked
