NEW YORK (AP) — The Latest on the Tony Awards (all times local) : 11: 16 p.m.“Dear Evan
NEW YORK (AP) — The Latest on the Tony Awards (all times local) :
11: 16 p.m.
„Dear Evan Hansen, “ the touching, heartfelt musical about young outsiders, has won the biggest theater popularity contest — winning the best new musical trophy at the Tony Awards.
The show centers on a profoundly lonely 17-year-old who fabricates a prior friendship with a classmate who has just committed suicide. The story charts his acceptance into the young man’s grieving family and the heartbreaking truths that emerge as the deception becomes more elaborate, sped along by social media.
The acclaimed musical’s story is by Steven Levenson, with songs by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (recent Oscar winners for „City of Stars“ from the movie „La La Land“) . It stars Ben Platt.
„Dear Evan Hansen“ beat out „Come From Away, “ “Groundhog Day the Musical“ and „Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812.“
The musical won six Tonys, the most of any show.
„Hello, Dolly!“ won the award for best revival of a musical.
The Tony Awards were held at Radio City Music Hall in New York.
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11: 09 p.m.
The Divine Miss M has won her second Tony Award for a celebrated revival of „Hello, Dolly!“
Bette Midler won the best actress in a musical trophy for playing matchmaker and schemer Dolly Levi, who receives her toughest challenge yet when a rich grump seeks a suitable wife.
The Grammy- and Emmy Award-winner has already won a Tony — the 1974 Special Tony Award — for „for adding luster to the Broadway season“ during a concert stand at the Palace Theatre.
Midler has been wowing audiences in the show, which features the songs „Put On Your Sunday Clothes, “ “Before the Parade Passes By“ and „So Long Dearie.“ She stepped into the role previously performed by Ethel Merman, Ginger Rogers, Barbra Streisand and, of course, Carol Channing.
Midler, the prohibitive favorite, beat out Eva Noblezada, Christine Ebersole, Patti LuPone and Denee Benton.
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10: 58 p.m.
Ben Platt, a star of the „Pitch Perfect“ films who recently made the list of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world, has won the Tony Award for best leading actor in a musical.
Platt won for leading the cast of „Dear Evan Hansen, “ the touching, heartfelt musical about young outsiders.
The show centers on a profoundly lonely 17-year-old who fabricates a prior friendship with a classmate who has just committed suicide. The story charts his acceptance into the boy’s grieving family and the heartbreaking truths that emerge as the deception becomes more elaborate, sped along by social media.
Platt has been on Broadway before — in „The Book of Mormon“ — and toured with the show as well. He’s also had roles in the films „Ricki and the Flash“ and „Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk.“
Platt beat out Andy Karl, Josh Groban, Christian Borle and David Hyde Pierce.
The musical also won Tony awards four other Tonys, including Rachel Bay Jones for best actress in a featured role.
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10: 46 p.m.
„Hello, Dolly!“ has been named best musical revival at the Tony Awards — an honor thanks in large part to Bette Midler.
Midler stars as matchmaker and schemer Dolly Levi, who receives her toughest challenge yet when a rich grump seeks a suitable wife. It’s a musical version of Thornton Wilder’s play „The Matchmaker.“
Midler has been wowing audiences in the show, which features the songs „Put On Your Sunday Clothes, “ “Before the Parade Passes By“ and „So Long Dearie.“ The Divine Miss M, whose co-star is David Hyde Pierce, stepped into the role previously performed by Ethel Merman, Ginger Rogers, Barbra Streisand and, of course, Carol Channing.
„Hello, Dolly!“ beat out „Miss Saigon“ and „Falsettos.“
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10: 32 p.m.
The play „Oslo, “ a three-hour meditation on diplomacy, has been crowned the best play of the season.
J. T. Rogers‘ explores the 1993 meetings between Israelis and Palestinians, which led to the breakthrough Oslo Accords and the handshake between Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestine Liberation Organization Chairman Yasser Arafat. It was nominated for seven Tony Awards.
Rogers‘ other plays include „Blood and Gifts, “ the struggle for control of Afghanistan during the 1980s, „The Overwhelming, “ about the Rwanda genocide, and „Madagascar, “ set in Rome. „Oslo“ was commissioned by Lincoln Center Theater and played in its off-Broadway space before going upstairs to the Beaumont Theater.
„Oslo“ beat out „Sweat, “ “Indecent“ and „A Doll’s House, Part 2.“
Michael Aronov, who plays an Israeli diplomat in the play, also won a Tony for best featured actor.
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10: 13 p.m.
August Wilson’s „Jitney“ has driven away with the Tony Award for best play revival.
The ensemble story about gypsy cab drivers trying to make an honest living during the economic depression in the 1970s was the only one of Wilson’s 10 plays that hadn’t previously had a Broadway production until it landed early this year.
Set in Pittsburgh’s Hill District, the revival starred John Douglas Thompson, Brandon J. Dirden and Andre Holland. It was directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, who starred in Wilson’s „Seven Guitars“ and „Gem of the Ocean“ on Broadway.
„Jitney“ beat out „Lillian Hellman’s The Little Foxes, “ “Present Laughter“ and „Six Degrees of Separation.“ “Jitney is the only nominee no longer running
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9: 45 p.m.
Rachel Bay Jones has won her first Tony Award for her work in „Dear Evan Hansen, “ capping a long career onstage with plenty of zigs and zags.
Jones made her Broadway debut in the ensemble of „Meet Me in St. Louis“ and returned 20 years later in „Hair.“ Other Broadway credits include „Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown“ and „Pippin.“ In „Dear Evan Hansen, “ she plays the title character’s hard-working mother, Heidi, a role she created off-Broadway.
Jones has performed in Texas, Hawaii, South Florida, and on tour both nationally and abroad, encountering such challenges as learning „Rent“ in German and „Evita“ in Spanish. She made appearances on ABC’s „The Family“ and on the FX series „Louie.“
She beat out Kate Baldwin, Stephanie J. Block, Jenn Colella and Mary Beth Peil for the Tony.
The show also won awards for best book, score and orchestration.
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9: 38 p.m.
Laurie Metcalf has won her first Tony Award, winning best actress honors in „A Doll’s House, Part 2.“
Metcalf, an original member of Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theater, plays Henrik Ibsen’s famous heroine, Nora Helmer, 15 years after the original play ends with her walking out on her life and a slamming a door. Lucas Hnath wrote the sequel.
Metcalf’s previous Broadway roles include „Brighton Beach Memoirs, “ “The Other Place, “ “Misery“ and „November“ opposite Nathan Lane. She has earned four Tony nominations. She won three Emmy Awards for her role as Jackie Harris on „Roseanne“ and her films include „Internal Affairs“ and „Uncle Buck.“
She beat out Cate Blanchett, Sally Field, Laura Linney and Jennifer Ehle for the Tony.
Other winners in acting categories include Kevin Kline, Cynthia Nixon, Gavin Creel and Michael Aronov.
Kevin Spacey is hosting the show at Radio City Music Hall in New York.
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9: 17 p.m.
Kevin Kline has won his third Tony Award playing an egomaniacal matinee idol in the midst of personal turmoil.
Kline, who won before in „The Pirates of Penzance“ and „On the Twentieth Century, “ is starring in „Present Laughter, “ Noel Coward’s 1939 farce about an aging star who can’t answer the door without first checking his hair in a mirror.
The character is planning a trip to Africa but is interrupted by a love-struck ingenue, a producer, his estranged wife and crazed young playwright. The title comes from Shakespeare’s „Twelfth Night“ — „Present youth hath present laughter.“
Kline’s films include „In & Out“ and „A Fish Called Wanda.“
Kline beat out Denis Arndt, Chris Cooper, Corey Hawkins and Jefferson Mays.
The show at New York’s Radio City Music Hall is being hosted by Kevin Spacey.
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8: 46 p.m.
Cynthia Nixon won her second Tony Award, this time for her work in Lillian Hellman’s „The Little Foxes.“
Nixon, who played lawyer Miranda on TV in „Sex and the City“ from 1998 to 2004, has also been a steady presence on Broadway, in plays like „Wit, “ “The Real Thing“ and „Indiscretions.
