2023 Tony Awards: Watch Ariana DeBose’s Opener & More Great Performances (VIDEO)
After a back-and-forth with Writers Guild strikers, the 76th Annual Tony Awards lit up New York City’s United Palace as scheduled on Sunday, June 11, with host Ariana DeBose emceeing Broadway’s biggest night with lots of song and dance but no scripted bits.
DeBose acknowledged the unusual circumstances, explaining to the TV audience that WGA members are on strike in pursuit of a fair deal — and thanking the negotiators who made this year’s Tonys happen. And she pointed out that the teleprompters would only serve as countdown clocks for acceptance speech.
“I am live and unscripted. You’re welcome,” the West Side Story star added. “To those who thought that last year was a bit unhinged, to them I say, dah-lings, buckle up.”
Check out Sunday’s big performances below:
Opening Number
DeBose started the night by flipping through a blank script — a nod to the ongoing writers strike — before joining other dancers in a wordless medley of Broadway hits arranged and orchestrated by Macy Schmidt and Benjamin Rauhala.
New York, New York
Colton Ryan led the cast of this jazzy musical in a performance of “Cheering For Me Now,” before Anna Uzele belted out the title song as Ryan provided sax accompaniment.
Camelot
With Phillipa Soo as Guenevere, Andrew Burnap as Arthur, and Jordan Donica as Lancelot, the cast of this musical revival — the book of which got a redo by Aaron Sorkin — performed “C’est Moi,” “Camelot,” and “If Ever I Would Leave You.”
& Juliet
You’re gonna hear Lorna Courtney “Roar”! For the Tony Awards showcase of this jukebox musical — a rewriting of Romeo & Juliet — its Tony-nominated star belted out the Katy Perry hit.
Some Like It Hot
NaTasha Yvette Williams, Adrianna Hicks, and J. Harrison Ghee brought the heat with high notes and high kicks from the title song of this musical adaptation of the 1959 number.
Into the Woods
As the Baker and the Baker’s Wife from this Stephen Sondheim musical revival, Brian d’Arcy James and Sara Bareilles proved “It Takes Two.” (Or three, if you count the cow puppet.)
Parade
Viewers were undoubtedly glad the Tonys weren’t over yet when Ben Platt and Micaela Diamond performed “This Is Not Over Yet,” a song from this revival of a musical about a real-life Jewish man tried for murder in 1910s Georgia.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Josh Groban brought his razor-sharp portrayal of the titular barber to a Tonys performance of “The Ballad of Sweeney Todd” from this Sondheim revival. (And yes, that is Stranger Things’ Gaten Matarazzo in the cast.)
A Beautiful Noise
Playing real-life singer-songwriter Neil Diamond, Will Swenson had the entire United Palace singing along (or, at least, smiling along) to “Sweet Caroline,” a perennial karaoke favorite and a highlight of this jukebox musical.
In Memoriam
Tony-winning Broadway star Joaquina Kalukango sang “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again” from Phantom of the Opera — a musical that ended its record-breaking 35-year-run in April — for the Tony Awards’ “In Memoriam” segment.
Kimberly Akimbo
Victoria Clark played a rapidly-aging teen and Justin Cooley played her word-obsessed crush, Seth, as they sang “Anagram,” a musical adaptation of a 2000 play by David Lindsay-Abaire.
Shucked
The cast of this Midwest-set musical — including Alex Newell, a history-making Tony winner this year — sang a medley of “Corn” and “Independently Owned.” (How many of those cast members went from buskers to huskers?)
Funny Girl
Just as she did on Glee all those years ago, Lea Michele sang “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” but this time, she was doing so as Broadway star Fanny Bryce, the lead character of this Broadway revival. Safe to say, Mr. Arnstein didn’t know what hit him.
