September 26th was brimming with the glitz and glamour of Broadway Superstars. Being on their 74th installment, the Tony Awards recognize incredible theatre performers and this year was no different. Let’s take a look at what and who reigned supreme at this event, shall we?
One ought to possess charisma if they are to captivate their audience throughout the show so it was only fitting that the supremely talented Audra McDonald who boasts multiple Tony awards under her belt to be the host – and oh boy did she hold it down gracefully.
First things first – what’s a show without some delectable entertainment? I thought as much – dullness. To ascertain that we as the public do not experience that, the event came bearing spectacular performances.
Kicking things off was the Hairspray cast, opening the show in a magnificent manner, setting a beautiful tone for the first half of the event by serenading us with their hit “You can’t stop me”.
Pouring her heart out with the Dream Girls hit ballad (And I am telling you) was none other than her vocal highness – Jennifer Holiday who left no single note unsung – leaving the crowd on their feet, echoing joyful noises of approval. Even I who was streaming online was hinging at the edge of my seat. We bow down to the prowess vested in this powerhouse! Keeping the momentum going was Ali Stroker who richly vocalized a song from “A Chorus line” titled “What I did for love”. Fine tuning Stephen Sondheim’s song “Anyone can whistle” with a fresh arrangement was none other than the soothing Jennifer Nettles.
A theatrical category (Spoken Word) that is usually overlooked received a bedazzling spotlight through Daniel who infused it with tap-dancing; now that certainly was a unique way of making yourself being heard! All those were certainly some memorable moments that perfectly personified what Theatre is all about!
Now onto the Awards! Have you ever heard of someone scooping 10 awards at once? Perhaps only in a fantasy world, well “Moulin Rouge – the Musical” transformed that dreamy narrative into Reality by being the biggest winners of the night, leaving an indelible mark. The quality of their work is incredibly stellar and plucks at ones heartstrings, so this huge achievement is very much well-deserved. Also – isn’t the acknowledgement long overdue for Aaron Tveit and Danny Burstein!
What was even more striking during the event was the fact that almost every individual that came to present an award was emphasizing the importance of inclusivity and diversity within the theatre space; way to go!
Is it just me or there is a missing piece from this puzzle? Uhm, of course there is – FASHION! Almost everyone ascertained that they bring out their artistic outfits, the best way theatre heads would. John Legend and his wife (Chrissy) pitched up & stood out in their stunning outfits. Leaving everyone gobsmacked on the socials was Joaquina Kalukango in a lilac beaded dress, Autro Holmes in his gold suit and of course Jeremy Pope in a pink Louis Vuitton suit. Click here to see the full gallery of the stunning red carpet images.
The spectacular production that was produced was certainly worth the long hiatus they had.
Published by HOLR Magazine.