Sarah Paulson beat out an impressive star-studded field as she earned her first ever Tony Award.
The talented 49-year-old star took home Lead Actress in a Play for her work in Appropriate.
Sarah triumphed over a who’s who of talented thespians including: Betsy Aidem for Prayer for the French Republic, Jessica Lange for Mother Play, Rachel McAdams for Mary Jane, and Amy Ryan for Doubt: A Parable.
The star made sure to recognize her competition as she began her speech saying: ‘Wow. Whew-wee! Whew! It is humbling to be included in the same breath as Amy Ryan, Rachel Mcadams, Betsy Aidem, and the great Jessica Lange. ‘
She thanked several others including the American Theatre Wing and Broadway League, JJ Abrams, and others.
Sarah Paulson beat out an impressive star-studded field as she earned her first ever Tony Award
Sarah went on to thank longtime love Holland Taylor as she continued her speech saying: ‘Holland, thank you for loving I am standing here tonight because of the mighty talent that is Branden Jacobs-Jenkins.
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‘I will never be able to convey my gratitude to you for trusting me, for letting me hold the hand of Tony Lafayette, a woman you have written who makes no apology, who isn’t begging to be liked or approved of, but does hope to be seen. But don’t we all? As a young actress I remember seeing A Doll’s House in the very theater I’m living in. Some nights when I’m backstage I think about the indelible impact of her.
‘I think about the walls of theaters all over this magical town, holding the impact of each and every one of you in this room, and all of those who came before, and I think, how lucky those walls are to bear witness to the relentless interrogation of human experience that we endeavor to explore nightly for each other, to give back to one another with the hope of finding some shared path toward the truth about being alive. This is the heart and soul of what we do, and I am so honored to be amongst you. Thank you.’
Appropriate follows the dysfunctional Lafayette family as they return to a decaying plantation mansion in Arkansas to battle over their recently deceased father’s inheritance. Soon after the discovery of a relic buried deep in the recess of their family’s past, decades of resentment burst through centuries of historical sin.
Earlier in the night it was Daniel Radcliffe who earned his first Tony Awards in the Featured Actor in a Musical category for his spellbinding performance in Merrily We Roll Along.
The 34-year-old former Harry Potter star beat out an impressive field including: Roger Bart for Back To The Future: The Musical, Joshua Boone for The Outsiders, Brandon Victor Dixon for Hell’s Kitchen, Sky Lakota-Lynch for The Outsiders, and Steven Skybell for Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club.
Daniel began his acceptance speech by saying: ‘Thank you so much. Okay, I’m going to just talk fast and try not to cry. Thank you so much to the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing for this unbelievable honor.’
He thanked many including Stephen Sondheim, director Maria Friedman, and the entire cast and crew before thanking his family.
The talented 49-year-old star took home Lead Actress in a Play for her work in Appropriate
Sarah triumphed over a who’s who of talented thespians including: Betsy Aidem for Prayer for the French Republic, Jessica Lange for Mother Play, Rachel McAdams for Mary Jane, and Amy Ryan for Doubt: A Parable
She thanked several others including the American Theatre Wing and Broadway League, JJ Abrams, and others
She was presented the honor by pal Sean Hayes
The talented star concluded his speech by saying: ‘My mom that are here somewhere. Happy father’s day, dad. Thank you for playing Sondheim in the car and loving me.
‘And my love, Erin. You and our son are the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I love you so much. Thank you so much. Thank you, everybody, have a great night. I will wrap it up.’
Merrily We Roll Along is a 1981 American musical with music and lyrics by the iconic Stephen Sondheim and book by George Furth.
The show tells the story of how three friends’ lives and friendship change over the course of 20 years; it focuses particularly on Franklin Shepard (played by Jonathan Groff in this run), a talented composer of musicals who, over those 20 years, abandons his friends and songwriting career to become a producer of Hollywood movies.
Jeremy Strong kicked of the 77th Tony Awards with a win in the Lead Actor in a Play category.
The 45-year-old Succession actor was recognized for his work in the play Enemy Of The People.
He beat out an impressive field including: William Jackson Harper for Uncle Vanya, Leslie Odom, Jr. for Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch, Liev Schreiber for Doubt: A Parable, and Michael Stuhlbarg for Patriots.
Jeremy was emotional as he thanked the cast, crew and venue Circle In The Square Theatre before thanking the staff of the space.
He humorously said: ‘Yeah, I want to thank the ushers and the front of house staff. Who see me walking in every day looking like I’ve just been run over by a truck, and see me walk out somehow looking even worse.
Daniel Radcliffe earned his first Tony Awards in the Featured Actor in a Musical category for his spellbinding performance in Merrily We Roll Along
The 34-year-old former Harry Potter star beat out an impressive field including: Roger Bart for Back To The Future: The Musical, Joshua Boone for The Outsiders, Brandon Victor Dixon for Hell’s Kitchen, Sky Lakota-Lynch for The Outsiders, and Steven Skybell for Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
The talented star concluded his speech by saying: ‘My mom that are here somewhere. Happy father’s day, dad. Thank you for playing Sondheim in the car and loving me. And my love, Erin. You and our son are the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I love you so much. Thank you so much. Thank you, everybody, have a great night. I will wrap it up.’
He performed with Jonathan Groff center) and Lindsay Mendez earlier in the night
‘With, like, bits of pretzels and aquavit in my hair. Linda, think of reselling 50,000 buttons back onto my shirt every night. Molly Kearns, I couldn’t have done this without you. I think a lot of people in this room sure that sentiment. Sam and Amy, you guys, thank you. This is crazy.’
‘Sam, thank you for being everything an actor could hope for in a director, and for bringing new meaning to the term “Ice bucket challenge.”‘
He went on to thank playwright Amy Herzog as he said: ‘Amy, for your masterful work on this play. Last time I did a play of yours, I met Emma, my wife, who I now have three beautiful children with, and now this play.
‘Real quick, this play is a cry from the heart, and expectation to face the difficult truths steering us down right now. It has been a privilege to give its warning and it’s hoped audiences. This is my mom and my dad who are here tonight, somewhere. Mom, dad, thank you for allowing me to imagine. Thank you so much.’
In Enemy Of The People he portrays a small-town doctor who considers himself a proud, upstanding member of his close-knit community when he discovers a catastrophe that risks the lives of everyone in town then raises the alarm but he is shaken to his core when those in power, including his own brother (Michael Imperioli), not only try to silence him—they try to destroy him.
One of the most emotional wins of the night went to Kara Young who earned Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play for her work in Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch.
The Harlem native beat out a field including: Quincy Tyler Bernstine for Doubt: A Parable, Juliana Canfield for Stereophonic, Celia Keenan-Bolger for Mother Play, and Sarah Pidgeon for Stereophonic.
She began her speech by recognizing her dad on Father’s Day as her big acceptance speech began: ‘Happy Father’s Day! Happy Father’s Day, daddy! Oh, my goodness! Wow!
Jeremy Strong kicked of the 77th Tony Awards with a win in the Lead Actor in a Play category.
The 45-year-old Succession actor beat out an impressive field including: William Jackson Harper for Uncle Vanya, Leslie Odom , Jr. for Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch, Liev Schreiber for Doubt: A Parable, and Michael Stuhlbarg for Patriots
Jeremy was emotional as he thanked the cast, crew and venue Circle In The Square Theatre before thanking the staff of the space. He humorously said: ‘Yeah, I want to thank the ushers and the front of house staff. Who see me walking in every day looking like I’ve just been run over by a truck, and see me walk out somehow looking even worse’
He went on to thank playwright Amy Herzog as he said: ‘Amy, for your masterful work on this play. Last time I did a play of yours, I met Emma, my wife, who I now have three beautiful children with, and now this play’
‘Thank you to the American Theatre Wing, thank you to the Broadway league, thank you to my team. Thank you so much. Thank you to every single person who has ever championed me to make this moment a reality.
‘Thank you to my ancestors. My ancestors, the women who I come from, the people who I come My great-grandmother, Hazel Baptist, made it a point to come to Purlie Victorious two weeks before she transitioned. Thank you to my mother. My mother went back to school with two children, and got two master’s degrees from an ivy league institution. And my father, who put my mother through school and made it a priority, a priority, to do that. Thank you so much, dad, for taking us to school every day. Mom, for taking me to dance class. Back to this one, then a party, back to the class.
‘To my brother, Clay Young, your strength and resilience inspires me daily. To my partner, whom I love so much, who is my spirit mate. To this incredible cast of ‘Purlie.’
She went on to thank her cast and crew including co-star Leslie Odom, Jr. before concluding her speech by thanking Ruby Dee who she portrayed on stage.
Kara said: ‘ And to the great Ruby Dee. Please, let me have this. Ruby Dee, the legendary ruby Dee who originated this role.
‘The great gussie Mae Jenkins who said, I’m taking a chance on my life and I’m going to go, and I’m going to go because I have some life left. I have a lot of life left in me. And she deserved it, and we all do. Thank you. This is to the vibration, the vibration of the liberation for Thank you.’
Purlie Victorious tells the story of a Black preacher’s machinations to reclaim his inheritance and win back his church.
Kecia Lewis was another big winner as she earned Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical for Hell’s Kitchen.
One of the most emotional wins of the night went to Kara Young who earned Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play for her work in Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
The Harlem native beat out a field including: Quincy Tyler Bernstine for Doubt: A Parable, Juliana Canfield for Stereophonic, Celia Keenan-Bolger for Mother Play, and Sarah Pidgeon for Stereophonic
She went on to thank her cast and crew including co-star Leslie Odom, Jr. before concluding her speech by thanking Ruby Dee who she portrayed on stage as Kara said: ‘ And to the great Ruby Dee. Please, let me have this. Ruby Dee, the legendary ruby Dee who originated this role’
The talented actress earned the win over a rather large field including: Shoshana Bean for Hell’s Kitchen, Amber Iman for Lempicka, Nikki M. James for Suffs, Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer for Monty Python’s Spamalot, Lindsay Mendez for Merrily We Roll Along, and Bebe Neuwirth for Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club.
Kecia began on a hilarious note as she took out her cell phone to read her speech and said: ‘Lowered, my phone, open. Okay. People, stop texting me, Jesus.’
She thanked several people including the cast and crew before continuing her speech: ‘I’d like to thank my spiritual families over the years for their training and loving me just for me without having even open my mouth and sing a note, particularly pastors martin and Gail Watson, Rosalind Darlene palmer, and Dr. Ramsey at the church in Atlanta.
‘To my family, aunt Ruth, who indulged me but still laughs about me standing in the mirror as a kid watching myself cry to see if I looked like a wonderful actress. My parents, the late John Henry Louis and Betty may Lewis, and my heart that walks outside of my body, my son, Simon.’
Kecia concluded her speech with very inspiring message about never quitting despite the hardships.
She said: ‘Lastly, 40 years ago yesterday I walked into the imperial theater to begin my broadly create 18 years old. I have had so many amazing experiences and some heartbreaking ones, too.
‘I took a short break from show business and raised a son as a single parent while trying to build a career. This moment is the one I dreamed of for most of those 40 years. So I say to everyone that can hear my voice, don’t give up!’
The second win of the night went to Will Brill in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play for his work in Stereophonic.
Kecia Lewis was another big winner as she earned Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical for Hell’s Kitchen
The talented actress earned the win over a rather large field including: Shoshana Bean for Hell’s Kitchen, Amber Iman for Lempicka, Nikki M. James for Suffs, Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer for Monty Python’s Spamalot, Lindsay Mendez for Merrily We Roll Along, and Bebe Neuwirth for Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Kecia is seen with her shiny new trophy in the press room
He beat out an impressive field which included two of his castmates: Eli Gelb and Tom Pecinka. The category was rounded out by Jim Parsons for Mother Play and Corey Stoll for Appropriate.
Will acknowledged his fellow castmates including those who were also nominated in his category as he began his speech saying: ‘Oh! Wow, wow, wow! Thanks, guys. Wait — okay, there’s six of the people in this play. Can you stand up real quick?
‘Just stand up. Look at these guys. Look at them, look at them, look at them, look at them. Wow, wow, wow! You guys!’
The talented actor went on to thank an unlikely person in his therapist.
He said: ‘What the heck? This is really nice. I just want to say I wouldn’t be here without my therapist, Rachel. And my bass teacher, Robbie, and also I wouldn’t be doing this if you hadn’t told me to, so thanks. I love you guys so much. Wild. Thanks.’
The play follows a fictional rock band on the cusp of superstardom as they struggle through recording their new album set from 1976 to 1977.
The second win of the night went to Will Brill in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play for his work in Stereophonic
The event was hosted by Ariana DeBose who had previously been nominated in the Best Featured Actress in a Musical category for Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
The 32-year-old Wilmington, North Carolina native also also won an Oscar for Steven Spielberg’s movie adaptation of the Broadway classic West Side Story.
She kicked off the event with a fun song and dance before addressing the star-studded crowd with a monologue recognizing all the efforts made on stages throughout the country in American theater.
The 77th Tony Awards took place at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater in New York City.
Tony Awards 2024 Winners
Best Musical
Hell’s Kitchen
Illinoise
The Outsiders
Suffs
Water for Elephants
Hell’s Kitchen is nominated for top honor Best Musical as it leads the way with nods with 13
Best Play
Jaja’s African Hair Braiding
Mary Jane
Mother Play
Prayer for the French Republic
Stereophonic – WINNER
Best Revival of a Play
Appropriate – WINNER
An Enemy of the People
Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
Best Revival of a Musical
Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Gutenberg! The Musical!
Merrily We Roll Along – WINNER
The Who’s Tommy
Best Book of a Musical
Kristoffer Diaz, Hell’s Kitchen
Bekah Brunstetter, The Notebook
Adam Rapp and Justin Levine, The Outsiders
Shaina Taub, Suffs – WINNER
Rick Elice, Water for Elephants
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
Adam Guettel, Days of Wine and Roses
David Byrne and Fatboy Slim, Here Lies Love
Jamestown Revival (Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance) and Justin Levine, The Outsiders
Will Butler, Stereophonic
Shaina Taub, Suffs – WINNER
Stereophonic’s Will Butler is up for Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
William Jackson Harper, Uncle Vanya
Leslie Odom, Jr., Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
Liev Schreiber, Doubt: A Parable
Jeremy Strong, An Enemy of the People – WINNER
Michael Stuhlbarg, Patriots
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Betsy Aidem, Prayer for the French Republic
Jessica Lange, Mother Play
Rachel McAdams, Mary Jane
Sarah Paulson, Appropriate
Amy Ryan, Doubt: A Parable
Rachel McAdams is nominated in the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play category for Mary Jane
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Brody Grant, The Outsiders
Jonathan Groff, Merrily We Roll Along
Dorian Harewood, The Notebook
Brian d’Arcy James, Days of Wine and Roses
Eddie Redmayne, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Eden Espinosa, Lempicka
Maleah Joi Moon, Hell’s Kitchen
Kelli O’Hara, Days of Wine and Roses
Maryann Plunkett, The Notebook
Gayle Rankin, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Will Brill, Stereophonic – WINNER
Eli Gelb, Stereophonic
Jim Parsons, Mother Play
Tom Pecinka, Stereophonic
Corey Stoll, Appropriate
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Quincy Tyler Bernstine, Doubt: A Parable
Juliana Canfield, Stereophonic
Celia Keenan-Bolger, Mother Play
Sarah Pidgeon, Stereophonic
Kara Young, Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch – WINNER
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Roger Bart, Back To The Future: The Musical
Joshua Boone, The Outsiders
Brandon Victor Dixon, Hell’s Kitchen
Sky Lakota-Lynch, The Outsiders
Daniel Radcliffe, Merrily We Roll Along – WINNER
Steven Skybell, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Daniel Radcliffe (left) has a nomination in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical category for Merrily We Roll Along
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Shoshana Bean, Hell’s Kitchen
Amber Iman, Lempicka
Nikki M. James, Suffs
Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer, Monty Python’s Spamalot
Kecia Lewis, Hell’s Kitchen – WINNER
Lindsay Mendez, Merrily We Roll Along
Bebe Neuwirth, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Best Scenic Design of a Play
dots, Appropriate
dots, An Enemy of the People
Derek McLane, Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
David Zinn, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding
David Zinn, Stereophonic – WINNER
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
AMP featuring Tatiana Kahvegian, The Outsiders
Robert Brill and Peter Nigrini, Hell’s Kitchen
Takeshi Kata, Water for Elephants
David Korins, Here Lies Love
Riccardo Hernández and Peter Nigrini, Lempicka
Tim Hatley and Finn Ross, Back To The Future: The Musical
Tom Scutt, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club – WINNER
Best Costume Design of a Play
Dede Ayite, Appropriate
Dede Ayite, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding – WINNER
Enver Chakartash, Stereophonic
Emilio Sosa, Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
David Zinn, An Enemy of the People
Best Costume Design of a Musical
Dede Ayite, Hell’s Kitchen
Linda Cho, The Great Gatsby – WINNER
David Israel Reynoso, Water for Elephants
Tom Scutt, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Paul Tazewell, Suffs
David Israel Reynoso received a nod in the Best Costume Design of a Musica for Water for Elephants
Best Lighting Design of a Play
Isabella Byrd, An Enemy of the People
Amith Chandrashaker, Prayer for the French Republic
Jiyoun Chang, Stereophonic
Jane Cox, Appropriate – WINNER
Natasha Katz, Grey House
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Brandon Stirling Baker, Illinoise
Isabella Byrd, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Natasha Katz, Hell’s Kitchen
Bradley King and David Bengali, Water for Elephants
Brian MacDevitt and Hana S. Kim, The Outsiders – WINNER
Best Sound Design of a Play
Justin Ellington and Stefania Bulbarella, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding
Leah Gelpe, Mary Jane
Tom Gibbons, Grey House
Bray Poor and Will Pickens, Appropriate
Ryan Rumery, Stereophonic – WINNER
Leah Gelpe is up for Best Sound Design of a Play for Mary Jane
Best Sound Design of a Musical
M.L. Dogg and Cody Spencer, Here Lies Love
Kai Harada, Merrily We Roll Along
Nick Lidster for Autograph, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Gareth Owen, Hell’s Kitchen
Cody Spencer, The Outsiders – WINNER
Best Direction of a Play
Daniel Aukin, Stereophonic – WINNER
Anne Kauffman, Mary Jane
Kenny Leon, Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
Lila Neugebauer, Appropriate
Whitney White, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding
Best Direction of a Musical
Maria Friedman, Merrily We Roll Along
Michael Greif, Hell’s Kitchen
Leigh Silverman, Suffs
Jessica Stone, Water for Elephants
Danya Taymor, The Outsiders – WINNER
Best Choreography
Annie-B Parson, Here Lies Love
Camille A. Brown, Hell’s Kitchen
Rick Kuperman and Jeff Kuperman, The Outsiders
Justin Peck, Illinoise – WINNER
Jesse Robb and Shana Carroll, Water for Elephants
Justin Peck is nominated for Best Choreography for Illinoise
Best Orchestrations
Timo Andres, Illinoise
Will Butler and Justin Craig, Stereophonic
Justin Levine, Matt Hinkley and Jamestown Revival (Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance), The Outsiders
Tom Kitt and Adam Blackstone, Hell’s Kitchen
Jonathan Tunick, Merrily We Roll Along – WINNER