2022 Tony Awards: Jesse Tyler Ferguson wins the first award of the evening for

The 2022 Tony Awards kicked off on Sunday evening, with Jess Tyler Ferguson winning the first award of the night.

Ferguson beat out Alfie Allen, Hangmen, Chuck Cooper, Trouble in Mind, Ron Cephas Jones, Clyde’s, Michael Oberholtzer, Take Me Out and Jesse Williams, Take Me Out for the award to get the show under way, airing live on CBS from Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with Ariana DeBose hosting. 

The 75th Annual Tony Awards is celebrating achievement in Broadway productions during the 2021–22 season. 

First winner: The 2022 Tony Awards kicked off on Sunday evening, with Jess Tyler Ferguson winning the first award of the night

First winner: The 2022 Tony Awards kicked off on Sunday evening, with Jess Tyler Ferguson winning the first award of the night

Host: Ferguson beat out Alfie Allen, Hangmen, Chuck Cooper, Trouble in Mind, Ron Cephas Jones, Clyde's, Michael Oberholtzer, Take Me Out and Jesse Williams, Take Me Out for the award to get the show under way, airing live on CBS from Radio City Music Hall in New York City , with Ariana DeBose hosting

Host: Ferguson beat out Alfie Allen, Hangmen, Chuck Cooper, Trouble in Mind, Ron Cephas Jones, Clyde’s, Michael Oberholtzer, Take Me Out and Jesse Williams, Take Me Out for the award to get the show under way, airing live on CBS from Radio City Music Hall in New York City , with Ariana DeBose hosting

Jessica Chastain and Colman Domingo presented the first award of the night for Best Featured Actor in a Play, which was won by Jesse Tyler Ferguson for Take Me Out.

He beat out Alfie Allen, Hangmen, Chuck Cooper, Trouble in Mind, Ron Cephas Jones, Clyde’s, Michael Oberholtzer, Take Me Out and Jesse Williams, Take Me Out.

‘Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god. My heart is beating so fast. 25 years ago I worked at the theatre circle gift shop on 44th Street, which happens to be three doors down from the theatre where Take Me out is playing,’ Ferguson began.

Presenters: Jessica Chastain and Colman Domingo presented the first award of the night for Best Featured Actor in a Play, which was won by Jesse Tyler Ferguson for Take Me Out

Presenters: Jessica Chastain and Colman Domingo presented the first award of the night for Best Featured Actor in a Play, which was won by Jesse Tyler Ferguson for Take Me Out

‘I would sit in there and folding my Phantom of the Opera t-shirts and watching actors walk by the windows on the way to the their call and I thought I hope that is me some day,’ he added.

‘I am so glad I get to be to do this. Thank you for mom, dad, thank you for letting me STO move to New York, I told you it would be okay,’ he joked.

He also bragged about his husband Justin Mikita, who, ‘was part of the producing team that brought Is This A Room to Broadway this season.; 

Speech: 'I would sit in there and folding my Phantom of the Opera t-shirts and watching actors walk by the windows on the way to the their call and I thought I hope that is me some day,' he added

Speech: ‘I would sit in there and folding my Phantom of the Opera t-shirts and watching actors walk by the windows on the way to the their call and I thought I hope that is me some day,’ he added

So glad: 'I am so glad I get to be to do this. Thank you for mom, dad, thank you for letting me STO move to New York, I told you it would be okay,' he joked

So glad: ‘I am so glad I get to be to do this. Thank you for mom, dad, thank you for letting me STO move to New York, I told you it would be okay,’ he joked

‘I’m so unrealistically proud of you and you have incredible taste, obviously and Richard Greenberg, your words are a gift to any actor who gets the pleasure to say them. I’m so honored. Thank you so much,’ he concluded.

Kelli O’Hara and Ruthie Ann Miles presented the award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical, which was won by Patti LuPone for Company.

She beat out Jeannette Bayardelle, Girl From The North Country, Shoshana Bean, Mr. Saturday Night, Jayne Houdyshell, The Music Man, L Morgan Lee, A Strange Loop and Jennifer Simard, Company.

Proud: 'I'm so unrealistically proud of you and you have incredible taste, obviously and Richard Greenberg, your words are a gift to any actor who gets the pleasure to say them. I'm so honored. Thank you so much,' he concluded

Proud: ‘I’m so unrealistically proud of you and you have incredible taste, obviously and Richard Greenberg, your words are a gift to any actor who gets the pleasure to say them. I’m so honored. Thank you so much,’ he concluded

Presenters: Kelli O'Hara (left) and Ruthie Ann Miles (center) presented the award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical, which was won by Patti LuPone (right) for Company

Presenters: Kelli O’Hara (left) and Ruthie Ann Miles (center) presented the award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical, which was won by Patti LuPone (right) for Company

‘I started this journey with Marianne Elliott in 2018, four years, two countries, a seemingly endless and extremely vulnerable lockdown, three different viruses in three consecutive months and two sublime casts,’ she began. 

‘And so a loving shout out to my British casemates lead by Rosalie Craig who was the first actors to realize Maryanne’s gender bent vision,’ LuPone added. 

‘And equally loving shout out to my hometown casemates lead by Katrina Lenk. A finer group of actors and comedians I couldn’t imagine and who it is my honor to work with every night,’ she said, while also offering her, ‘huge gratitude’ to understudies and COVID compliance workers.

Patti wins: 'I started this journey with Marianne Elliott in 2018, four years, two countries, a seemingly endless and extremely vulnerable lockdown, three different viruses in three consecutive months and two sublime casts,' she began

Patti wins: ‘I started this journey with Marianne Elliott in 2018, four years, two countries, a seemingly endless and extremely vulnerable lockdown, three different viruses in three consecutive months and two sublime casts,’ she began

Cast: 'And so a loving shout out to my British casemates lead by Rosalie Craig who was the first actors to realize Maryanne's gender bent vision,' LuPone added

Cast: ‘And so a loving shout out to my British casemates lead by Rosalie Craig who was the first actors to realize Maryanne’s gender bent vision,’ LuPone added

‘Marianne, I will follow you for the rest of my life wherever you lead. Chris Harper who pays my salary. You are my one and last producer, except for David, Jeffrey and Andre Bishop,’ she concluded.

Josh Lucas and Sarah Paulson presented Best Direction of a Play, which was won by Sam Mendes for The Lehman Trilogy.

He beat out Lileana Blain-Cruz, The Skin of Our Teeth, Camille A. Brown, for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf, Neil Pepe, American Buffalo and Les Waters, Dana H.

Presenters: Josh Lucas and Sarah Paulson presented Best Direction of a Play, which was won by Sam Mendes for The Lehman Trilogy

Presenters: Josh Lucas and Sarah Paulson presented Best Direction of a Play, which was won by Sam Mendes for The Lehman Trilogy

‘Thank you very, very much indeed. It is an honor to be part of the community, I’m proud especially this year to be part of the Broadway community in a season of such rampant creativity and diversity so thank you for remembering us,’ Mendes began. 

‘I have a lot of people to say thank you to for keeping this show alive, during some pretty dark days so thank you to sue and John and everyone at the national theatre,’ he added.

‘An incredible bunch of collaborators to Nick Powell and John Clark and the genius of Stefano Massini for his brilliants and bonkers play,’ he continued. 

Sam wins: 'Thank you very, very much indeed. It is an honor to be part of the community, I'm proud especially this year to be part of the Broadway community in a season of such rampant creativity and diversity so thank you for remembering us,' Mendes began

Sam wins: ‘Thank you very, very much indeed. It is an honor to be part of the community, I’m proud especially this year to be part of the Broadway community in a season of such rampant creativity and diversity so thank you for remembering us,’ Mendes began

‘But especially I want to dedicate this to three extraordinary actors, they are all honored here today, so by definition they can’t all be up here but have I worked with all of them, Adrian, Adam and Simon for 25 years and it is my great, greats honor and delight that they just keep getting better and better. So all of these, the three of them, you share this with me, thank you very, very much,’ he said.

Lucas and Paulson also presented the award for Best Direction of a Musical, which was won by Marianne Elliot for Company.

She beat out Stephen Brackett, A Strange Loop, Conor McPherson, Girl From The North Country, Lucy Moss & Jamie Armitage, SIX: The Musical and Christopher Wheeldon, MJ.

Marianne wins: Lucas and Paulson also presented the award for Best Direction of a Musical, which was won by Marianne Elliot for Company

Marianne wins: Lucas and Paulson also presented the award for Best Direction of a Musical, which was won by Marianne Elliot for Company

Nominees: She beat out Stephen Brackett, A Strange Loop, Conor McPherson, Girl From The North Country, Lucy Moss & Jamie Armitage, SIX: The Musical and Christopher Wheeldon, MJ

Nominees: She beat out Stephen Brackett, A Strange Loop, Conor McPherson, Girl From The North Country, Lucy Moss & Jamie Armitage, SIX: The Musical and Christopher Wheeldon, MJ

She first joked, ‘They just said I could swear as much as I like. Wow, thank you first and foremost to Stephen Sondheim for trusting me to tell his story in a different way and putting a woman front and center!’

‘He and I shared a belief that theater should be for the now, that should speak directly to today’s audience. But to have collaborated with him so closely, to have made a show about New York on Broadway with New York’s most important theater makers of my lifetime it is a privilege that I never would have imagined or even dared to imagine ever in my days,’ she added. 

‘Our industry has been through so much. It felt at times that live theater was endangered. I want therefore to dedicate this award to all of you out there who are fighting for the survival of this beautiful transportive and essential art form,’ she added. 

Jokes: She first joked, 'They just said I could swear as much as I like. Wow, thank you first and foremost to Stephen Sondheim for trusting me to tell his story in a different way and putting a woman front and center!'

Jokes: She first joked, ‘They just said I could swear as much as I like. Wow, thank you first and foremost to Stephen Sondheim for trusting me to tell his story in a different way and putting a woman front and center!’

Belief: 'He and I shared a belief that theater should be for the now, that should speak directly to today's audience. But to have collaborated with him so closely, to have made a show about New York on Broadway with New York's most important theater makers of my lifetime it is a privilege that I never would have imagined or even dared to imagine ever in my days,' she added

Belief: ‘He and I shared a belief that theater should be for the now, that should speak directly to today’s audience. But to have collaborated with him so closely, to have made a show about New York on Broadway with New York’s most important theater makers of my lifetime it is a privilege that I never would have imagined or even dared to imagine ever in my days,’ she added

Transportive: 'Our industry has been through so much. It felt at times that live theater was endangered. I want therefore to dedicate this award to all of you out there who are fighting for the survival of this beautiful transportive and essential art form,' she added

Transportive: ‘Our industry has been through so much. It felt at times that live theater was endangered. I want therefore to dedicate this award to all of you out there who are fighting for the survival of this beautiful transportive and essential art form,’ she added

Skylar Astin and Marcia Gay Harden presented Best Featured Actress in a Play, which was won by Phylicia Rashad for Skeleton Crew

She beat out Uzo Aduba, Clyde’s, Rachel Dratch, POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive, Kenita R. Miller, for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf, Julie White, POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive and Kara Young, Clyde’s.

‘Just when I thought I had done everything there was to do, along came Faye Davis in Skeleton Crew,’ she began.

Phylicia wins: Skylar Astin and Marcia Gay Harden presented Best Featured Actress in a Play, which was won by Phylicia Rashad for Skeleton Crew

Phylicia wins: Skylar Astin and Marcia Gay Harden presented Best Featured Actress in a Play, which was won by Phylicia Rashad for Skeleton Crew

‘You heard others say it tonight, and it’s true. It’s the work of many people. Dominique, thank you very much for writing this play. That only you could have written,’ she added.

‘And Ruben, thank you for presenting me with a work that was challenging, demanding and most rewarding. Thank you for casting the play the way you did, giving me wonderful actors to work with, Lynne Meadows thank you very much, thank you Manhattan theatre club for supporting this play and seeing us through and thank you to the people who came to see it,’ she added.

Samuel L. Jackson and his wife LaTanya Richardson Jackson took to the stage to present the Best Revival of a Play award, won by Take Me Out.

Thanks: 'You heard others say it tonight, and it's true. It's the work of many people. Dominique, thank you very much for writing this play. That only you could have written,' she added

Thanks: ‘You heard others say it tonight, and it’s true. It’s the work of many people. Dominique, thank you very much for writing this play. That only you could have written,’ she added

Sam presents: Samuel L. Jackson and his wife LaTanya Richardson Jackson took to the stage to present the Best Revival of a Play award, won by Take Me Out

Sam presents: Samuel L. Jackson and his wife LaTanya Richardson Jackson took to the stage to present the Best Revival of a Play award, won by Take Me Out

It beat out American Buffalo, for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf, How I Learned to Drive, by Paula Vogel and Trouble in Mind, with producer Carole Rothman accepting the award.

‘Thank you to the American Theatre Wing. Okay, okay, in has been a tough time for the theatre for our artists and for New York City and it’s taken great courage and commitment on the part of so many people to come back to the theatre which is a place of joy and hope,’ Rothman began.

‘Everyone at Second Stage is immensely proud of our production of Take Me Out and Clyde’s, thank you Richard Greenberg for your brilliant play, Scott Ellis for your inspired direction,’ she added.

Carole accepts: It beat out American Buffalo, for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf, How I Learned to Drive, by Paula Vogel and Trouble in Mind, with producer Carole Rothman (middle) accepting the award

Carole accepts: It beat out American Buffalo, for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf, How I Learned to Drive, by Paula Vogel and Trouble in Mind, with producer Carole Rothman (middle) accepting the award

She also gave a ‘shout-out’ to her children Molly and Charlie, who she said were her, ‘heroes.’

Utkarsh Ambudkar and Raul Esparza presented the award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical, won by Matt Doyle from Company

He beat out Sidney DuPont, Paradise Square, Jared Grimes, Funny Girl, John-Andrew Morrison, A Strange Loop and A.J. Shively, Paradise Square.

Presenters: Utkarsh Ambudkar and Raul Esparza presented the award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical, won by Matt Doyle from Company

Presenters: Utkarsh Ambudkar and Raul Esparza presented the award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical, won by Matt Doyle from Company

Winner: He beat out Sidney DuPont, Paradise Square, Jared Grimes, Funny Girl, John-Andrew Morrison, A Strange Loop and A.J. Shively, Paradise Square

Winner: He beat out Sidney DuPont, Paradise Square, Jared Grimes, Funny Girl, John-Andrew Morrison, A Strange Loop and A.J. Shively, Paradise Square

‘Oh my goodness, oh, thank you so much. Thank you to the American Theater Wing and the Broadway League and to all the beautiful men in my category, my god, you brilliant, brilliant men,’ he began.

‘Thank you so much to my team Eric and Tim and everyone at the Jacobs Theater, the the staff, the crew, the stage management, and my company, my beautiful family, we have been to hell and back with each other, I love you so much,’ he added.

He also thanked his co-star Etai Benson, who plays Paul, and his, ‘real life Paul,’ Max Clayton, who he said, ‘I don’t know what I would do without you. And you really do leave love notes all over the place and I cannot believe what you put up with.’

Love: 'Thank you so much to my team Eric and Tim and everyone at the Jacobs Theater, the the staff, the crew, the stage management, and my company, my beautiful family, we have been to hell and back with each other, I love you so much,' he added

Love: ‘Thank you so much to my team Eric and Tim and everyone at the Jacobs Theater, the the staff, the crew, the stage management, and my company, my beautiful family, we have been to hell and back with each other, I love you so much,’ he added

He also thanked Marianne Elliott and Chris Harper, ‘for your friendship and guidance and support over the years and changing my life.’

‘To my earliest teachers Marilyn, Judy, Brit, Richard, Beth, thank you to my family, my sisters Leah and Colleen and my parents who believed in my pursuing my passion and believed in the arts and believed that the only way I would be happy is to live my life authentically, thank you so much to George and Stephen Sondheim, Stephen, thank you for allowing your work to evolve and allowing more people to be seen in your genius, thank you so much,’ he concluded.

Darren Criss and Julianne Hough presented the next award for Best Book of a Musical, which was won by Michael R. Jackson for A Strange Loop.

Guidance: He also thanked Marianne Elliott and Chris Harper, 'for your friendship and guidance and support over the years and changing my life.

Guidance: He also thanked Marianne Elliott and Chris Harper, ‘for your friendship and guidance and support over the years and changing my life.

Presenter: Darren Criss and Julianne Hough presented the next award for Best Book of a Musical, which was won by Michael R. Jackson for A Strange Loop

Presenter: Darren Criss and Julianne Hough presented the next award for Best Book of a Musical, which was won by Michael R. Jackson for A Strange Loop

He beat out Girl From The North Country’s Conor McPherson, MJ’s Lynn Nottage, Mr. Saturday Night’s Billy Crystal, Lowell Ganz & Babaloo Mandel and Paradise Square’s Christina Anderson, Craig Lucas & Larry Kirwan.

‘I started writing this musical when I was 23, I’m 41 now, I’m old as hell, I wrote it from an old lady’s house in the middle of Jamaica Queens when I didn’t know what I was going to do with my life,’ he began.

‘I didn’t know how I would move forward, I felt unseen, unheard, misunderstood and I wanted to create a life raft for myself as a black gay man to try to get through the day,’ he said.

Winner: 'I started writing this musical when I was 23, I'm 41 now, I'm old as hell, I wrote it from an old lady's house in the middle of Jamaica Queens when I didn't know what I was going to do with my life,' he began

Winner: ‘I started writing this musical when I was 23, I’m 41 now, I’m old as hell, I wrote it from an old lady’s house in the middle of Jamaica Queens when I didn’t know what I was going to do with my life,’ he began

Life: 'I didn't know how I would move forward, I felt unseen, unheard, misunderstood and I wanted to create a life raft for myself as a black gay man to try to get through the day,' he said

Life: ‘I didn’t know how I would move forward, I felt unseen, unheard, misunderstood and I wanted to create a life raft for myself as a black gay man to try to get through the day,’ he said

‘I give a special shout out to my incredible choreographer who could not be here, he needs everything, he has been here for me, so much I want to say, I’m like really speechless,’ he said.

‘Y’all know I’m all about quality in high art. We talk about representation, I’m all about representation but let’s make sure we are staying on our grinds and art, that we are doing the best work we can do, Jayne once sense there is nothing that can replace quality, never settle for anything less than the best you can do, do your best, that is my message to everybody, every artist, thank you again, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you,’ he concluded.

Company won Best Revival of a Musical, beating out Caroline, or Change and The Music Man, which was accepted by producer Chris Harper.

Shout out: 'I give a special shout out to my incredible choreographer who could not be here, he needs everything, he has been here for me, so much I want to say, I'm like really speechless,' he said

Shout out: ‘I give a special shout out to my incredible choreographer who could not be here, he needs everything, he has been here for me, so much I want to say, I’m like really speechless,’ he said

‘Wow, wow, this is just an incredible honor. Thank you so much firstly to my friends and business partner Marianne Elliott for being such a visionary artist to my producing party for always being by my side to Katrina and Patti, our incredible cast,’ he began.   

‘To our orchestra, our stage crew, our swings, everybody at the theatre, our stage crew, everyone at productions and he could producer and Stephen Sondheim for letting us reimagine his classic musical,’ he added. 

‘It means the world to me and to be supported by so many people as part of the Broadway community is equally special. But company is a show about the people who give life meaning. So I would like to dedicate this award to my children, Martha and Barnaby because they are my reason for being alive, thank you so much,’ he concluded.

Honor: 'Wow, wow, this is just an incredible honor. Thank you so much firstly to my friends and business partner Marianne Elliott for being such a visionary artist to my producing party for always being by my side to Katrina and Patti, our incredible cast,' he began

Honor: ‘Wow, wow, this is just an incredible honor. Thank you so much firstly to my friends and business partner Marianne Elliott for being such a visionary artist to my producing party for always being by my side to Katrina and Patti, our incredible cast,’ he began

Andrew Garfield and Nathan Lane presented the award for Best Play, which was won by The Lehman Trilogy by Stefano Massini and Ben Power.

It beat out Clyde’s, by Lynn Nottage, Hangmen, by Martin McDonagh, The Minutes, by Tracy Letts and Skeleton Crew, by Dominique Morisseau

Producer Rufus Norris accepted the award, stating, ‘This play was written as a hymn to the city of New York but like the Lehman brothers themselves our show began thousands of miles away.’

Presenters: Andrew Garfield and Nathan Lane presented the award for Best Play, which was won by The Lehman Trilogy by Stefano Massini and Ben Power

Presenters: Andrew Garfield and Nathan Lane presented the award for Best Play, which was won by The Lehman Trilogy by Stefano Massini and Ben Power

‘So to find ourselves on this stage on this night part of this community, alongside fellow nominees with such breathtaking talent, honestly feels like a miracle,’ he added.

‘And it is a miracle for which I have to thank the genius and the generosities-of Stefano Massini, inspired leadership of Sam Mendes. The team that I lime– illuminated every corner of the play and producers and coproducers who stood by the show between the fourth preview and the fifth preview, would come 577 days later,’ he continued.

‘Thank you. The Lehman trilogy is also a play about family and I wouldn’t be standing here without my wife de and my son Walter who will watch this in the morning. Thousands of miles from here, and will see that in New York, even after everything, even today, miracles are still possible. Thank you,’ he concluded.

Tony Goldwyn and Bryan Cranston Best Performance by an Actor in Leading Role in a Play, won by Simon Russell Beale for The Lehman Trilogy.

He beat out Adam Godley, The Lehman Trilogy, Adrian Lester, The Lehman Trilogy, David Morse, How I Learned to Drive, Sam Rockwell, American Buffalo, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Lackawanna Blues and David Threlfall, Hangmen.

‘Thank you very much, this is an enormous honor. Adam, Adrian, I feel a little sheepish. I just want to say. We all did exactly the same amount of work in this play. But I take this, accept it on your behalf, it is your award too, I just have the luck to take it home,’ he began.

Presenters: My name Joaquina means established by god and so I got to give thanks and praise to god because he has kept me and been my refuge through this crazy journey. Thank you, god, for giving me the best parents in the world. My parents sacrificed everything 7:48:42 PM for me to live my dream, my father who is in heaven, I love you, my mother who, thank you to my sister for designing this dress, my family, all of my teachers at tricity's high school for literally instilling my purpose in my life. Thank you to our producers, 7:49:03 PM Moises for leading with love, to Jason it is a privilege and honor to sing your music every night and more so an honor to call you friend. Thank you to my incredible company. Look at what we have created. We gave ourselves a voice, those are the lyrics that-- they gave U thank you Christina Anderson 7:49:23 PM for centering Nellie's voice in this story. I give thanks to all of the nameless ancestors, who have suffered this song, this show gives power to, that I honor them every day and thank you to my son, are you the biggest 7:49:45 PM blessing in the world, I love you. With every fiber of my being, Tu thank you, the tonys, thank you

Presenters: Tony Goldwyn and Bryan Cranston Best Performance by an Actor in Leading Role in a Play, won by Simon Russell Beale for The Lehman Trilogy

Enormous: 'Thank you very much, this is an enormous honor. Adam, Adrian, I feel a little sheepish. I just want to say. We all did exactly the same amount of work in this play. But I take this, accept it on your behalf, it is your award too, I just have the luck to take it home,' he began

Enormous: ‘Thank you very much, this is an enormous honor. Adam, Adrian, I feel a little sheepish. I just want to say. We all did exactly the same amount of work in this play. But I take this, accept it on your behalf, it is your award too, I just have the luck to take it home,’ he began

‘That also applies to our wonderful understudy and the whole team. There are too many people to name. Have I to mention Sam, we’ve worked together Sam and I for 35 years, not 25 as said earlier, and I have loved him all that time and I’ve loved his extraordinary work and his demand, thank you Sam so much,’ he said.

He also thanked the audience, adding, ‘you trusted us, you came with open arms, it wasn’t easy at that point to come to the theater with ll those regulations but you welcomed us, thanks for your generosity, telling a story that is in part the history of your wonderful city so thank you for being characteristically generous, thank you very much indeed,’ he concluded.

Tony Shalhoub and Danny Burstein presented the award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play, which was won by Deirdre O’Connell for Dana H.

Team: 'That also applies to our wonderful understudy and the whole team. There are too many people to name. Have I to mention Sam, we've worked together Sam and I for 35 years, not 25 as said earlier, and I have loved him all that time and I've loved his extraordinary work and his demand, thank you Sam so much,' he said

Team: ‘That also applies to our wonderful understudy and the whole team. There are too many people to name. Have I to mention Sam, we’ve worked together Sam and I for 35 years, not 25 as said earlier, and I have loved him all that time and I’ve loved his extraordinary work and his demand, thank you Sam so much,’ he said

Deirdre: Tony Shalhoub and Danny Burstein presented the award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play, which was won by Deirdre O'Connell for Dana H

Deirdre: Tony Shalhoub and Danny Burstein presented the award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play, which was won by Deirdre O’Connell for Dana H

She beat out Gabby Beans, The Skin of Our Teeth, LaChanze, Trouble in Mind, Ruth Negga, Macbeth and Mary-Louise Parker, How I Learned to Drive.

‘Oh god, thank you. Thank you, thank you. I am a piece of a very large group that made Dana H and there are too many to thank,’ she began.

‘Lucas, Misha for letting us invade your privacy so completely and every member of the crew, the stage managers, the agents, producers who took care of me,’ she added. 

Large group: 'Oh god, thank you. Thank you, thank you. I am a piece of a very large group that made Dana H and there are too many to thank,' she began

Large group: ‘Oh god, thank you. Thank you, thank you. I am a piece of a very large group that made Dana H and there are too many to thank,’ she began

‘But I want to say one thing. I would love or this little prize to be a token for every person who is wondering should I be trying to make something that could work on Broadway or that could win me a Tony award,’ she continued. 

‘Or should I be making the weird art that is haunting me that frightened me, that I don’t know how to make, that I don’t know if anyone in the whole world will understand, please let me standing here be a little sign to you from the universe to make the weird art. Thank you,’ she concluded.

Adrienne Warren and Aaron Tveit presented the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical, which was won by Myles Frost from MJ.

He beat out Billy Crystal, Mr. Saturday Night, Hugh Jackman, The Music Man, Rob McClure, Mrs. Doubtfire and Jaquel Spivey, A Strange Loop.

‘Mom, I made it! I am so honored and so blessed and so grateful. But I really got to pee right now so I will keep it quick,’ he joked. 

‘Mom, I love you so, so much, without you there would be no me. I would not– you have taught me, showed me what a strong black woman is. And what it means to raise a strong black man and I just pray that I made you proud,’ he said.

‘And I want to say this to all the little black kids out there who may not have a good relationship with their father. You can do it. First of all. And second of all, that I love you because we support each other and we are black men, we are strong black men,’ he continued.

‘I love you all and as Michael would say, with love, with love, heal the world. Thank you,’ he concluded.

Danielle Brooks and Cynthia Erivo presented the award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical, which was won by Joaquina Kalukango from Paradise Square.

She beat out Sharon D Clarke, Caroline, or Change, Carmen Cusack, Flying Over Sunset, Sutton Foster, The Music Man and Mare Winningham, Girl From The North Country.

‘My name Joaquina means established by god and so I got to give thanks and praise to God because he has kept me and been my refuge through this crazy journey,’ she began. 

‘Thank you, god, for giving me the best parents in the world. My parents sacrificed everything for me to live my dream, my father who is in heaven, I love you, my mother who, thank you to my sister for designing this dress, my family, all of my teachers at Tri-City’s high school for literally instilling my purpose in my life,’ she added.

‘Thank you to my incredible company. Look at what we have created. We gave ourselves a voice, those are the lyrics that– they gave U thank you Christina Anderson for centering Nellie’s voice in this story. I give thanks to all of the nameless ancestors, who have suffered this song, this show gives power to, that I honor them every day and thank you to my son, are you the biggest blessing in the world, I love you with every fiber of my being,’ she concluded.

Broadway legend Chita Rivera presented the final award of the evening – Best Musical, which was won by A Strange Loop.

It beat outGirl From The North Country, MJ, Mr. Saturday Night, Paradise Square and SIX: The Musical, with producer Barbara Whitman accepting the award.

‘Thank you, thank you. There are many people who have been a part of this show’s amazing journey. Musical these factory, Page 73 productions, Playwright Horizon, Wooly Mammoth Theater Company, thank you to the Schubert organization for giving us a beautiful home at the lyceum theater, bravo and love to our amazing cast including our fabulous understudies, our brilliant creative team and designers, the band, the crew, everyone at the lyceum who worked so hard and of course to the extraordinary Michael R Jackson,’ she added.

‘Michael, you shared your words, your music, your soul. None of us will ever be the Thank you from the bottom of my heart,’ she continued.

She also thanked her children Daniel and Hanna for their support and gave a shout-out to her grandsons Zackary, adding, ‘my dream is Zack will grow up in a world where stories like A Strange Loop are told on stages everywhere.’

A number of awards were handed out before the telecast as well, which were announced through the Tony Awards Twitter.

Lucy Moss and Toby Marlow won Best Original Score (Music and Lyrics) for SIX: The Musical, beating out Flying Over Sunset; Music by Tom Kitt, Lyrics by Michael Korie, Mr. Saturday Night; Music by Jason Robert Brown, Lyrics by Amanda Green, Paradise Square; Music by Jason Howland, Lyrics by Nathan Tysen and Masi Asare and A Strange Loop, Music and Lyrics by Michael R. Jackson.

Montana Levi Blanco won Best Costume Design of a Play for The Skin of Our Teeth, beating out Sarafina Bush, for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf, Emilio Sosa, Trouble in Mind, Jane Greenwood, Neil Simon’s Plaza Suite and Jennifer Moeller, Clyde’s.

Lucy and Toby win: Lucy Moss and Toby Marlow won Best Original Score (Music and Lyrics) for SIX: The Musical, beating out Flying Over Sunset; Music by Tom Kitt, Lyrics by Michael Korie, Mr. Saturday Night; Music by Jason Robert Brown, Lyrics by Amanda Green, Paradise Square; Music by Jason Howland, Lyrics by Nathan Tysen and Masi Asare and A Strange Loop, Music and Lyrics by Michael R. Jackson

Lucy and Toby win: Lucy Moss and Toby Marlow won Best Original Score (Music and Lyrics) for SIX: The Musical, beating out Flying Over Sunset; Music by Tom Kitt, Lyrics by Michael Korie, Mr. Saturday Night; Music by Jason Robert Brown, Lyrics by Amanda Green, Paradise Square; Music by Jason Howland, Lyrics by Nathan Tysen and Masi Asare and A Strange Loop, Music and Lyrics by Michael R. Jackson

Montana wins: Montana Levi Blanco won Best Costume Design of a Play for The Skin of Our Teeth, beating out Sarafina Bush, for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf, Emilio Sosa, Trouble in Mind, Jane Greenwood, Neil Simon's Plaza Suite and Jennifer Moeller, Clyde's

Montana wins: Montana Levi Blanco won Best Costume Design of a Play for The Skin of Our Teeth, beating out Sarafina Bush, for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf, Emilio Sosa, Trouble in Mind, Jane Greenwood, Neil Simon’s Plaza Suite and Jennifer Moeller, Clyde’s

Gabriella Slade won Best Costume Design of a Musical for Six: The Musical, beating out Fly Davis, Caroline, or Change, Toni-Leslie James, Paradise Square, William Ivey Long, Diana, The Musical, Santo Loquasto, The Music Man and Paul Tazewell, MJ.

Es Devlin won Best Scenic Design of a Play for The Lehman Trilogy, beating out Beowulf Boritt, POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive, Michael Carnahan and Nicholas Hussong, Skeleton Crew, Anna Fleischle, Hangmen, Scott Pask, American Buffalo and Adam Rigg, The Skin of Our Teeth.

Bunny Christie won Best Scenic Design of a Musical for Company, beating out Beowulf Boritt and 59 Productions, Flying Over Sunset, Arnulfo Maldonado, A Strange Loop, Derek McLane and Peter Nigrini, MJ and Allen Moyer, Paradise Square.

Gabriella wins: Gabriella Slade won Best Costume Design of a Musical for Six: The Musical, beating out Fly Davis, Caroline, or Change, Toni-Leslie James, Paradise Square, William Ivey Long, Diana, The Musical, Santo Loquasto, The Music Man and Paul Tazewell, MJ

Gabriella wins: Gabriella Slade won Best Costume Design of a Musical for Six: The Musical, beating out Fly Davis, Caroline, or Change, Toni-Leslie James, Paradise Square, William Ivey Long, Diana, The Musical, Santo Loquasto, The Music Man and Paul Tazewell, MJ

Bunny wins: Bunny Christie won Best Scenic Design of a Musical for Company, beating out Beowulf Boritt and 59 Productions, Flying Over Sunset, Arnulfo Maldonado, A Strange Loop, Derek McLane and Peter Nigrini, MJ and Allen Moyer, Paradise Square

Bunny wins: Bunny Christie won Best Scenic Design of a Musical for Company, beating out Beowulf Boritt and 59 Productions, Flying Over Sunset, Arnulfo Maldonado, A Strange Loop, Derek McLane and Peter Nigrini, MJ and Allen Moyer, Paradise Square

Jon Clark won Best Lighting Design of a Play for The Lehman Trilogy, beating out Joshua Carr, Hangmen, Jiyoun Chang, for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf, Jane Cox, Macbeth and Yi Zhao, The Skin of Our Teeth.

Natasha Katz won Best Lighting Design of a Musical for MJ, beating out Neil Austin, Company, Tim Deiling, SIX: The Musical, Donald Holder, Paradise Square, Bradley King, Flying Over Sunset and Jen Schriever, A Strange Loop

Mikhail Fiskel won Best Sound Design of a Play for Dana H., beating out Justin Ellington, for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf, Palmer Hefferan, The Skin of Our Teeth, Nick Powell and Dominic Bilkey, The Lehman Trilogy and Mikaal Sulaiman, Macbeth.

Jon wins: Jon Clark won Best Lighting Design of a Play for The Lehman Trilogy, beating out Joshua Carr, Hangmen, Jiyoun Chang, for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf, Jane Cox, Macbeth and Yi Zhao, The Skin of Our Teeth

Jon wins: Jon Clark won Best Lighting Design of a Play for The Lehman Trilogy, beating out Joshua Carr, Hangmen, Jiyoun Chang, for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf, Jane Cox, Macbeth and Yi Zhao, The Skin of Our Teeth

Natasha wins: Natasha Katz won Best Lighting Design of a Musical for MJ, beating out Neil Austin, Company, Tim Deiling, SIX: The Musical, Donald Holder, Paradise Square, Bradley King, Flying Over Sunset and Jen Schriever, A Strange Loop

Natasha wins: Natasha Katz won Best Lighting Design of a Musical for MJ, beating out Neil Austin, Company, Tim Deiling, SIX: The Musical, Donald Holder, Paradise Square, Bradley King, Flying Over Sunset and Jen Schriever, A Strange Loop

Gareth Owen won Best Sound Design of a Musical for MJ, beating out Simon Baker, Girl From The North Country, Paul Gatehouse, SIX: The Musical, Ian Dickinson for Autograph, Company and Drew Levy, A Strange Loop.

Simon Hale won Best Orchestrations for Girl From the North Country, beating out David Cullen, Company, Tom Curran, SIX: The Musical, Jason Michael Webb and David Holcenberg, MJ and Charlie Rosen, A Strange Loop.

Christopher Wheeldon won Best Chroreography for his work in MJ, beating out Camille A. Brown, for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf, Warren Carlyle, The Music Man, Carrie-Anne Ingrouille, SIX: The Musical and Bill T. Jones, Paradise Square.

Gareth wins: Gareth Owen won Best Sound Design of a Musical for MJ, beating out Simon Baker, Girl From The North Country, Paul Gatehouse, SIX: The Musical, Ian Dickinson for Autograph, Company and Drew Levy, A Strange Loop

Gareth wins: Gareth Owen won Best Sound Design of a Musical for MJ, beating out Simon Baker, Girl From The North Country, Paul Gatehouse, SIX: The Musical, Ian Dickinson for Autograph, Company and Drew Levy, A Strange Loop

Simon wins: Simon Hale won Best Orchestrations for Girl From the North Country, beating out David Cullen, Company, Tom Curran, SIX: The Musical, Jason Michael Webb and David Holcenberg, MJ and Charlie Rosen, A Strange Loop

Simon wins: Simon Hale won Best Orchestrations for Girl From the North Country, beating out David Cullen, Company, Tom Curran, SIX: The Musical, Jason Michael Webb and David Holcenberg, MJ and Charlie Rosen, A Strange Loop

Christopher wins: Christopher Wheeldon won Best Chroreography for his work in MJ, beating out Camille A. Brown, for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf, Warren Carlyle, The Music Man, Carrie-Anne Ingrouille, SIX: The Musical and Bill T. Jones, Paradise Square

Christopher wins: Christopher Wheeldon won Best Chroreography for his work in MJ, beating out Camille A. Brown, for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf, Warren Carlyle, The Music Man, Carrie-Anne Ingrouille, SIX: The Musical and Bill T. Jones, Paradise Square

2022 Tony Award Nominations

Best Play

Clyde’s, by Lynn Nottage

Hangmen, by Martin McDonagh

The Lehman Trilogy, by Stefano Massini and Ben Power- WINNER

The Minutes, by Tracy Letts

Skeleton Crew, by Dominique Morisseau

Best Musical

Girl From The North Country

MJ

Mr. Saturday Night

Paradise Square

SIX: The Musical

A Strange Loop – WINNER

Best Revival of a Play

American Buffalo

for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf

How I Learned to Drive, by Paula Vogel

Take Me Out – WINNER

Trouble in Mind, by Alice Childress

Best Revival of a Musical

Caroline, or Change

Company – WINNER

The Music Man

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

Billy Crystal, Mr. Saturday Night

Myles Frost, MJ – WINNER

Hugh Jackman, The Music Man

Rob McClure, Mrs. Doubtfire

Jaquel Spivey, A Strange Loop

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Sharon D Clarke, Caroline, or Change

Carmen Cusack, Flying Over Sunset

Sutton Foster, The Music Man

Joaquina Kalukango, Paradise Square – WINNER

Mare Winningham, Girl From The North Country

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical

Matt Doyle, Company – WINNER

Sidney DuPont, Paradise Square

Jared Grimes, Funny Girl

John-Andrew Morrison, A Strange Loop

A.J. Shively, Paradise Square

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play

Simon Russell Beale, The Lehman Trilogy – WINNER

Adam Godley, The Lehman Trilogy

Adrian Lester, The Lehman Trilogy

David Morse, How I Learned to Drive

Sam Rockwell, American Buffalo

Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Lackawanna Blues

David Threlfall, Hangmen

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play

Gabby Beans, The Skin of Our Teeth

LaChanze, Trouble in Mind

Ruth Negga, Macbeth

Deirdre O’Connell, Dana H. – WINNER

Mary-Louise Parker, How I Learned to Drive

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical

Jeannette Bayardelle, Girl From The North Country

Shoshana Bean, Mr. Saturday Night

Jayne Houdyshell, The Music Man

L Morgan Lee, A Strange Loop

Patti LuPone, Company – WINNER

Jennifer Simard, Company

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play

Alfie Allen, Hangmen

Chuck Cooper, Trouble in Mind

Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Take Me Out – WINNER

Ron Cephas Jones, Clyde’s

Michael Oberholtzer, Take Me Out

Jesse Williams, Take Me Out

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play

Uzo Aduba, Clyde’s

Rachel Dratch, POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive

Kenita R. Miller, for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf

Phylicia Rashad, Skeleton Crew – WINNER

Julie White, POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive

Kara Young, Clyde’s

Best Book of a Musical

Girl From The North Country, Conor McPherson

MJ, Lynn Nottage

Mr. Saturday Night, Billy Crystal, Lowell Ganz & Babaloo Mandel

Paradise Square, Christina Anderson, Craig Lucas & Larry Kirwan

A Strange Loop, Michael R. Jackson – WINNER

 

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

Flying Over Sunset; Music by Tom Kitt, Lyrics by Michael Korie

Mr. Saturday Night; Music by Jason Robert Brown, Lyrics by Amanda Green

Paradise Square; Music by Jason Howland, Lyrics by Nathan Tysen and Masi Asare

SIX: The Musical, Music and Lyrics by Toby Marlow & Lucy Moss – WINNER

A Strange Loop, Music and Lyrics by Michael R. Jackson

Best Scenic Design of a Play

Beowulf Boritt, POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive

Michael Carnahan and Nicholas Hussong, Skeleton Crew

Es Devlin, The Lehman Trilogy – WINNER

Anna Fleischle, Hangmen

Scott Pask, American Buffalo

Adam Rigg, The Skin of Our Teeth

Best Scenic Design of a Musical

Beowulf Boritt and 59 Productions, Flying Over Sunset

Bunny Christie, Company – WINNER

Arnulfo Maldonado, A Strange Loop

Derek McLane and Peter Nigrini, MJ

Allen Moyer, Paradise Square

Best Costume Design of a Play

Montana Levi Blanco, The Skin of Our Teeth – WINNER

Sarafina Bush, for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf

Emilio Sosa, Trouble in Mind

Jane Greenwood, Neil Simon’s Plaza Suite

Jennifer Moeller, Clyde’s

Best Costume Design of a Musical

Fly Davis, Caroline, or Change

Toni-Leslie James, Paradise Square

William Ivey Long, Diana, The Musical

Santo Loquasto, The Music Man

Gabriella Slade, SIX: The Musical – WINNER

Paul Tazewell, MJ

Best Lighting Design of a Play

Joshua Carr, Hangmen

Jiyoun Chang, for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf

Jon Clark, The Lehman Trilogy – WINNER

Jane Cox, Macbeth

Yi Zhao, The Skin of Our Teeth

Best Lighting Design of a Musical

Neil Austin, Company

Tim Deiling, SIX: The Musical

Donald Holder, Paradise Square

Natasha Katz, MJ – WINNER

Bradley King, Flying Over Sunset

Jen Schriever, A Strange Loop

Best Sound Design of a Play

Justin Ellington, for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf

Mikhail Fiksel, Dana H. – WINNER

Palmer Hefferan, The Skin of Our Teeth

Nick Powell and Dominic Bilkey, The Lehman Trilogy

Mikaal Sulaiman, Macbeth

Best Sound Design of a Musical

Simon Baker, Girl From The North Country

Paul Gatehouse, SIX: The Musical

Ian Dickinson for Autograph, Company

Drew Levy, A Strange Loop

Gareth Owen, MJ – WINNER

Best Direction of a Play

Lileana Blain-Cruz, The Skin of Our Teeth

Camille A. Brown, for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf

Sam Mendes, The Lehman Trilogy – WINNER

Neil Pepe, American Buffalo

Les Waters, Dana H.

Best Direction of a Musical

Stephen Brackett, A Strange Loop

Marianne Elliott, Company – WINNER

Conor McPherson, Girl From The North Country

Lucy Moss & Jamie Armitage, SIX: The Musical

Christopher Wheeldon, MJ

Best Choreography

Camille A. Brown, for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf

Warren Carlyle, The Music Man

Carrie-Anne Ingrouille, SIX: The Musical

Bill T. Jones, Paradise Square

Christopher Wheeldon, MJ – WINNER

Best Orchestrations

David Cullen, Company

Tom Curran, SIX: The Musical

Simon Hale, Girl From The North Country – WINNER

Jason Michael Webb and David Holcenberg, MJ

Charlie Rosen, A Strange Loop

 

source: dailymail.co.uk