Sunday, June 12, marked the 75th Annual Tony Awards ceremony, honoring the talent and production from the 2021–2022 Broadway season at Radio City Music Hall in New York.
Since I did not see any of the eligible shows this year in person, it didn’t feel fair to comment on predictions or pre-Tonys content. I definitely had predictions based on reviews from fans and critics, but it felt unfair to judge shows based on second-hand information alone.
This year I’m recapping the awards, sharing thoughts and commentary on wins, upsets and losses, and sharing the joy that we even got to have a season this year. Of course, this is never with any mal intent to the actors, simply recapping the awards and performances.
Since I didn’t have very many predictions, based on the fact that I have not seen many of these shows, I have listed the categories and winners, with my commentary on the categories where I saw the clear wins and upsets.
Please Note: Not every category will have notes, especially if I didn’t feel I knew enough about the nominees to comment.
The Catagories
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: A Strange Loop — Michael R. Jackson
This was my predicted win, based on its previous Pulitzer prize and various other awards. Everyone called A Strange Loop the “it” musical to go to this season, and so this comes as no surprise to me. However, as the night went on it seemed like the voters were leaning in another direction. Thrilled for the cast and creatives of this show, and may it have a long run on Broadway!
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
- Flying Over Sunset — Music: Tom Kitt; Lyrics: Michael Korie
- Mr. Saturday Night — Music: Jason Robert Brown; Lyrics: Amanda Green
- Paradise Square — Music: Jason Howland; Lyrics: Nathan Tysen & Masi Asare
- SIX: The Musical — Music and Lyrics: Toby Marlow & Lucy Moss
- A Strange Loop — Music & Lyrics: Michael R. Jackson
Winner: SIX: The Musical — Music and Lyrics: Toby Marlow & Lucy Moss
I feel like this one was an upset for me. I was sure this would be going to A Strange Loop. However, given the popularity of SIX, there is something about the score that is definitely catchy and resonates with its fans. I think it’s hard to ignore the commercial success SIX has had, and a lot of it is due to people catching on to the music.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
- Simon Russell Beale, The Lehman Trilogy
- 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
Winner: Simon Russell Beale, The Lehman Trilogy
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.
- Mary-Louise Parker, How I Learned to Drive
Winner: Deirdre O’Connell, Dana H.
For Simon Russell Beale as well as Deirdre O’Connell, congrats to both. Unfortunately, my knowledge of plays is not as strong as my knowledge of musicals, but from what I hear both gave great performances.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
- Billy Crystal, Mr. Saturday Night
- Myles Frost, MJ
- Hugh Jackman, The Music Man
- Rob McClure, Mrs. Doubtfire
- Jaquel Spivey, A Strange Loop
Winner: Myles Frost, MJ
I feel like this was a bit of an upset? It seemed like the voters were leaning to MJ all night, surprisingly, but I definitely thought they would have either pulled it out for Hugh Jackman, on merit, or Jaquel Spivey. Nevertheless, congrats to Myles Frost.
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
- Mare Winningham, Girl From The North Country
Winner: Joaquina Kalukango, Paradise Square
A well-deserved win for Joaquina Kalukango! From what I hear her performance is a standout for Paradise Square, and I am curious to see how this turns the tables for the production.
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
- Ron Cephas Jones, Clyde’s
- Michael Oberholtzer, Take Me Out
- Jesse Williams, Take Me Out
Winner: Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Take Me Out
This was my predicted win, just based on reviews and commentary I had heard. I’m thrilled for all the nominees, Jesse Tyler Ferguson especially.
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
- Julie White, POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive
- Kara Young, Clyde’s
Winner: Phylicia Rashad, Skeleton Crew
I didn’t have the chance to see Skeleton Crew, but again, only heard good things about it. I didn’t really have a pick for this category, since I didn’t have enough knowledge to make an educated guess. Still, congrat to Phylicia Rashad!
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
- Matt Doyle, Company
- Sidney DuPont, Paradise Square
- Jared Grimes, Funny Girl
- John-Andrew Morrison, A Strange Loop
- A.J. Shively, Paradise Square
Winner: Matt Doyle, Company
This was the predicted win and rightfully so. I am so thrilled for Matt Doyle and this earned win.
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
- Jennifer Simard, Company
Winner: Patti LuPone, Company
This one I think we all saw coming, as much as we may have wanted an upset with a win for L Morgan Lee, Shoshana Bean, or Jennifer Simard. This was a tough category and was absolutely stacked this year. Congrats to Patti LuPone on her third Tony win!
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
- Anna Fleischle, Hangmen
- Scott Pask, American Buffalo
- Adam Rigg, The Skin of Our Teeth
Winner: Es Devlin, The Lehman Trilogy
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
- Beowulf Boritt and 59 Productions, Flying Over Sunset
- Bunny Christie, Company
- Arnulfo Maldonado, A Strange Loop
- Derek McLane and Peter Nigrini, MJ
- Allen Moyer, Paradise Square
Winner: Bunny Christie, Company
Scenic Design is usually not an area where I have strong predictions. For the plays I just hadn’t seen enough to make a prediction. All of the musicals seemed like pretty strong contenders, so there wasn’t really one I would have guessed over another. However, I still have yet to see many of these. Congrats to Es Devlin and Bunny Christie!
Best Costume Design of a Play
- Montana Levi Blanco, The Skin of Our Teeth
- 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
Winner: Montana Levi Blanco, The Skin of Our Teeth
While this was a production I did not know much about and sadly its limited run has come to an end, congrats are still in order for Montana Levi Blanco!
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
- Paul Tazewell, MJ
Winner: Gabriella Slade, SIX: The Musical
Many of the predictions predicted SIX winning best costume design and I think it was definitely warranted. The only other option I would have thought would be measured competition would be Diana, but given controversy around Long, and the production itself, it’s not surprising the voters opted not to touch that one.
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
- Jane Cox, Macbeth
- Yi Zhao, The Skin of Our Teeth
Winner: Jon Clark, The Lehman Trilogy
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
- Neil Austin, Company
- Tim Deiling, SIX: The Musical
- Donald Holder, Paradise Square
- Natasha Katz, MJ
- Bradley King, Flying Over Sunset
- Jen Schriever, A Strange Loop
Winner: Natasha Katz, MJ
Lighting Design is another category I didn’t want to make predictions on without seeing some of the shows. Congrats to Jon Clarke for The Lehman Trilogy! For musical I was a little bit surprised. I had heard that people predicted SIX would win, but to be honest, I feel like many of these were strong contenders. Congrats to Natasha Katz for MJ!
Best Sound Design of a Play
- Justin Ellington, for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf
- Mikhail Fiksel, Dana H.
- Palmer Hefferan, The Skin of Our Teeth
- Nick Powell and Dominic Bilkey, The Lehman Trilogy
- Mikaal Sulaiman, Macbeth
Winner: Mikhail Fiksel, Dana H.
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: Gareth Owen, MJ
I think Sound design is a hard category to predict unless you’ve been in the room and can compare one to another. Nonetheless, congrats to both Mikhail Fiksel and Gareth Owen for their respective wins.
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
- Neil Pepe, American Buffalo
- Les Waters, Dana H.
Winner: Sam Mendes, The Lehman Trilogy
Congrats to Sam Mendes and his work on The Lehman Trilogy!
Best Direction of a Musical
- Stephen Brackett, A Strange Loop
- Marianne Elliott, Company
- Conor McPherson, Girl From The North Country
- Lucy Moss & Jamie Armitage, SIX: The Musical
- Christopher Wheeldon, MJ
Winner: Marianne Elliott, Company
We love to see a female director win! Congratulation to Marianne Elliott on her win and becoming the 11th female director to claim the award.
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: Christopher Wheeldon, MJ
If I had to make a prediction in this category, this probably would have been it. From the footage I’ve seen of MJ, it seems like a choreography-heavy show, and definitely it is no easy task to do MJ and do it well. Congrats!
Best Orchestrations
- David Cullen, Company
- Tom Curran, SIX: The Musical
- Simon Hale, Girl From The North Country
- Jason Michael Webb and David Holcenberg, MJ
- Charlie Rosen, A Strange Loop
Winner: Simon Hale, Girl From The North Country
Sneaking in one win for Girl From the North Country! Congrats to Simon Hale!
Best Play
- Clyde’s —Author: Lynn Nottage
- Hangmen— Author: Martin McDonagh
- The Lehman Trilogy— Author: Stefano Massini, Ben Power
- The Minutes — Author: Tracy Letts
- Skeleton Crew — Author: Dominique Morisseau
Winner: The Lehman Trilogy— Author: Stefano Massini, Ben Power
From all the previous categories of the night, this comes as no surprise. Congrats to the cast and creative team behind this show!
Best Musical
- Girl From The North Country
- MJ
- Mr. Saturday Night
- Paradise Square
- SIX: The Musical
- A Strange Loop
Winner: A Strange Loop
A well-deserved win for the cast and creatives of A Strange Loop! I was nervous for a minute that the voters seemed to be going in a different direction this evening, as a couple upsets seemed to put A Strange Loop‘s win into question. I liked that they seemed to kind of distribute the awards this year, though and not let one musical sweep. Congrats to all!
Best Revival of a Play
- American Buffalo
- for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf
- How I Learned to Drive
- Take Me Out
- Trouble in Mind
Winner: Take Me Out
From the critical acclaim of this play alone, there’s no surprise it won Best Revival of a Play. Congrats to all involved with this production!
Best Revival of a Musical
- Caroline, or Change
- Company
- The Music Man
Winner: Company
This honestly makes me so happy for the cast and creative team. Definitely a well-deserved win, and I hope it boosts ticket sales enough for this revival to continue into the fall. Congrats to all!
Overall, I am pretty pleased with the results of the awards. I am glad it seemed they kind of let a few wins from some of the less visible shows sneak through, and distributed the weight of the wins. It doesn’t feel like some of the ceremonies in recent years where one show has dominated and swept all the awards, which is really nice. It was nice to see The Lehman Trilogy recognized, although it did sweep a lot of the play categories. However, considering many of the eligible plays are either closed or limited runs, I’m not sure what bearing this has on them. The Tonys are such a strong determining factor for the future of some of these shows, which is different from other award shows. And when one show sweeps it often leads to many of the others folding because they didn’t get that mainstream recognition. So I’m glad we’ve seen a variety tonight, even for shows with limited runs and those that have already closed.
Congrats to all the winners, nominees, casts, creatives, COVID compliance officers, and crew who have made this season possible! It’s a joy to be able to see live theatre again and to see those who are creating it being celebrated. Now, on to the next season …
The Broadway Edit 