Danai Gurira arrives at the Tony Awards at the Beacon Theatre on Sunday, June 12, 2016, in NY.
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“We’re calling Hamilton the cultural equivalent of the Super Bowl”, said a spokesman for the ticket resale website StubHub, referring to the annual American football championship. She certainly can; never before has a major political party nominated a candidate who is being actively investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Cynthia Erivo, who plays Celie, the main character in “The Color Purple”, won for lead actress in a musical.
This one takes the cake for a complete lack of self-awareness. It’s too bad they can’t apply this principle to any other industry. The festivities didn’t stay restrained, as the casts of numerous Broadway shows performed musical numbers out on the street in front of the theater as well as inside onstage.
Borle: Taking effect this year, the bill affords vital tax benefits to Broadway similar to those offered to the film and television industries. “Thank you so much for lifting me up when I’m exhausted”. While the skit also featured a Hillary impersonator, it spared her from her many scandals. However, Alexander Hamilton was replaced by “James Corden”. The rap-infused show has not only sculpted a strong story, but has paved the way for more colorful narratives to be shared in more diverse ways in musical theatre. Opening at the Richard Rodgers Theater in November, three-time Tony victor Glenn Close stars as Hillary Clinton in a Clinton line.
Close: I really need this job, oh god, I need this job. “And now I do it every night and I still haven’t gotten a note on it”.
Of course, with Corden at the wheel, there were also plenty of amusing moments.
Presenter: And the Tony goes to: Renee Elise Goldsberry, “Hamilton”.
James Corden, who hosted this year’s ceremony, told the crowd: “Think of tonight’s show as like the Oscars, but with diversity”. The two-time Academy Award victor said: “This is a dream come true and it fills me with such happiness, even on such a sad day as this”.
“I found some words that will mean more to you than a litany of names”, he began. When one of us wins, we all win because we are we are one. Its shot at setting the record took a hit when set designer David Rockwell notched a win for the revival of “She Loves Me”, a romantic comedy with a set that evokes art nouveau in Budapest circa 1934. “You’re making me verklempt!” she called out when the crowd gave her an ovation.
Sadly, the terrorist attack on gay nightclub, Pulse, in Orlando, FL overhung the event. Andy Blankenbuehler won the award for “Hamilton” choreography.
It read, in part: “When senseless acts of tragedies remind us that nothing here is promised, not one day, this show is proof that history remembers”. Together, we have to make sure of that. Hamilton secured 11 prizes including best musical, best actor, best direction as well as best score and book for Miranda. I thought she meant 30.
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“I hadn’t written anything going into today”.
