The 78th annual Tony Awards took place on Sunday night at the iconic Radio City Music Hall, celebrating the best in Broadway theater. Hosted by celebrated actress and singer Cynthia Erivo, the exciting three-hour event featured electrifying performances and wonderful, well-earned surprises. Yet, our 2023 event met unexpected technical challenges that derailed the process. The night was equal parts exhilarating and heartbreaking, but undoubtedly unforgettable for those in attendance.
Cynthia Erivo, fresh off her feature film adaptation of the musical “Wicked,” opened the ceremony in stunning voice. Her dazzling performance truly stopped the show. Aside from her show-stopping performance, she worked in a comedic opening bit that really helped to get the energy of the event pumping. The occasion was sure to be a rollicking arts party, with talent from all over the country, including Tony Award winning talent.
Technical Troubles Stun the Audience
Even with all the excitement, the live broadcast faced some sound problems that overshadowed many of the important moments. Even Keanu Reeves and Charli D’Amelio had their microphones cut out while giving speeches. That led to some really frustrating, muddy sounding audio for both fans and competitors. This was most apparent during Jonathan Groff’s show-stopping “I am Not Throwing Away My Shot,” which had him lost in an incredibly subdued and bizarrely mixed soundscape. These cringe-inducing errors overshadowed what was otherwise an incredible night celebrating all of this year’s talent.
The technical sound problems didn’t ruin every performance, though. And of course, Megan Hilty all but blew the roof off Alice Tully Hall with her show-stopping performance of “Do It for the Gaze” from Death Becomes Her. And the crowd went wild for the closing medley of Bobby Darin hits led by Jonathan Groff. Despite some technical malfunctions, his vocal prowess spoke for itself. Cynthia Erivo took center stage once more to perform an original number titled “Sometimes All You Need Is a Song,” further demonstrating her versatility as an artist.
Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion
The night was also a historic one for representation among the theater community. Francis Jue won the Best Featured Actor Tony as Song Liling, making him only the second male Asian American actor to win a Tony Award. His emotional acceptance speech celebrating inclusion, community, and coming together inspired everyone in the room and watching at home alike. Whatever the case, this moment was a powerful tribute to the work still being done to broaden the faces we see on Broadway.
Joining Erivo on stage were Kristin Chenoweth, Aaron Tveit, and Adam Lambert, who shared the microphone for a memorable performance that delighted attendees. These stars served as a reminder of the incredible spirit of collaboration that exists on Broadway. Their resilience expressed how artists come together in solidarity to protect each other and celebrate their artistic expressions.
Star-Studded Event Shines Through Challenges
The 78th Tony Awards were a glam affair, dazzling viewers with performances from television and cinema’s biggest stars. Other remarkable cameos were by Sarah Snook and George Clooney. One by one, each added their own artistic touch to the stage, boosting the overall entertainment value of the evening. Darren Criss drew viewers in with a fun and entertaining in-show promo for Pure Leaf tea. He injected an irreverent dose of humor into the proceedings.
And even with the technical challenges that affected some areas of the broadcast, the evening was a triumphant embrace of the dynamic, exciting field of theater. Each of the incredible performances and speeches on display celebrated individual talent and the will and resilience of the entire Broadway community.
