Daniel Radcliffe secures his maiden Tony Award and key moments from Broadway's grandest eventing
In a night brimming with edge-of-your-seat moments and unforgettable speeches, several key highlights stood out at this year's Tony Awards.
From long-awaited pop culture reunions to fresh-faced winners, let's dive into some of the most memorable scenes from the Tony Awards of 20XX.
Fresh Tony Winners for Daniel Radcliffe, Sarah Paulson, and More
The evening was nothing short of enchanting for Harry Potter alum Daniel Radcliffe and other newcomers.
Following an upbeat performance of a tune from “Merrily We Roll Along,” where he takes the lead, Radcliffe clinched his initial Tony in the best actor in a supporting role in a musical category. In his speech, he expressed his gratitude for the extraordinary experience, stating, "This has been one of the best times of my life."
Radcliffe's co-star Jonathan Groff likewise claimed his first-ever Tony in the best actor in a leading role category, overpowered by emotion. In his acceptance speech, he paid homage to the theater community, which he referred to as the "greatest gift and pleasure of my life."
First-time winner Sarah Paulson added to the list of newbies, becoming a Tony-winning actress for her leading role in “Appropriate.” In her emotional speech, she praised her cast and crew and showered admiration on her longtime partner, Holland Taylor.
“Succession” star Jeremy Strong and Kecia Lewis, who used her speech to reflect on her four-decade-long journey to the Tony stage, were also among the new triumphants.
Jay-Z and Alicia Keys Reunite
The cast of Alicia Keys' innovative musical “Hell’s Kitchen” put on an electrifying medley of songs from her Broadway production. Keys herself graced the stage for a stunning performance.
During her performance of the 2009 hit “Empire State of Mind,” Keys shared that she had to do something special to celebrate her beloved hometown, New York City. That's when Jay-Z, with whom she collaborated on “Empire State of Mind,” made a surprise appearance on stage to rap his verse and bring the performance to a thrilling close.
“Hell’s Kitchen” walked away with two Tonys on Sunday.
Angelina Jolie and Daughter Vivienne Celebrate ‘The Outsiders’ Success
Based on S.E. Hinton's novel, "The Outsiders" took home four Tonys on Sunday, including the highly coveted award for best musical. Actress Angelina Jolie, one of the lead producers, along with her daughter Vivienne, 15, were among those who celebrated its triumph, including when director Danya Taymor won the Tony for best direction of a musical. Emotion took over during her speech, as the mother-daughter duo couldn't hide their joy.
Jolie told People that her daughter inspired her to work on the project.
Kecia Lewis Thanks Her Doctor
First-time Tony-winner Kecia Lewis blew us away with her quirky acceptance speech, thanking her ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor for keeping her vocal range “alive and well.” Lewis won the award for best actress in a supporting role in a musical for “Hell’s Kitchen.”
In the humorous speeches department, a number of actors expressed gratitude towards their assistants and publicists during this year's award shows, giving due recognition to the often-overlooked members of their teams in their acceptance speeches.
Hillary Clinton Reminds Everyone to Vote
The crowd erupted in applause as former First Lady and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton took the stage to introduce a performance by the cast of “Suffs,” the Broadway play she co-produced with Malala Yousafzai and Tony-winner Shaina Taub. Clinton acknowledged the challenges that lie ahead, stating, "I know what it's like to fight for change, so I couldn't be prouder of this original American musical."
Clinton encouraged the audience, reminding them about the upcoming election, saying, "We need to remember the importance of voting."
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In his heartfelt speech, Daniel Radcliffe acknowledged that winning his first Tony Award for "Merrily We Roll Along" was one of the best experiences of his life, making entertainment a memorable part of the evening.
Sarah Paulson expressing her gratitude towards her team during her emotional speech was a highlight in entertainment-filled speeches at the Tony Awards.
