The show goes on: Tony Awards pre-show telecast kicks off Broadway’s biggest night despite strike

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The Tony Awards pre-show telecast commenced with an air of uncertainty, as Broadway’s grandest evening unfolded without a scripted plan due to the ongoing Hollywood writers’ strike.

The typically lively and congenial night was infused with an element of chaos. The strike by the Writers Guild of America forced Broadway’s biggest event to rely on spontaneity in a new venue far from the theater district, introducing an uncharted experience.

Addressing the audience, host Ariana DeBose warned, “Tonight is unscripted, darlings.” She divulged that the only words to appear on the teleprompter would be a simple directive: “Please wrap up.”

Pluto TV hosted a pre-show starting at 6:30 p.m. Eastern, featuring Julianne Hough and Skylar Astin. Later, the main three-hour event, led by Ariana DeBose, took place on CBS and Paramount+ at 8 p.m. Eastern.

Throughout the evening, a total of 26 Tony Awards were to be presented, recognizing a season that saw the debut of 40 new productions, including 15 musicals, 24 plays, and one special engagement—the first post-pandemic full season.

This year’s Tony Awards showcased an unparalleled setting as Broadway stars tapped into their live performance abilities, adapting to the strike-induced circumstances. From heartfelt stories to captivating revivals, the season offered a diverse range of productions, such as “Cost of Living,” “The Kite Runner,” “Topdog/Underdog,” “Death of a Salesman,” and the critically acclaimed revival of “Parade.”

Additionally, the season incorporated elements of fantasy with the puppet-driven adaptation of “Life of Pi,” satire in “The Thanksgiving Play,” and lighthearted humor in “Shucked” and “Peter Pan Goes Wrong.”

Leading the nominations was the musical adaptation of the beloved film “Some Like It Hot,” receiving an impressive 13 Tony Award nominations. Competing for the top prize were “& Juliet,” a contemporary take on “Romeo and Juliet” featuring popular hits from past decades, “New York, New York,” a collaboration between Broadway icons John Kander and Lin-Manuel Miranda, and “Shucked,” a comedic musical sprinkled with corny puns.

In the best new play category, contenders included Tom Stoppard’s “Leopoldstadt,” which explored Jewish identity through an intergenerational story, and James Ijames’ Pulitzer Prize-winning adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” set at a Black family’s barbecue in the modern South, titled “Fat Ham.”

The evening held several intriguing questions: Could Audra McDonald extend her record as the most awarded actor in Tony Awards history with her performance in “Ohio State Murders”? Would J. Harrison Ghee (“Some Like It Hot”) or Alex Newell (“Shucked”) become the first nonbinary individuals to win a Tony for acting? (Last year, Toby Marlow, the composer and writer of “Six,” became the first openly nonbinary winner.)

The night featured captivating performances from the casts of “Camelot,” “Into the Woods,” “& Juliet,” “Kimberly Akimbo,” “New York, New York,” “Parade,” “Shucked,” “Some Like It Hot,” and “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.” Notable artists like Joaquina Kalukango, last year’s Tony winner for best lead actress in a musical, along with casts from “A Beautiful Noise” and “Funny Girl,” contributed their talents, ensuring a star-studded event that included renowned figures such as Josh Groban and Lea Michele.

The United Palace Theatre in Manhattan’s Washington Heights neighborhood served as the unique venue for this year’s ceremony, a departure from the traditional location in Times Square and the theater district.

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AP National Writer Jocelyn Noveck contributed to this report.

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Mark Kennedy can be reached at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits

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For comprehensive coverage of the 2023 Tony Awards, please visit https://bigbignews.net/tony-awards