Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions
When you fill an entire theater with professional performers, you’re bound to get an unforgettable live show—because that’s what they do best.
During the 70th Annual Tony Awards, Broadway’s finest united to celebrate their industry the best way they know how. The evening’s host, James Corden, kicked off the annual ceremony with an extravagant musical tour through the history of show business, performing nearly every stage classic memorized by all of the theater buffs watching at home.
There were major wins for Hamilton, a surprise teenage performance by Josh Groban and emotionally charged acceptance speeches by Broadway members old and new.
Here’s a cheat sheet to the night’s best moments if you want to impress your co-workers in the morning. Don’t worry—your secret is safe with us.
1. James Corden’s Non-Stop Opener
Just watching the Late Late Show host do this made us exhausted. As a sort-of one-man show, Corden sang through all of theater’s most iconic songs, including Dreamgirls‘ “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” and “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina” from Evita, while surrounded by many of this year’s nominated actors and actresses. The Tony Award winner proved he truly is a triple threat as he sang, danced and acted his way as one of Broadway’s best.
If you don’t believe us, Oprah Winfrey gave the performance two thumbs up while sitting in the audience, so you know it had to be excellent.
2. Renée Elise Goldsberry’s Emotional Acceptance Speech
As the winner of the Tony Award for Featured Actress in a Musical, the Hamilton star tearfully thanked her parents, husband and then concluded with an emotional statement about being a working mother in theater.
“I would just love to say that if you know anything about me, I’ve spent the last ten years of my life—what some would consider the life blood of a woman’s career—just trying to have children and I get to testify in front of all of you that the Lord gave me Benjamin and Brielle and then he still gave me this,” she said, holding her statue triumphantly in the air.
3. Audra McDonald’s Pregnant Dance Number
Like the stellar six-time Tony Award winner that she is, the theater star danced with her cast of Shuffle Along with such ease, we almost forgot she was pregnant. Is there anything this woman cannot do? The answer is no.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions
5. Andrew Lloyd Webber Plays the Tambourine
One of theater’s most renowned composers playing the tambourine next to Steve Martin on the banjo? That’s a sight to never forget.
6. Cynthia Erivo’s Chilling Performance
The Tony-nominated actress brings audiences to tears nightly with her performances as Celie in The Color Purple, but her emotional rendition of “I’m Here” during the ceremony elevated the song to a stunning new height. As a first-time Tony winner tonight, she visibly took in every bit of the hallmark moment.
The only thing missing was a mic drop—which she got when she ultimately accepted the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. “Hi, Mummy,” she tearfully began her acceptance speech.
7. Gloria Estefan Joins the Cast of On Your Feet!
Where better for the iconic singer to show up than in the musical about her very own life? The multi-Grammy Award winner shook up the stage when she popped up during an ensemble number from the show featuring her Broadway counterpart, lead actress Ana Villafañe.
Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions
8. Josh Groban’s High School Fiddler on the Roof Performance
Before he was singing the classics around the world, the Grammy nominee was starring as Tevye in his high school show. Even as a teenager, it was clear Groban would grow up to be a musical star. Watch the adorable performance here.
9. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Touching Sonnet to His Wife and the Orlando Victims
Instead of rapping his way through his acceptance speech like he did in 2008, Miranda accepted the Tony Award for Best Original Score with a beautiful sonnet dedicated to his wife and the victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting. “Now fill the world with music, love and pride,” he concluded. Read the whole speech here.
10. This Year’s Historic Tony Award Moment
While many expected Hamilton to shatter the record for most Tony Awards won by a single show, this year’s ceremony concluded with an entirely different new record. For the first time in Tony Award history, all four musical acting awards went to people of color. Now that’s a cause for some serious celebration.
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