# 76th Tony Awards

The 76th Tony Awards recognized the achievements in Broadway productions during the 2022–23 season. The ceremony was held at the United Palace in New York City on June 11, 2023. Ariana DeBose served as the host for the second year in a row, with Skylar Astin and Julianne Hough co-hosting a pre-show on Pluto TV prior to the main telecast on CBS.
The most-awarded production of this season was new musical Kimberly Akimbo, which won five awards, including Best Musical. Leopoldstadt was the most-awarded play, winning four awards, including Best Play. Some Like It Hot led the nominations, at 13. With J. Harrison Ghee and Alex Newell winning awards for their performances on Some Like It Hot and Shucked, respectively, they became the first openly non-binary performers to win a Tony.
The ceremony was held amid the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike; while the guilds denied a waiver to the Tony Awards' organizers, they agreed to not picket the venue, and no scripted materials were included in the ceremony.

## Ceremony information

In January 2023, The Broadway League and American Theatre Wing renewed its contract with Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss's White Cherry Entertainment to produce the ceremony. On April 12, 2023, it was announced that Ariana DeBose would return as host for a second consecutive year. On April 25, 2023, it was announced that the pre-show The Tony Awards: Act One would move from Paramount+ to its sister free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) service Pluto TV, prior to the main presentation on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
Nominees were announced on May 2, 2023; the musical Some Like It Hot was the most-nominated show of the season, while A Doll's House , Ain't No Mo' , and Leopoldstadt were tied for most nominated play.

### Impact of the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike

   “I'm live and unscripted. You're welcome. So to anyone who may have thought that last year was a bit unhinged, to them, I say, ‘Darlings, buckle up.’” —76th Tony Awards host Ariana DeBose during her opening monologue
On May 2, 2023, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) went on strike against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. On May 12, the WGA denied the American Theatre Wing's request for a waiver to allow the CBS telecast, thereby placing the ceremony's broadcast in uncertainty. (CBS, along with the other major broadcast networks, are represented by the AMPTP in collective bargaining.) The Tony Awards Management Committee held an emergency meeting on May 15 to discuss the future of the ceremony. The meeting, however, was unproductive, with sources saying the committee would make another effort to convince the WGA for a strike waiver. The options were to either hold a non-televised press conference on the original date—akin to the response of the 65th Golden Globe Awards to the 2007–08 WGA strike—or to postpone the ceremony until the strike is resolved—similar to the 74th Tony Awards, which were postponed by more than a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The same day as the emergency meeting, the WGA still once again denied the waiver but announced they would not picket the event, and the broadcast was set to continue as planned.
The Tonys ceremony ultimately went on unscripted. Before the show began, host Ariana DeBose revealed to the audience the only words that would appear on the teleprompter that night: "Please wrap up" (the advisory to award winners to close their acceptance speech). The broadcast's opening performance number began with DeBose paging through a script of blank pages before launching into a dance number that was backed by music but free of lyrics. Lin-Manuel Miranda initially wrote an opening number for the awards, but it was not performed because of the strike.

### Presenters

Act One:
* Kelly Coffey, CEO of City National Bank presented Regional Theatre Tony Award to Pasadena Playhouse
* Lin-Manuel Miranda – presented Special Tony Award to John Kander
* Denée Benton – presented Excellence in Theatre Education Award
* Annaleigh Ashford – presented Isabelle Stevenson Award to Jerry Mitchell
* Jennifer Grey – presented Special Tony Award to Joel Grey
Main Show:
* Dominique Fishback and Lily Rabe – presented Best Featured Actor in a Play
* Wayne Brady and Marcel Spears – presented Best Featured Actress in a Musical
* Lupita Nyong'o – presented Best Direction of a Play
* Colman Domingo and Lea Michele – presented Best Direction of a Musical
* David Henry Hwang and Kenny Leon – presented Best Featured Actress in a Play
* Uzo Aduba and Common – presented Best Revival of a Play
* Tatiana Maslany and Wilson Cruz – presented Best Featured Actor in a Musical
* Denée Benton – presented Excellence in Theatre Education Award
* Julianne Hough and Skylar Astin – presented Best Book of a Musical
* Kelli O'Hara – presented Best Revival of a Musical
* Stephanie Hsu and Luke Evans – presented Best Actor in a Musical
* Marcia Gay Harden and Utkarsh Ambudkar – presented Best Actress in a Play
* LaTanya Richardson Jackson and Samuel L. Jackson – presented Best Play
* Barry Manilow and Melissa Etheridge – presented Best Actress in a Musical
* Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane – presented Best Actor in a Play
* Ariana DeBose – presented Best Musical

### Performances

The following shows and performers performed on the ceremony's telecast:
* "Cheering for Me Now" / "Theme from New York, New York" – New York, New York
* "C'est Moi" / "The Lusty Month of May" / "If Ever I Would Leave You" / "Camelot (Reprise)" – Camelot
* "Roar" – & Juliet
* "Some Like It Hot" – Some Like It Hot
* "It Takes Two" – Into the Woods
* "Hot Honey Rag" – Ariana DeBose and Julianne Hough
* "This Is Not Over Yet" – Parade
* "The Ballad of Sweeney Todd" – Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
* "Sweet Caroline" – A Beautiful Noise
* "Wishing You Were Here Somehow Here Again" (In Memoriam) – Joaquina Kalukango
* "Anagram" – Kimberly Akimbo
* "Corn" / "Independently Owned" / "Somebody Will" / "Woman of the World" – Shucked
* "Don't Rain On My Parade" – Funny Girl

## Eligibility

The Tony Awards eligibility cut-off date for the 2022–23 season was April 27, 2023, for all Broadway productions which meet all other eligibility requirements.

## Events
### Nominations

The nominees for the 76th Tony Awards were announced on May 2, 2023 by Lea Michele and Myles Frost. The year's nominations included several non-binary performers, with J. Harrison Ghee (for Some Like It Hot) and Alex Newell (for Shucked) becoming the first two non-binary performers to be nominated for performances in the same year and ultimately winning in their respective categories, while others, such as Justin David Sullivan (from & Juliet), opted out of Tony consideration due to their gendered categories, urging awards shows to "expand their reach". On their nomination for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical, Newell noted the genderless nature of the term "actor", hence their decision to be included for Tony consideration.
The musical Some Like It Hot led the nominations, with 13 nominations, while Ain't No Mo' and Leopoldstadt tied for the most nominations for a play, each receiving six.

## Winners and nominees

Winners for each award are listed first and highlighted in boldface type.
| Best Play ‡ | Best Musical ‡ |
| Leopoldstadt Ain't No Mo' Between Riverside and Crazy Cost of Living Fat Ham | Kimberly Akimbo & Juliet New York, New York Shucked Some Like It Hot |
| Best Revival of a Play ‡ | Best Revival of a Musical ‡ |
| Topdog/Underdog A Doll's House The Piano Lesson The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window | Parade Camelot Into the Woods Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street |
| Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play | Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play |
| Sean Hayes – Good Night, Oscar as Oscar Levant Yahya Abdul-Mateen II – Topdog/Underdog as Booth Corey Hawkins – Topdog/Underdog as Lincoln Stephen McKinley Henderson – Between Riverside and Crazy as Pops Wendell Pierce – Death of a Salesman as Willy Loman | Jodie Comer – Prima Facie as Tessa Ensler Jessica Chastain – A Doll's House as Nora Helmer Jessica Hecht – Summer, 1976 as Alice Audra McDonald – Ohio State Murders as Suzanne Alexander |
| Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical | Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical |
| J. Harrison Ghee – Some Like It Hot as Jerry/Daphne Christian Borle – Some Like It Hot as Joe/Josephine Josh Groban – Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street as Sweeney Todd Brian d'Arcy James – Into the Woods as The Baker Ben Platt – Parade as Leo Frank Colton Ryan – New York, New York as Jimmy Doyle | Victoria Clark – Kimberly Akimbo as Kimberly Levaco Annaleigh Ashford – Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street as Mrs. Nellie Lovett Sara Bareilles – Into the Woods as The Baker's Wife Lorna Courtney – & Juliet as Juliet Capulet Micaela Diamond – Parade as Lucille Frank |
| Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play | Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play |
| Brandon Uranowitz – Leopoldstadt as Ludwig Jakobovicz/Nathan Fischbein Jordan E. Cooper – Ain't No Mo' as Peaches Samuel L. Jackson – The Piano Lesson as Doaker Charles Arian Moayed – A Doll's House as Torvald Helmer David Zayas – Cost of Living as Eddie | Miriam Silverman – The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window as Mavis Parodus Bryson Nikki Crawford – Fat Ham as Tedra Crystal Lucas-Perry – Ain't No Mo' as Passenger #5 Katy Sullivan – Cost of Living as Ani Kara Young – Cost of Living as Jess |
| Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical | Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical |
| Alex Newell – Shucked as Lulu Kevin Cahoon – Shucked as Peanut Justin Cooley – Kimberly Akimbo as Seth Weetis Kevin Del Aguila – Some Like It Hot as Osgood Fielding III Jordan Donica – Camelot as Sir Lancelot du Lac | Bonnie Milligan – Kimberly Akimbo as Aunt Debra Julia Lester – Into the Woods as Little Red Riding Hood Ruthie Ann Miles – Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street as The Beggar Woman NaTasha Yvette Williams – Some Like It Hot as Sweet Sue Betsy Wolfe – & Juliet as Anne Hathaway/April |
| Best Direction of a Play | Best Direction of a Musical |
| Patrick Marber – Leopoldstadt Saheem Ali – Fat Ham Jo Bonney – Cost of Living Jamie Lloyd – A Doll's House Stevie Walker-Webb – Ain't No Mo' Max Webster – Life of Pi | Michael Arden – Parade Lear deBessonet – Into the Woods Casey Nicholaw – Some Like it Hot Jack O'Brien – Shucked Jessica Stone – Kimberly Akimbo |
| Best Book of a Musical | Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre |
| Kimberly Akimbo – David Lindsay-Abaire & Juliet – David West Read New York, New York – David Thompson and Sharon Washington Shucked – Robert Horn Some Like It Hot – Matthew López and Amber Ruffin | Kimberly Akimbo – Jeanine Tesori (music) and David Lindsay-Abaire (lyrics) Almost Famous – Tom Kitt (music and lyrics) and Cameron Crowe (lyrics) KPOP – Helen Park and Max Vernon (music and lyrics) Shucked – Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally (music and lyrics) Some Like It Hot – Marc Shaiman (music and lyrics) and Scott Wittman (lyrics) |
| Best Scenic Design of a Play | Best Scenic Design of a Musical |
| Andrzej Goulding and Tim Hatley – Life of Pi Miriam Buether – Prima Facie Rachel Hauck – Good Night, Oscar Richard Hudson – Leopoldstadt Dane Laffrey and Lucy Mackinnon – A Christmas Carol | Beowulf Boritt – New York, New York Mimi Lien – Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Michael Yeargan and 59 Productions – Camelot Scott Pask – Shucked Scott Pask – Some Like It Hot |
| Best Costume Design of a Play | Best Costume Design of a Musical |
| Brigitte Reiffenstuel – Leopoldstadt Nick Barnes, Finn Caldwell, and Tim Hatley – Life of Pi Dominique Fawn Hill – Fat Ham Emilio Sosa – Ain't No Mo' Emilio Sosa – Good Night, Oscar | Gregg Barnes – Some Like It Hot Sophia Choi and Clint Ramos – KPOP Susan Hilferty – Parade Jennifer Moeller – Camelot Paloma Young – & Juliet Donna Zakowska – New York, New York |
| Best Lighting Design of a Play | Best Lighting Design of a Musical |
| Tim Lutkin – Life of Pi Neil Austin – Leopoldstadt Natasha Chivers – Prima Facie Jon Clark – A Doll's House Bradley King – Fat Ham Jen Schriever – Death of a Salesman Ben Stanton – A Christmas Carol | Natasha Katz – Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Ken Billington – New York, New York Lap Chi Chu – Camelot Heather Gilbert – Parade Howard Hudson – & Juliet Natasha Katz – Some Like It Hot |
| Best Sound Design of a Play | Best Sound Design of a Musical |
| Carolyn Downing – Life of Pi Jonathan Deans and Taylor Williams – Ain't No Mo' Joshua D. Reid – A Christmas Carol Ben Ringham and Max Ringham – A Doll's House Ben Ringham and Max Ringham – Prima Facie | Nevin Steinberg – Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Kai Harada – New York, New York Scott Lehrer and Alex Neumann – Into the Woods Gareth Owen – & Juliet John Shivers – Shucked |
| Best Choreography | Best Orchestrations |
| Casey Nicholaw – Some Like It Hot Steven Hoggett – Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Susan Stroman – New York, New York Jennifer Weber – & Juliet Jennifer Weber – KPOP | Bryan Carter and Charlie Rosen – Some Like It Hot John Clancy – Kimberly Akimbo Sam Davis and Daryl Waters – New York, New York Dominic Fallacaro and Bill Sherman – & Juliet Jason Howland – Shucked |
‡ The award is presented to the producer(s) of the musical or play.

### Productions with multiple nominations and awards

Productions with multiple nominations :
| Nominations | Production |
| 13 | Some Like It Hot |
| 9 | & Juliet |
| 9 | New York, New York |
| 9 | Shucked |
| 8 | Kimberly Akimbo |
| 8 | Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street |
| 6 | Ain't No Mo' |
| 6 | A Doll's House |
| 6 | Into the Woods |
| 6 | Leopoldstadt |
| 6 | Parade |
| 5 | Camelot |
| 5 | Cost of Living |
| 5 | Fat Ham |
| 5 | Life of Pi |
| 4 | Prima Facie |
| 3 | A Christmas Carol |
| 3 | Good Night, Oscar |
| 3 | KPOP |
| 3 | Topdog/Underdog |
| 2 | Between Riverside and Crazy |
| 2 | Death of a Salesman |
| 2 | The Piano Lesson |
| 2 | The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window |
Productions with multiple wins :
| Awards | Production |
| 5 | Kimberly Akimbo |
| 4 | Leopoldstadt |
| 4 | Some Like It Hot |
| 3 | Life of Pi |
| 2 | Parade |
| 2 | Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street |

#### Individuals with multiple nominations

| Individual | Nominations | Awards |
| Jordan E. Cooper | 2 | 0 |
| Natasha Katz | 2 | 1 |
| LaChanze | 2 | 2 |
| David Lindsay-Abaire | 2 | 2 |
| Casey Nicholaw | 2 | 1 |
| Scott Pask | 2 | 0 |
| Ben Ringham | 2 | 0 |
| Max Ringham | 2 | 0 |
| Emilio Sosa | 2 | 0 |
| Jennifer Weber | 2 | 0 |

## Non-competitive awards

* Isabelle Stevenson Award — Jerry Mitchell
* Excellence in Theatre Education Award — Jason Zembuch Young from South Plantation High School in Plantation, Florida
* Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement — Joel Grey
* Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement — John Kander
* Regional Theatre Tony Award — Pasadena Playhouse

## Reception
### Critical reception

Many reviewers gave praise to the event for its ability to persist and make an entertaining show in spite of the fallout from the WGA strike. Neal Justin of the Star Tribune gave praise to DeBose's performance in the show and also added that "theater lovers may no longer be able to see that chandelier drop at the Majestic Theater in New York, but the Tonys ceremony on Sunday evening proved there was still plenty of reasons for viewers to make the trip East." Charles McNulty of the Los Angeles Times applauded the recognition to writers made throughout the event and stated that without pre-written scripts, "theater people were allowed to be theater people." McNulty also gave praise to the event for its social justice messaging. Writing for The Washington Post, Peter Marks described the show as "akin to a kitchen accidentally creating a great dish by leaving out a classic ingredient," and echoed similar statements by McNulty, adding that the show demonstrated to actors, audiences, and writers to "let theater be theater." Daniel Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter described the show as a much-needed victory for Broadway theater.
Though the show was generally praised, some criticized the unscripted show; Johnny Oleksinski of the New York Post dismissed the unscripted joint as "sleepy," and "cringeworthy," adding that the show lacked any of the typical banter and skits due to lack of written lines. Matthew Huff of Parade, though generally complimentary of the show, criticized the awkward transitions that resulted from going unscripted.

### Audience reaction and ratings

During the airing of the event, viewers on Paramount+ complained that instead of seeing the 76th Tony Awards, they instead were shown footage of the previous years' Tony Awards. It was later revealed that this was due to confusion over Paramount+ subscription levels; the 76th Tony Awards were only available to premium users, leaving those who weren't only with the 75th. The distinction was not made in any of the Tony Awards' press release, resulting in viewers and news outlets being unaware of that the 2023 version was a premium only service. Further confusion ensued as DeBose hosted both the 2022 and 2023 events.
The 76th Tony Awards accumulated 4.3 million viewers, earning it the title as the most viewed Tony Awards since 2019. According to CBS, based on data from Paramount+, the show was also the most live streamed show ever, with a 13% streaming increase compared to 2022. Act one became the most watched live event in Pluto TV's history. The increase was notable in a time when general viewership for live U.S. television events has been declining while the Super Bowl, Oscars and Grammys were streaking in annual ratings rebound since the previous year. While the 76th Tony Awards was the third least viewed Tony Awards show since records began, it is so far the largest viewership for the Tony Awards since its switch to live coast-to-coast U.S. telecasts the year prior, and marked the first time the Tony Awards experienced consecutive years of ratings increase since the 63rd Tony Awards in 2009.