What Tony Award Wins Made You the Happiest?

[KylePKJP]

Laura Benanti. Beautiful. Elegant. Genuine. Heartfelt.

[UnderTheHill]

Greg Jbara IS extremely nice. He gave us a tour of the theatre after his performance of Billy Elliott, then went out to dinner with his wife and two kids between matinee and evening performances. Funny thing, while walking to the restaurant, we bumped into his ex-wife, Rebecca Luker, her husband Danny Burstein, and their two kids.

We saw him again during a friend's wedding and chatted for a while.

[TimesSquareRegular]

Best Score - NEXT TO NORMAL

[yankeefan7]

In the Heights - Best Musical
Christine Baranski - Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play (Rumours)
Tommy - Best Musical
Harvey Fierstein - Best Actor In A Play (Torch Song Trilogy)

[henrikegerman]

Though it wasn't a surprise, I'd have to say Linda Lavin's win for Broadway Bound. The cheers from the tony audience said it all. She had given one of the great performances in the American theatre. A close second would be Gleason's win for Into the Woods, because the exquisite portrayal of an everywoman by a leading actress in a musical - a tradition known for iconic, twice as big as life characters - was justly recognized for what it was: perfection.

[MTVMANN]

LaChanze in The Color Purple!!!

Patti LuPone was supposedly the favorite...but I feel LaChanze needed it more.

[jayinchelsea]

all the awards for SPRING AWAKENING and THE NORMAL HEART
Joanna Gleason for INTO THE WOODS

[BroadwayConcierge]

Bumping this thread, since I'd love to hear what people have to say over the last five years.

For me? Renée Elise Goldsberry, 2016's Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Jumped up and applauded in front of my TV. And her speech was just beautiful.

[Call_me_jorge]

Gavin Creel winning with Sutton presenting the award to him. Talk about a full circle moment. 

[Smaxie]

>Tommy - Best Musical<

The post this came from is over five years old, but just mentioning that this didn't happen. Kiss of the Spider Woman won Best Musical over Tommy. 

[UncleCharlie]

Two of mine are Nina Arianda for Venus in Fur and Tracy Letts for Virginia Woolf, two of the most stunning, transfixing performances I've seen on a Broadway stage.

[hork]

I don't see most shows until after the Tonys, but, if this weren't the case, Fun Home winning Best Musical would have been my answer.

[DAME]

Avenue Q.  The upset also made for great tv. 

[JustAnotherNewYorker]

hork said: "I don't see most shows until after the Tonys, but, if this weren't the case, Fun Home winning Best Musical would have been my answer."

This. Was just going to post Fun Home.

[Miserent]

Cynthia Erivo winning for The Color Purple.  I don't think I'll ever see a performance like that in my lifetime, she deserved it 500%..

[ChildofEarth]

Lena Hall for Hedwig; Daveed Diggs for Hamilton; Rebecca Taichman for Indecent

[mamaleh]

Hugh Jackman for THE BOY FROM OZ

 

[Jarethan]

After Eight said: "So many posts/ threads expressing one's anger/disappointment at people being robbed of awards and nominations, from Ethel Merman to Laura Benanti to poor Bernadette Peters. It's not that I don't share such sentiments, but how about thinking positive for a change-- like the award wins that made us happy, even ecstatic?

Here are my top 3- I was on a cloud when these awards were announced. I'd be interested in hearing about the favorite moments of others as well.

1- Jerry Herman (La Cage) over Sondheim. That joyful noise you heard was my applause.
2- La Cage aux Folles over Sodden in the Dark with George for best musical. For once they got it right!
3- Julie Harris for best actress in Forty Carats. Ecstacy! If only the Morosco Theatre were still here and still playing Forty Carats! What a wonderful world it would be.


Julie Harris in 40 Carats is one of the most undeserved Tony wins EVER!!!  Was she a friend, that you singled it out?

 

Things I think of:

-- Lansbury in Mame.  Gwen Verdon was probably considered the frontrunner going in; there used to be a critics vote called something like the Variety Critics Award, and Verdon killed Lansbury in that.

-- Lillian Heyman in Hallelujah! Baby!.  Her performance was so joyful and I figured she wouldn't get a lot more chances.

-- Colleen Dewhurst.  The greatest performance I have seen on the stage to date.

-- Frances Ruffelle.  She was just so good as Eponine that you wanted to hug and protect her.

-- Nathan Lane in The Producers.  The performance gave men so much joy and I wanted it to be recognized.

-- Phil Silvers in A Funny Thing.  A consolation prize for the show being a flop despite great reviews (and he was wonderful).  (That was back in the days when revivals were major frowned upon by audiences).

-- Vanessa Redgrave.  Two reasons: (1) she was incredible; and (2) to make up for the snubs she got for Lady form the Sea and Orpheus Descending, both of which she should have been nominated for, and arguably won.

-- Patricia Rutledge.  She was so great in that show and got to do it for such a short time.  I was delighted that she was recognized, and she was just so happy to win it, even if she had to share it in a tie.

-- Viola Davis.  For a not-dissimilar reason.  She came from nowhere, completely blew me away, only got to play it for about 2 months on Broadway, to pretty empty houses.  It was recognition that not only was she not forgotten, they remembered her loud and clear.

-- Patti Lupone for Anything Goes.  Oh, wait, for some reason, they decided to vote for a supporting performer in a leading role for reasons I will NEVER understand, when Patti Lupone was giving a truly GREAT musical comedy performance for the ages.  (Worth mentioning that I am not a Patti Lupone crazy fan...just happen to think that she lost to a performance that wasn't even in the same league as hers).

 

[mc1227]

Kelli O'Hara in The King and I and Michael McGrath for Nice Work.

[bwayphreak234]

Kelli O'Hara for The King and I.

[IdinaBellFoster]

A few that have made me smile over the past few years:

Laura Benanti - GYPSY

Kelli O'Hara - THE KING & I

NEXT TO NORMAL over BILLY ELLIOT for Score.

Norbert Leo Butz for CATCH ME IF YOU CAN - what a beautiful speech.

[poisonivy2]

Fun Home winning over the empty, slick An American in Paris

Avenue Q winning best musical

Cynthia Nixon's win for her heartbreaking Birdie

Cynthia Erivo and Ben Platt - instant classic performances

[Lot666]

Off the top of my head:

Fun Home for Best Musical

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time for Best Play

Come From Away for Best Direction (I was just so glad it didn't get shut out)

[persephone88]

I second Nicholas Nickelby and the wonderful Roger Rees. David Threlfall as Smike was also desrved a win for Best Supporting IMO.

Thrilled with Ben Platt and Rachel Bay Jones' Tony wins for DEH. Also delighted to see Patina Miller win for Pippin.

[TheThreadMaster]

Michael Cerveris for Fun Home. Ben Platt for Dear Evan Hansen. Bandstand for choreography. Donna Murphy for Passion.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Norbert Leo Butz for Catch Me If You Can
I saw him in the show the night before the Tonys, and I was so thrilled that he won.

Cynthia Erivo for The Color Purple
Anyone who got to experience that performance in person knew it was well-deserved.

Jane Greenwood for The Little Foxes
Having been in the audience at Radio City Music Hall for this year's ceremony, it was so incredible to witness this veteran costume designer finally receive a competitive Tony on her 21st nomination.

James Monroe Iglehart for Aladdin
Ever since I first heard audio clips of him from the Seattle tryout, I knew he'd have a great shot at that Tony.

Audra McDonald for Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill
Just watching her make history twice with one win was so incredible to behold.

Alan Menken for Newsies
It was great to see this veteran composer of all mediums finally have a Tony Award on his mantle, especially given that theatre is where he began.

Jessie Mueller for Beautiful
Not only was she so phenomenal as Carole King, but her journey to this star-making performance also made it so well-deserved in my opinion.

Kelli O'Hara for The King & I
In what was the last close race for Lead Actress in a Musical (to date), I was thrilled that she finally won after 5 losses.

Ben Platt for Dear Evan Hansen
Not only was the award well-deserved based on the strength of his performance, but he also gave such a heartfelt speech.