TONY AWARDS 2023
Who won at the 2023 Tony Awards ceremony? Complete list of winners
The best of broadway gathered for the glitzy ceremony and the much-anticipated awards amidst the strike of the writers.
In a night filled with remarkable performances and heartfelt acceptance speeches, the Tony Awards took place despite the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike. The three-hour telecast, hosted by the immensely talented Ariana DeBose, a Tony and Academy Award-winner, unfolded at the United Palace in Washington Heights, marking the first time the prestigious event was held at this iconic venue in northern Manhattan. The evening dazzled with captivating musical numbers from nominated shows, as well as a breathtaking dance performance honoring the recipients of the esteemed 2023 lifetime achievement awards, Joel Grey and John Kander.
Tony Awards: big winners
Among the winners (the full list interspersed below) were the exceptional productions of “Kimberly Akimbo” and Tom Stoppard’s autobiographical masterpiece, “Leopoldstadt.” Despite their well-deserved success, these shows, like the others, fell short of claiming the ultimate victory, leaving them as notable contenders but not champions.
Patrick Marber, who won the highly coveted award for Best Director of a Play for his outstanding work on “Leopoldstadt,” took the opportunity to voice his support for the ongoing writers’ strike during his acceptance speech. Marber acknowledged the evening’s success, even without the contributions of writers, attributing it to the brilliance and improvisational skills of the actors. However, he emphasized his hope that this wouldn’t become a trend, stating, “I wouldn’t like it to become a trend, but I’m not surprised.”
“Kimberly Akimbo” emerged triumphant, securing the award for Best Musical, surpassing more extravagant and higher-budget productions such as “New York, New York” and “Some Like It Hot.” Victoria Clark, who portrayed the captivating title character in “Kimberly Akimbo,” received her second Tony Award, having previously won in 2005 for her role in “The Light in the Piazza.”
The prestigious title of Best Play was bestowed upon “Leopoldstadt,” which also garnered the 2020 Olivier Award in London for Best New Play. This powerful production chronicles the lives of a Jewish Viennese family over a span of five decades, captivating audiences with its poignant narrative.
Best Play:
"Ain't No Mo'"
"Between Riverside and Crazy"
"Cost of Living"
"Fat Ham"
WINNER: "Leopoldstadt"
Best Musical:
"& Juliet"
WINNER: "Kimberly Akimbo"
"New York, New York"
"Shucked"
"Some Like It Hot"
Best Revival of a Play:
"August Wilson's The Piano Lesson"
"A Doll's House"
"The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window"
WINNER: "Suzan-Lori Parks' Topdog/Underdog"
Best Revival of a Musical:
"Into the Woods"
"Lerner & Loewe's Camelot"
WINNER: "Parade"
"Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
Best Book of a Musical:
"& Juliet" - David West Read
WINNER: "Kimberly Akimbo" - David Lindsay-Abaire
"New York, New York" - David Thompson & Sharon Washington
"Shucked" - Robert Horn
"Some Like It Hot" - Matthew López & Amber Ruffin
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre:
"Almost Famous" - Music: Tom Kitt, Lyrics: Cameron Crowe & Tom Kitt
WINNER: "Kimberly Akimbo" - Music: Jeanine Tesori, Lyrics: David Lindsay-Abaire
"KPOP" - Music & Lyrics: Helen Park & Max Vernon
"Shucked" - Music and Lyrics: Brandy Clark & Shane McAnally
"Some Like It Hot" - Music: Marc Shaiman, Lyrics: Scott Wittman & Marc Shaiman
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play:
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, "Suzan-Lori Parks' Topdog/Underdog"
Corey Hawkins, "Suzan-Lori Parks' Topdog/Underdog"
WINNER: Sean Hayes, "Good Night, Oscar"
Stephen McKinley Henderson, "Between Riverside and Crazy"
Wendell Pierce, "Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman"
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play:
Jessica Chastain, "A Doll's House"
WINNER: Jodie Comer, "Prima Facie"
Jessica Hecht, "Summer, 1976"
Audra McDonald, "Ohio State Murders"
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical:
Christian Borle, "Some Like It Hot"
WINNER: J. Harrison Ghee, "Some Like It Hot"
Josh Groban, "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
Brian d'Arcy James, "Into the Woods"
Ben Platt, "Parade"
Colton Ryan, "New York, New York"
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical:
Annaleigh Ashford, "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
Sara Bareilles, "Into the Woods"
WINNER: Victoria Clark, "Kimberly Akimbo"
Lorna Courtney, "& Juliet"
Micaela Diamond, "Parade"
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play:
Jordan E. Cooper, "Ain't No Mo'"
Samuel L. Jackson, "August Wilson's The Piano Lesson"
Arian Moayed, "A Doll's House"
WINNER: Brandon Uranowitz, "Leopoldstadt"
David Zayas, "Cost of Living"
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play:
Nikki Crawford, "Fat Ham"
Crystal Lucas-Perry, "Ain't No Mo'"
WINNER: Miriam Silverman, "The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window"
Katy Sullivan, "Cost of Living"
Kara Young, "Cost of Living"
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical:
Kevin Cahoon, "Shucked"
Justin Cooley, "Kimberly Akimbo"
Kevin Del Aguila, "Some Like It Hot"
Jordan Donica, "Lerner & Loewe's Camelot"
WINNER: Alex Newell, "Shucked"
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical:
Julia Lester, "Into the Woods"
Ruthie Ann Miles, "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
WINNER: Bonnie Milligan, "Kimberly Akimbo"
NaTasha Yvette Williams, "Some Like It Hot"
Betsy Wolfe, "& Juliet"
Sean Hayes took home the award for Best Lead Actor in a Play for his remarkable portrayal of Oscar Levant in “Goodnight, Oscar.” The evening was also marked by historic achievements, as J. Harrison Ghee and Alex Newell became the first openly nonbinary actors to win Tony Awards. Ghee won Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical for their performance in “Some Like It Hot,” while Newell won Best Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical for their vibrant portrayal of Lulu in “Shucked.”
Reflecting on their win, Ghee expressed gratitude for the opportunity to inspire and be a representative for others, stating, “When I saw the script, I saw an opportunity to be an inspiration, to be that representation, to be someone who could be a part of people’s lives where they could see themselves and grow and learn and live and expand, and it’s not something I take lightly. It’s something that I cherish and it’s a dream come true, truly.”
Best Scenic Design of a Play:
Miriam Buether, "Prima Facie"
WINNER: Tim Hatley & Andrzej Goulding, "Life of Pi"
Rachel Hauck, "Good Night, Oscar"
Richard Hudson, "Leopoldstadt"
Dane Laffrey & Lucy Mackinnon, "A Christmas Carol"
Best Scenic Design of a Musical:
WINNER: Beowulf Boritt, "New York, New York"
Mimi Lien, "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
Michael Yeargan & 59 Productions, "Lerner & Loewe's Camelot"
Scott Pask, "Shucked"
Scott Pask, "Some Like It Hot"
Best Costume Design of a Play:
Tim Hatley, Nick Barnes & Finn Caldwell, "Life of Pi"
Dominique Fawn Hill, "Fat Ham"
WINNER: Brigitte Reiffenstuel, "Leopoldstadt"
Emilio Sosa, "Ain't No Mo'"
Emilio Sosa, "Good Night, Oscar"
Best Costume Design of a Musical:
WINNER: Gregg Barnes, "Some Like It Hot"
Susan Hilferty, "Parade"
Jennifer Moeller, "Lerner & Loewe's Camelot"
Clint Ramos & Sophia Choi, "KPOP"
Paloma Young, "& Juliet"
Donna Zakowska, "New York, New York"
Best Lighting Design of a Play:
Neil Austin, "Leopoldstadt"
Natasha Chivers, "Prima Facie"
Jon Clark, "A Doll's House"
Bradley King, "Fat Ham"
WINNER: Tim Lutkin, "Life of Pi"
Jen Schriever, "Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman"
Ben Stanton, "A Christmas Carol"
Best Lighting Design of a Musical:
Ken Billington, "New York, New York"
Lap Chi Chu, "Lerner & Loewe's Camelot"
Heather Gilbert, "Parade"
Howard Hudson, "& Juliet"
Natasha Katz, "Some Like It Hot"
WINNER: Natasha Katz, "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
Best Sound Design of a Play:
Jonathan Deans & Taylor Williams, "Ain't No Mo'"
WINNER: Carolyn Downing, "Life of Pi"
Joshua D. Reid, "A Christmas Carol"
Ben & Max Ringham, "A Doll's House"
Ben & Max Ringham, "Prima Facie"
Jodie Comer was recognized as Best Actress in a Play for her brilliant performance as the brilliant barrister Tessa in the captivating one-woman tour-de-force, “Prima Facie.” Michael Arden’s exceptional direction in the revival of “Parade” earned him the award for Best Direction of a Musical, while “Topdog/Underdog” was honored with the Tony for Best Revival of a Play.
Prior to the main ceremony, a pre-show hosted by actors Julianne Hough and Skyler Astin, streamed on the free platform Pluto TV, awarded Tonys in various technical categories. The Pasadena Playhouse claimed the coveted title of Best Regional Theater, while director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell received the esteemed Isabelle Stevenson Award.
Best Sound Design of a Musical:
Kai Harada, "New York, New York"
John Shivers, "Shucked"
Scott Lehrer & Alex Neumann, "Into the Woods"
Gareth Owen, "& Juliet"
WINNER: Nevin Steinberg, "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
Best Direction of a Play:
Saheem Ali, "Fat Ham"
Jo Bonney, "Cost of Living"
Jamie Lloyd, "A Doll's House"
WINNER: Patrick Marber, "Leopoldstadt"
Stevie Walker-Webb, "Ain't No Mo'"
Max Webster, "Life of Pi"
Best Direction of a Musical:
WINNER: Michael Arden, "Parade"
Lear deBessonet, "Into the Woods"
Casey Nicholaw, "Some Like It Hot"
Jack O'Brien, "Shucked"
Jessica Stone, "Kimberly Akimbo"
Best Choreography:
Steven Hoggett, "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
WINNER: Casey Nicholaw, "Some Like It Hot"
Susan Stroman, "New York, New York"
Jennifer Weber, "& Juliet"
Jennifer Weber, "KPOP"
Best Orchestrations:
Bill Sherman and Dominic Fallacaro, "& Juliet"
John Clancy, "Kimberly Akimbo"
Jason Howland, "Shucked"
WINNER: Charlie Rosen & Bryan Carter, "Some Like It Hot"
Daryl Waters & Sam Davis, "New York, New York"
Despite the ongoing strike, the Tony Awards delivered an unforgettable night celebrating the unparalleled talent and extraordinary productions that grace the stages of Broadway, leaving audiences eagerly anticipating the future of theater.