Ep 1. The 37th Annual Tony Awards
- June 5, 1983
The 37th Annual Tony Awards aired on June 5, 1983, celebrating the best of Broadway theater from the 1982-1983 season. The episode was hosted by Liza Minnelli and was broadcasted live from the Gershwin Theatre in New York City.
The show opened with a lively performance of "It's Not Where You Start" from the musical "Seesaw" by a large ensemble cast of Broadway performers. Liza Minnelli then appeared on stage to welcome the audience to the show and to celebrate the diverse range of productions on Broadway that season.
Throughout the show, presenters announced the nominees and winners for each award category, which included Best Musical, Best Play, Best Revival, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, and many more. Some of the most notable winners included the musical "Cats," which won Best Musical and went on to become one of the longest-running shows in Broadway history, and Tom Stoppard's "The Real Thing," which won Best Play.
The audience was treated to several memorable performances throughout the night, including the cast of "Sunday in the Park with George" performing "Sunday," and Jennifer Holliday giving an electrifying performance of "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" from "Dreamgirls," which won her the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.
One of the most emotional moments of the night came when the legendary performer Ethel Merman received a special Tony Award for her lifetime achievements in theater. Merman, who was battling cancer at the time, gave a heartfelt speech thanking her fans and colleagues for their support over the years.
The show also paid tribute to several Broadway veterans who had passed away that year, including actor Howard Da Silva and composer Vernon Duke.
In addition to the awards presentation and performances, the show featured several sketches and comedic bits, including a parody of "The King and I" featuring Carol Channing and Rock Hudson, and a sketch in which Liza Minnelli played a fictional actress auditioning for the role of Golda Meir in a musical version of "The Diary of Anne Frank."
Overall, The 37th Annual Tony Awards was a star-studded celebration of the best of Broadway, featuring some of the most iconic performances and productions of the 1980s.
