Ep 1. The 71st Annual Tony Awards
- June 11, 2017
The 71st Annual Tony Awards, which aired on June 11, 2017, was the first episode of the Tony Awards season 2017. Hosted by Kevin Spacey, who also performed in various musical numbers throughout the night, the show celebrated Broadway's best and brightest talents of the year.
The opening number, "The Hamilton Mixtape", was a nod to the previous year's dominating musical "Hamilton". Co-star Josh Groban also joined Spacey on stage for a duet of "The Impossible Dream" from "Man of La Mancha". The rest of the night was filled with performances from hit shows like "Dear Evan Hansen", "Miss Saigon", "Come From Away", and "Groundhog Day".
The awards themselves were spread out fairly evenly among the nominees, with "Dear Evan Hansen" winning six awards including Best Musical, and "Hello, Dolly!" taking home four, including Best Revival of a Musical. Bette Midler won her first Tony Award for her performance in "Hello, Dolly!" and gave a memorable acceptance speech that included her thanking her pet dog.
The show also featured several tributes and performances honoring those involved in the theater world who had passed away over the past year, including James Earl Jones and Mary Tyler Moore. The cast of "Falsettos" also performed a medley in honor of their late co-star, Barbara Cook.
Throughout the night, Spacey kept the audience laughing with his impressions of famous figures like Johnny Carson and Bill Clinton. He also poked fun at himself, referencing his recent role as Frank Underwood in "House of Cards" and the show's connection to politics.
One of the most emotional moments of the night came during a performance by the cast of "Dear Evan Hansen", who sang the show's signature song "You Will Be Found". The performance was dedicated to the victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting, and survivors of the attack were in attendance at the awards show.
Overall, The 71st Annual Tony Awards was a night of celebration for the theater community. With standout performances and touching moments, it was a fitting tribute to the talent and hard work that goes into creating the magical world of Broadway.
