73rd Annual Tony Awards review: Celebrating theater’s inclusivity

The 73rd Annual Tony Awards was filled with firsts, celebrated powerful voices, and encouraged everyone to skip the screen and embrace live theater.

As an awards show, the 73rd Annual Tony Awards had a tall task to engage viewers. Even in James Corden’s opening number, he professed that streaming services and popular shows draw more people than the Broadway stage. Still, if people can break away from devices, live theater can be the catalyst to spark a conversation, celebrate inclusivity, and inspire a dream.

Where other awards shows draw fans gawking over fashions or uber celebrities, the Tony Awards celebrate determination, hard work, and perseverance. With those characteristics, everyone has a common bond, feels included, and is celebrated.

As the red carpet boasted inclusivity through its colorful floral display, that theme wove its way through performances, winners’ speeches and the overall ambiance of the evening.

Here are a few highlights from the show:

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 09: The cast of Choir Boy performs onstage during the 2019 Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 9, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)

Best musical performance

While all the Best Musical Nominees took the stage, the most moving musical performance can from a play. As the actors from Choir Boy took the stage to perform a rousing number, the power from modernized spiritual captures the depth that live theater offers.

Where Beetlejuice had humor and visuals and Hadestown enticed with its darkness, Choir Boy inspired. The blending of religious spirituals and stomping showed how commonality can be more powerful than differences.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 09: Ali Stroker, winner of the award for Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical for “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!,” poses in the Press Room at the 73rd Annual Tony Awards – at Radio City Music Hall on June 09, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images)

Celebrating firsts

In many ways, this year’s award show celebrated firsts. Most importantly, Ali Stroker’s Best Featured Actress in a Musical for Oklahoma win is a huge moment for the theater community. While headlines will say that the first wheelchair-using actress to win a Tony, the award is another step forward for inclusivity.

Just as Hamilton broke stereotypes for roles, Stroker’s performance in Oklahoma should open doors for more performers. It is time to push aside perceived limitations and focus on performers talents.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 09: The team from Hadestown, winner of the award for Best Musical for “Hadestown,” poses in the press room for the 73rd Annual Tony Awards at 3 West Club on June 9, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)

Power of women

Overall, the Tony Awards seemed to celebrate the creativity, power and determination of women. From the creative forces behind Hadestown to the characters in many of the nominated shows, women ruled.

Even though the performing arts world still has a long way to go, the Tonys seem to be pushing the conversation forward. Where Hollywood might use words to talk about a problem, the theater community, through its actions, are determined to make a change.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 09: Isabelle McCalla, Caitlin Kinnunen, and The cast of The Prom perform onstage during the 2019 Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 9, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)

Inclusivity

The theater community has long celebrated inclusivity. Never shying away from thought provoking topics or uncomfortable moments, live theater is willing to push the conversation forward. Last night’s award show and this Broadway season proved that concept.

From The Prom’s celebration of young love to the revival of The Boys in the Band, many of life’s pivotal moments are universal. It doesn’t matter who you love as long as you celebrate who you are.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 09: James Corden and Ben Platt perform onstage during the 2019 Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 9, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)

Humor comes in unexpected moments

Two of the funniest moments were not necessarily the planned, big show stoppers. While James Corden’s opening number showed his immense talent, his twist on Be More Chill’s “Michael in the Bathroom” was brilliant.

The collaboration of Corden, Sara Bareilles and Josh Groban expressing their insecurities was totally relatable. To cap the song off with a Neil Patrick Harris appearance totally made watching the back half of the award show a must.

Additionally, the airing of the grievances by Audra McDonald and Laura Linney was epic. As McDonald started to take off her earrings in the throw down, this moment proved to be a huge highlight, and potentially the best moment of the night.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 09: Judith Light attends the 73rd Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 09, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)

Missed opportunities

While there is only so much time during an award show, the Tonys passed over some moments that could have made an impact. Leaving Judith Light’s recognition for her humanitarian efforts to a small mention was a definite oversight. The theater legend deserved more for her dedication.

Overall, the 73rd Annual Tony Awards was an enjoyable celebration of the theater community. As Broadway continues to set attendance records, the state of live theater looks promising. Hopefully, a few people choose to DVR Big Little Lies and watched the CBS broadcast live.

Have you seen any of the Tony Award winning shows or performances? Did the best performances win?