LIVE BLOG: 2018 Tony Awards
(CBSDFW.COM/CBSNEWS) - Follow along with the latest updates and a list of the winners for the 2018 Tony Awards. (All times are in Eastern)
"The Band's Visit" wins best musical
11:08 p.m.: Bernadette Peters presented the award for best musical, which went to "The Band's Visit."
Producer Orin Wolf accepted the award and said, "In 'The Band's Visit,' music gives people hope and makes borders disappear. Although the characters are strangers to each other with great political divide, our show offers a message of unity in a world that more and more seems bent on amplifying our differences. In the end, we are more alike than we are different." He thanked the Broadway community for embracing that message.
Groban and Bareilles sang one last song to bid farewell to the Tonys as the closed the show.
Katrina Lenk wins leading actress in a musical for "The Band's Visit"
11:02 p.m.: Katrina Lenk won best performance by an actress in a leading role in a musical for her work in "The Band's Visit."
"Our whole 'Band's Visit' family is full of people who are so generous and so supportive with me and with each other," she said.
Tony Shalhoub wins leading actor in a musical for "The Band's Visit"
10:56 p.m.: Kelli O'Hara presented the Tony for best performance by an actor in a leading role in a musical, which went to Tony Shalhoub for "The Band's Visit." He talked about the legacy of immigrants who came through Ellis Island and said, "May we, their descendants, never lose sight of what they taught us."
10:48 p.m.: Robert De Niro took the stage and said, "F**k Trump," twice, which was censored on the broadcast. Then, De Niro he introduced Bruce Springsteen.
He said, "Do you have any idea how hard it is to get tickets for Bruce Springsteen's show on Broadway? It's much harder than 'Hamilton' and that has a much bigger cast, dancers and a history lesson." De Niro said he said yes immediately when he had the chance to see "Springsteen on Broadway," or as he calls it, "Jersey Boy."
Springsteen appeared onstage playing the piano and describing his childhood in a Catholic neighborhood in Freehold, N.J. Springsteen talked about growing up amidst the aroma coming from the Nescafe plant on the town's edge and the clanging of a local rug mill.
Springsteen then launched into his song, "My Hometown" in a rare televised performance.
"Once On This Island" wins best revival of a musical
10:38 p.m.: Marissa Jaret Winokur and Brandon Victor Dixon took the stage to honor winners of people who won Tonys prior to the national broadcast.
Christine Baranski presented best revival of a musical, which went to "Once on this Island." Producer Ken Davenport said, "Do not stop asking your question. It's amazing what can happen. You can get to your yes."
10:29 p.m.: Rachel Brosnahan introduced a performance by the company of "The Band's Visit," which included her onscreen father from "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," Tony Shalhoub.
"Angels in America" wins best revival of a play
10:24 p.m.: Melissa Benoist presented a performance by the company "Once on This Island." The company performed "Mama Will Provide."
John Leguizamo talked about his inspiration for becoming an actor, and said that a teacher once told him, "Why don't you become a comedian? They get paid for being idiots." He said when he tried to pursue an acting career and enrolled in Lee Strasberg's school, Strasberg told him he was terrible, and then died that night.
"My acting killed Lee Strasberg," said Leguizamo.
He talked about more failures in his early career, but then pointed out that his 1990 one man show "Mambo Mouth" was well-received.
"Theater teaches you how to understand other people and how to feel empathy for those who are not like us," he said, before presenting best revival of a play, which went to "Angels in America."
Producer Rufus Norris thanked his cast and crew, including director Marianne Elliott, "who he said "has so exquisitely honored the writing of the greatest Tony in the house and that is Tony Kushner."
Kushner said to the audience, "It's 21 weeks till November 6th, the midterm elections. Twenty-one weeks to make sure that the right of citizens to vote is protected and exercised, 21 weeks to save our democracy." He wrapped up his speech by wishing the late Judy Garland a happy birthday.
"Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two" wins best play
10:07 p.m.: The daughters of late singer Donna Summer, Brooklyn Sudano, Amanda Sudano and Mimi Sommer introduced a performance by the company of "Summer." The cast sang "Last Chance."
Andrew Rannells, Matt Bomer, Zachary Quinto and Jim Parsons discussed the legacy of the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, also known as the Jimmys, before presenting best play, which was awarded to "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two."
Thank you to J.K. Rowling for entrusting us with your wizarding world," said producer Sonia Friedman.
John Tiffany wins best direction of a play for "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two"
9:55 p.m.: Jeff Daniels presented best direction of a play, which went to John Tiffany for "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two," his second Tony. He thanked the choreographer of "Cursed Child" Steven Hoggett and said, "We do all this together, we really, really do." Then he asked the audience to sing happy birthday to his boyfriend, David Knock, and the audience obliged.
Christopher Jackson presented the "In Memoriam" segment of the show and introduced the company of "Dear Evan Hansen" onstage to sing "For Forever."
The segment paid tribute to artists like composer Michael Friedman, playwright A.R. Gurney, actors John Heard and John Mahoney, playwright Sam Shepard and producer Stuart Thompson.
9:47 p.m.: Chita Rivera and Andrew Lloyd Webber won Special Tony Awards for lifetime achievement. The Tonys played a montage in tribute to the artists, with Groban and Bareilles singing songs to highlight the careers of Rivera and Webber.
David Cromer wins best direction of a musical for "The Band's Visit"
Rivera and Webber joined forces onstage to present best direction of a musical, which went to David Cromer for "The Band's Visit." Cromer said, "It has been the great joy of my life to collaborate with the artists in every department on 'The Band's Visit.'" Cromer talked about suicide and said, "One of the things 'The Band's Visit' concerns itself with is people due to loneliness, isolation may have started to lose hope and I wish I had the words or wisdom to say to the people out there whose despair is overwhelming ... If you are suffering, please, please call out. For those of us who are fortunate enough to not to be suffering so deeply, let's make sure that we answer them."
Glenda Jackson wins featured actress in a play for "Edward Albee's Three Tall Women"
9:31 p.m.: "I have a deep appreciation for outspoken women," said Lupone. She spoke about the American Theatre Wing, which was founded by suffragettes, and said, "Today, the Wing matters more than ever. Artists must continue to find the courage to be society's moral compass. So my fellow artists, rest assured that the Wing is here, steadfast."
Claire Danes presented best leading actress in a play, which went to Glenda Jackson for "Edward Albee's Three Tall Women." The performance was Jackson's first return to Broadway since 1988.She thanked the Broadway community for their generosity and said America has never needed it more.
Monroe Iglehart and the reindeer Sven from "Frozen" took the stage to introduce the company of "Frozen," but not without interruptions, as Sven whispered into Iglehart's ear several times.
Ari'el Stachel wins featured actor in a musical for "The Band's Visit"
9:21 p.m.: Catherine Zuber won best costume design for a musical for "My Fair Lady" and Katrina Lindsay won best costume design for a play for "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child."
Ari'el Stachel won the award for "The Band's Visit" and recalled a time when he tried to avoid going to events with his parents because he did not want to be seen as Middle-Eastern. "They're looking at me right now and I can't believe it," he said tearfully. He thanked the producers of the show and said he was thankful for "telling a small story about Arabs and Israelis getting along at a time when we need that more than ever. I am part of a cast of actors who never believed that they would be able to play their own races and we are doing that."
Ming-Na Wen presented 2018 excellence in theatre education award to Melody Herzfeld of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, who "sheltered 65 of her students in a small office for two hours until help arrived and led all of them to safety" during the massacre.
Matthew Morrison took the stage and presented a performance of "Seasons of Love" by the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School drama department. The teens received a tearful standing ovation by audience members at the Tonys.
Nathan Lane wins featured actor in a play for "Angels in America"
8:59 p.m. Tatiana Maslany presented Nathan Lane with the award for best performance by an actor in a featured role in a play. Lane thanked all of his colleagues, but especially playwright Tony Kushner. He said, "Even his emails are Pulitzer-worthy. I'm standing here because Tony wrote one of the greatest plays of the 20th century and it is still speaking to us as powerfully as ever in the midst of political insanity."
To my dear husband, Devlin Elliott, the greatest blessing in my life," Lane said as he choked up. "About eight years ago I decided I need to shake things up, I decided I need to challenge myself more again as an actor." Lane said that his performance in "Angels in America" was the culmination of hard work and dedication.
Mikhail Baryshnikov presented a performance of "Blow High, Blow Low" by the cast of "Carousel," which was up for best revival of a musical.
8:57 p.m.: Groban and Bareilles returned to the stage in matching gold outfits and sang to the tune of Sia's "Chandelier." The two complained about the schedule of being on Broadway.
"Who in their right minds would schedule the plays to be twice in a day?" they sang together.
"I've gotta sing this thing eight times a week," sang Bareilles. "Sing it eight times a week. I'm holding on for dear life."
"Someone check on my kids and my wife," sang Groban.
Katharine McPhee and Eric Bergen presented the award for best book of a musical, which went to Itamar Moses for "The Band's Visit." Moses said that though he thanked all of his colleagues for their help, he was looking forward to keeping the award in his home.
8:42 p.m.: Billy Joel took the stage to present a Special Tony Award to Bruce Springsteen.
"It's been one of the most exciting things that I have ever experienced," said Springsteen, who currently stars in "Springsteen on Broadway."
Tituss Burgess then presented best featured actress in a musical.
"To present best featured actress in a musical, a category in which I have been snubbed many times, is both painful and courageous on my part, to say the least," he joked.
Lindsay Mendez wins featured actress in a Musical for "Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel"
The award went to Lindsay Mendez for her role in "Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel." Mendez said when she started her career on Broadway, she was told to change her name to Matthews. She thanked the community for celebrating diversity and told the audience to be their true selves.
Groban and Bareilles introduced a performance by the cast of "SpongeBob Squarepants: The Musical."
8:30 p.m.: Amy Schumer presented a performance by the cast of "My Fair Lady." Schumer made jabs at the character, Henry Higgins.
"The first nominee for best revival of a musical is of 'Pygmalion,' a comedy about class and sexism," she said as the audience laughed. Schumer referred to Henry Higgins as a "man-splaining expert on dialects." But she complimented the protagonist, Eliza Doolittle, and said, "This interpretation celebrates Eliza's growing self-confidence and highlights equal rights for women."
The cast sang "I Could Have Danced All Night" and "Get Me to the Church on Time."
Laurie Metcalf wins best actress in a featured role in a play for "Edward Albee's Three Tall Women"
8:26 p.m.: Nick Scandalios won the Isabelle Stevenson Award, which is given to an individual who has committed significant time to a humanitarian or charitable organization.
Bareilles and Groban talked about while some fans might know them from Broadway, some might know them from their songs on the radio.
"Or at a Starbucks. Or in a hotel elevator," said Bareilles, glumly.
"Or in a movie starring Kate Hudson," responded Groban.
"Or in your mom's RAV4," said Bareilles.
Bareilles and Groban then talked about how they've loved theater since they were children, and showed off throwback photos from their theater nerd pasts, including Groban as a young boy playing Mr. Mistoffelees.
The two warned audience members to keep their speeches too short, or else the angel from "Angels in America" would come get them, as the angel whooshed across the stage.
Carey Mulligan took the stage to point out that this past Broadway season was the most well-attended season ever before presenting the award for best performance by an actress in a featured role in a play. The award went to Laurie Metcalf for "Edward Albee's Three Tall Women." She thanked her cast mates and director Joe Mantello.
8:15 p.m.: Tina Fey introduced a performance of "Where Do You Belong?" by the cast of "Mean Girls." The comedian and writer pointed out that though she's been part of many projects, only one has paid for her boat -- and that is the movie "Mean Girls."
The cast of "Mean Girls" danced with trays and cycled through the different cliques of their high school in their cafeteria.
Andrew Garfield wins best actor in a play for "Angels in America"
8:11 p.m.: Sara Bareilles and Josh Groban opened the show on adjacent pianos and sing, "So it begins, these are the Tonys, a theater tournament, find out who wins, who gets to go home with that sang ornament. We are your hosts, and we're perfectly suited to be because -- did you know, neither one of us has ever won anything?"
Groban paused the song and asked, "That can't be right, Sara, no Grammys for you?"
"No, nothing, nothing," responded Bareilles.
"Lest you forget: About 90 percent of us leave empty-handed tonight," they reminded the audience.
The backdrop opened to reveal an orchestra, and Groban and Bareilles informed their audience that their opening number was an ode to Tony losers.
"This one's for the loser inside of you," they sang. They continued, "The lack of top honor won't make you a goner, it might even make you a host."
The two then listed famous shows that have never won a Tony and were later joined by ensemble members by all of the night's nominated musicals, in costume.
Bareilles and Groban introduced Kerry Washington to the stage. Washington is joining the cast of "American Son" in October. Washington presented the award for best actor in a play, which went to Andrew Garfield for his role in "Angels in America."
"The most important thing we remember right now is the sanctity of the human spirit," Garfield said. He said he felt honored to play Prior Walter and talked about the spirit of the LGBTQ community: "It is a spirit that says no to oppression. It is a spirit that says no to bigotry, no to exclusion." Garfield said he felt it was his life's privilege to play Walter.
"Let's just bake a cake for everyone who wants a cake to be baked," he said as he closed off his speech.
