By The 2024 Tony Awards kicked off with a bang as Alicia Keys and Jay-Z electrified the audience with their hit song “Empire State of Mind.” Keys, seated at the piano on the stage of the David H. Koch Theater in Lincoln Center, began the performance as the cast of her semi-autobiographical musical “Hell’s Kitchen” presented a medley of songs. She then joined Jay-Z on some interior steps, receiving wild applause from the crowd.
Host Ariana DeBose opened the telecast with an original, acrobatic number that celebrated the sacrifices made by artists and took a gentle swipe at other entertainment industries. “You’ll learn that film and TV can make you rich and make you famous. But theater will make you better,” she sang before ending the song with a dramatic backward fall from a pillar.
The first major award of the night went to Jeremy Strong, best known for his role in the TV series “Succession,” who won best lead actor in a play for his performance in the revival of Henrik Ibsen’s “An Enemy of the People.” Strong, who now has a Tony to sit alongside his Emmy, Screen Actors Guild Award, and Golden Globe, thanked the ushers and front of house staff who put up with him during his acceptance speech.
“This play is a cry from the heart,” Strong said of the political play, which centers on a public-minded doctor who discovers that the water supply for the public spa in his small town is contaminated, pitting his ethics against political cowards and the media.
The pre-show saw the play “Stereophonic” and the musical “The Outsiders” each take home two technical Tonys. “Stereophonic” won for sound design (Ryan Rumery) and scenic design (David Zinn), tying with “Hell’s Kitchen” for the most nominations of the night with 13 each.
DeBose, who is hosting the awards for the third time, noted that the Broadway season had something for everyone, from fun musicals to sweeping romances, political rallying cries, and intimate ensembles. “I think it has been a year of real flexibility. I also think Broadway is in a time of transformation,” she said in an interview before the show.
The awards are expected to move briskly, with scene changes happening in front of the audience to provide a full Broadway experience. Nicole Scherzinger will anchor the “In Memoriam” section, while the late Chita Rivera will receive a separate tribute from Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and Bebe Neuwirth.
With 26 competitive categories, the race for the top prizes is fierce. “Stereophonic” and “Merrily We Roll Along” are considered virtual locks for best new play and best musical revival, respectively, while “Appropriate” is the strong favorite for best play revival.
The competition for best new musical is between “Hell’s Kitchen,” “The Outsiders,” “Illinoise,” “Suffs,” and “Water for Elephants,” while “Stereophonic” faces challenges from “Mother Play,” “Mary Jane,” “Prayer for the French Republic,” and “Jaja’s African Hair Braiding” for the best new play award.
As Broadway celebrates its biggest night, the 2024 Tony Awards showcase the resilience, diversity, and transformative power of theater in a year that has offered something for everyone.
