The 74th annual Tony Awards were held at Broadway’s Winter Garden Theater in New York City on Sept. 26, while also premiering live on Paramount+. The hosts for this big night were six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald and Tony Award winner Leslie Odom Jr. The Tony Awards is a moment of time taken each year to celebrate the hard work that Broadway actors and actresses put into these extraordinary productions. While last year’s show was delayed due to the ongoing pandemic, this show finally gave the chance to celebrate the 2019-2020 Broadway season. The awards this year brought the magic and joy of Broadway back to life. 

Leslie Odom Jr. began the show with an amazing musical number that celebrated the return of Broadway. Throughout the performance actors and actresses from shows such as “Waitress,” “The Lion King” and “Wicked” appeared to represent that Broadway is officially back and here to stay.  

There were many performances throughout the night that were both meaningful and amazing to watch, such as Daniel J. Watts dedicating his performance to the Broadway Advocacy Coalition, as well as Tony Award winners Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel performing an amazing duet of “For Good” from the production “Wicked.” 

The outstanding production “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” received 14 nominations and won 10 Tony Awards for categories such as Best Musical, Best Choreography and Best Direction of a Musical. Alongside this, there were more winners who were recognized for their excellence over time and their greatness in the theatre business, such as David Byrne’s “American Utopia,” and “Freestyle Love Supreme.” The winners for excellence showcased talent such as Fred Gallo, Irene Gandy, Beverly Jenkins and Woodie King Jr. 

Julie Halston won the 2020 Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award, which is presented to a member of the theatre community who has put in the time and effort to positively contribute to society through volunteering for a humanitarian, social service or charitable organization. Halston earned the award for her work for raising funding and awareness for the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation. 

The Tony Awards marked the official return of Broadway after a year and a half shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The amazing performances by plenty of actors and actresses celebrated the life of theatre. Now is the perfect time to buy your tickets and head to Broadway for the exciting upcoming productions.