“The Outsiders” was Angelina Jolie’s first Tony, and she won for Best Musical for her work on the production. Best director (Danya Taymor), lighting design, and sound design were other accolades bestowed upon the production based on the 1967 novel by S.E. Hinton. Vivienne, Jolie’s daughter and a producer assistant on the popular show, was in attendance.
During the event, “it is a common sensation to be an outsider, even though society changes.” The winners of Best Play and Best Musical Revival, respectively, “Stereophonic” and “Merrily We Roll Along,” performed during the event. The performance by Pete Townshend and the rest of the “Tommy” cast was fantastic, and Eddie Redmayne’s “Cabaret” song caused quite a stir online due to its extreme intensity.
Guests at the live-streamed event from Lincoln Centre included Idina Menzel and Cynthia Erivo, who praised “Wicked” and its message of “green girl power.” Jonathan Groff (“Merrily We Roll Along”), Kara Young (“Purlie Victorious”), and Maleah Joi Moon (“Hell’s Kitchen”) all gave moving monologues in which they paid deep gratitude to their parents. During her hilarious and motivational acceptance speech, “Hell’s Kitchen” star Kecia Lewis asked the audience to refrain from texting her while she was onstage.
