The musical Hamilton earned a record 16 nominations for the 70th Annual Antoinette Perry Awards, topping an historic Broadway season that told a diverse array of stories about women and minorities. Hamilton's total topped previous record-holders The Producers and Billy Elliott, which earned 15 each. The 70th Annual Tony Awards took place on Sunday, June 5, 2016 and aired on CBS. The ceremony honors theater professionals for distinguished achievement on Broadway was hosted by James Corden. Corden is himself a Tony Award winner. He won the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play for his performance in "One Man, Two Guvnors" in 2012.
Corden took over "The Late Late Show" last spring and has quickly become known for generating buzzworthy viral videos, such as Carpool Karaoke, garnering more than 500 million views and 2.8 million subscribers for the show's YouTube channel. Corden is himself a Tony Award winner. He won the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play for his performance in "One Man, Two Guvnors" in 2012.
For the first time since 1970, Barbra Streisand graced the stage as a presenter at the 70th Annual Tony Awards. The show aired live from the Beacon Theatre in New York City. The evening included appearances by Oprah Winfrey, Cate Blanchett, Steve Martin, Carole King and many others. Streisand recently announced the upcoming release of her ENCORE: Movie Partners Sing Broadway album and accompanying tour entitled, "The Music... The Mem'ries... The Magic!" With the longest span of number one albums in history, Streisand has recorded 52 gold, 31 platinum and 13 multi-platinum albums in her career.
Nominations were very close as 2016 marks the first time in Tony history that five shows were nominated in the Best Musical category. But it was multiple nominations in categories like Best Actor in a Musical (Lin-Manuel Miranda and Leslie Odom, Jr.) and Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Daveed Diggs, Jonathan Groff and Christopher Jackson) that helped put the show over the top. The feat accrued added significance considering that two categories Best Sound Design of a Play and a Musical, were discontinued this year. The musical has already grossed over $60 million at the box office.
After Hamilton, the musical with the second-most nominations was George C. Wolfe's retelling of black theatre history, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed, with 10. Among plays, the top nominee magnets were Eclipsed, the harrowing story of the effect of the Liberian civil war on women hostages, and The Humans, about a modern family facing a crisis, both with six. Among musical revivals, She Loves Me, Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick's valentine to romance in a Budapest parfumerie earned eight nominations. Among play revivals, Eugene O'Neill's portrait of his own dysfunctional family, Long Day's Journey Into Night, came in with seven. It was a great year for new playwriting blood. Nominees for Best Play, Danai Gurira's aforementioned Eclipsed will compete with Florian Zeller's The Father, Stephen Karam's aforementioned The Humans and Mike Barlett's King Charles III. All four represent their respective authors' Broadway debuts.Not everyone was so lucky, George Takei's project of the heart, Allegiance, earned zero nominations, as did Amazing Grace. The musicals Tuck Everlasting, Disaster! and On Your Feet! got just one apiece. Joe Mantello, who directed three plays on Broadway this season, was nominated for one, The Humans. Ivo Van Hove, who directed two Arthur Miller plays on Broadway this season, was also nominated for one, A View From the Bridge. Danny Burstein earned his sixth Tony nomination for his performance as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof. He has never won previously.
Andrew Lloyd Webber's nomination for Best Score is his first since 2006's Woman in White. The last time he won a Tony was his uncontested win in 1995, for Sunset Boulevard.
The Full List of Nominations and Winners:
Best Play
- Eclipsed
Author: Danai Gurira Producers: Stephen C. Byrd, Alia Jones-Harvey, Paula Marie Black, Carole Shorenstein Hays, Alani Lala Anthony, Michael Magers, Kenny Ozoude, Willette Klausner, Davelle, Dominion Pictures, Emanon Productions, FG Productions, The Forstalls, MA Theatricals, The Public Theater, Oskar Eustis, Patrick Willingham
- The Father
Author: Florian Zeller Producers: Manhattan Theatre Club, Lynne Meadow, Barry Grove
- The Humans (W)
Author: Stephen Karam Producers: Scott Rudin, Barry Diller, Roundabout Theatre Company, Fox Theatricals, James L. Nederlander, Terry Allen Kramer, Roy Furman, Daryl Roth, Jon B. Platt, Eli Bush, Broadway Across America, Jack Lane, Barbara Whitman, Jay Alix & Una Jackman, Scott M. Delman, Sonia Friedman, Amanda Lipitz, Peter May, Stephanie P. McClelland, Lauren Stein, The Shubert Organization, Joey Parnes, Sue Wagner, John Johnson, Roundabout Theatre Company, Todd Haimes, Harold Wolpert, Julia C. Levy, Sydney Beers
- King Charles III
Author: Mike Bartlett Producers: Stuart Thompson, Sonia Friedman Productions, Almeida Theatre, Robert G. Bartner, Norman Tulchin, Lee Dean & Charles Diamond, Scott M. Delman, Ruth Hendel, Stephanie P. McClelland, Jon B. Platt, Scott Rudin, Richard Winkler, Zeilinger Productions, The Shubert Organization
Best Musical
- Bright Star
Producers: Joey Parnes, Sue Wagner, John Johnson, Zebulon LLC, Jay Alix & Una Jackman, Len Blavatnik, James L. Nederlander, Carson & Joseph Gleberman, Balboa Park Productions, The Shubert Organization, Jamie deRoy/Catherine Adler/Cricket Jiranek, Rodger Hess, A.C. Orange International, Broadway Across America, Sally Jacobs & Warren Baker, Diana DiMenna, Exeter Capital, Agnes Gund, True Love Productions, The Old Globe
- Hamilton (W)
Producers: Jeffrey Seller, Sander Jacobs, Jill Furman, The Public Theater
- School of Rock-The Musical
Producers: Andrew Lloyd Webber, The Really Useful Group, Warner Music Group & Access Industries, The Shubert Organization, The Nederlander Organization
- Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
Producers: Scott Rudin, Roy Furman, Columbia Live Stage, Center Theatre Group, Roger Berlind, William Berlind, Broadway Across America, Heni Koenigsberg, The Araca Group, Peter May, Jon B. Platt, Daryl Roth, Jay Alix & Una Jackman, Scott M. Delman, Sonia Friedman, Ruth Hendel, Independent Presenters Network, Tulchin Bartner Productions, Spring Sirkin, Eli Bush, Joey Parnes, Sue Wagner, John Johnson, Color Mad Productions, Len Blavatnik
- Waitress
Producers: Barry and Fran Weissler, Norton and Elayne Herrick, David I. Berley, Independent Presenters Network, A.C. Orange International, Peter May, Michael Roiff, Ken Schur, Marisa Sechrest, Jam Theatricals, 42nd.club/Square 1 Theatrics, Benjamin Simpson & Joseph Longthorne/Shira Friedman, The American Repertory Theater
Best Revival of a Play
- Arthur Miller's The Crucible
Producers: Scott Rudin, Eli Bush, Roger Berlind, William Berlind, Len Blavatnik, Roy Furman, Peter May, Jay Alix & Una Jackman, Scott M. Delman, Heni Koenigsberg, Daryl Roth, Jane Bergère, Sonia Friedman Productions, Ruth Hendel, JFL Theatricals, Stacey Mindich, Jon B. Platt, Megan Savage, Spring Sirkin, Tulchin Bartner Productions, Joey Parnes, Sue Wagner, John Johnson
- Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge (W)
Producers: Scott Rudin, Lincoln Center Theater, Eli Bush, Robert G. Bartner, Roger Berlind, William Berlind, Roy Furman, Peter May, Amanda Lipitz, Stephanie P. McClelland, Jay Alix & Una Jackman, Scott M. Delman, Sonia Friedman, John Gore, Ruth Hendel, JFL Theatricals, Heni Koenigsberg, Jon B. Platt, Daryl Roth, Spring Sirkin, Joey Parnes, Sue Wagner, John Johnson, The Young Vic
- Blackbird
Producers: Scott Rudin, Eli Bush, Roger Berlind, William Berlind, Scott M. Delman, Peter May, Jon B. Platt, Len Blavatnik, Tulchin Bartner Productions, Jay Alix & Una Jackman, Heni Koenigsberg, Stacey Mindich, Wendy Federman, Joey Parnes, Sue Wagner, John Johnson
- Long Day's Journey Into Night
Producers: Roundabout Theatre Company, Todd Haimes, Harold Wolpert, Julia C. Levy, Sydney Beers, Ryan Murphy
- Noises Off
Producers: Roundabout Theatre Company, Todd Haimes, Harold Wolpert, Julia C. Levy, Sydney Beers
Best Revival of a Musical
- The Color Purple (W)
Producers: Scott Sanders Productions, Roy Furman, Oprah Winfrey, David Babani, Tom Siracusa, Caiola Productions, James Fantaci, Ted Liebowitz, Stephanie P. McClelland, James L. Nederlander, Darren Bagert, Candy Spelling, Adam Zotovich, Eric Falkenstein/Morris Berchard, Just for Laughs Theatricals/Tanya Link Productions, Adam S. Gordon, Jam Theatricals, Kelsey Grammer, Independent Presenters Network, Carol Fineman, Sandy Block, Menier Chocolate Factory Productions
- Fiddler on the Roof
Producers: Jeffrey Richards, Jam Theatricals, Louise Gund, Jerry Frankel, Broadway Across America, Rebecca Gold, Stephanie P. McClelland, Barbara Freitag & Company/Catherine Schreiber & Company, Greenleaf Productions, Orin Wolf, Patty Baker, Caiola Productions, The Nederlander Organization, Gabrielle Palitz, Kit Seidel, TenTex Partners, Edward M. Kaufmann, Soffer/Namoff Entertainment, Healy Theatricals, Clear Channel Spectacolor, Jessica Genick, Will Trice
- She Loves Me
Producers: Roundabout Theatre Company, Todd Haimes, Harold Wolpert, Julia C. Levy, Sydney Beers
- Spring Awakening
Producers: Ken Davenport, Cody Lassen, Hunter Arnold, David J. Kurs, Deaf West Theatre, Carl Daikeler, Sandi Moran, Chockstone Pictures, Caiola Productions, Marguerite Hoffman, H. Richard Hopper, Learytodd Productions, Markoltop Productions, R&D Theatricals, Brian Cromwell Smith, Invisible Wall Productions, Monica Horan Rosenthal
Best Book of a Musical
- Bright Star
- Steve Martin
- Hamilton (W)
- Lin-Manuel Miranda
- School of Rock-The Musical
- Julian Fellowes
- Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
- George C. Wolfe
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
- Bright Star
Music: Steve Martin and Edie Brickell
Lyrics: Edie Brickell
- Hamilton (W)
Music & Lyrics: Lin-Manuel Miranda
School of Rock-The Musical
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyrics: Glenn Slater
- Waitress
Music & Lyrics: Sara Bareilles
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
- Gabriel Byrne, Long Day's Journey Into Night
- Jeff Daniels, Blackbird
- Frank Langella, The Father(W)
- Tim Pigott-Smith, King Charles III
- Mark Strong, Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
- Jessica Lange, Long Day's Journey Into Night (W)
- Laurie Metcalf, Misery
- Lupita Nyong'o, Eclipsed
- Sophie Okonedo, Arthur Miller's The Crucible
- Michelle Williams, Blackbird
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
- Alex Brightman, School of Rock-The Musical
- Danny Burstein, Fiddler on the Roof
- Zachary Levi, She Loves Me
- Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton
- Leslie Odom, Jr., Hamilton (W)
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
- Laura Benanti, She Loves Me
- Carmen Cusack, Bright Star
- Cynthia Erivo, The Color Purple (W)
- Jessie Mueller, Waitress
- Phillipa Soo, Hamilton
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
- Reed Birney, The Humans (W)
- Bill Camp, Arthur Miller's The Crucible
- David Furr, Noises Off
- Richard Goulding, King Charles III
- Michael Shannon, Long Day's Journey Into Night
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
- Pascale Armand, Eclipsed
- Megan Hilty, Noises Off
- Jayne Houdyshell, The Humans (W)
- Andrea Martin, Noises Off
- Saycon Sengbloh, Eclipsed
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
- Daveed Diggs, Hamilton (W)
- Brandon Victor Dixon, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
- Christopher Fitzgerald, Waitress
- Jonathan Groff, Hamilton
- Christopher Jackson, Hamilton
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
- Danielle Brooks, The Color Purple
- Renée Elise Goldsberry, Hamilton (W)
- Jane Krakowski, She Loves Me
- Jennifer Simard, Disaster!
- Adrienne Warren, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
Best Scenic Design of a Play
- Beowulf Boritt, Thérèse Raquin
- Christopher Oram, Hughie
- Jan Versweyveld, Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge
- David Zinn, The Humans (W)
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
- Es Devlin & Finn Ross, American Psycho
- David Korins, Hamilton
- Santo Loquasto, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
- David Rockwell, She Loves Me (W)
Best Costume Design of a Play
- Jane Greenwood, Long Day's Journey Into Night
- Michael Krass, Noises Off
- Clint Ramos, Eclipsed (W)
- Tom Scutt, King Charles III
Best Costume Design of a Musical
- Gregg Barnes, Tuck Everlasting
- Jeff Mahshie, She Loves Me
- Ann Roth, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
- Paul Tazewell, Hamilton (W)
Best Lighting Design of a Play
- Natasha Katz, Long Day's Journey Into Night (W)
- Justin Townsend, The Humans
- Jan Versweyveld, Arthur Miller's The Crucible
- Jan Versweyveld, Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
- Howell Binkley, Hamilton (W)
- Jules Fisher & Peggy Eisenhauer, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
- Ben Stanton, Spring Awakening
- Justin Townsend, American Psycho
Best Direction of a Play
- Rupert Goold, King Charles III
- Jonathan Kent, Long Day's Journey Into Night
- Joe Mantello, The Humans
- Liesl Tommy, Eclipsed
- Ivo Van Hove, Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge (W)
Best Direction of a Musical
- Michael Arden, Spring Awakening
- John Doyle, The Color Purple
- Scott Ellis, She Loves Me
- Thomas Kail, Hamilton (W)
- George C. Wolfe, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
Best Choreography
- Andy Blankenbuehler, Hamilton (W)
- Savion Glover, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
- Hofesh Shechter, Fiddler on the Roof
- Randy Skinner, Dames at Sea
- Sergio Trujillo, On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan
Best Orchestrations
- August Eriksmoen, Bright Star
- Larry Hochman, She Loves Me
- Alex Lacamoire, Hamilton (W)
- Daryl Waters, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
Recipients of Awards and Honors in Non-Competitive Categories:
Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre
- Sheldon Harnick (W)
- Marshall W. Mason (W)
Special Tony Award
- National Endowment for the Arts (W)
- Miles Wilkin (W)
Regional Theatre Tony Award
- Paper Mill Playhouse (W)
- Millburn, NJ (W)
- Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award (W)
- Brian Stokes Mitchell (W)
Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre
- Seth Gelblum (W)
- Joan Lader (W)
- Sally Ann Parsons (W)