John Leguizamo’s crack stood out for me at the 79th annual Tony Awards, amid the surprising and expected wins (complete list of winners), the heartfelt and political acceptance speeches, the thrilling musical numbers and the paltry infomercials for the straight plays, and the song-and-shtick presided over this year by host Pink. “The most frightening words in the world for a New Yorker: ‘I’m in town and I wanna see Times Square,’ John Leguizamo joked; then he added its opposite, the line many New Yorkers want most to hear right now: “Knicks in 4.”
These were throwaway lines, but they indirectly revealed a few unspoken truths about the Tony Awards — that the people who put together the television broadcast treat it primarily as a marketing opportunity to reach TV viewers who don’t get into New York all that often; that New Yorkers, even some avid theatergoers, might secretly feel a bit of a relief that the theater awards season is finally over (check out my completed New York Theater Awards Calendar and Guide 2026),
Below, a few highlights from the Tony TV show, but also news from a new season of live theater in New York that has already begun, i.e.:
June 2026 New York Theater Openings: Pride and Politics,
Memorable Acceptance Speeches
All musicals all the time? Cinco Paul says noschiree.
“There are only six new musicals on Broadway this season! That is not enough!” Cinco Paul said in his acceptance speech for the first of the four awards for the musical he created, “Schmigadoon.” But, not surprisingly, the broadcast made it seem as if it were back-to-back musicals — presenting musical numbers performed live from the seven nominated as best musical or best musical revival (see videos below) plus medleys from several favorites: “Chicago,” “A Chorus Line,” “The Book of Mormon.” Meanwhile, the briefest of canned videos were presented about the straight plays at the end of commercial breaks.
Tag team accepting and directing
I was delighted that “CATS: A Jellicle Ball” won awards for both direction and choreography, and noticed that in both cases, the work was done by a duo. Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch gave us a glimpse into how they work together in their speech.
Zheilon Levington: “We honor the Black and brown trans women and gay men who were ballroom’s pioneers as well as today’s icons.”
Bill Rauch: “As well as a cast of astonishing triple threats, including people from their 20s to their 80s and every decade in between.”
Levingston: “Ballroom welcomes everyone.”
Rauch: “To the 12-year-old kid who doesn’t fit in, who may be watching this on a television in their bedroom with the volume turned down low.”
Levingston: “Come find your home at ‘The Jellicle Ball.’ … And that, my friends, is what we call tag team performance!”
To all the girls out there
Liberation’s playwright Bess Wohl: I want to say that it has been almost 40 years since an American woman playwright won this award. That was Wendy Wasserstein for her brilliant play ‘Heidi Chronicles.’ Tonight I want to honor her. I want to honor women everywhere who have the courage to use their voice. And to all the girls out there, may you speak your truth and may the world be wise enough to listen.”
The vampire is fierce
Ali Bourzgui, Tony winner for featured actor in a musical, for “The Lost Boys:
“This is dedicated to the beautiful tapestry of immigrant families who make this country really special—may you one day not have to audition for the empathy that should be freely given by this country that benefits from your beauty, for the queer and trans communities who have and always will exist, no matter what people in power try to take away from them. For the people of Palestine who deserve to live a fruitful life, a free life, a full life without occupation….People like to say that theater is a form of escape, but I found more than ever that in this season of time, that theater is one of the last places people can come to worship the power of true collective human presence,”
Vampire mama
Shoshana Bean: This is for the mamas. This is for the single mamas. This is for my single mama. You are the wild heroes. This is for the incredible army of women that surround and uplift me. This is for every woman who ever felt like she was too much or not enough. I beg you not to wait for permission to be all of who you are.”
The Leads
Joshua Henry
Caissie Levy
Playing Mother has been one of the greatest gifts of my artistic life and being mother to my kids has been the greatest joy of my life. Izaiah and Talulah, I love you and although I’m not there to tuck you in each night, you have to know that a part of my heart stays home with you.”
John Lithgow
Lesley Manville
about the other women in her category of best actress in a lead performance of a play: “would somebody like to write a play for five women? We are quite bankable.”
The Week in OTHER Theater Awards
Theatre World Award Winners on Their First Time
Schmigadoon!’ ensemble wins Actors’ Equity’s 2026 ACCA Award for Outstanding Broadway Chorus (ACCA stands for Advisory Committee on Chorus Affairs )
The Week in Other Theater News
The Fantasticks is finally making its Broadway debut, sixty-six years after commencing one of the longest runs in theater history. It first-ever Broadway production, opening November 16 at the Second Stage’s Hayes Theater, is being entirely reimagined as a contemporary gay love story.
It is the first show in Second Stage’s 2026-2027 five-show season. This also includes the first Broadway production of “Gloria” by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins directed by Second Stage’s new artistic director, Evan Cabnet, opening the Hayes April 5. (My review of an earlier production of Gloria.)
Knicks, Meet Tonys: Basketball on Broadway
In defense of sad plays by playwright Samuel D Hunter, about Arthur Miller’s plays (like Death of a Salesman), and his own (like Little Bear Ridge Road)
In Memoriam
Anthony Head, 72, actor best known for his TV roles (Buffy, Ted Lasso) but also a prolific stage actor on the West End.
The Broadway in Memoriam Committee has announced that Broadway industry members Robert Fox, David Gersten, Allan Gruet, Jennifer Harmon, John Herrera, Mary Beth Hurt, Jeffrey Lane and Sondra Lee will be honored with a simultaneous marquee dimming on June 9, at 6:45 p.m.
The Week in Reviews
Girl, Interrupted
The stage version takes a simultaneously more authentic and more artful approach (also less linear) than the 1999 movie adaptation of Susanna Kaysen’s memoir about her 18-month stay at the same psychiatric hospital as James Taylor, Sylvia Plath and Ray Charles. But “Girl, Interrupted” still offers the familiar story that drew in generations of readers and viewers, of the friendship and community that Susanna developed with the other young women in the institution – individuals made vivid by a memorable ensemble cast.
A Woman Among Women
“A Woman Among Women,” playwright Julia May Jonas’ reimagining of Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons” from a female perspective, opens at Lincoln Center’s Clare Tow Theater tonight in a smart, sharp, deceptively casual, and ultimately gutting production that’s largely an intact transfer (with just a few cast changes) from its run at the Bushwick Starr in 2024. Since that time, attention is being paid to Miller’s work even more than usual.
The Week’s Theater Videos
These videos of performances during the Tony broadcast of the seven nominated musicals (either as best musical or best musical revival) are presented alphabetically by title of show (not song.) They are courtesy of CBS, which always removes them after a short while. (Before each, I once again link the titles to my reviews, which include links to the official websites to get tickets.)
Before that, the opening number, Lady Marmalade with changed lyridcs
Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York)
