{"id":351457,"date":"2026-06-08T10:29:18","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T10:29:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/351457\/"},"modified":"2026-06-08T10:29:18","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T10:29:18","slug":"7-essential-moments-from-the-2026-tony-awards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/351457\/","title":{"rendered":"7 essential moments from the 2026 Tony Awards"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The 79th Tony Awards went off without a hitch at Radio City Music Hall, Sunday. The show, hosted by Pink, ran just over three hours and was relatively unsurprising when it came to the wins it delivered. Although each year it seems more marquee film and television stars appear in the audience as celebrities of a certain caliber continue to flock to the stage in search of a more authentic\u2014and immediate\u2014connection to their audience. <\/p>\n

This year viewers could see Adrien Brody, John Lithgow, Laurie Metcalf, Rose Byrne, Daniel Radcliffe, Nathan Lane, Alden Ehrenreich and more. Despite, or perhaps because of the star power, the show stuck to its expected script with \u201cSchmigadoon!\u201d winning best musical, \u201cRagtime\u201d best musical revival, \u201cLiberation\u201d best play and \u201cDeath of a Salesman\u201d best revival.<\/p>\n

Still, the night had enough laughs, groans and tender moments to keep things interesting. Here are seven of our favorites.<\/p>\n

Vampires as metaphor for what ails America \"Ali <\/p>\n

Ali Louis Bourzgui used vampires as a metaphor for American folly in his acceptance speech for performance by an actor in a featured role in a musical at the 2026 Tony Awards.<\/p>\n

(Theo Wargo \/ Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)<\/p>\n

Who knew vampires made such a good metaphor for America\u2019s worst excesses? When 26-year-old Ali Louis Bourzgui took to the stage at Radio City Music Hall after an upset win for performance by an actor in a featured role in a musical, he used the undead to poignantly describe the country\u2019s biggest sociopolitical challenges.<\/p>\n

\u201cVampires represent those who have shunned their own humanity in order to achieve a nonexistent sense of superiority. The billionaires will never find happiness from their money. The colonizers will never find fulfillment from the land and lives they steal. The fascists will never find meaning from their conformity, not in this lifetime or eternity,\u201d said Bourzgui, who originated the role of David in the musical adaptation of the cult vampire horror film \u201cThe Lost Boys.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014Jessica Gelt<\/p>\n

A Tony trifecta for John Lithgow and Laurie Metcalf \"John <\/p>\n

John Lithgow won the third Tony Award of his career at the 2026 Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall.<\/p>\n

(Theo Wargo \/ Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)<\/p>\n

It\u2019s always a good feeling when actors we have known and love get rewarded by a well-deserved win, and so it was on Sunday night when John Lithgow and Laurie Metcalf took back-to-back wins early in the show. The former for performance by an actor in a leading role in a play for his portrayal of the controversial, beloved British author Roald Dahl in Mark Rosenblatt\u2019s drama \u201cGiant.\u201d The latter for featured actress for her portrayal of Willy Loman\u2019s protective wife, Linda, in \u201cDeath of a Salesman.\u201d The plays were quite different, but the winners shared a very specific honor: the night marked the third Tony win for each actor. <\/p>\n

Lithgow won his previous trophies in 1972 and 2002, and Metcalf in 2017 and 2018.<\/p>\n

\u2014Jessica Gelt<\/p>\n

Nathan Lane is an \u2018American theatrical treasure\u2019 \"Nathan <\/p>\n

Nathan Lane accepts the best revival of a play award for \u201cDeath of a Salesman\u201d at the 2026 Tony Awards.<\/p>\n

(Theo Wargo \/ Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)<\/p>\n

Unless Nathan Lane gets a crack at playing King Lear, his Willy Loman in Joe Mantello\u2019s production of Arthur Miller\u2019s \u201cDeath of a Salesman\u201d will go down as one of the peak challenges of his acting career. Not winning the Tony for his indefatigable performance must sting, but John Lithgow was favored to win for his brave turn as the baleful Roald Dahl of Mark Rosenblatt\u2019s \u201cGiant.\u201d Lane had to have been prepared but a subtle wince of disappointment could be detected when the camera pryingly caught his immediate reaction.<\/p>\n

So it was gratifying to see Lane receive his due from Mantello, who upon accepting his award for directing credited Lane with being the inspiration for the production. And when \u201cSalesman\u201d won for best revival, it was only fitting that Lane accepted the award on behalf of the company about a play that, ultimately, he pointed out, is about a family.<\/p>\n

It was a point that Laurie Metcalf, who won for her featured performance as Linda Loman, also raised when she thanked Lane, Christopher Abbott (who played Biff) and Ben Ahlers (who played Happy) \u2014her ferocious Loman family\u2014 for making her better.<\/p>\n

A three-time Tony-winner already, Lane doesn\u2019t need another trophy to assure him that he\u2019s an American theatrical treasure. But this wasn\u2019t just another Broadway outing for him. This was Miller\u2019s masterwork in a production that will be remembered long after the tally of this year\u2019s Tony Awards are long forgotten.<\/p>\n

\u2014Charles McNulty<\/p>\n

Joshua Henry is a good person, a great actor and everybody loves him \" <\/p>\n

Joshua Henry won a Tony Award for performance by an actor in a leading role in a musical at the 79th Annual Tony Awards, earning perhaps the most rousing standing ovation of the night.<\/p>\n

(Theo Wargo \/ Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)<\/p>\n

The biggest standing ovation of the night came when Joshua Henry won the award for performance by an actor in a leading role in a musical for his critically acclaimed portrayal of Coalhouse Walker Jr. in the revival of \u201cRagtime.\u201d Wearing a show-stopping black suit with golden flowers, Henry rushed to the stage as the star-studded crowd leapt to its feet to deliver a rousing standing ovation. <\/p>\n

Henry first came to the full attention of fans playing Aaron Burr in the 2017 national tour of \u201cHamilton,\u201d<\/a> and has since gone on to distinguish himself as one of Broadway\u2019s most charming and relatable stars. His optimism and kindness shine through, as does his fierce love of his art form, which was apparent as he gave his acceptance speech, thanking \u2014 in particular \u2014 his first vocal coach for believing in him. He also gave a poignant shout-out to the show\u2019s original cast members Brian Stokes Mitchell and Audra McDonald, and sent all the love to his three young sons.<\/p>\n

\u2014Jessica Gelt<\/p>\n

Pink had fun, but didn\u2019t seem to know why she was there \"Neil <\/p>\n

Neil Patrick Harris and Pink perform during The 79th Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall. <\/p>\n

(Jenny Anderson \/ Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)<\/p>\n

Pop star Pink kicked off the show with a wink and a nod to her hit \u201cLady Marmalade,\u201d and went on to wow the audience with an action-packed opener filled with more than 150 performers and riffs from every Broadway show imaginable, plus a spirited appearance by Megan Thee Stallion. But the line that resonated most came early on when she spun hopelessly on a rope above the stage dressed as Peter Pan and a worried Neil Patrick Harris appeared to ask why she was performing in such an old-fashioned show. <\/p>\n

\u201cI just want to show how much I love theater even though I\u2019ve never been on Broadway,\u201d Pink said, still dangling, but nailing a few tricks. \u201cI\u2019m just concerned people might be like, \u2018Why\u2019s Pink hosting the Tonys?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

That wasn\u2019t the first time she seemed to be apologizing to the audience for being there.<\/p>\n

\u2014Jessica Gelt<\/p>\n

Darren Criss gives happy endings \"Darren <\/p>\n

Darren Criss and Nicole Scherzinger joked it up during the 79th Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall.<\/p>\n

(Theo Wargo \/ Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)<\/p>\n

Darren Criss is a Broadway superstar who consistently delivers \u201cHappy endings,\u201d according to co-presenter Nicole Scherzinger.<\/p>\n

In what might have been the show\u2019s most racy and deliciously groan-worthy joke, Scherzinger, stood side-by-side with the \u201cMaybe Happy Endings\u201d star to deliver the penultimate awards of the night, and noted, \u201cYou gave the world happy endings.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI did?\u201d asked Criss, feigning innocence. <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re a giver,\u201d said Scherzinger.<\/p>\n

The pair took a beat through bubbling titters from the audience before knowingly yelling, \u201cHappy Pride everyone!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014Jessica Gelt<\/p>\n

Leslie Odom Jr. delivers a moving in memoriam \" <\/p>\n

Leslie Odom Jr. performs the In Memorium tribute during The 79th Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall.<\/p>\n

(Theo Wargo \/ Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)<\/p>\n

Tony Award winner Leslie Odom Jr. sang a soulful rendition of \u201cWithout You\u201d from \u201cRent\u201d during the ceremony\u2019s In Memoriam segment, which honored artists who died in 2025 and 2026, including Diane Keaton and Robert Redford. These annual segments are mournful \u2014 and tricky \u2014 and the \u201cHamilton\u201d star managed to create an understated atmosphere that set the perfect tone for the somber projection of recently lost greats such as Robert Duvall, Tom Stoppard and Carmen de Lavallade.<\/p>\n

\u2014Jessica Gelt<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The 79th Tony Awards went off without a hitch at Radio City Music Hall, Sunday. The show, hosted…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":351458,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[1872,1864,6758,44240,101539,143579,48,52,51,143580,47,50,49,143709,1869,1406,6049,110225,1860,3239,25444],"class_list":["post-351457","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-los-angeles","tag-actor","tag-audience","tag-award","tag-good-play","tag-jessica-gelt","tag-john-lithgow","tag-la","tag-la-headlines","tag-la-news","tag-laurie-metcalf","tag-los-angeles","tag-los-angeles-headlines","tag-los-angeles-news","tag-nathan-lane","tag-night","tag-performance","tag-role","tag-salesman","tag-show","tag-stage","tag-tony-awards"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/351457","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=351457"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/351457\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/351458"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=351457"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=351457"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=351457"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}