Best of Broadway takes the spotlight for 76th Annual Tony Awards
NEW YORK -- The best of the Broadway season takes the spotlight Sunday night for the 76th Annual Tony Awards.
Nominees included movie legends, TV stars and newcomers who left quite an impression on audiences.
Glamour, representation and pure adrenaline hit Washington Heights like a big wave as the Tony Awards were held at the United Palace theater for the very first time.
"I'm so excited ... and I'm so grateful that it's up here," Washington Heights resident Laura Madera said.
"It's the most exciting thing to happen to the Heights in a long time," Washington Heights resident Dana Mooney said.
"This is just amazing. We hear the music all over the place. You see all these celebrities. It's really, it brings tears to my eyes. It's just an amazing experience," Washington Heights resident Juan Herrera said.
In the weeks leading up to this celebration of Broadway's best, the Tonys made headlines for the big win for the venue, United Palace, built in 1930.
"We're so thrilled that the rest of New York City and the world now knows about United Palace and our neighborhood, Washington Heights," Washington Heights resident Melissa Moschitto said.
The Writers Guild of America strike put a question mark over the occasion. The union wanted to waiver, which it did not get, but when the WGA agreed not to picket outside, all nominees got a green to accept awards and give speeches.
- Related: Watch CBS2's special, "At The Tonys"
Broadway veterans and newcomers were among Sunday night's winners.
"Kimberly Akimbo," a musical about a teenage girl with a fictional disease that ages her prematurely, took the top prize at the Tonys.
The show also won the awards for Best Book, Score, featured actress Bonnie Milligan and a big win for the show's lead, Victoria Clark.
"I was so sure I knew who I was and who I wasn't, and you proved me completely wrong," Clark said in her acceptance speech.
"Some Like It Hot" came into the Tonys with 13 nominations and won several, including choreography and lead actor J. Harrison Ghee.
"For every trans, nonbinary, gender-nonconforming human, whoever was told you couldn't be, you couldn't be seen, this is for you," Ghee said.
"Parade" took home the Tony for Best Revival of a Musical. It's the story of the trial, imprisonment and lynching of Jewish businessman Leo Frank. Michael Arden won for his direction of the show.
"Keep raising your voices standing up against intolerance of any kind, anywhere you see it," he said.
For Best Revival of a Play, the winner was "Topdog/Underdog," and for new Play, "Leopoldstadt," which also won for costume design and featured actor in a play Brandon Uranowitz.
Alex Newell, of the musical "Shucked," won Featured Musical Actor.
Two of the most competitive categories, leading actor and actress in a play, went to Sean Hayes and Jodie Comer.
There were many firsts at this year's Tony Awards, the historic move to the United Palace and Washington Heights and a ceremony that went on unscripted.
This Tonys had twists and turns, and in the end, it was a triumph.