Did you catch the Tonys Sunday night? This year, the Tony Awards were For the Gaze, and we mean that in every sense of the word! Hosted by Cynthia Erivo, the Wicked Witch herself fresh off her I Forgive You album, a WorldPride performance, and promoting Wicked: For Good, this year’s ceremony was a glittering, unapologetically queer celebration of theater.
The night was packed with star power and sparkle: Audra McDonald, Jonathan Groff, Darren Criss, and Nicole Scherzinger served full Sunset Boulevard glam.
But it was the cast of Death Becomes Her that stopped the show twice. The musical earned a whopping 10 nominations, with a special shoutout to our favorite camp anthem, ‘For the Gaze.’ It only took home one award, but it was a big one: Paul Tazewell snagged Best Costume Design of a Musical, and Christopher Gattelli made history as a double nominee, recognized as both director and choreographer.
Next, Sarah Snook’s The Picture of Dorian Gray took home honors, and the legendary Harvey Fierstein received the Lifetime Achievement in Theatre award.
In his heartfelt speech, Fierstein said:
“There is nothing quite like bathing in the applause of a curtain call, but when I bow, I bow to the audience…with gratitude, knowing that without them I might as well be lip-syncing showtunes in my bedroom mirror. And so I dedicate this award to the people in the dark.”
But the loudest applause belonged to Cole Escola. They won Best Actor in a Play for Oh, Mary!, making history as the first out nonbinary winner in that category.
The 78th Annual Tony Awards aired Sunday, June 8, and with Broadway divas, big queer energy, and a whole lot of sparkle—this one’s already being called one of the gayest and greatest Tonys of all time. Awards are now streaming on CBS.com and Paramount+.
