Ariana DeBose delivered a spirited unscripted monologue Sunday as she hosted the 76th annual Tony Awards at New York City’s United Palace Theater.
The Oscar-winning actress, 32, improvised her monologue amid the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike, making sure to pledge her support for the writers currently fighting the studios for better pay and residuals.
The Raleigh, North Carolina native in her monologue addressed the ongoing labor dispute which has been at the forefront of the entertainment industry the last six weeks.
‘Our siblings over at the WGA are currently on strike in pursuit of the fair deal. Now, yes. And how many of us know what that is?’ she said. ‘I’m sure for some of you at home you are thinking, okay, the Tony Awards? I’m going to tell you – thank for asking.’
DeBose went into detail about the strike, which impacted for the first time in 35 years the Tonys, in which the theater world gathers for an annual celebration of all things Broadway.
The latest: Ariana DeBose, 32, delivered a spirited unscripted monologue Sunday as she hosted the 76th Annual Tony Awards at New York City’s United Palace Theater amid the ongoing WGA strike
DeBose thanked WGA members for compromising with Tonys organizers not to picket the proceedings, creating an uncomfortable position for the entertainers and creatives involved with Sunday’s proceedings.
‘The award shows are traditionally written by members of the WGA,’ she said. ‘In order for us to go on, they had to find a compromise. For every single person that had a hand in finding that compromise, I say a full throated thank you!
‘So now you are asking, well, what’s the compromise? Well, we don’t have a script, you guys. Yeah. I’m live and unscripted. You’re welcome.’
The West Side Story actress said, ‘To anyone who may have thought last year was a bit unhinged, to them I say darlings, buckle up!
‘But in all seriousness, yes,’ she said. ‘I’m unscripted, as will every presenter who comes on the stage tonight. We’re just making it up as we go along – that’s cool – it is a blessing to be here.
‘So what else does that mean? That also means no teleprompters. We have two monitors in the room. One over there and one over there … I’m glad you liked that one.’
DeBose encouraged winners to say their piece when accepting honors at Sunday’s ceremony.
‘Honeys, take your moment – tonight is about you,’ she said, calling the annual event ‘so special.’
The Oscar-winning actress improvised her monologue amid the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike, making sure to pledge her support for the writers currently fighting the studios for better pay and residuals
The Raleigh, North Carolina native in her monologue addressed the ongoing labor dispute which has been at the forefront of the entertainment industry the last six weeks
The West Side Story actress said, ‘To anyone who may have thought last year was a bit unhinged, to them I say darlings, buckle up!’
DeBose went into detail about the strike – which impacted for the first time in 35 years the Tonys – in which the theater world gathers for an annual celebration of all things Broadway
She continued, ‘Everyone here has worked very hard to make a show that not only honors those guidelines, but celebrating your contributions and your achievements this season.
‘I’m so proud. I’ve seen the work. It is incredibly varied. You should be so proud of everything that you’ve given to the Broadway season.’
The ceremony was aired on CBS in an unscripted format, and the union had agreed not to picket the event.
Broadway icon Lin-Manuel Miranda had also dropped out as writer of the opening segment in solidarity with the WGA.
Viewers were still set to be entertained with plenty of performances from a variety of Tony-nominated musicals on stage.
Audience members will be treated to performances from casts of Into the Woods, New York, New York, Shucked, Beautiful Noise, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and more.
It will also feature performances from the cast of the Lea Michele-led musical Funny Girl.
DeBose explained to the crowd in the Big Apple how Sunday’s show would be different due to the unscripted nature
DeBose said, ‘I’m unscripted, as will every presenter who comes on the stage tonight. We’re just making it up as we go along – that’s cool – it is a blessing to be here’
DeBose thanked WGA members for compromising with Tonys organizers not to picket the proceedings, creating an uncomfortable position for the entertainers and creatives involved with Sunday’s proceedings
As far as nominations, Some Like It Hot, the musical adaptation of the Marilyn Monroe film, is up for the most Tonys with a whooping 13 nominations.
It will be battling it out for Best Musical against & Juliet, Kimberly Akimbo, New York, New York, and Shucked.
Nominations for Best Play consist of Ain’t No Mo’, Between Riverside and Crazy, Cost of Living, Fat Ham, Leopoldstadt.
In a statement, Jack Sussman, executive vice president of specials, music, live events and alternative programming at CBS, said of the show: ‘CBS has been home to the Tony Awards for more than 40 years.
‘We are proud to once again celebrate the best of theater this season, and continue our support for Broadway, the broader theater community and all the incredible artistic talents both on stage and behind the scenes who bring the shows to life.’
‘This year’s Tony Award nominees are a reflection of a tremendous year of Broadway,’ Charlotte St. Martin, president of The Broadway League and Heather Hitchens, president and CEO of the American Theatre Wing, said in a statement.
‘The show will feature performances by Broadway’s brightest lights – from breakthrough performers to industry icons – in recognition of the momentous productions wowing audiences worldwide.’
Tony Awards 2023: Host Ariana DeBose delivers unscripted speech
Ariana DeBose: Well, well, well. Dry mouth. Welcome to the 76th annual Tony Awards. My God. We are coming to you live from the gorgeous theater, the united palace uptown, baby, in Washington heights. By the way, happy Puerto Rican day!
Hey, I got one. I got one. Also really quickly. That was very special to me to be able to open tonight with dance forward and music forward and the number choreographed by Carlo Garcia. Very special. Thank you. All right.
So I’m sure some of you caught that I opened the number by opening the script blank pages. Very good reason for that. Our siblings over at the WGA are currently on strike in pursuit of the fair deal. Now – yes. And how many of us know what that is?
I’m sure for some of you at home you are thinking, okay, the Tony awards? I’m going to tell you. Thank for asking. The award shows are traditionally written by members of the WGA. In order for us to go on, they had to find a compromise. For every single person that had a hand in finding that compromise, I say a full throated thank you!
So now you are asking, well, what’s the compromise? Well, we don’t have a script, you guys. Yeah. I’m live and unscripted. You’re welcome. To anyone who may have thought last year was a bit unhinged, to them I say darlings, buckle up!
But in all seriousness, yes. I’m unscripted, as will every presenter who comes on the stage tonight. We’re just making it up as we go along. That’s cool. It is a blessing to be here.
So what else does that mean? That also means no teleprompters. We have two monitors in the room. One over there and one over there. I’m glad you liked that one. Wow. Now the only thing you’ll see on them through the night is to display a countdown to literally count you down if your lovely speeches begin to take a little too long. But honeys, take your moment. Tonight is about you. Yeah.
That’s good. Also you’ll see three little words. Please wrap up. That’s okay. Let me see did I check all of the boxes? I think I checked all of the boxes. In fact, I’m getting a please wrap up. You’re welcome. What I want to tell you is the Tony Awards are so special.
Everyone here has worked very hard to make a show that not only honors those guidelines, but celebrating your contributions and your achievements this season. I’m so proud. I’ve seen the work. It is incredibly varied. You should be so proud of everything that you’ve given to the Broadway season. Well done. Yeah.
The Tony Awards are unlike any other show. Not just because we celebrate the excellence on the Broadway stage, but because it is the one night of the year that we get the opportunity to bring Broadway to all of you at home. One night.
Because just maybe, maybe you’ll see a performance that inspires you to take a trip to New York City. Buy a trip or ticket to see a Broadway show. You know what? We live in the post-Covid world. Travel is not my vibe. I want to see that show when it goes on national tour and comes to a city near me.
That’s why the Tonys matter. You at home, you are a part of keeping the lights of Broadway shining bright. For that we’re grateful and we thank you for your viewership.
Okay. This has been really fun. I’ve talked a lot. I think it is time for Broadway to speak for herself. There’s no better way to do that than to start with the cast of New York, New York.
The Tony Awards marks the latest product impacted by the ongoing walkout.
Drew Barrymore dropped out of hosting the MTV Movie & Television Awards last month in solidarity with the writers, and the event moved forward in stripped down, pre-recorded fashion.
Film and television writers are on strike over complaints that studios have underpaid them for years, particularly when it comes to streaming programs that offer almost no residuals over time.
They are also fighting back against studios’ attempts to shrink writers’ rooms, to shorten the number of episodes of television seasons and to leave open the possibility of replacing human writers with so-called ‘AI’ programs.
TONY AWARD WINNERS 2023
Best Musical
& Juliet
Kimberly Akimbo — WINNER
New York, New York
Shucked
Some Like It Hot
Best Play
Ain’t No Mo’
Between Riverside and Crazy
Cost of Living
Fat Ham
Leopoldstadt — WINNER
Best Musical Revival
Bob Fosse’s Dancin’
Camelot
Into The Woods
Parade — WINNER
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street
Best Revival of a Play
A Doll’s House
The Piano Lesson
The Sign In Sidney Brustein’s Window
Suzan-Lori Parks’ Topdog/Underdog — WINNER
Best Leading Actress of a Musical
Annaleigh Ashford — Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street
Sara Bareilles — Into The Woods
Victoria Clark — Kimberly Akimbo — WINNER
Lorna Courtney — & Juliet
Micaela Diamond — Parade
Jessica Chastain, A Doll’s House
Best Leading Actress of a Play
Jessica Chastain — A Doll’s House
Jodie Comer — Prima Facie — WINNER
Jessica Hecht — Summer, 1976
Audra McDonald — Ohio State Murders
Best Leading Actor of a Musical
Christian Borle — Some Like It Hot
J. Harrison Ghee — Some Like It Hot — WINNER
Josh Groban — Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street
Brian D’Arcy James — Into The Woods
Ben Platt at the Met Gala 2023
Ben Platt — Parade
Colton Ryan — New York, New York
Best Leading Actor of a Play
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II — Topdog/Underdog
Corey Hawkins — Topdog/Underdog
Sean Hayes — Good Night, Oscar — WINNER
Stephen McKinley Henderson — Between Riverside and Crazy
Wendell Pierce — Death of a Salesman
Best Book of a Musical
& Juliet — David West Read
Kimberly Akimbo — David Lindsay-Abaire — WINNER
New York, New York — David Thompson & Sharon Washington
Shucked — Robert Horn
Some Like It Hot — Matthew López & Amber Ruffin
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Jordan E. Cooper — Ain’t No Mo’
Samuel L. Jackson — August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson
Arian Moayed — A Doll’s House
Brandon Uranowitz — Leopoldstadt — WINNER
David Zayas — Cost Of Living
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Kevin Del Aguila — Some Like It Hot
Kevin Cahoon — Shucked
Justin Cooley — Kimberly Akimbo
Jordan Donica — Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot
Alex Newell — Shucked — WINNER
Best Scenic Design of a Play
Tim Hatley & Andrzej Goulding — Life Of Pi — WINNERS
Miriam Buether — Prima Facie
Rachel Hauck — Good Night, Oscar
Richard Hudson — Leopoldstadt
Dane Laffrey & Lucy Mackinnon — A Christmas Carol
Best Costume Design of a Play
Brigitte Reiffenstuel — Leopoldstadt — WINNER
Tim Hatley, Nick Barnes & Finn Caldwell — Life Of Pi
Dominique Fawn Hill — Fat Ham
Emilio Sosa — Ain’t No Mo’
Emilio Sosa — Good Night, Oscar
Best Lighting Design of a Play
Neil Austin — Leopoldstadt
Natasha Chivers — Prima Facie
Jon Clark — Jon Clark
Bradley King — Fat Ham
Tim Lutkin — Life Of Pi — WINNER
Jen Schriever — Arthur Miller’s Death Of A Salesman
Ben Stanton — A Christmas Carol
Best Direction of a Play
Saheem Ali — Fat Ham
Jo Bonney — Cost Of Living
Jamie Lloyd — A Doll’s House
Patrick Marber — Leopoldstadt — WINNER
Stevie Walker-Webb — Ain’t No Mo’
Max Webster — Life Of Pi
Best Sound Design of a Play
Carolyn Downing — Life Of Pi — WINNER
Joshua D. Reid — A Christmas Carol
Ben & Max Ringham — A Doll’s House
Ben & Max Ringham — Prima Facie
Jonathan Deans & Taylor Williams — Ain’t No Mo’
Best Choreography
Casey Nicholaw — Some Like It Hot — WINNER
Steven Hoggett — Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street
Susan Stroman — New York, New York
Jennifer Weber — & Juliet
Jennifer Weber — KPOP
Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre
Joel Grey
John Kander
Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre
Victoria Bailey
Lisa Dawn Cave
Robert Fried
Best Original Score (music and/or lyrics) Written for the Theatre
Kimberly Akimbo — David Lindsay-Abaire/Jeanine Tesori — WINNER
Almost Famous — Tom Kitt/Cameron Crowe & Tom Kitt
KPOP — Helen Park & Max Vernon
Shucked — Brandy Clark & Shane McAnally
Some Like It Hot — Marc Shaiman/Scott Wittman & Marc Shaiman
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Nikki Crawford — Fat Ham
Crystal Lucas-Perry — Ain’t No Mo’
Miriam Silverman — The Sign In Sidney Brustein’s Window — WINNER
Katy Sullivan — Cost Of Living
Kara Young — Cost Of Living
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Julia Lester — Into The Woods
Ruthie Ann Miles — Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street
Bonnie Milligan — Kimberly Akimbo — WINNER
NaTasha Yvette Williams — Some Like It Hot
Betsy Wolfe — & Juliet
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Beowulf Boritt — New York, New York — WINNER
Mimi Lien — Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street
Scott Pask — Shucked
Scott Pask — Some Like It Hot
Michael Yeargan & 59 Productions — Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot
Best Costume Design of a Musical
Gregg Barnes — Some Like It Hot — WINNER
Clint Ramos & Sophia Choi — KPOP
Susan Hilferty — Parade
Jennifer Moeller — Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot
Paloma Young — & Juliet
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Ken Billington — New York, New York
Lap Chi Chu — Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot
Heather Gilbert — Parade
Howard Hudson — & Juliet
Natasha Katz — Some Like It Hot
Natasha Katz — Sweeney Todd: THe Demon Barber Of Fleet Street — WINNER
Best Direction of a Musical
Michael Arden — Parade — WINNER
Lear deBessonet — Into The Woods
Casey Nicholaw — Some Like It Hot
Jack O’Brien — Shucked
Jessica Stone — Kimberly Akimbo
Best Sound Design of a Musical
Kai Harada — New York, New York
Scott Lehrer & Alex Neumann — Into The Woods
Gareth Owen — & Juliet
John Shivers — Shucked
Nevin Steinberg — Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street — WINNER
Best Orchestrations
Charlie Rosen & Bryan Carter — Some Like It Hot — WINNERS
John Clancy — Kimberly Akimbo
Daryl Waters & Sam Davis — New York, New York
Bill Sherman & Dominic Fallacaro — & Juliet
Jason Howland — Shucked
Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award
Jerry Mitchell
Regional Theatre Tony Award
Pasadena Playhouse
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