From showstopping performances to emotional speeches, the Tonys put Broadways biggest night on full display airing live from Lincoln Center on CBS and Paramount+. Host Ariana DeBose kicked off the show with a dance-heavy opening number in which she celebrated this year's nominees and the struggles and "journey" that led them to the Broadway awards. The number opened with a close-up on a "Broadway Times" newspaper blaring the headline "SHE'S BACK!!!"
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00:00Hey everyone, I'm Neha Joy and we're at Lincoln Center in New York City for the 77th Annual Tony
00:04Awards and we're breaking down all the highlights from this Broadway season.
00:13From show-stopping performances to emotional speeches, the Tonys put Broadway's biggest night
00:18on full display. Host Ariana DeBose kicked off the show with a dance-heavy opening number in
00:23which she celebrated this year's nominees. The number opened with a close-up on a Broadway
00:28Times newspaper blaring the headline, She's Back. This is the 77th Annual Tony Awards and this
00:34party is for you and all of you at home. As far as the big wins were concerned,
00:40first-time winners seemed to sweep in the acting categories. Daniel Radcliffe took home his first
00:45Tony for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical for Merrily We Roll Along and
00:50gave an emotional speech about his castmates. I will miss you so much. I don't really have to
00:55act in this show. I just have to look at you and feel everything I want to feel.
00:58I will never have it this good again. Thank you. Three-time Tony nominee Jonathan Groff also won
01:03his first trophy for Best Lead Actor in a Musical for Merrily and gave an equally emotional speech
01:09sharing his lifetime love for the musical theater community. To actually be able to be a part of
01:15making theater in this city and just as much to be able to watch the work of this incredible,
01:23incredible community has been the greatest gift and pleasure of my life.
01:28Sarah Paulson won Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play for Appropriate
01:33and Jeremy Strong won the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
01:37in a Play for An Enemy of the People. This play is a cry from the heart and an exhortation to
01:44face up to the difficult truths that are staring us all down right now.
01:47Other first-time winners included Malia Joy Moon, Cara Young, Will Brill and Keisha Lewis.
01:53The telecast put on performances like no other, including from Water for Elephants,
01:57Stereophonic, Cabaret and more.
02:06Another big highlight was Jay-Z and Alicia Keys performing their hit,
02:09Empire State of Mind, in honor of Keys' best musical contender Hell's Kitchen,
02:14which earned 13 nominations heading into the night.
02:23The Tony's telecast was largely free of political commentary. However,
02:27Suf's Shana Taube, accepting for her Hillary Clinton-backed musical about women getting
02:31the right to vote, gave an impassioned speech about the state of the country.
02:35And finally, the big awards of the night. The Outsiders was named Best Musical,
02:39while Merrily We Roll Along won the Tony for Best Revival of a Musical.
02:43Stereophonic was named Best Play, while Appropriate won the award for Best Revival of a Play.
02:48For more on the biggest highlights and everything you missed from this year's
02:51Tony Awards, head to THR.com. And for the latest entertainment news and updates,
02:57keep watching The Hollywood Reporter News.