The 70th Annual Tony Awards were held on June 12, 2016, to recognize achievement in Broadway productions during the 2015–16 season. The ceremony temporarily returned to the Beacon Theatre in New York City after three years at Radio City Music Hall and was broadcast live by CBS.Paulson, Michael. "Broadway’s Tony Awards Move From Radio City to Beacon Theater for 2016" The New York Times, November 14, 2015 James Corden served as host.Viagas, Robert. "James Corden Will Host the 2016 Tony Awards" Playbill.com, February 2, 2016
Hamilton received a record-setting 16 nominations in 13 categories, ultimately winning 11 awards, the second-most for a single production in Tony history. The revival of The Color Purple won two awards. The Humans won four awards, and the revival productions of plays Long Day's Journey into Night and A View from the Bridge each won two awards.
The ceremony received positive reviews, with many highlighting the performance of Corden as host. At the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards, it won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Class Program, and was nominated for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special, Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control for a Limited Series, Movie, or Special and Outstanding Lighting Design / Lighting Direction for a Variety Special.Ungerman, Alex. "Emmys 2017: The Complete Winners List" MSN.com, September 18, 2017.
Eligibility Shows that opened on Broadway during the 2015–2016 season before April 28, 2016, were eligible for consideration.Viagas, Robert. "See Who Will Announce the 2016 Tony Nominations" Playbill, March 16, 2016
Original plays An Act of God China Doll Eclipsed The Father The Humans King Charles III Misery Our Mother's Brief Affair Thérèse Raquin
Original musicals Allegiance Amazing Grace American Psycho Bright Star Disaster! Hamilton On Your Feet! School of Rock Shuffle Along Tuck Everlasting Waitress
Play revivals Blackbird The Crucible Fool for Love Fully Committed The Gin Game Hughie Long Day's Journey into Night Noises Off Old Times Sylvia A View from the Bridge
Musical revivals The Color Purple Dames at Sea Fiddler on the Roof She Loves Me Spring Awakening
Awards events
Nominations The Tony Award nominations were announced on May 3, 2016, by Nikki M. James and Andrew Rannells.
Hamilton garnered 16 nominations—the most received by any Broadway production to date. Following Hamilton, the season's most-nominated shows included Shuffle Along with 10 nominations and the Roundabout Theatre Company revival of She Loves Me with eight. The revival of Long Day's Journey into Night—also produced by Roundabout—received seven nominations. New plays Eclipsed and The Humans both received six nominations.
The 2015–16 season marked the first time since 1960 and the fourth time in history that five shows had been nominated for Best Musical."Did You Know", broadwayworld.com, May 3, 2016
Other events The annual Meet the Nominees Press Reception took place on May 4, 2016, at the Paramount Hotel."Meet the 2016 Tony Nominees: Hamilton Stars, Laura Benanti, Sara Bareilles and More!", Playbill, May 4, 2016"Tony Awards Calendar" tonyawards.com, accessed May 14, 2016"The Press Meet the Tony Nominees" theaterpizzazz.com, accessed May 14, 2016 The annual Nominees Luncheon took place on May 19, 2016, at the Paramount Hotel."Hamilton's Lin-Manuel Miranda and Eclipsed's Lupita Nyong'o Gleam at the 2016 Tony Awards Nominees Luncheon", InStyle, May 19, 2016 A toast honoring the season's Creative Arts nominees was held at the Lambs Club on May 24, 2016.Levitt, Hayley. "Jane Krakowski, Leslie Odom Jr., and More Toast Creative Arts Tony Nominees", TheaterMania, May 25, 2016 A private reception and cocktail party was held on June 6, 2016, at the Paramount Hotel's Diamond Horseshoe to honor the recipients of the season's Tony Honors for Excellence.Viagas, Robert. "Winners of Special Tony Honors Presented Today", Playbill, June 6, 2016
Ceremony The ceremony was dedicated in honor of the victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting, which had occurred earlier that morning.Gioia, Michael. "Tony Awards Dedicates Tonight’s Ceremony to Orlando Victims" Playbill, June 6, 2016 Corden addressed the shooting in a speech at the beginning of the telecast, stating "All we can say is that you are not on your own right now, your tragedy is our tragedy. Theater is a place where every race, creed, sexuality, and gender is equal, is embraced and is loved. Hate will never win." Winners Lin-Manuel Miranda and Frank Langella also addressed the shooting in their acceptance speeches. Miranda read a sonnet that he had written, which included the passage "Love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love; Cannot be killed or swept aside." In respect toward the victims of the shooting, the cast of Hamilton dropped the use of muskets from their performance of "Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)" at the ceremony.
Presenters The ceremony's presenters included:"Oprah Winfrey, Cate Blanchett, Carole King & More Will Present at the 2016 Tony Awards!" BroadwayWorld.com, May 26, 2016Viagas, Robert. "Barbra Streisand to Appear on the Tony Awards", Playbill, June 1, 2016"More Presenters Announced" tonyawards.com, accessed June 6, 2016Gans, Andrew. "Chita Rivera, Josh Groban and Other Stars Added to Tony Presenters List" Playbill, June 10, 2016
| Jake Gyllenhaal – presented Best Featured Actress in a Play Andrew Lloyd Webber – introduced School of Rock Aaron Tveit and Mary Elizabeth Winstead – presented Best Featured Actress in a Musical Patina Miller and Daniel Dae Kim – presented Best Featured Actor in a Musical Carole King – presented Best Original Score Meg Ryan – introduced She Loves Me Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Lucy Liu – presented Best Direction of a Play and Best Direction of a Musical Josh Groban – introduced Fiddler on the Roof Andrew Rannells and Saoirse Ronan – presented Best Featured Actor in a Play Steve Martin and Edie Brickell – introduced Bright Star Oprah Winfrey – introduced The Color Purple James Earl Jones and Angela Lansbury – special presentation on the Tonys history Nathan Lane – presented Best Actress in a Play
Emilio Estefan – introduced On Your Feet! Cate Blanchett – presented Best Actor in a Play Marlee Matlin – presented Spring Awakening Diane Lane – presented Best Revival of a Play Blair Underwood – presented Excellence in Theatre Education Award Barack Obama, Michelle Obama and Common – introduced Hamilton Christian Borle and Nikki M. James – presenters of the Creative Arts winners Claire Danes – presented Best Play Keri Russell – introduced Waitress Bebe Neuwirth – tribute to Chicago Sean Hayes and Uzo Aduba – presented Best Revival of a Musical Chita Rivera – presenter of the In Memoriam tribute Neil Patrick Harris – presented Best Actor in a Musical Audra McDonald – presented Best Actress in a Musical Barbra Streisand – presented Best Musical
Performances The following shows and performers performed on the ceremony's telecast:Gans, Andrew. "Tony Awards Show Will Feature 10 Performances" Playbill, June 8, 2016Park, Andrea. "Tony Awards 2016 highlights and winners" cbsnews.com, June 12, 2016
"This Could Be You" – James Corden "You're In The Band" – School of Rock "Broadway Blues" – Shuffle Along "Ilona" / "She Loves Me" / "Vanilla Ice Cream" – She Loves Me "Sunrise, Sunset" / "The Wedding Dance" – Fiddler on the Roof "If You Knew My Story" – Bright Star (Steve Martin and Edie Brickell appeared with the company) "Mysterious Ways" / "I'm Here" – The Color Purple "Mega Mix" ("Rhythm is Gonna Get You" / "Conga" / "Oye" / "Turn the Beat Around" / "Everlasting Love" / "Get on Your Feet") – On Your Feet! (Gloria Estefan performed with the company)
Broadway Carpool Karaoke ("On Broadway" / "Alexander Hamilton/Guns and Ships" / "Seasons of Love" / "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" / "One Day More") – James Corden, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Audra McDonald, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and Jane Krakowski "Mama Who Bore Me" / "The Bitch of Living" – Spring Awakening "History Has Its Eyes on You" / "Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)" – Hamilton "Opening Up" / "She Used to Be Mine" – Waitress (Sara Bareilles performed with the company) "The Schuyler Sisters" – Hamilton
Performances that were introduced by individuals who had a relationship with the show included: Steve Martin and Edie Brickell for Bright Star; Oprah Winfrey for The Color Purple; Josh Groban for Fiddler on the Roof; Emilio Estefan for On Your Feet!; Andrew Lloyd Webber for School of Rock; Meg Ryan for She Loves Me; Marlee Matlin for Spring Awakening; and Keri Russell for Waitress. President Obama and Michelle Obama, in a recorded appearance, spoke of seeing the beginnings of Hamilton at the White House. The ceremony also featured a special tribute performance in honor of the 20-year anniversary of the revival production of the musical Chicago, featuring Bebe Neuwirth and company."Bebe Neuwirth & Company Will Celebrate 20 Years of 'Chicago' in Tony Awards Tribute!" broadwayworld.com, June 10, 2016
The opening number, “That Could Be Me/This Could Be You,” was created by host Corden and Gary Barlow, consisting of snippets from many musicals with Corden and the ensemble replicating shows such as Les Misérables, The Lion King, and ending with 42nd Street.Hetrick, Adam. "Tonys: Press Room Live Blog" Playbill, June 12, 2016 During the ceremony, outside the Beacon Theatre, cast members of nominated shows and other nominees performed brief performance excerpts of iconic shows in the Broadway canon, ranging from The Phantom of the Opera to Annie to Rent. The show closed with the cast of Hamilton performing "The Schuyler Sisters".
Non-competitive awards The 2016 Tony Honors for Excellence were awarded to voice coach Joan Lader, attorney Seth Gelblum, and Sally Ann Parsons, owner of the costume shop Parsons-Meares.Viagas, Robert. "Winners of Special Tony Honors Announced" Playbill, April 14, 2016 Lyricist Sheldon Harnick and Circle Repertory Company founder Marshall W. Mason received Special Tony Awards for Lifetime Achievement.Viagas, Robert. "Fiddler Lyricist and Circle Rep Founder to Get Tonys for Lifetime Achievement", Playbill, April 19, 2016 The National Endowment for the Arts and Miles Wilkin, COO and executive vice president of Key Brand Entertainment, received the season's Special Tony Awards.Gans, Andrew. "Winners of Special Tony Awards Announced", Playbill, May 2, 2016 Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey received the Regional Theatre Tony Award.Gans, Andrew. "Paper Mill Playhouse Named Recipient of Regional Theatre Tony Award", Playbill, May 2, 2016 Brian Stokes Mitchell was named as recipient of the Isabelle Stevenson Award for his work with the Actors Fund.Viagas, Robert. "Brian Stokes Mitchell to Receive Isabelle Stevenson Award", Playbill, May 3, 2016 The season's Excellence in Theatre Education Award was awarded to drama teacher Marilyn McCormick of Cass Technical High School in Detroit.Viagas, Robert. "Detroit Drama Teacher Wins 2016 Excellence in Theatre Education Award from Tonys", Playbill, June 1, 2016
Winners and nominees Sources: Playbill;Viagas, Robert. " 'Hamilton' Tops Tony Awards With 11 Wins" Playbill, June 12, 2016 The New York Times; The Guardian
Best Play ‡ Best Musical ‡ The Humans – Stephen Karam Eclipsed – Danai Gurira The Father – Florian Zeller King Charles III – Mike Bartlett Hamilton Bright Star School of Rock Shuffle Along, or, the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed Waitress Best Revival of a Play ‡ Best Revival of a Musical ‡ A View from the Bridge Blackbird The Crucible Long Day's Journey Into Night Noises Off The Color Purple Fiddler on the Roof She Loves Me Spring Awakening Best Actor in a Play Best Actress in a Play Frank Langella – The Father as Andre Gabriel Byrne – Long Day's Journey into Night as James Tyrone