Year by Year

2017 – 71^st Annual Tony Awards

Sunday, June 11, 2017
Radio City Music Hall
Broadcast on CBS

Executive Producers: Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss, White Cherry Entertainment 
Director: Glenn Weiss
Musical Direction: Patrick Vaccariello
Writer: Dave Boone

Host
Kevin Spacey

Presenters & Performers
David Abeles, Scott Bakula, Sara Bareilles, Dr. Jill Biden, Orlando Bloom, Rachel Bloom, Jared Bradshaw, Jon Jon Briones, Glenn Close, Stephen Colbert, Chuck Cooper, Brian d’Arcy James, Ron Duguay, Jennifer Ehle, Cynthia Erivo, Tina Fey, Sally Field, Sutton Foster, Josh Gad, Whoopi Goldberg, Jonathan Groff, Justin Guarini, Mark Hamill, Taraji P. Henson, Christopher Jackson, Allison Janney, Scarlett Johansson, Anna Kendrick, Keegan-Michael Key, Nick Kroll, John Legend, John Lithgow, Laurie Metcalf, Bette Midler, Patina Miller, Lin-Manuel Miranda, John Mulaney, Leslie Odom, Jr., Okierete Onadowan, David Oyelowo, Chazz Palminteri, Sarah Paulson, Lea Salonga, Kevin Smith Kirkwood, Tom Sturridge, Tommy Tune, Olivia Wilde, Michelle Wilson, and Robin Wright.

Musical Numbers

• Opening Number – Great Tony Awards hosts of the past showed what it takes to host the awards. In “Broadway Bound,” Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, and Stephen Colbert helped this years host to prepare for the role. The number featured the Radio City Rockettes and celebrated the year’s nominated musicals.
• Come From Away – Tony nominee Jenn Colella and the cast performed a rousing rendition of “Welcome to the Rock.”
• Miss Saigon – Tony nominee Eva Noblezada and the cast performed a medley of “This is the Hour” and “I’d Give My Life For You.”
• Falsettos – Tony nominees Christian Borle, Andrew Rannells, Brandon Uranowitz, Stephanie J. Block, and the cast welcomed the audience to “A Day in Falsettoland.”
• Dear Evan Hansen – Tony nominee Ben Platt performed “Waving Through a Window,” joined by his fellow cast members.
• Groundhog Day – Tony nominee Andy Karl and the cast charmed the audience with a heartwarming performance of “Seeing You.”
• Hello, Dolly! – Tony nominee David Hyde Pierce provided sage financial advice with “Penny in My Pocket.”
• Past Tony-winners Cynthia Erivo and Leslie Odom, Jr. delivered a show-stopping performance of “New York, New York,” accompanied by the iconic Radio City Rockettes. 
• War Paint – Tony nominees and Broadway legends Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersole performed the musical’s eleven o’clock number, “Face to Face.”
• Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 – Performers took to the aisles while Tony nominees Josh Groban, Denée Benton, Lucas Steele, and the cast performed a spirited medley of “Dust and Ashes” and “The Abduction,” accompanied by Tony nominated composer/lyricist Dave Malloy on the piano.
• Bandstand – The cast performed “Nobody,” showing off Tony nominee Andy Blankenbuehler’s swinging choreography.
• In Memoriam – Mark Hamill introduced an a capella performance by David Abeles, Chuck Cooper, Justin Guarini, Okierete Onadowan, and Kevin Smith Kirkwood of “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday” that paid tribute to members of the Broadway community who passed on during the year.
• Curtain Call – Patti LuPone joined the host in closing the show with the Bobby Darin classic “The Curtain Falls,” inviting all of the new Tony Awards-winners to join them on the stage.

Other Elements

• Host Kevin Spacey delivered impressions throughout Tony night, including former President Bill Clinton and Johnny Carson. In addition, he made an appearance as House of Cards alter ego, President Frank Underwood, accompanied by Robin Wright as Claire Underwood.
• Each of the playwrights of the four Tony-nominated Best Plays took to the stage during the ceremony. Paula Vogel introduced her play Indecent. Lucas Hnath, introduced by nominee Laurie Metcalf, spoke about A Doll’s House, Part 2. J.T. Rodgers, introduced by nominee Jennifer Ehle, told the story of Oslo. And finally Lynn Nottage, introduced by nominee Michelle Wilson, described Sweat.
• Rachel Bloom–writer and star of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend–gave viewers a glimpse behind-the-scenes during a recurring backstage segment, talking with nominees and commenting on the proceedings in her unique comedic style.
• Several shows made food-laden cameo appearances: Sara Bareilles, writer and star of Waitress, offered slices of pie to members of the audience; Jared Bradshaw of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory handed out chocolate bars (as Willy Wonka); and Chazz Palminteri took to the stage to offer up cannoli in honor of A Bronx Tale. 
• Carnegie Mellon University graduate Josh Gad acknowledged Rachel Harry of Hood River Valley High School in Hood River, OR, as the recipient of the 2017 Excellence in Theatre Education Award, presented by Carnegie Mellon and the Tony Awards.
• Jonathan Groff and Brian d’Arcy James co-hosted the Creative Arts Awards, sponsored by City National Bank, which took place prior to and during breaks in the telecast.
• Live coverage of the Tony Awards red carpet and behind-the-scenes footage was streamed on TonyAwards.com and other platforms. Frank DiLella and past Special Tony Award recipient Sarah Jones co-hosted “On Stage Live Red Carpet to the Tonys,” presented by Spectrum News NY1. In addition, Erich Bergen hosted a “CBS Red Carpet Special” Facebook Live stream.