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“Fun Home” wins big at this year’s Tony Awards

While the Tonys are a night to celebrate the best and brightest that Broadway has to offer, last night undoubtedly belonged to Fun Home: The Musical. The groundbreaking show, based on a memoir by lesbian cartoonist and writer Alison Bechdel, may not have swept every category, but it made its presence know in a big way.

Fun Home also made history in more than one way. Not only did the show pick up the coveted Best Musical award, but composer Jeanine Tesori and librettist, out writer Lisa Kron, won the award for Best Score. It was the first time in Tony history that a female writing team had done so. Regrettably, the Tonys did not air the win or their speech.

Boo! Tesori talked about the show’s beloved song, “Ring of Keys,” which she says is not about love, but identification: “For girls, you have to see it to be it.” Kron also won for Best Book of a Musical and Michael Cervaris won Best Actor in a Musical for his stirring portrayal of Bruce Bechdel. Director Sam Gold also picked up a Tony for Direction of a Musical.

Check out Tesori and Kron’s full acceptance speech here.

Speaking of seeing and being, millions of viewers got to see young Sydney Lucas who plays Small Alison, sing “Ring of Keys.” The song is about a moment when Alison sees a butch woman for the first time, and feels a kinship. A young tomboy beginning to embrace that her identity and gleefully knowing that she was not alone in this world, is unlike anything we’ve ever seen on Broadway before. Sydney may not have won the award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, but there’s no doubt that her number will be what people remember most about the event.

As usual, the Tonys were full of gorgeous and sumptuous numbers from the nominees for Best Musical and Best Revival of a Musical. Even the plays nominated got a little love, though admittedly they often get outshined by their splashier musical counterparts. Broadway superstars Kristin Chenoweth and Alan Cumming hosted the event, and while they started out strong and have a natural chemistry, their sections felt a bit unrehearsed and inside-jokey. Kind of like attending the cool kids’ party, only to find that they only want to talk to each other, while you sip flat Diet Coke in the corner.

Other big winners included Annaleigh Ashford, who plays lesbian/former prostitute Betty on Masters of Sex. She took home Best Featured Actress in a Play for the revival of You Can’t Take it With You.

Ruthie Ann Miles had tough competition in the category of Best Featured Actress in a Musical, including Emily Skeggs, Sydney Lucas and Judy Kuhn of Fun Home, but came out on top for her excellent portrayal of Lady Thiang in The King and I. She was adorably sweet and nervous in her acceptance speech.

There is nothing like a Dame, so it’s not surprising that Dame Helen Mirren won Leading Actress in a Play for portraying the Queen in The Audience.

Kelli O’Hara, the Susan Lucci of the Tonys, finally won Best Leading Actress in a Musical for The King and I. After six nominations, it was a joy to see such a hardworking and brilliant actress finally recognized for her excellence. She even did a little dance as she exited.

Any time we get to celebrate works of art upon the stage is a good day, and for that reason, the Tony Awards remain a vital part of the entertainment experience. A win can help a show thrive for months and even years, and even being recognized can have a major impact on the success of a play or musical. Here are some grand moments from the evening that remind us why we love theatre so much in the first place.

For a full list of winners and nominees, check out tonyawards.com.

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