30 Iconic Moments From This Year's Tony Awards

1.For the opening number, we first see a totally blank script in solidarity with the WGA and their ongoing writer's strike.

2.Next, we're whisked away by the art of dance in a performance that I highly recommend watching because WOW?!

If you see any part of the opening dance number, let it be our host Ariana DeBose LEAPING from the top of the stairs:

Paramount + / The 76th Annual Tony Awards / Via Paramount +

3.To get the vibes going, the cast of New York, New York took the stage to start the show with classic Broadway flair:

Check out all the glitzy NYC glory here:

4.The first award of the night, Featured Actor in a Play, went to Brandon Uranowitz for his work in Leopoldstadt:

5.Next, Bonnie Milligan took home the award for Featured Actress in a Musical for her role as Aunt Debra in Kimberly Akimbo.

6.Our eyes and ears were then blessed by an enchanting performance from Camelot.

If you'd like to watch the performance, tra la! It's here:

7.Another win for Leopoldstadt was awarded to Patrick Marber for Best Direction of a Play. He joked in his acceptance speech:

8.Michael Arden won Best Direction of a Musical for Parade and had this iconic thing to say:

9.Next, & Juliet, a jukebox musical filled with pop hits, took the stage for an explosive performance:

You can hear them roar here:

10.In true award show fashion, our host went into the crowd to take a selfie with the star-studded audience including Lin-Manuel Miranda and Kelli O'Hara.

Here's how it turned out:

11.The next award was Featured Actress in a Play, and it was given to Miriam Silverman for her work in The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window.

12.Just when I began to crave a tap dance break, the cast of Some Like It Hot hit the stage:

See all the tippity tappin' here:

13.The next award, Best Revival of a Play, went to Suzan-Lori Parks Topdog/Underdog.

14.We got to see a performance of my new religion, aka the revival of Into the Woods with Sara Bareilles as the baker's wife!! 😍

Here's where you can watch their performance once, or like me, 100 times:

15.Gleeks everywhere SCREAMED a yelp of pride when Alex Newell won for Best Featured Actor.

16.Ben Platt and Micaela Diamond's emotionally debilitating and vocally stunning performance from Parade was everything and more.

Cancel all your parties and forget your big parade — because you can watch it here:

17.Sweeney Todd broke out the fog machine for their performance:

You can see Josh Groban slay as the demon barber of Fleet street here:

18.The Tony Awards suddenly took on the vibe of a very caucasian baseball game with a Sweet Caroline singalong from the Neil Diamond musical: A Beautiful Noise.

You can watch the performance (it was so good! So good!) here:

19.One of the most coveted awards of the night, Best Revival of a Musical, was awarded to Parade:

20.We had a somber moment of remembrance with the stunning Joaquina Kalukango singing "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" from Phantom of the Opera in honor of those who have passed this year.

21.This night continued to make history when it gave the award for best Actor in a Musical to J. Harrison Ghee.

22.Emmy Award winner Jodie Comer became halfway to an EGOT by winning the Tony Award for Lead Actress in a Play for her work in Prima Facie.

23.Best Musical nominees, the cast of Kimberly Akimbo, somehow made me both laugh and cry with their performance.

Watch it here and ✨ feel✨ :

24.Before introducing the next award, Ariana DeBose referenced her iconic BAFTA rap:

25.The award for Best Play was given to Leopoldstadt.

26.Shucked made me realize what I was missing in my life is a musical about corn.

You're gonna want to watch this one because it's corn. I can't imagine a more beautiful thing:

27.The next award was Best Actress in a Musical. It was awarded to Victoria Clark, the lead in Kimberly Akimbo.

28.The award for Lead Actor in a Play was given to Sean Hayes for Good Night, Oscar.

29.The final performance of the night before the last award was Lea Michele in Funny Girl.

Rachel Berry was in the room. Watch the performance here:

30.The last award, Best Musical, was awarded to the incredible Kimberly Akimbo!

What. A. Year. I'll be listening to the Some Like It Hot soundtrack on repeat until next year's Tony Awards! Let me know what you thought about this year's performances and award winners!