‘Kimberly Akimbo’ Tops Tony Awards With 5 Wins, Including Best Musical (Full Winners List)
Broadway’s biggest night returned on Sunday, as the 2023 Tony Awards ceremony not only took place but was telecast live — something that wasn’t necessarily guaranteed due to the writers’ strike. “Kimberly Akimbo” was the big winner with five Tonys, including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical and Best Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role in a Musical for Victoria Clark.
The Tom Stoppard-penned “Leopoldstadt” and “Some Like It Hot” followed with four wins each, with “Leopoldstadt” taking Best Play.
The night was also doubly historic as “Shucked” performer Alex Newell became the first nonbinary actor to win a Tony, with “Some Like It Hot” star J. Harrison Ghee marking the second nonbinary winner of the night with their win later on.
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Suzan-Lori Parks’ “Topdog/Underdog” won Best Revival of a Play and “Parade” was named Best Revival of the Musical. Patrick Marber took Best Direction of a Play for “Leopoldstadt,” while Nevin Steinberg won Best Direction of a Musical for “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.”
After initially denying a waiver for the Tony Awards to proceed as normal, the WGA changed its mind (thanks in part to lobbying from the Broadway community who argued the Tonys are vital to boosting the struggling theater business). The show went forward without a script, with host Ariana DeBose acknowledging at the top of the show she’d be making it up as she went along (and she did a fine job, too, with more than a few winks at the importance of writers).
Going into the ceremony, “Some Like It Hot” topped all nominees across categories with 13 nominations, including Best Musical. “& Juliet,” “Shucked” and “New York, New York” scored nine nominations a piece, while “Kimberly Akimbo” was up for eight awards.
The 76th Annual Tony Awards were presented by the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing and executive produced by Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss/White Cherry Entertainment (the latter of whom also directed the telecast).
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Best Play
“Ain’t No Mo'”
Author: Jordan E. Cooper
Producers: Lee Daniels, BET: Black Entertainment Television, Len Blavatnik, Ron Burkle, Aryeh B. Bourkoff, 59th & Prairie Entertainment, RuPaul Charles, I’ll Have Another Productions, Jeremy O. Harris, Lena Waithe, Tucker Tooley Entertainment, CJ Uzomah, Ann Cox, Gina Purlia, Bob Yari, Marvin Peart, Colleen Camp, Marvet Britto, Jeremy Green, Sue Wagner, John Johnson, Jillian Robbins, The Public Theater, Oskar Eustis, Patrick Willingham, Mandy Hackett
“Between Riverside and Crazy”
Author: Stephen Adly Guirgis
Producers: Second Stage Theater, Carole Rothman, Khady Kamara, Atlantic Theater Company
“Cost of Living”
Author: Martyna Majok
Producers: Manhattan Theatre Club, Lynne Meadow, Barry Grove, Williamstown Theatre Festival
“Fat Ham”
Author: James Ijames
Producers: No Guarantees, Public Theater Productions, Rashad V. Chambers, National Black Theatre, Tim Levy, Bards on Broadway, Bob Boyett, Ghostbuster Productions, James Ijames, Cynthia Stroum, Audible, Adam Cohen, Blake Devillier, Firemused Productions/JamRock Productions, The Forstalls, Iconic Vizion/Corey Brunish, John Gore Organization, Midnight Theatricals, David Miner, Robin Gorman Newman/PickleStar Theatricals, Marc Platt, Play on Shakespeare, The Wilma Theater, Colman Domingo, Cynthia Erivo, Andy Jones, Dylan Pager, Roundabout Theatre Company, Oskar Eustis, Patrick Willingham, Mandy Hackett, Sade Lythcott, Jonathan McCrory
“Leopoldstadt” – WINNER
Author: Tom Stoppard
Producers: Sonia Friedman Productions, Roy Furman, Lorne Michaels, Stephanie P. McClelland, Gavin Kalin, Delman Sloan, Eilene Davidson, Brad Edgerton, Patrick Gracey, Hunter Arnold, Burnt Umber Productions, Cue to Cue Productions, The Factor Gavin Partnership, Harris Rubin Productions, Robert Nederlander, Jr., No Guarantees, Sandy Robertson, Iris Smith, Jamie deRoy/Catherine Adler, Dodge Hall Productions/Waverly Productions, Richardo Hornos/Robert Tichio, Heni Koenigsberg/Wendy Federman, Thomas S. Perakos/Stephanie Kramer, Brian Spector/Judith Seinfeld, Richard Winkler/Alan Shorr
Best Musical
“& Juliet”
Producers: Max Martin & Tim Headington, Theresa Steele Page, Jenny Petersson, Martin Dodd, Eva Price, Lukasz Gottwald, 42nd.club, Independent Presenters Network, Jack Lane, Library Company, Shellback, Shivhans Pictures, Sing Out, Louise!, Kim Szarzynski, Taylor/Riegler, Tenenbaum/Keyes, Barry Weiss, John Gore Organization
“Kimberly Akimbo” – WINNER
Producers: David Stone, Atlantic Theater Company, James L. Nederlander, LaChanze, John Gore, Patrick Catullo, Aaron Glick
“New York, New York”
Producers: Sonia Friedman Productions, Tom Kirdahy, Wendy Federman & Heni Koenigsberg, Crossroads Live, Playing Field, Stephanie P. McClelland, Ambassador Theatre Group, Waiting in the Wings Productions, Colin Callender, Gilbert and DeeDee Garcia/Sue Vaccaro, Peter May, Rileyfan, Silverhopkins+/Hunter Johnson, Jay Alix & Una Jackman, Eric Passmore, Thomas Swayne, Elliott Cornelious/SunnySpot Productions, Santino DeAngelo/Cynthia Tong, Craig Balsam, Richard Batchelder, Concord Theatricals, Creative Partners Productions, Marguerite Hoffman, Jessica R. Jenen, John Gore Organization, MGM on Stage, James L. Nederlander, Linda B. Rubin, Seriff Productions, Shivhans Pictures, 42nd.club/Beards on Broadway, AGL Productions/Brad Blume, Hunter Arnold/Red Mountain Theatre, Cue to Cue Productions/Roy Putrino, Jamie deRoy/Janet and Marvin Rosen, Edgewood/Silva Theatrical Group, Dale Franzen/Henry R. Muñoz, III, Deborah Green/Chris Mattsson, Branden Grimmett/DMQR Productions, Christen James/Gregory Carroll, NETworks Presentations/Lamar Richardson, Ron Simons/Adam Zell, Chartoff-Winkler
“Shucked”
Producers: Mike Bosner, Jason Owen, AEG Presents/Jay Marciano/Gary Gersh, Jeffrey A. Sine, Richard Smith, Silvia Schmid, Bob Boyett, Jeremiah J. Harris, James L. Nederlander, EST/Emily Tisch, Sony Music Entertaiment, DudaAllen, David W. Busch, Karen Fairchild, HoriPro Inc., Gordon-Helfner, John Gore Organization, Madison Wells Live, S&Co., Terry Schnuck, Jimi Westbrook, ZKM Media
“Some Like It Hot”
Producers: The Shubert Organization, Neil Meron, MGM on Stage, Roy Furman, Robert Greenblatt, James L. Nederlander, Kenny Leon, Hunter Arnold, John Gore Organization, The Dalgleish Library Company Group, Sheboygan Conservatory Partners, Ambassador Theatre Group Productions, Bob Boyett, Cue to Cue Productions, Janet and Marvin Rosen, The Araca Group, Concord Theatricals, Marc Howard, Independent Presenters Network, Juanita Jordan, Jujamcyn Theaters, Henry R. Muñoz, III, Ostar, Mariah Carey, D.S. Moynihan
Best Revival of a Play
“August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson”
Producers: Brian Anthony Moreland, Sonia Friedman, Tom Kirdahy, Kandi Burruss & Todd Tucker, Hunter Arnold, Playing Field, The Factor Gavin Partnership, FBK Productions/42nd.club, Jay Alix & Una Jackman, Creative Partners Productions, Harris Rubin Productions, Marguerite Steed Hoffman, Alia Jones-Harvey, Mark Gordon Pictures, Stephanie McClelland, Moore Delman, James L. Nederlander, Seriff Productions, The Shubert Organization, Salman Al-Rashid/Jamie deRoy, Brad Blume/Cliff Hopkins, Jean Doumanian /Fakston Productions, Edgewood/DMQR Productions, Jay & Cindy Gutterman/Caiola Productions, Van Kaplan/Lu-Shawn Thompson, Erik A. King/Finewomen Productions, Marc David Levine/William Frisbie, Syrinda Paige/Kevin Ryan & Diane Scott Carter, Silva Theatrical Group/Tilted, Thomas Swayne/Cynthia J. Tong, Constanza Romero-Wilson
“A Doll’s House”
New Version by: Amy Herzog
Producers: Ambassador Theatre Group Productions, Gavin Kalin Productions, Wessex Grove, Julie Boardman, Kate Cannova, Bob Boyett, Hunter Arnold, Creative Partners Productions, Eilene Davidson Productions, GGRS, Kater Gordon, Louise L. Gund, Los Angeles Media Fund, Stephanie P. McClelland, Tilted, Jessica Chastain, Caitlin Clements/Francesca Moody Productions, Caiola Productions/Amanda Lee, Ted & Richard Liebowitz/Joeyen-Waldorf Squeri, Richard & Cecilia Attias/Thomas S. Barnes, OHenry Theatre Nerd Productions/Runyonland MMP, The Jamie Lloyd Company
“The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window”
Producers: Seaview, Sue Wagner, John Johnson, Phil Kenny, Audible, Sony Music Masterworks, Jillian Robbins, Jeremy O. Harris, Larry Hirschhorn and Ricardo Hornos, Shields Smedes Stern Ltd., Kevin Ryan, The Shubert Organization, Willette and Manny Klausner, Marco Santarelli, Be Forward Productions, Concord Theatricals, Creative Partners Productions, Invisible Wall Productions, Salman and Moudhy Al-Rashid, TodayTix Group, Ido Gal, HarrisDonnelly, Sally Cade Holmes, Stella LaRue, LAMF Protozoa, Kati Meister and John Sorkin, Meredith Lynsey Schade, Catherine Schreiber, Dennis Trunfio, MCM Studios, 42nd.club, BAMM Productions, CarterMackTaylorWilliam, HB2M Productions, HK-Undivided Productions, MAJIKK Theatricals, Tanker Kollev Productions, Douglas Denoff, OHenry Productions, Plate Spinner Productions, Runyonland Productions, Mad Gene Media, Scrap Paper Pictures, Joi Gresham, BAM, Gina Duncan, David Binder, Elizabeth Moreau
“Suzan-Lori Parks’ Topdog/Underdog” – WINNER
Producers: David Stone, LaChanze, Rashad V. Chambers, Marc Platt, Debra Martin Chase, The Shubert Organization
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Best Revival of a Musical
“Into the Woods”
Producers: Jujamcyn Theaters, Jordan Roth, New York City Center, Daryl Roth, Hunter Arnold, Concord Theatricals, Nicole Eisenberg, Jessica R. Jenen, Michael Cassel Group, Kevin Ryan, ShowTown Productions, Armstrong, Gold & Ross, Nicole Kastrinos
“Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot”
Producers: Lincoln Center Theater, André Bishop, Adam Siegel, Naomi Grabel
“Parade” – WINNER
Producers: Seaview, Ambassador Theatre Group Productions, Alex Levy, Kevin Ryan, Eric & Marsi Gardiner, Interscope & Immersive Records, Erica Lynn Schwartz, Creative Partners Productions, Marcia Goldberg, John Gore Organization, Cynthia Stroum, Tom Tuft, Benjamin Simpson, Nathan Vernon, Brian & Nick Ginsberg, Ruth & Stephen Hendel, Roth-Manella Productions, Chutzpah Productions, 42nd.club, Ahava 72 Productions, The Andryc Brothers, The Array, At Rise Creative, Caiola Jenen Productions, Coles Achilles, deRoy Brunish Productions, Fakston Productions, Federman Batchelder, Level Forward, Pencil Factory Productions, Renard Lynch, Robin Merrie, Rubin Stuckelman, Runyonland Sussman, Kristin Caskey, Mike Isaacson, Bee Carrozzini, New York City Center
“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”
Producers: Jeffrey Seller, Bob Boyett, Diana DiMenna & Plate Spinner Productions/Aaron Glick, Eastern Standard Time, Roy Furman, Thomas Kail, Jim Kierstead/Benjamin Leon IV, TourDForce Theatrical, Maggie Brohn, Andy Jones
Best Book of a Musical
“& Juliet,” David West Read
“Kimberly Akimbo,” David Lindsay-Abaire – WINNER
“New York, New York,” David Thompson & Sharon Washington
“Shucked,” Robert Horn
“Some Like It Hot,” Matthew López & Amber Ruffin
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
“Almost Famous”
Music: Tom Kitt
Lyrics: Cameron Crowe & Tom Kitt
“Kimberly Akimbo” – WINNER
Music: Jeanine Tesori
Lyrics: David Lindsay-Abaire
“KPOP”
Music & Lyrics: Helen Park & Max Vernon
“Shucked”
Music & Lyrics: Brandy Clark & Shane McAnally
“Some Like It Hot”
Music: Marc Shaiman
Lyrics: Scott Wittman & Marc Shaiman
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, “Suzan-Lori Parks’ Topdog/Underdog”
Corey Hawkins, “Suzan-Lori Parks’ Topdog/Underdog”
Sean Hayes, “Good Night, Oscar” – WINNER
Stephen McKinley Henderson, “Between Riverside and Crazy”
Wendell Pierce, “Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman”
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Jessica Chastain, “A Doll’s House”
Jodie Comer, “Prima Facie” – WINNER
Jessica Hecht, “Summer, 1976”
Audra McDonald, “Ohio State Murders”
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Christian Borle, “Some Like It Hot”
J. Harrison Ghee, “Some Like It Hot” – WINNER
Josh Groban, “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”
Brian d’Arcy James, “Into the Woods”
Ben Platt, “Parade”
Colton Ryan, “New York, New York”
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Annaleigh Ashford, “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”
Sara Bareilles, “Into the Woods”
Victoria Clark, “Kimberly Akimbo” – WINNER
Lorna Courtney, “& Juliet”
Micaela Diamond, “Parade”
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Jordan E. Cooper, “Ain’t No Mo'”
Samuel L. Jackson, “August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson”
Arian Moayed, “A Doll’s House”
Brandon Uranowitz, “Leopoldstadt” – WINNER
David Zayas, “Cost of Living”
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Nikki Crawford, “Fat Ham”
Crystal Lucas-Perry, “Ain’t No Mo'”
Miriam Silverman, “The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window” – WINNER
Katy Sullivan, “Cost of Living”
Kara Young, “Cost of Living”
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Kevin Cahoon, “Shucked”
Justin Cooley, “Kimberly Akimbo”
Kevin Del Aguila, “Some Like It Hot”
Jordan Donica, “Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot”
Alex Newell, “Shucked” – WINNER
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Julia Lester, “Into the Woods”
Ruthie Ann Miles, “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”
Bonnie Milligan, “Kimberly Akimbo” – WINNER
NaTasha Yvette Williams, “Some Like It Hot”
Betsy Wolfe, “& Juliet”
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Best Scenic Design of a Play
Miriam Buether, “Prima Facie”
Tim Hatley & Andrzej Goulding, “Life of Pi” – WINNER
Rachel Hauck, “Good Night, Oscar”
Richard Hudson, “Leopoldstadt”
Dane Laffrey & Lucy Mackinnon, “A Christmas Carol”
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Beowulf Boritt, “New York, New York” – WINNER
Mimi Lien, “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”
Michael Yeargan & 59 Productions, “Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot”
Scott Pask, “Shucked”
Scott Pask, “Some Like It Hot”
Best Costume Design of a Play
Tim Hatley, Nick Barnes & Finn Caldwell, “Life of Pi”
Dominique Fawn Hill, “Fat Ham”
Brigitte Reiffenstuel, “Leopoldstadt” – WINNER
Emilio Sosa, “Ain’t No Mo'”
Emilio Sosa, “Good Night, Oscar”
Best Costume Design of a Musical
Gregg Barnes, “Some Like It Hot” – WINNER
Susan Hilferty, “Parade”
Jennifer Moeller, “Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot”
Clint Ramos & Sophia Choi, “KPOP”
Paloma Young, “& Juliet”
Donna Zakowska, “New York, New York”
Best Lighting Design of a Play
Neil Austin, “Leopoldstadt”
Natasha Chivers, “Prima Facie”
Jon Clark, “A Doll’s House”
Bradley King, “Fat Ham”
Tim Lutkin, “Life of Pi” – WINNER
Jen Schriever, “Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman”
Ben Stanton, “A Christmas Carol”
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Ken Billington, “New York, New York”
Lap Chi Chu, “Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot”
Heather Gilbert, “Parade”
Howard Hudson, “& Juliet”
Natasha Katz, “Some Like It Hot”
Natasha Katz, “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” – WINNER
Best Sound Design of a Play
Jonathan Deans & Taylor Williams, “Ain’t No Mo'”
Carolyn Downing, “Life of Pi” – WINNER
Joshua D. Reid, “A Christmas Carol”
Ben & Max Ringham, “A Doll’s House”
Ben & Max Ringham, “Prima Facie”
Best Sound Design of a Musical
Kai Harada, “New York, New York”
John Shivers, “Shucked”
Scott Lehrer & Alex Neumann, “Into the Woods”
Gareth Owen, “& Juliet”
Nevin Steinberg, “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” – WINNER
Best Direction of a Play
Saheem Ali, “Fat Ham”
Jo Bonney, “Cost of Living”
Jamie Lloyd, “A Doll’s House”
Patrick Marber, “Leopoldstadt” – WINNER
Stevie Walker-Webb, “Ain’t No Mo'”
Max Webster, “Life of Pi”
Also Read:
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Best Direction of a Musical
Michael Arden, “Parade” – WINNER
Lear deBessonet, “Into the Woods”
Casey Nicholaw, “Some Like It Hot”
Jack O’Brien, “Shucked”
Jessica Stone, “Kimberly Akimbo”
Best Choreography
Steven Hoggett, “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”
Casey Nicholaw, “Some Like It Hot” – WINNER
Susan Stroman, “New York, New York”
Jennifer Weber, “& Juliet”
Jennifer Weber, “KPOP”
Best Orchestrations
Bill Sherman and Dominic Fallacaro, “& Juliet”
John Clancy, “Kimberly Akimbo”
Jason Howland, “Shucked”
Charlie Rosen & Bryan Carter, “Some Like It Hot” – WINNER
Daryl Waters & Sam Davis, “New York, New York”
