The best moments of the 2019 Tony Awards

This year’s Tony Awards brought together some of the New York stage’s luminaries to celebrate a season full of talent and triumph on Broadway’s biggest night. James Corden hosted the proceedings live from Radio City Music Hall. From musical performances to living legends winning their first ever Tony to emotional speeches, here are the highlights from the 73rd annual Tony Awards.

Jake Gyllenhaal and his declared “fiancée” Tina Fey presented the first award of the night on a high note with some delightful banter that made us instantly want to watch this dynamic play out further in a rom-com. Fey observed that in 2019 it should no longer be necessary to separate awards by gender, but instead there should be two acting categories: humans and puppets. “Did you know it takes eight guys to operate Bryan Cranston?” she joked.

The cast of Ain’t Too Proud to Beg took to the stage of Radio City Music Hall to deliver a show-stopping medley of many of the Temptations greatest hits. The show is a definitive crowd-pleaser, and this performance made it obvious why. There’s no shortage of things that made it great from the slick dance moves that recreate the Temptations iconic choreography to two-time Tony nominee Jeremy Pope’s incredible high notes. Get ready ’cause here comes one of Broadway’s most enjoyable night’s out.

Elaine May is truly a living legend, so it’s fitting that after 50 years away from the stage, May returned to a play that earned her the first Tony year of her decade-spanning career. May thanked her cast, directors, and producers by singing their praises. “I’ve never won a nomination for acting before, so I want to tell you how I did it,” she said before rattling through a list of everyone who helped bring her to this point. Then, in true comedic form, she spoiled the ending of her new play, talking about her death and chalking up her Tony to the moving way Lucas Hedges described her death onstage. “He described it, so heartbreaking, he was so touching, that watching from the wings, I thought, ‘I’m gonna win this guy’s Tony,’” she quipped.

If there’s not a mid-musical number full costume transformation live onstage, did the Tony Awards even happen? Last year, Elsa did it in Frozen but this year saw an onstage gender bend as Santino Fontano performed the Act One finale, “Unstoppable” in which he transforms from struggling actor Michael Dorsey into Broadway darling Dorothy Michaels. It’s a true moment of Broadway magic as each night, in under a minute, Fontana goes from jeans, a T-shirt, and ballcap to Dorothy’s iconic red dress, heels, wig, and glasses. Tony Awards performances are about showing the best you got to potential audiences at home — and we’re sure this got many people to jump immediately on to Ticketmaster.

Fondly known as “sexy Oklahoma,” this revival infuses the classic Rodgers & Hammerstein musical with some modern energy — and costumes! If you’re in doubt as to how this could work, this performance of Ado Annie’s “I Cain’t Say No” and the title song should have quieted any naysayers. It showcased the new energy and life this revival injects into one of the American stage’s most beloved (and sometimes musty) shows. Not to mention, the vocals of Tony winner Ali Stroker and nominee Damon Daunno proved just how much power there still is in these classic songs, while giving them a modern-folksy vibe akin to O Brother Where Art Thou? This performance made it clear this revival is more than just OK!

While winning the Tony for Best Director of a Musical for Hadestown, Rachel Chavkin made an impassioned speech, pleading for Broadway to be more inclusive to women and people of color, especially in jobs like directing. “Life is a team sport, and so is walking out of hell, that’s what is at the heart of this show,” Chavkin said, before using that metaphor to make a statement about the frequently white, male creative teams on Broadway. “I wish I wasn’t the only woman directing a musical on Broadway this season. So many women who are ready to go, so many people of color are ready to go,” she said. “This is not a pipeline issue. It is a failure of imagination by a field whose job is to imagine a world the way it could be.” Chavkin is only the fourth woman to win in this category in 73 years, following in the footsteps of Julie Taymor, Susan Stroman, and Diane Paulus.

Stroker won tonight for her portrayal of Ado Annie in the revival of Oklahoma, making her the first actress who uses a wheelchair to win a Tony Award in history. The actress was visibly moved by the momentous win, using her speech to inspire others. “This award is for every kid who is watching tonight who has a disability, who has a limiation, or a challenge, who has been waiting to see themselves represented in this arena. You are!” she proclaimed. And there wasn’t a dry eye in the house afterward — you cain’t say no to this kind of heartfelt emotion on the Tony stage.