The 76th Annual Tony Awards, held on June 11, 2023, celebrated the best of Broadway’s 2022–2023 season, with Kimberly Akimbo winning Best Musical and Leopoldstadt taking home Best Play. The ceremony, hosted by Ariana DeBose at the United Palace in Washington Heights, was a historic night marked by unscripted performances due to the WGA strike and milestone wins for non-binary actors Alex Newell and J. Harrison Ghee.
Historical Context of the 76th Tony Awards
The 2023 Tony Awards arrived at a pivotal juncture for the Broadway industry. As the world looks back from 2026, this particular ceremony is remembered as the "Unscripted Tonys." Because of the 2023 Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike, the telecast proceeded without a script, relying entirely on the charisma of host Ariana DeBose and the raw emotion of the winners' acceptance speeches. This format forced a focus on the artistry of the performers and the resilience of the theatre community.
The venue itself was a departure from tradition. For the first time, the awards were held at the United Palace in Washington Heights, rather than the usual Midtown Manhattan locations like Radio City Music Hall or the Beacon Theatre. This move was part of an effort to embrace the broader geography of New York City and its diverse cultural heritage. The 2022–2023 season was also the first full, uninterrupted season since the COVID-19 pandemic, making the stakes for commercial success and critical recognition exceptionally high for the participating productions.
Major Winners: Kimberly Akimbo and Leopoldstadt
The night’s top honors were divided between a whimsical, heart-wrenching new musical and a sweeping, historical family drama.
Best Musical: Kimberly Akimbo
Kimberly Akimbo was the evening's biggest winner, securing five Tony Awards, including the coveted Best Musical. Based on the 2001 play by David Lindsay-Abaire, with music by Jeanine Tesori, the show tells the story of a teenage girl suffering from a rare genetic condition that causes her to age at four times the normal rate.
The production's success was rooted in its ability to balance absurdist comedy with profound melancholy. Victoria Clark, who played the title character, won her second Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical. Her portrayal of a 15-year-old trapped in the body of a 72-year-old was praised for its physical precision and emotional depth. The show also won for Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, and Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical (Bonnie Milligan).
Best Play: Leopoldstadt
Tom Stoppard’s Leopoldstadt took home four awards, including Best Play. This marked Stoppard’s fifth Tony for Best Play, a record for any playwright. The play is a semi-autobiographical, multi-generational epic that follows a Jewish family in Vienna from the turn of the 20th century through the horrors of the Holocaust.
The victory for Leopoldstadt was seen as a testament to the enduring power of large-scale dramatic storytelling on Broadway. In an era where small-cast plays often dominate for financial reasons, Leopoldstadt featured a massive ensemble. Brandon Uranowitz won Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play for his role as Ludwig, delivering a speech that highlighted the importance of Jewish representation and the play's themes of identity and memory.
Breaking Barriers: Historic Wins for Non-Binary Performers
One of the most significant highlights of the 2023 Tony Awards was the recognition of non-binary talent in gendered categories. Prior to the ceremony, there was significant industry discussion regarding how the American Theatre Wing would handle non-binary performers.
Alex Newell, starring in Shucked, won Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical. Newell’s powerhouse rendition of "Independently Owned" was a nightly showstopper, and their win was met with a standing ovation. During their speech, Newell stated, "I should not be up here as a queer, non-binary, fat, Black little baby from Massachusetts... Thank you for seeing me, Broadway."
Shortly after, J. Harrison Ghee won Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical for their role as Daphne in Some Like It Hot. Ghee became the second non-binary performer of the night to win, reinforcing a shift toward more inclusive recognition in the theatre. These wins prompted the Tony Awards and other Broadway institutions to further evaluate gender-neutral categories in subsequent years.
The Unscripted Telecast: Navigating the WGA Strike
The 2023 ceremony was a masterclass in live television adaptability. Due to the WGA strike, no scripted material could be written for the host or presenters. Ariana DeBose opened the show with a dance-heavy number that featured no lyrics, symbolizing the "silent" support for the writers while allowing the show to continue.
The lack of a script resulted in:
- More Authentic Speeches: Winners were not pressured by "wrap-it-up" cues as strictly as in previous years, leading to more heartfelt and spontaneous moments.
- Focus on Performance: The telecast leaned heavily into musical numbers from the nominated shows, including Into the Woods, Sweeney Todd, and & Juliet.
- Host Improvisation: DeBose’s ability to command the room without a teleprompter was widely lauded by critics, proving that the vitality of live theatre can translate to a broadcast even under restrictive circumstances.
Full List of 2023 Tony Award Winners
Below is the comprehensive list of winners for the 76th Annual Tony Awards. This table serves as a reference for the creative and technical achievements of the season.
| Category | Winner | Production |
|---|---|---|
| Best Musical | — | Kimberly Akimbo |
| Best Play | — | Leopoldstadt |
| Best Revival of a Musical | — | Parade |
| Best Revival of a Play | — | Topdog/Underdog |
| Best Leading Actor (Musical) | J. Harrison Ghee | Some Like It Hot |
| Best Leading Actress (Musical) | Victoria Clark | Kimberly Akimbo |
| Best Leading Actor (Play) | Sean Hayes | Good Night, Oscar |
| Best Leading Actress (Play) | Jodie Comer | Prima Facie |
| Best Featured Actor (Musical) | Alex Newell | Shucked |
| Best Featured Actress (Musical) | Bonnie Milligan | Kimberly Akimbo |
| Best Featured Actor (Play) | Brandon Uranowitz | Leopoldstadt |
| Best Featured Actress (Play) | Miriam Silverman | The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window |
| Best Direction (Musical) | Michael Arden | Parade |
| Best Direction (Play) | Patrick Marber | Leopoldstadt |
| Best Book of a Musical | David Lindsay-Abaire | Kimberly Akimbo |
| Best Original Score | Jeanine Tesori & David Lindsay-Abaire | Kimberly Akimbo |
| Best Choreography | Casey Nicholaw | Some Like It Hot |
| Best Orchestrations | Charlie Rosen & Bryan Carter | Some Like It Hot |
| Best Scenic Design (Musical) | Beowulf Boritt | New York, New York |
| Best Scenic Design (Play) | Tim Hatley & Andrzej Goulding | Life of Pi |
| Best Costume Design (Musical) | Gregg Barnes | Some Like It Hot |
| Best Costume Design (Play) | Brigitte Reiffenstuel | Leopoldstadt |
| Best Lighting Design (Musical) | Natasha Katz | Sweeney Todd |
| Best Lighting Design (Play) | Tim Lutkin | Life of Pi |
| Best Sound Design (Musical) | Nevin Steinberg | Sweeney Todd |
| Best Sound Design (Play) | Carolyn Downing | Life of Pi |
Technical and Creative Excellence
While the acting categories often garner the most headlines, the 2023 technical awards highlighted the massive advancements in stagecraft seen during the 2022–2023 season.
Life of Pi dominated the play technical categories, winning for Scenic Design, Lighting Design, and Sound Design. The production was celebrated for its innovative use of puppetry and digital projections to create a seamless ocean environment on stage. The "Tiger" puppet, operated by a team of skilled performers, was considered a marvel of modern theatrical engineering.
In the musical categories, Some Like It Hot was recognized for its vibrant aesthetic, winning for Costume Design and Choreography. Casey Nicholaw’s choreography, particularly the "Door Slam" sequence, was a high-energy homage to classic farce, updated with contemporary athletic precision. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street was lauded for its atmospheric Lighting and Sound Design, which enhanced the dark, industrial feel of the Sondheim revival.
Notable Performances and Musical Numbers
The 2023 telecast featured several performances that significantly impacted the box office for the respective shows.
- Parade: Ben Platt and Micaela Diamond performed "This Is Not Over Yet," a powerful anthem from the Jason Robert Brown musical. The revival's win for Best Revival of a Musical and Best Direction underscored the show's timely exploration of antisemitism and injustice.
- Shucked: The performance of "Independently Owned" by Alex Newell was arguably the highlight of the night. The show, a "farm-to-fable" musical comedy, relied heavily on this viral moment to sustain its run through late 2023.
- Some Like It Hot: The title number showcased the tap-dancing prowess of the ensemble and the leading duo, J. Harrison Ghee and Christian Borle.
- & Juliet: This jukebox musical, which reimagines the ending of Shakespeare's tragedy with the music of Max Martin, provided a high-pop-energy performance of "Roar," appealing to younger audiences and tourists.
Impact on Broadway and the 2023-2024 Season
The results of the 2023 Tony Awards had an immediate "Tony Bounce" effect on ticket sales. Kimberly Akimbo saw a significant surge in weekly grosses following its Best Musical win, allowing it to extend its run well into 2024. Similarly, the win for Leopoldstadt solidified its status as a must-see dramatic event before its scheduled closing.
From the vantage point of 2026, we can see that the 2023 awards also influenced how shows are marketed. The success of "smaller" original musicals like Kimberly Akimbo encouraged producers to take risks on non-IP (Intellectual Property) based stories. Furthermore, the 2023 ceremony's focus on inclusivity paved the way for the more diverse casting and production teams seen in the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
The 76th Tony Awards also honored several legends with Special Tony Awards:
- Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre: Awarded to Joel Grey and John Kander.
- Isabelle Stevenson Award: Awarded to Jerry Mitchell for his work with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
- Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre: Recognizing the work of Lisa Dawn Cave, Victoria Bailey, and Robert Fried.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the most Tonys in 2023?
Kimberly Akimbo won the most awards of the night, taking home five statues, including Best Musical. Some Like It Hot and Leopoldstadt followed closely, winning four awards each. Life of Pi also won three awards in the technical categories.
Was the 2023 Tony Awards ceremony scripted?
No, the 76th Tony Awards was completely unscripted. Due to the WGA strike, the Writers Guild of America did not grant a waiver for a script to be written for the broadcast. The host, Ariana DeBose, and all presenters spoke extemporaneously or used bullet points provided by the production, though no scripted jokes or monologues were permitted.
Who made history at the 2023 Tony Awards?
Alex Newell and J. Harrison Ghee made history as the first openly non-binary performers to win Tony Awards. Newell won for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Shucked, and Ghee won for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for Some Like It Hot.
Why were the 2023 Tony Awards held in Washington Heights?
The move to the United Palace in Washington Heights was a strategic decision by the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing to bring the awards to a different part of New York City. The United Palace is a historic "Wonder Theatre" known for its stunning architecture, and the move was intended to diversify the awards' presence beyond the traditional Theater District.
Which play won Best Play in 2023?
Leopoldstadt, written by Tom Stoppard, won the Tony Award for Best Play. This was a significant win for Stoppard, marking his fifth career Tony Award for Best Play, the most for any individual playwright in history.
Practical Recommendations for Theatre Enthusiasts
For those looking to explore the legacy of the 2023 Tony winners, several actions are recommended:
- Listen to the Cast Recordings: The original Broadway cast recordings of Kimberly Akimbo, Some Like It Hot, and Shucked offer a deep dive into the musical excellence of the 2023 season.
- Read the Scripts: For students of drama, Tom Stoppard’s Leopoldstadt and Martyna Majok’s Cost of Living (a Best Play nominee) are essential texts for understanding modern theatrical structure and dialogue.
- Support Regional Theatre: Many of the 2023 winners, including Kimberly Akimbo and Leopoldstadt, began their lives in regional or off-Broadway theaters. Supporting local theatre is the best way to help develop the next generation of Tony-winning productions.
