'The Band's Visit,' 'Angels in America' and 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child' win big at Tonys
"The Band's Visit" was the big winner at the 2018 Tony Awards, broadcast live from New York's Radio City Music Hall on Sunday, walking off with 10 trophies, including best musical and leading actor and actress in a musical wins for Tony Shalhoub and Katrina Lenk, respectively. "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" picked up six awards.
Legendary actress Glenda Jackson won for Best Leading Actress in a Play for "Three Tall Women," and Nathan Lane walked off with Best Featured Actor in a Play honors for "Angels in America."
The AIDS-themed drama "Angels in America" also copped six awards, including best play revival, as well as Best Leading Actor in a Play honors for Andrew Garfield, who ended his acceptance speech by declaring, "Bake a cake for anyone who wants a cake" -- a reference to the recent Supreme Court ruling in favor of a bakery owner who refused to design a cake for a gay couple.
The politically charged evening was highlighted by Robert De Niro, there to introduce Bruce Springsteen's performance of "My Hometown," delivering a profanity-laced stab at President Donald Trump.
“I just want to say one thing -- F--- Trump,” De Niro said. “It’s no longer down with Trump. It’s f--- Trump,” he said, drawing loud cheers from the audience.
Several other artists also aired their views, including Best Featured Actress in a Musical winner for "Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel," Lindsay Mendez, who capped off her speech by saying she was "proud to be part of a community that celebrates diversity," adding, "To all you artists out there, just be true to yourself and the world will take note."
A touching moment occurred when it was announced that in a pre-awards ceremony, Melody Herzfeld, head of the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School Drama Department received the Excellence in Theater Education Award. The school's drama students followed with a performance of "Seasons of Love," from the Tony-winning musical "Rent." The Parkland, Florida, high school was the site of a mass shooting in February that claimed the lives of 17 people and injured more than a dozen others.
Another rock legend, Billy Joel, was also on hand to present Springsteen with a special Tony for "Springsteen Live on Broadway."
The show was hosted by Josh Grobin and Sara Bareilles, who opened with a tongue-in-cheek song aimed at consoling the evening's losers. Later, they performed a number bemoaning the grueling Broadway schedule, sung to the tune of Sia's "Chandelier."
Here’s the complete list of Tony winners:
BEST LEADING ACTOR IN A PLAY
Andrew Garfield for "Angels in America"
BEST FEATURED ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Laurie Metcalf for "Three Tall Women"
BEST FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Lindsay Mendez for "Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel"
BEST FEATURED ACTOR IN A PLAY
Nathan Lane for "Angels in America"
BEST FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Ari'el Stachel for "The Band's Visit"
LEADING ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Glenda Jackson for "Three Tall Women"
BEST LEADING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Tony Shalhoub for "The Band's Visit"
BEST LEADING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Katrina Lenk for "The Band’s Visit"
BEST PLAY
"Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two"
BEST REVIVAL OF A PLAY
"Angels in America"
BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL
"Once on This Island"
BEST MUSICAL
"The Band’s Visit"
BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL
David Cromer for "The Band's Visit"
BEST DIRECTION OF A PLAY
John Tiffany for "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two"
BEST BOOK OF A MUSICAL
Itamar Moses for "The Band's Visit"
BEST SCENIC DESIGN OF A PLAY
Christine Jones for "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two"
BEST SCENIC DESIGN OF A MUSICAL
David Zinn for "SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical"
BEST COSTUME DESIGN OF A PLAY
Katrina Lindsay for "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two"
BEST COSTUME DESIGN OF A MUSICAL
Catherine Zuber for "My Fair Lady"
BEST LIGHTING DESIGN OF A PLAY
Neil Austin for "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two"
BEST LIGHTING DESIGN OF A MUSICAL
Tyler Micoleau for "The Band’s Visit"
BEST SOUND DESIGN OF A PLAY
Gareth Fry for "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two"
BEST SOUND DESIGN OF A MUSICAL
Kai Harada for "The Band’s Visit"
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Justin Peck for "Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel"
BEST ORCHESTRATIONS
Jamshied Sharifi for "The Band’s Visit"
Recipients of Awards and Honors in Non-competitive Categories:
SPECIAL TONY AWARDS FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN THE THEATRE
Chita RiveraAndrew Lloyd Webber
SPECIAL TONY AWARDS
John LeguizamoBruce Springsteen