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These Were the Queerest Moments at the 2021 Tonys


 

This year’s Tony Awards weren’t just an event — they were two events. After taking a pandemic-induced hiatus for more than two years, Broadway’s biggest show returned Sunday night to honor both the 2019-2020 Broadway season and celebrate the reopening of New York’s theaters just two weeks ago.

To do so, they aired an award ceremony on Paramount+ followed by a CBS broadcast, The Tony Awards Present: Broadway’s Back! Emceed by Leslie Odom Jr., the telecast featured a series of musical performances and announcements. The Inheritance won for Best Play, while Moulin Rouge! took home Best Musical and A Soldier’s Play left with Best Revival of a Play.

It was a lively night where stars of the stage repeatedly reminded viewers that Broadway is, indeed, back. This included several touching moments by queer performers, calls for greater inclusivity on Broadway stages, and a series of thrilling performances sure to inspire a new generation of LGBTQ+ theatre kids. From a stunning performance by Jennifer Holiday of “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” from Dreamgirls to big wins for queer favorites, here are some of the biggest moments from the 74th Tony Awards.

Jennifer Holliday Performs “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going”

If there’s one thing to talk about from last night’s ceremony, it’s this. To honor the 40th anniversary of the original 1981-83 run of Dreamgirls, the musical in which she starred (and won a Tony), Jennifer Holliday returned to the stage for the performance of the night. She came out to sing “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” from the musical and stole the entire telecast. It’s bone-chillingly good, and Holliday even performed in a fuchsia top as she wore during her original Tony Award performance of the song. That wasn’t a performance to miss, and neither is this one.

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The Inheritance Wins Big

The Tony for Best Play went to a two-part story about generations of gay men. The Inheritance is a seven-hour drama by playwright Matthew Lopez, inspired by E.M. Forster’s novel Howards End. It was one of the night’s biggest winners, with Stephen Daldry taking home best director and Andrew Burnap winning best leading actor in a play.

Producer Thomas Kirdahy joined Lopez on stage and thanked his late husband Terrence McNally, who died in March of last year from coronavirus related complications. McNally, a five-time Tony-winning playwright behind shows like Kiss of the Spider Woman, Ragtime and Love! Valour! Compassion!, was frequently mentioned throughout the awards.





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