Daniel Radcliffe Wins His First Tony And More Highlights From Broadway’s Biggest Night

The Sunday 2024 Tony Awards ceremony in New York City was the kind of song-and-dance extravaganza that theatergoers everywhere could have dreamed of.

There were several noteworthy speeches and spectacular performances, but a few poignant moments stuck out.

Including first-time winners and pop culture reunions, these are some of the Tony Awards’ best moments from this year.

Radcliffe | NY Times Image

Daniel Radcliffe Wins His First Tony And More Highlights From Broadway’s Biggest Nights

Sarah Paulson, Daniel Radcliffe, and other performers win their first-ever Tonys
It was a memorable evening for Daniel Radcliffe of “Harry Potter” and other first-time winners.

Radcliffe won his first Tony in the best performance by an actor in a featured role in a musical category after a joyous rendition of a song from the show he appears in, “Merrily We Roll Along.” “This has been one of the best experiences of my life,” he declared in his address.

Additionally, Radcliffe’s co-star Jonathan Groff won his first Tony in the best performance by an actor in a leading role category. Emotionally charged, Groff talked of how the “greatest gift and pleasure of my life” is being a member of the theater community.

With her triumph for best performance by an actress in a main role in a play for “Appropriate,” Sarah Paulson also became a newly minted Tony winner. During her address, Paulson honored Holland Taylor, her longtime boyfriend, the crew, and the cast.

First-time winners included Jeremy Strong of “Succession” and Kecia Lewis, who, in her speech, considered her 40-year journey to the Tony stage.

Reunion of Alicia Keys and Jay-Z
The ensemble of the ambitious Broadway production of Alicia Keys’ musical “Hell’s Kitchen” gave a vibrant medley of her hits. Naturally, Keys herself graced the stage as well.

Radcliffe | CNN Image

Daniel Radcliffe Wins His First Tony And More Highlights From Broadway’s Biggest Nights

Keys urged the crowd to “do something crazy” to honor her hometown of New York City midway through her rendition of her 2009 smash “Empire State of Mind.” Keys worked with Jay-Z on “Empire State of Mind,” at that point, he came on stage to rap his part and wrap out the show.

Two Tonys went to “Hell’s Kitchen” on Sunday.

Celebrating a good night for “The Outsiders” are Angelina Jolie and her daughter Vivienne.
The 1967 book by S.E. Hinton was adapted for the stage, and on Sunday, it took home four Tonys, including the much-coveted best musical prize.

Leading producer Angelina Jolie and her daughter Vivienne, 15, were among those who rejoiced in its success, especially after director Danya Taymor won the Tony for outstanding musical direction. The mother-daughter team could be spotted blotting away tears throughout her address.

Jolie told People earlier that her daughter motivated her to take on the assignment.

Kecia Lewis gives her doctor appreciation.

Speaking humorously, Tony-winner Kecia Lewis complimented her ENT specialist for keeping her vocal range “alive and well.” Lewis took home the prize for best actress performance for her portrayal of a main role in a musical.

Several performers acknowledged their assistants and publicists at different award presentations earlier this year, beginning an appreciation of the sometimes disregarded members of their teams in acceptance speeches.

Radcliffe | People Image

Daniel Radcliffe Wins His First Tony And More Highlights From Broadway’s Biggest Nights

Reminding everyone to vote is Hillary Clinton.

Ex-First Lady and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave the audience great applause to introduce a performance by the cast of “Suffs,” the Broadway play she co-produced with Tony-winner Shaina Taub and Malala Yousafzai. “I am really proud of this original American musical because I know a little bit about how hard it is to make change,” Clinton declared.

The Suffragettes, of whom Clinton remarked “fought so valiantly for so long to give women in our country the right to vote,” are the subject of the musical. She then mentioned the approaching election: “We need to be reminded about how important it is to vote.”