70th Tony Awards
The 70th Annual Tony Awards were held on June 12, 2016, to recognize achievement in Broadway productions during the 2015–16 season. The ceremony temporarily returned to the Beacon Theatre in New York City after three years at Radio City Music Hall and was broadcast live by CBS.[2] James Corden served as host.[3]
70th Tony Awards
June 12, 2016
Hamilton (11)
Hamilton (16)
8.7 million[1]
James Corden
Ricky Kirshner
Glenn Weiss
Ben Winston
Glenn Weiss
Hamilton received a record-setting 16 nominations in 13 categories, ultimately winning 11 awards, the second-most for a single production in Tony history.[4] The revival of The Color Purple won two awards. The Humans won four awards, and the revival productions of plays Long Day's Journey into Night and A View from the Bridge each won two awards.
The ceremony received positive reviews, with many highlighting the performance of Corden as host. At the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards, it won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Class Program, and was nominated for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special, Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control for a Limited Series, Movie, or Special and Outstanding Lighting Design / Lighting Direction for a Variety Special.[5]
Awards events[edit]
Nominations[edit]
The Tony Award nominations were announced on May 3, 2016, by Nikki M. James and Andrew Rannells.
Hamilton garnered 16 nominations—the most received by any Broadway production to date. Following Hamilton, the season's most-nominated shows included Shuffle Along with 10 nominations and the Roundabout Theatre Company revival of She Loves Me with eight. The revival of Long Day's Journey into Night—also produced by Roundabout—received seven nominations. New plays Eclipsed and The Humans both received six nominations.[4]
The 2015–16 season marked the first time since 1960 and the fourth time in history that five shows had been nominated for Best Musical.[7]
Other events[edit]
The annual Meet the Nominees Press Reception took place on May 4, 2016, at the Paramount Hotel.[8][9][10] The annual Nominees Luncheon took place on May 19, 2016, at the Paramount Hotel.[11] A toast honoring the season's Creative Arts nominees was held at the Lambs Club on May 24, 2016.[12] A private reception and cocktail party was held on June 6, 2016, at the Paramount Hotel's Diamond Horseshoe to honor the recipients of the season's Tony Honors for Excellence.[13]
Non-competitive awards[edit]
The 2016 Tony Honors for Excellence were awarded to voice coach Joan Lader, attorney Seth Gelblum, and Sally Ann Parsons, owner of the costume shop Parsons-Meares.[26] Lyricist Sheldon Harnick and Circle Repertory Company founder Marshall W. Mason received Special Tony Awards for Lifetime Achievement.[27] The National Endowment for the Arts and Miles Wilkin, COO and executive vice president of Key Brand Entertainment, received the season's Special Tony Awards.[28] Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey received the Regional Theatre Tony Award.[29] Brian Stokes Mitchell was named as recipient of the Isabelle Stevenson Award for his work with the Actors Fund.[30] The season's Excellence in Theatre Education Award was awarded to drama teacher Marilyn McCormick of Cass Technical High School in Detroit.[31]