"Schmigadoon!" wins best musical at Tony Awards; "Liberation" takes best play

The 79th Tony Awards celebrated "Schmigadoon!" as the best musical and "Liberation" as the best play. The ceremony, held at Radio City Music Hall, was also marked by a historic achievement for costume designer Qween Jean, who became the first transgender person to win an award for their work on "Cats: The Jellicle Ball."

"Schmigadoon!," a parody of classic musicals, solidified its dominance by winning the top prize. The show had already garnered awards for original score and orchestration. "Ragtime," a musical set in the early 20th century, also saw success, with Joshua Henry winning best actor in a musical and Caissie Levy taking home best actress. Henry dedicated his award to his voice teacher and the importance of "being heard."

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being heard

"Cats: The Jellicle Ball," a reimagining of Andrew Lloyd Webber's classic, earned awards for best musical direction and choreography, in addition to Qween Jean's groundbreaking win. In total, "Schmigadoon!," "The Lost Boys," and "Ragtime" each received four accolades, while "Cats: The Jellicle Ball" secured three.

In the play category, Bess Wohl's "Liberation," a drama about women in the 1970s, triumphed over the favored "Giant." Wohl highlighted the significance of a play centered on women's lives reaching Broadway, noting it had been nearly four decades since an American female playwright last won the award. "Death of a Salesman" was the leading production in the revival category, securing five awards, including best direction for Joe Mantello and best featured actress for Laurie Metcalf.

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This night I want to honor her and all the women who have the courage to use their voice