Across The Pond: Dear Evan Hansen wins big at the 2017 Tony Awards

12 Jun
2017
Posted in: Theatre News
Author: Daniel Perks
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2017 Tony Award Winners Ben Platt & Bette Midler...

On June 11 2017, the biggest night of the year for American Theatre landed in New York at Radio City Musical Hall. Hosted by Kevin Spacey, The 71st Annual Tony Awards recognised the greatest achievements in Broadway over the past 12 months. It may not have been a victory-filled evening for our #StageFaves, but for many shows, especially DEAR EVAN HANSEN, it was a night dreams are made of...

Winning 6 awards, DEAR EVAN HANSEN was the champion of the night.

The original musical, about a high school boy with a social anxiety disorder who finds himself caught up in the turmoil when a classmate dies, scooped six awards from nine nominations to claim the top spot for this year. As well as Best Musical, Ben Platt won Best Leading Actor in a Musical and both the book  (by Steven Levenson) and the score (music and lyrics by Benj Pasak and Justin Paul) were winners on the night.

Along with DEAR EVAN HANSEN, the other most celebrated musical of the night was HELLO, DOLLY!, which took four awards from an incredible ten nominations. As well as winning Best Musical Revival, Bette Midler and Gavin Creel took Best Leading Actress in a Musical and Best Feature Actor in a Musical, respectively.

See below for the full list of winners and nominations in the Musical Theatre categories:

Best musical

Come from Away
Dear Evan Hansen – WINNER
Groundhog Day the Musical
Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812

Best revival of a musical

Falsettos
Hello, Dolly! – WINNER
Miss Saigon

Best performance by an actor in a leading role in a musical

Christian Borle, Falsettos
Josh Groban, Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812
David Hyde Pierce, Hello, Dolly!
Andy Karl, Groundhog Day the Musical
Ben Platt, Dear Evan Hansen – WINNER

Best performance by an actress in a leading role in a musical

Denee Benton, Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812
Christine Ebersole, War Paint
Patti LuPone, War Paint
Bette Midler, Hello, Dolly! – WINNER
Eva Noblezada, Miss Saigon

Best performance by an actor in a featured role in a musical

Gavin Creel, Hello, Dolly! – WINNER
Mike Faist, Dear Evan Hansen
Andrew Rannells, Falsettos
Lucas Steel, Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812
Brandon Uranowitz, Falsettos

Best performance by an actress in a featured role in a musical

Kate Baldwin, Hello, Dolly!
Rachel Bay Jones, Dear Evan Hansen – WINNER
Stephanie J Block, Falsettos
Jean Colella, Come from Away
Matt Beth Peil, Anastasia

Best book of a musical

Come from Away, David Hein and Irene Sankoff
Dear Evan Hansen, Steven Levenson – WINNER
Groundhog Day the Musical, Danny Rubin
Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, Dave Malloy

Best original score (music and/or lyrics) written for the theatre

Come from Away, David Hein and Irene Sankoff
Dear Evan Hansen, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul – WINNER
Groundhog Day the Musical, Tim Minchin Natasha,
Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, Dave Malloy

Best direction of a musical

Christopher Ashley, Come from Away – WINNER
Rachel Chavkin, Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812
Michael Greif, Dear Evan Hansen
Matthew Warchus, Groundhog Day the Musical
Jerry Zaks, Hello, Dolly!

Best choreography

Andy Blankenbuehler, Bandstand – WINNER
Peter Darling and Ellen Kane, Groundhog Day the Musical
Kelly Devine, Come from Away
Denis Jones, Holiday Inn
Sam Pinkleton, Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812

Best orchestrations

Bill Elliott and Greg Anthony Rassen, Bandstand
Larry Hochman, Hello, Dolly!
Alex Lacamoire, Dear Evan Hansen – WINNER
Dave Malloy, Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812

Best scenic design of a musical

Rob Howell, Groundhog Day the Musical
David Korins, War Paint
Mimi Lien, Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 – WINNER
Santo Loquasto, Hello, Dolly!

Best costume design of a musical

Linda Cho, Anastasia Santo Loquasto,
Hello, Dolly! – WINNER
Paloma Young, Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812
Catherine Zuber, War Paint

Best lighting design of a musical

Howell Binkley, Come From Away
Natasha Katz, Hello, Dolly!
Bradley King, Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812 – WINNER
Japhy Weideman, Dear Evan Hansen

For the full list of winners and nominees, including the play categories and special awards, head to the original article here.