Tony Awards 2024 winners: Angelina Jolie celebrates on stage with daughter Vivienne, 15, as her production The Outsiders scores FOUR top honors including Best Musical – while Sarah Paulson, Daniel Radcliffe and Jeremy Strong win big too

Angelina Jolie was joined on stage by daughter Vivienne, 15, as she was the biggest winner of the night at the 77th Tony Awards as the musical she produced earned top honors on Broadway’s biggest night where Sarah Paulson, Daniel Radcliffe, and Jeremy Strong all won big. 

Paulson earned Best Actress in A Play for Appropriate, Radcliffe took home Best Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical for Merrily We Roll Along, and Strong triumphed in the Best Actor in A Play category for An Enemy Of The People. They were all first time winners.

The 49-year-old actress Angelina produced The Outsiders alongside one of her six children as the stage production earned four including top honor Best Musical at the star-studded event on Sunday night.

Angelina and Vivienne proudly applauded on stage next to each other as fellow producer Matthew Rego accepted the final gong of the night with an inspiring acceptance speech. 

The musical came in with a whopping 12 nominations as Vivienne notably dropped her father Brad Pitt’s surname on her Playbill credit.

The production also earned Best Direction of a Musical for Dayna Taymor, Best Sound Design of a Musical for Cody Spencer, and Best Lighting Design of a Musical for Brian MacDevitt and Hana S. Kim. 

Angelina was elegant in a lighter, teal velvet gown that had a fitted, corset-styled bodice and a full skirt that flowed down to brush the ground. 

She added a matching shawl on top that slightly draped down her shoulders that offered a dramatic flare to the overall look. 

The Oscar winner accessorized her ensemble with a pair of dainty, gold earrings as well as chunky bracelets on her right wrist and rings on each of her hands. 

Her hair was parted in the middle, and effortlessly cascaded down past her shoulders in light waves. 

Vivienne color-coordinated with her mother in teal-colored trousers as well as a matching vest that was left unbuttoned the front. 

She additionally donned a white shirt underneath as well as a teal bowtie and black and white-colored sneakers for a casual flare.

Jolie notably took on the role of a producer for the Broadway musical, The Outsiders, which officially premiered earlier this year in April. Vivienne also had the chance to be a producer’s assistant on the critically-acclaimed project. 

The Outsiders is based on the iconic SE Hinton book as it is told from the perspective of 14-year-old Ponyboy Curtis during the 1960s in Tulsa, Oklahoma and follows the conflict between two rival gangs divided by their socioeconomic status: the working-class ‘Greasers’ and the upper-middle-class ‘Socs.’ 

During the Best Musical acceptance speech producer Rego recognized the author of the  1967 novel as he said: ‘Susie [Eloise] Hinton wrote The Outsiders 60 years ago. And she has gratefully received accolades ever since. But she often says that she still gets overwhelmed when told that The Outsiders change someone’s life, because she’ll say, “Who am I to change anyone’s life?” It’s the book, it’s not the author. The message, not the messenger.” 

‘Well, Susie, I’m here to tell you that your story and its eternal message of love and family and staying gold has forever changed all of our lives. We love you.’

Meanwhile Sarah Paulson beat out an impressive star-studded field as she earned her first ever Tony Award.

The talented 49-year-old star took home Lead Actress in a Play for her work in Appropriate.

Sarah triumphed over a who’s who of talented thespians including: Betsy Aidem for Prayer for the French Republic, Jessica Lange for Mother Play, Rachel McAdams for Mary Jane, and Amy Ryan for Doubt: A Parable.

The star made sure to recognize her competition as she began her speech saying: ‘Wow. Whew-wee! Whew! It is humbling to be included in the same breath as Amy Ryan, Rachel Mcadams, Betsy Aidem, and the great Jessica Lange. ‘

She thanked several others including the American Theatre Wing and Broadway League, JJ Abrams, and others.

Sarah went on to thank longtime love Holland Taylor as she continued her speech saying: ‘Holland, thank you for loving I am standing here tonight because of the mighty talent that is Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. 

‘I will never be able to convey my gratitude to you for trusting me, for letting me hold the hand of Tony Lafayette, a woman you have written who makes no apology, who isn’t begging to be liked or approved of, but does hope to be seen. But don’t we all? As a young actress I remember seeing A Doll’s House in the very theater I’m living in. Some nights when I’m backstage I think about the indelible impact of her. 

‘I think about the walls of theaters all over this magical town, holding the impact of each and every one of you in this room, and all of those who came before, and I think, how lucky those walls are to bear witness to the relentless interrogation of human experience that we endeavor to explore nightly for each other, to give back to one another with the hope of finding some shared path toward the truth about being alive. This is the heart and soul of what we do, and I am so honored to be amongst you. Thank you.’

 Appropriate follows the dysfunctional Lafayette family as they return to a decaying plantation mansion in Arkansas to battle over their recently deceased father’s inheritance. Soon after the discovery of a relic buried deep in the recess of their family’s past, decades of resentment burst through centuries of historical sin.

The production also earned top honor  Best Revival of a Play beating out An Enemy of the People and Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch.

Earlier in the night it was Daniel Radcliffe who earned his first Tony Awards in the Featured Actor in a Musical category for his spellbinding performance in Merrily We Roll Along.

The 34-year-old former Harry Potter star beat out an impressive field including: Roger Bart for Back To The Future: The Musical, Joshua Boone for The Outsiders, Brandon Victor Dixon for Hell’s Kitchen, Sky Lakota-Lynch for The Outsiders, and Steven Skybell for Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club.

Daniel began his acceptance speech by saying: ‘Thank you so much. Okay, I’m going to just talk fast and try not to cry. Thank you so much to the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing for this unbelievable honor.’

He thanked many including Stephen Sondheim, director Maria Friedman, and the entire cast and crew before thanking his family.

The talented star concluded his speech by saying: ‘My mom that are here somewhere. Happy father’s day, dad. Thank you for playing Sondheim in the car and loving me.

‘And my love, Erin. You and our son are the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I love you so much. Thank you so much. Thank you, everybody, have a great night. I will wrap it up.’

Merrily We Roll Along is a 1981 American musical with music and lyrics by the iconic Stephen Sondheim and book by George Furth.

The show tells the story of how three friends’ lives and friendship change over the course of 20 years; it focuses particularly on Franklin Shepard (played by Jonathan Groff in this run), a talented composer of musicals who, over those 20 years, abandons his friends and songwriting career to become a producer of Hollywood movies. 

The aforementioned Groff had his shining moment as he earned  Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical.

The 39-year-old theater beat out a talented field including: Brody Grant for The Outsiders, Dorian Harewood for The Notebook, Brian d’Arcy James for Days of Wine and Roses, and Eddie Redmayne for Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club.

He teared up while giving a heartfelt speech which began: ‘Thank you. I grew up in a house surrounded by cornfields in Lancaster county Pennsylvania. I was raised by my parents, Jim and Julie Groff, and my brother, David, and the three of them are sitting right there.

‘Thank you for letting me dress up like Mary Poppins when I was Thank you for letting me act out scenes from I Love Lucy on my tenth birthday. Thank you for always allowing my freak flag to fly without ever making me feel weird about it. Even if they didn’t always understand me, my family knew the life saving power of fanning the flame of a young person’s passions without judgment. 

‘I walk through life with an open heart because you let me know that I could. I love you. Thank you to all of my teachers back in Pennsylvania, especially Sue Fisher, who told me I could do this for a living.’

He went on to talk about how he moved to New York 20 years ago and got a job waiting tables while also doing volunteer work.

Groff continued: ‘ I wanted to be part of this community. Thank you to everyone involved in Spring Awakening, who not only made that dream come true but inspired me to come out of the closet when I was 23. I am now 39, and musical theater is still saving my soul.’ 

He concluded his emotional speech with a touching message as he said: ‘ Finally, I just want to say, when I was a kid in Pennsylvania, I used to record the Tony awards on a VHS tape and watch the performances over and over again. 

‘To actually be able to be a part of making theater in the city, and just as much to be able to watch the work of this incredible, incredible community has been the greatest gift and pleasure of my life. I thank you, and thank you so much for this honor. Thank you.’

Merrily We Roll Along also earned Best Revival of a Musical over Cabaret At The Kit Kat Club, Gutenberg! The Musical!, and The Who’s Tommy.

Rounding out the top individual musical accolades was Maleah Joi Moon who earned  Best Actress in a Musical for Hell’s Kitchen.

 The talented actress beat out heavy-competition including: Eden Espinosa for Lempicka, Kelli O’Hara for Days of Wine and Roses, Maryann Plunkett for The Notebook, and Gayle Rankin for Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club.

Maleah was emotional over the win as she began her speech by saying: ‘Okay. Oh, god! Oh, my goodness!  I can’t even read my handwriting! Okay… Thank you, god, for this blessing.’

She thanked her friends and family including her parents for their sacrifices before concluding her speech by thanking Alicia Keys who inspired and produced the musical. 

Maleah said: ‘Hell’s Kitchen is about a 17-year-old on the cusp of a I can’t imagine how many dreams deferred, how many sacrifices you made to give me the life I have today, so tonight while I hope is that you just get to celebrate, because this is for you, and we did this together. I love you more than words. Thank you.’

The show is semi-autobiographical, telling the story of R&B megastar Alicia Keys’s upbringing in Manhattan in the 1990s. 

Jeremy Strong kicked of the 77th Tony Awards with a win in the Lead Actor in a Play category.

The 45-year-old Succession actor was recognized for his work in the play Enemy Of The People.

He beat out an impressive field including: William Jackson Harper for Uncle Vanya, Leslie Odom, Jr. for Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch, Liev Schreiber for Doubt: A Parable, and Michael Stuhlbarg for Patriots.

Jeremy was emotional as he thanked the cast, crew and venue Circle In The Square Theatre before thanking the staff of the space.

He humorously said: ‘Yeah, I want to thank the ushers and the front of house staff.  Who see me walking in every day looking like I’ve just been run over by a truck, and see me walk out somehow looking even worse.

‘With, like, bits of pretzels and aquavit in my hair. Linda, think of reselling 50,000 buttons back onto my shirt every night. Molly Kearns, I couldn’t have done this without you. I think a lot of people in this room sure that sentiment. Sam and Amy, you guys, thank you. This is crazy.’

‘Sam, thank you for being everything an actor could hope for in a director, and for bringing new meaning to the term “Ice bucket challenge.”‘

He went on to thank playwright Amy Herzog as he said: ‘Amy, for your masterful work on this play. Last time I did a play of yours, I met Emma, my wife, who I now have three beautiful children with, and now this play.

‘Real quick, this play is a cry from the heart, and expectation to face the difficult truths steering us down right now. It has been a privilege to give its warning and it’s hoped audiences. This is my mom and my dad who are here tonight, somewhere. Mom, dad, thank you for allowing me to imagine. Thank you so much.’ 

In Enemy Of The People he portrays a small-town doctor who considers himself a proud, upstanding member of his close-knit community when he discovers a catastrophe that risks the lives of everyone in town then raises the alarm but he is shaken to his core when those in power, including his own brother (Michael Imperioli), not only try to silence him—they try to destroy him. 

One of the most emotional wins of the night went to Kara Young who earned  Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play for her work in Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch.

 The Harlem native beat out a field including: Quincy Tyler Bernstine for Doubt: A Parable, Juliana Canfield for  Stereophonic, Celia Keenan-Bolger for Mother Play, and Sarah Pidgeon for Stereophonic.

She began her speech by recognizing her dad on Father’s Day as her big acceptance speech began: ‘Happy Father’s Day! Happy Father’s Day, daddy! Oh, my goodness! Wow!

‘Thank you to the American Theatre Wing, thank you to the Broadway league, thank you to my team. Thank you so much. Thank you to every single person who has ever championed me to make this moment a reality. 

‘Thank you to my ancestors. My ancestors, the women who I come from, the people who I come My great-grandmother, Hazel Baptist, made it a point to come to Purlie Victorious two weeks before she transitioned. Thank you to my mother. My mother went back to school with two children, and got two master’s degrees from an ivy league institution. And my father, who put my mother through school and made it a priority, a priority, to do that. Thank you so much, dad, for taking us to school every day. Mom, for taking me to dance class. Back to this one, then a party, back to the class. 

‘To my brother, Clay Young, your strength and resilience inspires me daily. To my partner, whom I love so much, who is my spirit mate. To this incredible cast of ‘Purlie.’ 

She went on to thank her cast and crew including co-star Leslie Odom, Jr. before concluding her speech by thanking Ruby Dee who she portrayed on stage.

Kara said: ‘ And to the great Ruby Dee. Please, let me have this. Ruby Dee, the legendary ruby Dee who originated this role. 

‘The great gussie Mae Jenkins who said, I’m taking a chance on my life and I’m going to go, and I’m going to go because I have some life left. I have a lot of life left in me. And she deserved it, and we all do. Thank you. This is to the vibration, the vibration of the liberation for Thank you.’

Purlie Victorious tells the story of a Black preacher’s machinations to reclaim his inheritance and win back his church. 

Kecia Lewis was another big winner as she earned Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical for Hell’s Kitchen. 

The talented actress earned the win over  a rather large field including: Shoshana Bean for Hell’s Kitchen, Amber Iman for Lempicka, Nikki M. James for Suffs, Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer for Monty Python’s Spamalot, Lindsay Mendez for Merrily We Roll Along, and Bebe Neuwirth for Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club.

Kecia began on a hilarious note as she took out her cell phone to read her speech and said: ‘Lowered, my phone, open. Okay. People, stop texting me, Jesus.’

She thanked several people including the cast and crew before continuing her speech: ‘I’d like to thank my spiritual families over the years for their training and loving me just for me without having even open my mouth and sing a note, particularly pastors martin and Gail Watson, Rosalind Darlene palmer, and Dr. Ramsey at the church in Atlanta. 

‘To my family, aunt Ruth, who indulged me but still laughs about me standing in the mirror as a kid watching myself cry to see if I looked like a wonderful actress. My parents, the late John Henry Louis and Betty may Lewis, and my heart that walks outside of my body, my son, Simon.’

Kecia concluded her speech with very inspiring message about never quitting despite the hardships.

She said: ‘Lastly, 40 years ago yesterday I walked into the imperial theater to begin my broadly create 18 years old. I have had so many amazing experiences and some heartbreaking ones, too. 

‘I took a short break from show business and raised a son as a single parent while trying to build a career. This moment is the one I dreamed of for most of those 40 years. So I say to everyone that can hear my voice, don’t give up!’

Stereophonic had the most wins in the play categories including top honor Best Play.

The second win of the night went to Will Brill in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play for his work in project.

He beat out an impressive field which included two of his castmates: Eli Gelb and Tom Pecinka. The category was rounded out by Jim Parsons for Mother Play and Corey Stoll for Appropriate.

Will acknowledged his fellow castmates including those who were also nominated in his category as he began his speech saying: ‘Oh! Wow, wow, wow! Thanks, guys. Wait — okay, there’s six of the people in this play. Can you stand up real quick? 

‘Just stand up. Look at these guys. Look at them, look at them, look at them, look at them. Wow, wow, wow! You guys!’

The talented actor went on to thank an unlikely person in his therapist.

He said:  ‘What the heck? This is really nice. I just want to say I wouldn’t be here without my therapist, Rachel. And my bass teacher, Robbie, and also I wouldn’t be doing this if you hadn’t told me to, so thanks. I love you guys so much. Wild. Thanks.’

The play follows a fictional rock band on the cusp of superstardom as they struggle through recording their new album set from 1976 to 1977. 

The event was hosted by Ariana DeBose  who had previously been nominated in the Best Featured Actress in a Musical category for Summer: The Donna Summer Musical

The 32-year-old Wilmington, North Carolina native also also won an Oscar for Steven Spielberg‘s movie adaptation of the Broadway classic West Side Story. 

She kicked off the event with a fun song and dance before addressing the star-studded crowd with a monologue recognizing all the efforts made on stages throughout the country in American theater.

 The 77th Tony Awards took place at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater in New York City.

The annual event kicked off with the stars showcasing their best looks on the red carpet as  Angelina Jolie, 49, looked like a Grecian goddess in a mint green draped Atelier Versace gown with a matching wrap, arriving to the Tony Awards with her daughter Vivienne, 15.

Ariana DeBose, 33, dazzled on the red carpet in colorful patterned gown that featured cut-out detailing.

Alicia Keys, 43, chose a crimson hued sequin gown with matching gloves, looking incredible as she struck an elegant pose on the red carpet. 

Angelina looked like a Grecian goddess in the soft green velvet frock, which had a draped neckline with ruching along her slim waist.

During her introduction, Angelina said: ‘S.E. Hinton wrote The Outsiders in high school, half a century later, it still speaks to us. Society changes but the experience of being an outsider is universal.’

Adding: ‘To any young person [and] any person feeling on the outside, you are not wrong to see what’s unfair. You are not wrong to wish to find their own path and as the cast raises their voices, I hope it inspires many of you watching to value yours.’

‘Please welcome the extraordinary company of The Outsiders,’ Angelina said. 

Angelina and Brad share six children together: Maddox, 22, Pax, 20, Zahara, 19, Shiloh, 18, and twins Vivienne and Knox, 15. 

Ariana, who served as host for the Tony Awards, looked gorgeous in a gown that featured an intricate design that appeared to be inspired by a stained glass window. 

The strapless gown had blue, yellow green and black hues with cut-out details throughout.

Alicia dazzled in a burgundy hued frock that featured off-the-shoulder sleeves; the gown had sequins along the neckline and skirt.

The Grammy award winner wore matching gloves, with her hair in a bun.

Alicia kept her makeup to a minimum, with her stunning natural beauty on full display. 

 
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