You saw and loved the Tony Awards but only BroadwayBox can bring you inside three of the Tony Awards' biggest, most exciting parties: The Tony-winning revival of Once On This Island, the Best Musical The Band's Visit and the ultimate O&M after-after party, complete with the Andrew Lloyd Webber disco.
11:15 PM Editor Josh Ferri and photographer Curtis Brown (who shot our fantastic Golden Age photo series) arrive at Vida Verde for the incredibly joyous bash for the Tony-winning revival of Once On This Island
. People packed the place to celebrate with the elated company, and a feeling of shock and excitement was palpable. The dance floor was bumping and everyone was taking turns taking a photo with the Tony Award.
“When Best Revival was announced we went underwater. It was like the most eruptive exclamation of pure ecstasy I’ve ever experienced. I cried. We all wept. We were hyperventilating on the bus, all of us together.” Once On This Island star Isaac Cole Powell
“It was such a beautiful shock. It was one of those moments you think, there is a God. It showed that something small, and honest, and true could win. It meant the world to all of us.” Once On This Island lyricist Lynn Ahrens
“Performing tonight was another dream come true. It was 6,000 people plus the intimate audience on the stage watching you. It gave you the feeling we feel in the theatre times 6,000. It was unbelievable” Once On This Island standout Grasan Kingsberry
“This feels different than winning for Porgy and Bess because I’ve worked a lot harder on this one. It’s more difficult performing on sand and with animals, but it is great!” Once On This Island star Phillip Boykin
“My favorite part of tonight was Once On This Island winning Best Revival. I screamed like a girl really—and I’m really proud about that to be completely honest. I thought Michael Arden’s work was stunning and it moved me to tears. I was inconsolable after this show.” Phantom star Jay Armstrong Johnson
12:15 AM Next stop was Bryant Park Grill, where the party for the Best Musical winner The Band's Visit
was well underway. We arrive just as newly minted Tony winner Tony Shalhoub entered to huge applause from the crowd. Stars from a variety Broadway plays and musicals filled the sprawling indoor-outdoor soiree.
“I didn’t know what to expect going into this. This is my first Tonys. I was just happy I could be there, then as the night went on I could feel the energy and where the night was going. It’s a dream fulfilled. The kid who played the Tin Man in eighth grade would have never ever believe it was possible to be at the Tony Awards and in the Best Musical—and in a musical that means so much to me and is so specific to my culture and my heritage. This is bigger and better than a dream.” The Band’s Visit star Etai Benson
“Three things that make a lit party are ridiculous desserts, a dance floor, and BroadwayBox.com” A Bronx Tale star Adam Kaplan
“It felt surreal. I feel so strongly about the work all those people did. When Cromer won, your heart leaps up because it’s so deserved. They are such great artists. It just felt like family. You feel like you’re at a wedding, just celebrating everyone.” The Band’s Visit star Kristen Sieh
“My favorite part of the Tonys was Bernadette Peters. I was in the bathroom when she presented. It was not the first time my pants were down while Bernadette Peters was giving me life but it was one of my favorites.” Viral video star Randy Rainbow
“The purse is what’s fabulous—what’s inside is not exciting: my phone, my credit cards and a comb. The bag is Kate Spade, and I just feel like I needed to carry some Kate Spade tonight. This is one time that what’s on the outside actually counts.” Head Over Heels star Alexandra Socha
1 AM: Finally we head over to the Carlyle Hotel, home to Rick Miramontez's exclusive and iconic O&M after-after party. It is the place all of Broadway converges on during Tony night. At every turn you see Tony winners, Tony nominees, and the big stars of the season laughing, dancing, and throwing back speciality cocktails. As we arrive, Andrew Lloyd Webber is DJing inside the disco area named for the 2018 Tony Lifetime Achievement honoree. Everywhere you turn are O&M clients from winning shows like Angels in America
and Carousel, as well as stars from this season's hits Mean Girls, SpongeBob, Frozen, Cursed Child and more!
“Performing ‘Let It Go’ feels new every day and it’s exciting every day. Tonight, I just tried to remember that it wasn’t the ultimate—it’s just a snapshot of what we do eight shows a week. That helped me be in the moment and not worry about it so much. It’s so intimidating singing at the Tonys and singing that song at the Tonys, I just tried to dial it back a notch and remember what I do eight shows a week as Elsa and then I was able to enjoy it, which was great.” Frozen star Caissie Levy
“It was totally surreal to hear my name. It’s been a life-long dream to get to this point and I have so much gratitude and respect for the whole Broadway community. It was fun to see [“Blow High, Blow Low”]. The guys tore it up. They were super pumped to be out there and they made me proud.” Carousel Tony Award-winning choreographer Justin Peck
“I could not believe Alex [Newell] tonight. That guy is on another level. He’s on another planet. I was so blown away. I feel like a bad friend that I haven’t seen the show yet and now I’m going to have a hard time getting a ticket because of that performance.” Matthew Morrison.
“Seeing David Cromer win was my favorite part of tonight. A man who is so beautiful and deserves it so much. I loved The Band’s Visit. Having shows like that be successful on Broadway gives me faith in commercial theatre.” Claybourne Elder
“The Parkland students was absolutely the best moment tonight. My favorite part—I just said to Matthew Morrison—was when he ran toward them as the curtain was coming down to celebrate what they just did. That culminates what the night is all about.” Beautiful and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again star Jessica Keenan Wynn
“Angels in America is a show I saw as a teenager at the Walter Kerr having no idea that I would steward that building decades later or that I would get to be a part of the legacy of Angels in America. That full circle journey from an 18-year-old watching the world crack open to standing here with a Tony Award next to Tony Kushner—it doesn’t get better. Angels in America producer & Jujamcyn Theaters president Jordan Roth
“For everybody who works with Andrew [Lloyd Webber] now or has been a part of the Andrew orbit, tonight was a real coming home moment. He’s so internationally revered but it’s Broadway that he always aspired to. For Broadway to pay tribute to him, it was not only very emotional for everybody but a lot of fun for everybody.” O&M president Rick Miramontez
“It’s so bizzare but honestly my favorite memory of the night I won was watching Bernadette Peters sing ‘Rose’s Turn’. I was blown away because she is literally my idol and she sang that song in a way that made me want to be her when I grow up. Her performance was legendary and I sang off key in ‘You Can’t Stop the Beat’ because I was so excited. The two should not have been in the same category.” Tony winner Marissa Jaret Winokur
“My favorite part of tonight is getting to see all the amazing performers and having the world see all these amazing shows on TV and get excited about Broadway. It’s the best platform.” Wicked star Jackie Burns
“My favorite part of tonight was performing with my cast. I’ve performed at the Tonys before, but for so much of my cast it was the first time. At our matinee today, we all truly at the same time burst into tears during the finale.” Mean Girls Tony nominee Ashley Park
“I would tell first-time Tony winners to go to every party after it’s done. This is the place to be right here. If you don’t end up at the Carlyle, you haven’t won your Tony yet.” Hello, Dolly! Tony winner Gavin Creel
“This dress Gustavo Cadile, who is a brilliant designer. He dressed Gloria Estefan for the Tony Awards a couple of years ago so it was perfect.” On Your Feet! star Ana Villafañe
“I couldn’t believe it. I feel we were like David with these two Goliaths, and a show not many people know and the only black show this year and a show that was made out of very little—it was so thrilling. To hear the audience scream like that was very exciting.” Once On This Island director Michael Arden
“I was filled with unbelievable pride and a real excitement and hope that a lot more people will get to see it because of this win.” Andy Mientus
“I don’t really remember it. I couldn’t see Christine Baranski so I just heard something and then it was all a blur. The first thing I remember is seeing Tina Fey’s legs and thinking, don’t trip on Tina Fey as you go up to the stage.” Once On This Island Tony-winning producer Ken Davenport
4 AM: Lights come up, the crowd clears out the Carlyle, and another Tony Awards is officially in the books.
