Tony Awards: Dear Evan Hansen, Bette Midler, Oslo win top prizes at Broadway’s big night
‘Dear Evan Hansen’ is a touching, heartfelt musical about young outsiders
Dear Evan Hansen, the teen-angst driven musical about a high school outsider, won the top prize at Sunday’s Tony Awards, Broadway highest honours, while J.T. Rogers’ Mideast peace accord drama Oslo was named best play.
The surprise hit musical won a total of six Tonys, including best musical actor for 23 year-old newcomer Ben Platt, featured actress Rachel Bay Jones, as well as best book, score and orchestrations.
As widely predicted, Bette Midler won her first competitive Tony as best actress in a musical for Hello, Dolly!.
Living up to her bawdy reputation, Midler delivered a profanity-laced speech to the star-laden audience at Radio City Music Hall, chastising the orchestra as its music welled when she spoke at length.
Hello Dolly! won four Tonys, including best musical revival.
“It’s a very tough schedule,” Midler, 71, said backstage, noting she is “a woman of a certain age.”