West Side Story star Ariana Deboz launched the 75th Tone Awards in style with a spectacular masochistic performance featuring Tony’s winning classic musicals, including Opera Ghost, Cabaret, Hair and Company.
Tony’s former nominee opened the ceremony at Radio City Music Hall on Sunday night with a lively performance and brought “cheers” to everyone on Broadway.
Deboz performed a stunning all-white, Michael Jackson-inspired ensemble on the theme “MJ: The Musical,” which received 10 nominations on the night.
“Let’s just say it’s an attraction for many of you,” Deboz said in his opening monologue, citing how the coronavirus pandemic has changed the theater industry over the past two years.
“I’m very proud that the theater is more reflective of the community that worships here and thus has gained new artists, new creatives, new fans,” he continued. “He told us stories that expanded our world and opened our hearts and minds.”
“And while we haven’t solved all of our problems, I feel the phrase ‘The Great White Road’ is more of a nickname than a textbook.”
Earlier this week, Debussy, who became the first exposed skinny black woman to win an Oscar for her role as Anita in Steven Spielberg’s remake of “West Side Story,” shared her admiration for her debut .
“I went to these two for rehearsal today. “They’re preparing something great for the @theonyawards pre-show,” he wrote on Instagram with a photo with Tony Awards presenters Darren Chris and Juliana Huff.
In addition to Debose’s powerful performance, the evening also featured performances by Actors Strange Loop, Paradise Square, SIX, Company, Girl from the North, MJ, Mr. Saturday Night at Music Man.
Bernadette Peters, Billy Porter, the New York Gay Male Choir and the original cast of “Spring Awakening” performed one by one on stage.
See the full introductory performance below.
Source: Huffpost
