Must-See Tony Award-Winning Broadway Shows: Top Picks from the 2019 Tonys
The 2019 Tony Awards showcased groundbreaking Broadway productions drawing inspiration from diverse settings worldwide. While not a traditional global tour, these shows deliver thrilling, innovative theater experiences. Here are seven standout Tony-anointed productions still lighting up the Great White Way.
Hadestown
Hadestown earned eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, out of 14 nominations. This reimagined tale transports audiences to a post-apocalyptic underworld blending jazz, pop, folk, and arias, set in a New Orleans-inspired realm. Singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell splices the myths of Orpheus and Eurydice with Persephone and Hades. Mitchell shares, “For me, it was the idea of this artist who has so much faith in the world and the power of his art. If he makes something beautiful enough, he could move the heart of stone.” Orpheus attempts to retrieve his late wife Eurydice from the underworld using his music. Highlights include André De Shields' Tony-winning performance as emcee Hermes.
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!
This revival of the classic Oklahoma! discards outdated versions, including the Academy Award-winning film, for a pared-down, powerful, and contemporary take that won Best Revival of a Musical. Ali Stroker, known from Glee, made history as the first wheelchair-using performer to win a Tony (Best Featured Actress in a Musical). The New York Times praised her portrayal of the boy-crazy Ado Annie, who “rides a wheelchair as if it were a prize bronco.” During intermissions, free chili and cornbread are served, drawing celebrities like Anna Wintour and Diane Keaton to the popular chow line.
The Ferryman
After a London run with three Olivier Awards, Jez Butterworth's The Ferryman—directed by Sam Mendes—secured four Tonys, including Best Play and Best Direction of a Play. Set on a Northern Irish family farm during the Troubles, it unfolds over a harvest feast with 30 characters, a goose, and a rabbit, infused with Celtic fiddle, Irish punk, and influences from Virgil to the IRA. Shuler Hensley, playing neighbor Tom Kettle, notes, “There is the flow of a family. But everyone has a voice and every voice can be heard,” likening it to an orchestra's nuances and crescendos.
To Kill a Mockingbird
Aaron Sorkin's adaptation of Harper Lee's novel features Jeff Daniels as Atticus Finch, earning a Tony nomination, and Celia Keenan-Bolger as Scout, who won Best Featured Actress in a Play for her nuanced performance. Keenan-Bolger initially envied the actress playing Scout, but her portrayal helped make To Kill a Mockingbird the highest-grossing American play in Broadway history.
Tootsie
This 21st-century Broadway adaptation of the 1982 Dustin Hoffman film updates the story of struggling actor Michael Dorsey, who transforms into Dorothy Michaels to land a role. Santino Fontana won Best Actor in a Musical for his virtuoso lead. Director Scott Ellis committed only after Fontana signed on, captivated by his talent.
Note: Network, where Brian Cranston won Best Leading Actor in a Play, and The Waverly Gallery, earning Elaine May her first Tony for Leading Actress in a Play at age 87, closed before the ceremony. Catch buzzy shows early to avoid missing out.
King Kong
The star of King Kong—a 20-foot, 2,000-pound marvel of steel, carbon fiber, puppetry, animatronics, and offstage voices—received a special Tony for creature design from Sonny Tilders and Creature Technology Company. Christiani Pitts, the first African American woman to play Ann Darrow, says, “Even though the creature is not real, there is so much human heart attached to him. He hasn’t let me down yet.”
The Prom
Nominated for seven Tonys including Best Musical, The Prom captivates with four Broadway divas helping a teen take her girlfriend to prom in an Indiana town. Blending sharp dialogue, choreography, and songs, it resonates deeply; teens often share, “I never thought I’d see myself represented like this.” Glee co-creator Ryan Murphy secured a $300 million Netflix deal to adapt it into a film.
