Barbra Streisand Has X-Ray Vision, Everyone's Handsy for Leslie Odom Jr. & More Lessons of the Tony Awards

It was anything but quiet uptown as the 2016 Tony Awards rocked the Beacon Theatre. Now that we’ve slept on it (after crashing a few after parties, of course), here are our main takeaways from Broadway’s biggest night. Put that Color Purple performance on pause for just a minute. It’s time for the Lessons of the Tony Awards!


Broadway Really Does Look Like America
Cynthia Erivo, Leslie Odom Jr., Daveed Diggs and Renée Elise Goldsberry—a quartet of supremely talented black artists—won the four musical performance awards, marking the first time in Tony history that a person of color received an award in each of those categories. There’s no such thing as “enough” diversity and representation, but this season’s shows told us stories on stage and off of people of different races, sexual identities and abilities. Here’s hoping Broadway will continue to shine a light on all walks of life…and show the Oscars how it’s done.


Corden Would Crush It At Marie's Crisis
We’ve seen Darren Criss, Lea Salonga and even Cynthia Erivo serenade crowds at the popular piano bar Marie’s Crisis, but after last night, we’re sure Corden is more than ready to take the lead in that basement. The emcee’s opening number referenced over 20 show tunes from “Alexander Hamilton” to “Rose’s Turn.” Looks like someone is poised to play Nostradamus in Something Rotten!


Barbra Streisand Is a Broadway Psychic
Wait. Hold on, Corden (and watch out, Brad Oscar). It looks like Barbra Streisand is vying for that Nostradamus spot. The stage and screen queen took the stage at the end of the night to present the Tony Award for Best Musical, and she didn’t even look at the envelope before (shockingly) announcing Hamilton the winner. Quick, Babs: When’s Funny Girl coming back, and who’s playing Fanny?


Christopher Fitzgerald Is Not Michael Arden
Michael Arden received his first Tony nomination for directing Spring Awakening, but unfortunately, you can’t see how he felt about it. The CBS broadcast cut to Christopher Fitzgerald in the audience instead of Arden as the nominees were announced. Come on, CBS. This is what he looks dressed to the nines. Here he is belting. Here he is on a moon. You’re welcome.


Composers Want Their Spotlight, Too
The Tonys are a chance for Broadway’s best to show off their work, but more and more songwriters are getting in on the action. This year, Gloria Estefan, Steve Martin, Edie Brickell and Sara Bareilles were a part of their respective shows’ performances. Andrew Lloyd Webber played the tambourine. We’re glad you all had fun, but remember this means you're now contractually obligated to appear in your own shows.


Sonnets Are the New Freestyling
Lin-Manuel Miranda is known for freestyling acceptance speeches, but when he won Best Score, the Hamilton maestro said he was "too old" to freestyle, and instead wrote a sonnet acceptance speech in response to the Orlando tragedy. “Love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love,” he said through tears. We always appreciate Miranda’s thoughtfulness, but we didn’t know there was an age limit on freestyling. We were looking forward to Angela Lansbury doing it next year.


Danny Burstein Is Law, Order & Then Some
As any Broadway actor will tell you, the common thread is Law and Order. Appearing on the show and its spinoffs is a rite of passage. Just ask Danny Burstein. As Corden reminded us during the show, the Fiddler star has played seven (SEVEN!) characters on both Law & Order and SVU. Anyone have Dick Wolf’s number? We have an idea for an episode. It involves shimmying.


Everyone Wants a Piece of Leslie
History has its eyes on you, Leslie Odom Jr., but the cast of She Loves Me has its hands on you, too. When the newly awarded Tony winner walked down the aisle to give his acceptance speech, Zachary Levi and Jane Krakowski patted his arm and poked him, respectively. What the camera didn’t catch was Laura Benanti tackling him straight on (we assume). Your move, Liza.


You Can Be with Child & Kick Face
Audra McDonald is soon taking a temporary leave from Shuffle Along to welcome the arrival of a new family member, but that doesn’t mean she’s not serving 1921 realness every minute until then. During the musical’s performance, the six-time Tony winner sang beautifully (as she is wont to do) and ended the number with a jaw-dropping high kick. Audra, we get it. You have talent for two.


Broadway Will Keep On Shining
This year’s Tony Awards were more than a celebration of theater; they were a celebration of resilience, love and coming together in the darkest of times. Corden opened the ceremony by addressing viewers and assuring those affected by the tragedy in Orlando that they are not alone. Throughout the evening, presenters and winners honored the victims and the grieving, and lyrics like “I’m thankful for loving who I really am” never rang more true. Hate will never win, and Broadway will never stop shining.