--- description: From heartfelt performances to honest speeches, here are the highlights of the 2024 Tony Awards title: Tony Awards 2024: Best Moments image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt386758002fb365c6/698a57dd86f68e85e96f53db/tony-awards-2024.jpg?branch=production&width=2400&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Entertainment](/section/entertainment/) ## Entertainment Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [awards](/tag/awards/) ## awards Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # The Most Memorable Moments of the 2024 Tony Awards  by [Moises Mendez](/author/moises-mendez-ii/)  ## Moises Mendez Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Updated: Jan 19, 2026 3:30 PM CUTPublished: Jun 17, 2024 2:07 AM CUT  Eddie Redmayne, Gayle Rankin, and the cast of "Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club" perform onstage during The 77th Annual Tony Awards at David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center on June 16, 2024 in New York City Eddie Redmayne, Gayle Rankin, and the cast of "Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club" perform onstage during The 77th Annual Tony Awards at David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center on June 16, 2024 in New York CityGetty Images for Tony Awards Productions—2024 Getty Images  by [Moises Mendez](/author/moises-mendez-ii/)  ## Moises Mendez Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Updated: Jan 19, 2026 3:30 PM CUTPublished: Jun 17, 2024 2:07 AM CUT The [77th Tony Awards](https://time.com/6989107/tony-awards-how-to-watch-host-nominations-performers-winners/ "undefined") celebrated Broadway’s biggest stars at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater in New York City on Sunday night, with [Ariana DeBose](https://time.com/collection-post/6177788/ariana-debose/ "undefined") marking her third time as host of the ceremony. The night featured several tight races, including Best Performance by an Actress in Leading Role in a Play—which saw Sarah Paulson _(Appropriate)_ win after going up against Jessica Lange _(Mother Play)_ and Rachel McAdams _(Mary Jane)_. Multiple actors were nominated for Tony Awards after [making their Broadway debuts](https://time.com/6972672/tony-nominations-2024/ "undefined") this season. Maleah Joi Moon, who was nominated for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical for her role in the Alicia Keys jukebox musical _Hell’s Kitchen_, didn’t just make a debut—the show, which garnered an eye-popping 13 nominations, is her first-ever professional production. _Stereophonic_, a show filled with Broadway debuts and also has 13 nominations, sees two standout performances from Sarah Pidgeon and Juliana Canfield, who are up against each other in the Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play category. Viewers also got exciting performances from different musicals on Broadway, including _Stereophonic_, _Merrily We Roll Along_, _The Outsiders_, _The Who’s Tommy_, _Cabaret_, and _Hell’s Kitchen_. From heartfelt performances to honest speeches, here are the highlights of the 2024 Tony Awards. ## **Most New York Moment** If you’re heading to a Broadway theater, it’s impossible to walk through the Times Square area without hearing [Alicia Keys and Jay-Z’s “Empire State of Mind”](https://time.com/4525432/watch-alicia-keys-and-jay-z-put-new-yorkers-in-a-new-york-state-of-mind-like-only-they-can/ "undefined") more than once in its entirety from the speakers of street vendors or pedicabs attempting to entice tourists for a ride. The first performance of Tony Awards was a medley from _Hell’s Kitchen_, Keys’ semi-autobiographical musical, and included “Empire State of Mind.” Keys sang the seminal New York song and brought out one of the most famous New Yorkers, rapper Jay-Z, for an electric performance. > [](https://twitter.com/NYMag/status/1802498462576975988) ## **Realest Shout Out** _Succession_ star [Jeremy Strong](https://time.com/collection-post/6177786/jeremy-strong/ "undefined") took home his first Tony Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Play for his work as Doctor Thomas Stockman in _An Enemy of the People_. In his speech, he took a moment to shout out the ushers and staff at the theater, “who see me walking in every day looking like I’ve just been run over by a truck and see me walk out looking, somehow, even worse”—which received animated applause from the crowd. > [](https://twitter.com/reshingbull/status/1802494551111671846) ## **Most Heartwarming Performance** Throughout the promotion for their show _Merrily We Roll Along_, Jonathan Groff, Lindsay Mendez, and Daniel Radcliffe have put their [tight-knit friendship](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcu2R62i9-E&pp=ygUpdmFuaXR5IGZhaXIgbGllIGRldGVjdG9yIGRhbmllbCByYWRjbGlmZmU%3D "undefined") on full display and imbued their performances with familiarity and their delightful personalities. The trio brought that joy to the Tony Awards, with a performance of “Old Friends” from the Stephen Sondheim-composed musical. Later in the night, Radcliffe and Groff each won their [first Tony](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/16/theater/daniel-radcliffe-first-tony-award.html#:~:text=Radcliffe%20won%20the%20Tony%20Award,%E2%80%9CMerrily%20We%20Roll%20Along.%E2%80%9D "undefined") Awards. > [](https://twitter.com/SpencerAlthouse/status/1802537437492634058) ## **Most Emotional Dance Number** _Illinoise_ adapts Sufjan Stevens' striking and heartbreaking 2005 album _Illinois_ into a Broadway production that pairs his devastating lyrics with beautiful dances. The company of _Illinoise_, which took home the Tony Award for Best Choreography, performed a heart-wrenching number that highlighted the beauty of the production. ## **Most Impassioned Speech** > [](https://twitter.com/TimTeeman/status/1802512664691691686) Kecia Lewis is no stranger to the stage—she’s been on Broadway since 1981, when she made her debut in _Dreamgirls_. For her most recent role as Miss Liza Jane in _Hell's Kitchen_, Lewis took home the award for Best Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical—her first Tony nomination and win, despite a decades-long career. Reflecting on her experience in the industry, Lewis shared some wisdom with those hoping to work on Broadway. “I’d to thank those people in my life who wouldn’t let me give up,” Lewis said. “Being in this business 40 years, I wanted to give up many times.” ## **Wackiest Performance** Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne led the company of _Cabaret_ in a zany performance of “Wilkommen.” Redmayne, who plays the Emcee, was joined by his co-star Gayle Rankin, the show’s Sally Bowles, and other actors from the show to give the audiences a taste of the wild show at the recently renovated August Wilson theater, which houses the Kit Kat Club. > [](https://twitter.com/SpencerAlthouse/status/1802517961715994767) > [](https://twitter.com/Jesse%5Fbslade/status/1802519792550633648) ## **Best Debut Win** Maleah Joi Moon’s undeniable talent as Ali in _Hell’s Kitchen_ was rewarded Sunday night, when she won the Tony for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical. The 21-year-old beat out Broadway veterans and critical darlings alike, including Eden Espinosa, Kelli O’Hara, Maryann Plunkett, and Gayle Rankin. Moon seemed shocked at the win, and it was a surprise given that it was her first time performing in a professional production. ## **Most Deserved Win** The cast of _Merrily We Roll Along_ was a front-runner for tonight’s Tony Awards. Jonathan Groff joined co-star Daniel Radcliffe in the winner’s circle and nabbed his first Tony for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical as Franklin Shepard. This was Groff’s third nomination, after receiving two previously for his work as King George III in _Hamilton_ and as Melchior Gabor in _Spring Awakening_. He thanked his co-stars in an emotional speech, saying, “Daniel Radcliffe and Lindsay Mendez, you are more than old friends, you are soul mates, and I'm looking forward to watching each other change for the rest of our lives.” > [](https://twitter.com/SpencerAlthouse/status/1802539550821978234) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/6989217/tony-awards-2024/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/6989217/tony-awards-2024/"},"headline":"The Most Memorable Moments of the 2024 Tony Awards","datePublished":"2024-06-17T02:07:29.000Z","dateModified":"2026-01-19T15:30:07.000Z","description":"From heartfelt performances to honest speeches, here are the highlights of the 2024 Tony Awards","url":"https://time.com/6989217/tony-awards-2024/","keywords":["awards","culturepod"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt386758002fb365c6/698a57dd86f68e85e96f53db/tony-awards-2024.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Moises Mendez","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/moises-mendez-ii/"}],"articleSection":"Entertainment","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt386758002fb365c6/698a57dd86f68e85e96f53db/tony-awards-2024.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"The 77th Annual Tony Awards - Show","caption":"The 77th Annual Tony Awards - Show","creditText":"Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions—2024 Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/entertainment/","name":"Entertainment"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/awards/","name":"awards"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/6989217/tony-awards-2024/","name":"The Most Memorable Moments of the 2024 Tony Awards"}}]}] ```