Favorite Old Tonys to Watch

[berniesb!tch]

Posted: 6/9/25 at 6:12pm

Last night’s show got me in the mood to watch an older ceremony. What are some of your fav ceremonies to rewatch from years past?

[Mr. Wormwood]

Posted: 6/9/25 at 6:26pm

The first Tonys I watched was 1997, the first year Rosie O'Donnell hosted. So I have a lot of nostalgia for that one.

I also really enjoy the 1988 Tonys, which was the first older one I watched on an old VHS my parents had.

I also have nostalgia for different reasons for 2016 (last pre-Trump Tonys) and 2019 (last pre-Covid Tonys). Both feel like relics of a simpler time.

[jakethesnake]

Posted: 6/9/25 at 8:45pm

For me, it’s less about watching old ceremonies and more about watching old numbers.   Sometimes I just go down the rabbit hole on YouTube.  Whenever I need a pick me up, there’s always the numbers from Grand Hotel, Will Rogers, The Life, among others.  They bring me joy.  

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 6/10/25 at 4:08am

The must-see is the 1971 Tony Awards. It devoted itself to celebrating the first 25 years of Tony-winning Best Musicals, and they brought back so many of the original leads to re-create their classic musical numbers: Alfred Drake, John Raitt, Gwen Verdon, Robert Preston, Carol Channing, Zero Mostel, Angela Lansbury, Richard Kiley, Jill Haworth, Leslie Uggams, etc. It's an incredible time capsule. The one downside is that the 1971 Tonys didn't have enough time to showcase the then-current and nominated musicals: namely, ''Company,' ''The Me Nobody Knows'' and ''The Rothschilds.''

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCB_r7iSoEY&t=14s

Updated On: 6/10/25 at 04:08 AM

[SteveSanders]

Posted: 6/10/25 at 7:10am

jakethesnake said: "For me, it’s less about watching old ceremonies and more about watching old numbers. Sometimes I just go down the rabbit hole on YouTube. Whenever I need a pick me up, there’s always the numbers from Grand Hotel, Will Rogers, The Life, among others. They bring me joy."

Same. 

I know not everyone here cares for Neil Patrick Harris, but watching these two numbers from the 2013 telecast always makes me smile.

"Bigger" Opening Number

"Neil and Friends" (Andrew Rannels, Megan Hilty, Laura Benanti)

 

Updated On: 6/11/25 at 07:10 AM

[inception]

Posted: 6/11/25 at 12:17am

Today when posting something else to the new Encores thread I found this clip that highlights the LA Cage performances & all their big wins from the 1984 telecast.   I'm guessing just like today everyone had a pretty good idea about what would win, so it is interesting to see Sondheim sitting there probably knowing he wouldn't win, and then have to listen to that jibe from Herman.

 

 

 

Updated On: 6/11/25 at 12:17 AM

[nealb1]

Posted: 6/11/25 at 6:33pm

My favorite is the 1987 Tony Awards, with Angela Lansbury hosting.  Musical numbers from "Me & My Girl," "Les Miz," "Starlight Express," and "Rags."  Her and Bea Arthur singing "Bosom Buddies" is showstopper, and the beautiful tribute to Robert Preston.  

My 2nd fave is the 1998 Tony Awards, as I was lucky enough to have attended.  It was the year of "Ragtime" vs. "The Lion King."  And, when "Cabaret" swept!   My friend and I had seen "Cabaret" the day before and were blown away by it.  Especially Natasha Richardson's performance.  It was thrilling that she won Best Actress in a Musical that night, and so exciting to be there - in the room where it happened, when she won.  

Updated On: 6/11/25 at 06:33 PM

[MaddieBB12]

Posted: 6/11/25 at 6:40pm

SteveSanders said: "jakethesnake said: "For me, it’s less about watching old ceremonies and more about watching old numbers. Sometimes I just go down the rabbit hole on YouTube. Whenever I need a pick me up, there’s always the numbers from Grand Hotel, Will Rogers, The Life, among others. They bring me joy."

Same.

I know not everyone here cares for Neil Patrick Harris, but watching these two numbers from the 2013 telecast always makes me smile.

"Bigger" Opening Number

"Neil and Friends" (Andrew Rannels, Megan Hilty, Laura Benanti)

"

2013 is also my favorite! The only jarring thing is that the musical numbers were introduced by characters from all the long-running shows. Which was cute, I just sometimes forget they decided to do that, and then they are like, "Welcome SIMBA to introduce PIPPIN!"

[nmartin]

Posted: 6/11/25 at 7:30pm

Besides the ones mentioned, I love to watch the Tony numbers from No, No, Nanette as well as watch Patsy Kelly winning for that show and falling UP the stairs.