Make It Bigger: The 2013 Tony Awards
June 10, 2013


The Tony Awards must never let Neil Patrick Harris not host ever again. The four-time MC of Broadway’s Biggest Night sang, danced, rapped and did acrobatics, magic tricks and cheerleading stunts all in an opening number that made me want to shut off the TV right then and there because nothing could possibly top it. The rest of the evening wasn’t too shabby, though, with pick-me-up performances from Motown and Bring It On, plus a slew of talented tots from Annie, Matilda and A Christmas Story.

Kinky Boots was the biggest star of the evening, however (after NPH). The feel-good show about a struggling shoe factory that finds a true “niche market” selling sturdy stilettos to drag queens claimed six Tonys, including Best Musical and two technical awards. Pop star Cyndi Lauper was honored for Best Score, while leading man/woman Billy Porter took home the much-deserved win for Best Actor in a Musical. And director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell won for Best Choreography, beating out talented contenders Andy Blankenbuehler, Chet Walker and Peter Darling. Mitchell has worked on Catch Me If You Can, Legally Blonde: The Musical, Hairspray and La Cage Aux Folles, for which he earned a Tony in 2005. Read more here about Mitchell, the busiest man on Broadway, and if you have any questions about his choreography chops, check out Boots’ show-stopping conveyor-belt dance performance from last night:

Subscribe to our newsletters

Sign up for any or all of these newsletters

You have Successfully Subscribed!