Actress Kara Young was surrounded by admirers inside Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall around 1 a.m. Monday morning, lining up a swarm of well-wishers after winning her first Tony Award, for featured actress in comedy “Purlie Victorious”. Her older brother stood nearby and periodically fanned out the train of his lime-lime chiffon dress.
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, the 39-year-old playwright who wrote the evening’s best revival of the play, the searing family drama “Appropriate” — and another first-time Tony winner — was next in line to compliment Ms. Young and her dress by designer Bibhu Mohapatra.
“It’s still an iconic Tonys look,” Mr. Jacobs-Jenkins told the actress. “When we’re about 70 years old, they’re going to show it to you.”
It was a flash forward to a night when, for many Tony Award winners, anything seemed possible. All eight winners, in plays and musicals, earned their first-ever Tony wins Sunday — some for their first major Broadway role or nomination, others after four decades in theater.
“There are so many people who are like me,” said Kecia Lewis, first-time winner for her role as a piano teacher in the musical “Hell’s Kitchen,” based on the life and music of Alicia Keys . . She described at the party those “who have worked hard and done their best, who love what they do, knowing that they are pretty good at it, but who feel invisible.” (Ms. Lewis made her Broadway debut 40 years ago, at age 18, in the musical “Dreamgirls.”)
Hundreds of nominees and attendees filled four floors at the afterparty around 11 p.m. at David Geffen Hall, which sits across the street from Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater, where the ceremony took place.
Shaina Taub and Justin Peck took home their new trophies — Ms. Taub with two, for the Hillary Clinton-backed book and score of “Suffs,” and Mr. Peck with the choreography prize for “Illinoise,” centered on dance. Elle Fanning of “Appropriate” caught up with her cast; Jessica Lange, Shoshana Bean and Steven Skybell, all acting nominees that night, lingered outside near the bar overlooking the square.
“I’ve never been more excited about anything,” said Sarah Paulson, who won best actress in a play for her portrayal of an older sister determined to protect the legacy of his father in “Appropriate”. She began her career in theater, and now that she’s back on stage, she added, “I just feel like I don’t want to do anything else.” You’re probably going to get sick of me.
Soon, she had found one of the last veggie burgers at the party’s Shake Shack counter.
Ms. Paulson, Ms. Young, Will Brill of the play “Stereophonic” and Jeremy Strong of the Ibsen classic “An Enemy of the People” won acting trophies for their plays. Acting awards for roles in musicals were shared between the performers of “Hell’s Kitchen” and Stephen Sondheim’s flop-turned-hit “Merrily We Roll Along,” the best musical revival of the evening.
By around 1:30 a.m., many of the nominees had left the official afterparty and arrived at the Carlyle Hotel on the Upper East Side, where theater publicist Rick Miramontez was hosting his famous late-night party in front of several hundred guests. ‘guests with the producer. John Gore.
“This space is so beautiful,” said Amber Iman, nominated for her portrayal of model Rafaela in “Lempicka,” as she walked up the stairs to the bar in a sequinned bandeau top and long green skirt.
As waiters in white coats circled with platters of shrimp cocktails, sliders, fries and champagne, partygoers huddled in the corners.
Jim Parsons and Celia Keenan-Bolger, both nominated for their performances as teenage siblings in Paula Vogel’s family drama “Mother Play,” huddled on a banquette. Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who had presented the Tony for actor in a leading role in a play of “Stereophonic” to Mr. Brill, walked up to greet them.
Nearby was Ali Louis Bourzgui, 24, who made his Broadway debut this season as the title character in “The Who’s Tommy,” the rock opera-turned-musical by Pete Townshend and Des McAnuff. He had just attended his first Tony Awards, where he and the cast of the musical performed “Pinball Wizard” with Mr. Townshend of The Who, who wrote the music and co-wrote the book for the musical.
“It was one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life,” Mr. Bourzgui said, wide-eyed.
Soon, theater producer Jordan Roth arrived in a sheer black floral dress and matching crown, and Eddie Redmayne, in a tuxedo with a cape detail, rushed upstairs to the bar. Camille A. Brown, nominated for best choreography for “Hell’s Kitchen,” held her ivory feathered strapless dress aloft as she tried to sneak into a seating area.
Dylan Mulvaney, the influencer, praised Mr. Brill, who had just won his first Tony Award, for his role as bassist Reg in “Stereophonic.”
“You looked fabulous tonight,” said Ms Mulvaney, who wore a long white dress decorated with feathers.
“It’s cool that they let us do it, that they gave in,” Mr. Brill said. (Tony Awards producers had initially denied actors from “Stereophonic,” a play that features live music, the chance to perform on the telecast before changing the plan last week.)
As the evening wore on, attendees continued to flock to the hotel bar after the ceremony, with Alex Edelman, the comedian and new Tony Award winner special; Ashley Park, the stage actress known on screen for her role in “Emily in Paris”; Mr. Townshend; Mrs. Paulson; and Ariana DeBose, who hosted the ceremony for the third year in a row, joining the crowd.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” said Ms. DeBose, who was soon unable to move more than a few inches without being mobbed by admirers.
Just after 3 a.m., Jonathan Groff, who won his first Tony for best lead actor in a musical for “Merrily We Roll Along,” headed to the bar and led a rendition of a Sondheim standard from the series “Old Friends”.
His co-star Daniel Radcliffe and Mr Radcliffe’s long-term girlfriend, actress Erin Darke, watched from their perch on a banquette as they greeted well-wishers. (Mr. Radcliffe had also just won his first Tony Award for “Merrily,” for his portrayal of the composer Charley Kringas.)
Then pianist Billy Stritch launched into the catchy strains of “New York, New York,” the John Kander and Fred Ebb tune made famous by Frank Sinatra. Soon the entire room, which included Eva Noblezada (“The Great Gatsby”) and Andrew R. Butler (“Stereophonic”), was singing the anthem of city dreamers.
“Start spreading the news, I’m leaving today…”
Mr. Groff danced alongside the piano, getting progressively louder with each verse, until it was time for the finale.
“If I can make it, I’ll make it anywhere/It’s up to you, New York, Neeeeeeew York.”