Definition
The 72nd Tony Awards was an annual ceremony presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League to recognize achievement in live Broadway theatre for the 2017–2018 season.
Overview
The ceremony took place on June 10 2018 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City and was broadcast live on the CBS television network. Singer‑songwriter Sara Bareilles served as the sole host. The event honored productions that opened on Broadway between May 1 2017 and April 28 2018. Highlights included performances from nominated productions and tributes to theatre artists.
Key award outcomes were:
- Best Musical – The Band’s Visit
- Best Play – Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
- Best Revival of a Musical – Oklahoma!
- Best Revival of a Play – Angels in America
The Band’s Visit led the evening with ten nominations and secured seven wins, while Harry Potter and the Cursed Child received nine nominations and won nine awards, including Best Play and Best Direction of a Play.
Etymology/Origin
The term “Tony Awards” is derived from the nickname of Antoinette Perry (1888–1946), a renowned actress, director, producer, and co‑founder of the American Theatre Wing. The awards were first presented in 1947 to honor excellence in American theatre, and the ordinal “72nd” denotes the sequential iteration of the ceremony.
Characteristics
- Eligibility period – Broadway productions opening between early May 2017 and late April 2018.
- Voting body – Approximately 800 members of the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League, comprising actors, directors, producers, playwrights, and journalists.
- Award categories – Over 30 competitive categories, including performance, direction, design, and production awards for both plays and musicals, as well as special honors such as the Lifetime Achievement Award.
- Broadcast format – A televised special of roughly three hours, combining award presentations, acceptance speeches, and live musical numbers from nominated shows.
- Venue – Radio City Music Hall, a historic concert hall that has hosted the Tonys regularly since 2000.
Related Topics
- Tony Awards (general history and structure)
- Broadway theatre
- 71st Tony Awards (preceding ceremony)
- 73rd Tony Awards (subsequent ceremony)
- Notable 2017–2018 Broadway productions: The Band’s Visit, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Oklahoma!, Angels in America
All information presented is based on publicly documented records of the 72nd Tony Awards ceremony.