James Corden opens the Tony Awards 2019 by celebrating the magic of live theatre
10 June 2019, 16:30
The 2019 Tony Awards opened with a bang last night as host James Corden began the show with a ten minute, show-stopping ode to 'doing it live'.
In true Broadway style, Tony Awards host James Corden delighted last night's star-studded crowd with a theatrical opening number, which celebrated the magic of live Broadway shows.
Stripped-back in a tracksuit, the host begins the song complaining about endless nights in, watching television and binge watching back-to-back box sets. He is promptly accompanied by some glitzy backing dancers, and has a speedy costume change into a pink velvet dinner jacket far better suited for the evening.
The musical number included a sketch with Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston, as he disrupted the live performance to go to the bathroom, and James Corden was joined on stage by performers from Broadway's biggest musicals, including Ain't Too Proud, Beetlejuice, Tootsie, Hadestown, The Prom, Oklahoma! and Kiss Me, Kate.
Watch the full performance below:
James Corden's Electrifying 2019 Tony Awards Opening Number Salutes The Magic Of Live Broadway
Tony Awards 2019 nominees and winners
Hadestown was crowned the big winner of the night, taking home eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Original Score Written for the Theatre, André De Shields for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical, and Bradley King for Best Lighting Design of a Musical.
Some of the Tony Awards 2019 highlights are below:
Best Play: The Ferryman
Best Musical: Hadestown
Best Leading Actor in a Musical: Santino Fontana for Tootsie
Best Leading Actress in a Musical: Stephanie J. Block for The Cher Show
Best Original Score for Theatre: Hadestown by Anaïs Mitchell
Best Revival of a Musical: Oklahoma!
Read the full list of winners and nominees on the Tony Awards website >
In 2016, James Corden performed another musical opening number as the host of the Tony Awards. His song ‘Ode to the Host’ made a parody version of Hamilton to rewind the clock and show himself as a young boy dreaming of the theatre.
Watch the 9 greatest Tony Awards opening performances of all time >
The 73rd Annual Tony Awards were shown on CBS, Sunday 9 June. All the details from the ceremony are available on the Tony Awards website.
