2019 Tony Awards Flashback: On the Town with André De Shields, Harold Wheeler,Terrence McNally, David Henry Hwang, Rachel Chavkin, Anaïs Mitchell, Jordan Roth, Clint Ramos, Eva Noblezada, Reeve Carney, Jason Michael Webb, Michael McElroy and More
Vinie Burrows, 2019 Tony Award winner André De Shields, Lia Chang at the 2019 Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 9, 2019 in New York City. Photo by Garth Kravits
Last year, after a half century in the theater, Broadway veteran André De Shields took home his first Tony Award at the age of 73 for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical for his role as Hermes in Anaïs Mitchell’s Hadestown.
This was his 3rd nomination. He was previously nominated for Play On andThe Full Monty.
Photo by Lia Chang
André received the Drama Desk Award, the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical and the Actors’ Equity Foundation’s 2019 Richard Seff Award.
Tony Award Winner André De Shields. Photo by Lia Chang
He recently received the 2020 Grammy Award for Musical Theater Album for Hadestown, an honorary Doctor of Arts Degree from Boston Conservatory at Berklee, the 2019 Project1Voice Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2019 SAGE Joyce Warshow Lifetime Achievement Award, The York Theatre Company’s 2019 Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement in Musical Theatre, and was inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame.Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young presented André with the Key to the City of Baltimore in August, 2019.
André De Shields receives the Key to the City of Baltimore from Mayor Jack Young in the Ceremonial Room. Photo by Lia Chang
During his acceptance speech for the Tony Award, André gave a shoutout to his hometown of Baltimore, Md and shared his three cardinal rules of his ability and longevity which included:
1. Surround yourself with people whose eyes light up when they see you coming.
2. Slowly is the fastest way to get to where you want to be.
3. The top of one mountain is the bottom of the next, so keep climbing.
Below is my flashback coverage of last year’s Tony Awards celebration.
The cast and crew of Hadestown accept the award for Best Musical onstage during the 2019 Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 9, 2019 in New York City. Photo by Lia Chang
Hadestown was named Best Musical at The American Theatre Wing’s 73rd Annual Tony Awards on June 9th winning in eight categories. Hadestown won for Best Director for Rachel Chavkin, Best Score for Anaïs Mitchell, Best Scenic Design for Rachel Hauck, Best Lighting Design for Bradley King, Best Sound Design for Jessica Paz and Nevin Steinberg, and Best Orchestrations for Michael Chorney and Todd Sickafoose.
André De Shields, Reeve Carney and the cast of Hadestown perform onstage during the 2019 Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 9, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 09: André De Shields accepts the Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical award for Hadestown onstage during the 2019 Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 9, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)
André De Shields, winner of the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical for “Hadestown,” poses in the press room for the 73rd Annual Tony Awards at 3 West Club on June 9, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)
Rachel Hauck, winner of the award for Best Scenic Design of a Musical for “Hadestown,” poses in the press room for the 73rd Annual Tony Awards at 3 West Club on June 9, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)
Nevin Steinberg and Jessica Paz, winners of the award for Best Sound Design of a Musical award for “Hadestown,” pose in the press room for the 73rd Annual Tony Awards at 3 West Club on June 9, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)
Michael Chorney and Todd Sickafoose, winner of the award for Best Orchestrations for “Hadestown,” poses in the press room for the 73rd Annual Tony Awards at 3 West Club on June 9, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)
Bradley King, winner of the award for Best Lighting Design of a Musical for “Hadestown,” poses in the press room for the 73rd Annual Tony Awards at 3 West Club on June 9, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)
Rachel Chavkin, winner of the award for Best Direction of a Musical for “Hadestown,” poses in the press room for the 73rd Annual Tony Awards at 3 West Club on June 9, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)
Anaïs Mitchell, winner of the award for Best Original Score for “Hadestown,” poses in the press room for the 73rd Annual Tony Awards at 3 West Club on June 9, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)
Hosted by James Corden, live from Radio City Music Hall and broadcast on the CBS Television Network, the ceremony honored the incredibly talented theatre professionals for their remarkable achievements on Broadway during the 2018-2019 season.
Rachel Hauck wins a Tony Award for Scenic Design of a Musical for Hadestown during the 2019 Tony Awards with Jewelle Blackman, John Krause, Cherie B. Tay, Malcolm Armwood, Ahmad Simmons, Kimberly Marable, Jessie Shelton, Afra Hines, Timothy Hughes and Khaila Wilcoxon. Photo by Jenny Anderson, Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions(L-R) Nevin Steinberg, Jessica Paz, Bradley King, Rachel Hauck, Michael Chorney and Todd Sickafoose, 2019 Tony Award winners from HADESTOWN. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)The team from Hadestown (l-r) Producer Tom Kirdahy, Director Rachel Chavkin, Producer Dale Franzen, Creator Anais Mitchell, Producer Mara Isaacs, Producer Hunter Arnold and Producer Jordan Roth, winner of Best Musical. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)
Below is André’s photo diary of the night from Radio City Music Hall, the victory lap at The Plaza Hotel and the Hadestown party at The Times Square Edition.
RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL JUNE 9, 2019 AT 6:30 P.M.
Tony nominee Camille A. Brown attends the 73rd Annual Tony Awards. Photo by Lia ChangJose Antonio Vargas and 2019 Tony nominee Clint Ramos. Photo by Lia ChangJose Antonio Vargas, with 2019 Tony nominee Clint Ramos and his mother. Photo by Lia ChangHattie Winston with her husband, Harold Wheeler, winner of the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre at Radio City Music Hall on June 9, 2019 in New York City. Photo by Lia ChangL-R: Marion Henderson, Samantha Wheeler, Hattie Winston, 2019 Tony Award Winner Harold Wheeler, Andrew Henderson, Lena Henderson, India Henderson. Photo by Lia ChangSpecial Tony Award recipient Jason Michael Webb with his mother, Sharon Webb. Photo by Lia ChangGarth Kravits, Bob Martin and Jen Bender. Photo by Lia ChangTom Kirdahy and Terrence McNally, winner of the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre at Radio City Music Hall on June 9, 2019 in New York City. Photo by Lia Chang2019 Tony Honor Recipient Michael McElroy, founder of Broadway Inspirational Voices and Schele Williams. Photo by Lia ChangGarth Kravits and 2019 Tony nominee Beth Leavel. Photo by Lia ChangTony nominee Lilli Cooper with her mother, Tisa Farley. Photo by Lia Chang2019 Tony nominee Kenneth Lonergan and a guest. Photo by Lia ChangRichie Jackson and Jordan Roth. Photo by Lia ChangMichael Urie and guests. Photo by Lia Chang73rd Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 9, 2019 in New York City. Photo by Lia Chang73rd Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 9, 2019 in New York City. Photo by Lia ChangAmerican Theatre Wing Chairman David Henry Hwang73rd Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 9, 2019 in New York City. Photo by Lia ChangLorenzo Thione congratulates 2019 Tony Award winner André De Shields. Photo by Lia ChangVinie Burrows with André De Shields, winner of the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical for “Hadestown,” at Radio City Music Hall on June 9, 2019 in New York. Photo by Lia ChangVinie Burrows with André De Shields, winner of the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical for “Hadestown,” at Radio City Music Hall on June 9, 2019 in New York. Photo by Lia ChangAndré De Shields, winner of the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical for “Hadestown” and Harold Wheeler, winner of the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre at Radio City Music Hall on June 9, 2019 in New York City. Photo by Lia ChangVinie Burrows with André De Shields, winner of the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical for “Hadestown,” at Radio City Music Hall on June 9, 2019 in New York. Photo by Lia ChangVinie Burrows, 2019 Tony Award winner André De Shields and Garth Kravits. Photo by Lia Chang
THE PLAZA HOTEL, JUNE 10, 2019 AT MIDNIGHT
Vinie Burrows Special Tony Award recipient Jason Michael Webb, 2019 Tony Award winner André De Shields, Lelund Durond Thompson. Photo by Lia Chang2019 Tony Award winner Rachel Hauck with her mother and Lisa Peterson. Photo by Lia ChangGarth Kravits and MOULIN ROUGE star Danny Berstein. Photo by Lia ChangTom Kirdahy and Terrence McNally, winner of the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre at The Plaza Hotel on June 9, 2019 in New York City. Photo by Lia Chang2019 Tony Award winner Rachel Hauck and Mara Isaacs. Photo by Lia ChangLisa Peterson, 2019 Tony Awards winner Rachel Hauck and Mara Isaacs, Danielle Mellman. Photo by Lia ChangEisa Davis, 2019 Tony nominee Dominique Morisseau and Saycon Sengbloh . Photo by Lia ChangA guest, Eva Price, producer of the 2019 Tony Award winning Best Revival of a Musical for Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!, Lisa Peterson and 2019 Tony Award winner Rachel Hauck. Photo by Lia Chang2019 Tony Award winner Rachel Hauck. Photo by Lia ChangTaylor Mac and Vinie Burrows. Photo by Lia Chang2019 Tony Award winner Anaïs Mitchell. Photo by Lia ChangNoah Hahn and his wife 2019 Tony Award winner Anaïs Mitchell. Photo by Lia Chang2019 Tony Award winner Todd Sickafoose and Ilana Umansky. Photo by Lia ChangKathryn Layng and American Theatre Wing Chair David Henry Hwang. Photo by Lia ChangGrace Hwang, Kathryn Layng and American Theatre Wing Chair David Henry Hwang. Photo by Lia Chang2019 Tony nominee David Neumann and his wife, Erica Sweany. Photo by Lia ChangHamish Bowles, Vinie Burrows and 2019 Tony Award winner André De Shields. Photo by Lia ChangHamish Bowles, Vinie Burrows and 2019 Tony Award winner André De Shields. Photo by Lia Chang2019 Tony Award winner André De Shields with Paul Wontorek. Photo by Lia Chang2019 Tony Award winner André De Shields, Vinie Burrows and Chris Jackson. Photo by Lia ChangKirsty Woodward and 2019 Tony nominee Damon Daunno. Photo by Lia ChangAward winner André De Shields, Lelund Durond Thompson. Photo by Lia Chang2019 Tony Award winner André De Shields. Photo by Lia Chang
THE TIMES SQUARE EDITION JUNE 10, 2019 at 2:15 A.M.
2019 Tony Award winner André De Shields, Vinie Burrows, Liza Streb Melamed and Ken Melamed. Photo by Lia ChangVinie Burrows and 2019 Tony Award winner André De Shields. Photo by Lia Chang2019 Tony Award winner André De Shields and Liam Robinson. Photo by Lia Chang2019 Tony nominee Michael Strauss, 2019 Tony Award winners André De Shields and Rachel Chavkin, Jake Heinrichs. Photo by Lia Chang2019 Tony Award winners Rachel Hauck and André De Shields. Photo by Lia Chang2019 Tony Award winner André De Shields and guests. Photo by Lia Chang2019 Tony nominee Eva Noblezada and Lorenzo Thione. Photo by Lia Chang 2019 Tony nominee Eva Noblezada and Reeve Carney. Photo by Lia Chang 2019 Tony nominee Eva Noblezada and Reeve Carney. Photo by Lia Chang2019 Tony Award winner André De Shields, 2019 Tony nominee Eva Noblezada, Vinie Burrows and Reeve Carney. Photo by Lia ChangAngie Noblezada and her daughter, 2019 Tony nominee Eva Noblezada. Photo by Lia ChangReeve Carney and his mother, Marti Heil. Photo by Lia ChangReeve Carney and Beverly Edwards. Photo by Lia Chang2019 Tony Award winners André De Shields and Mara Isaacs. Photo by Lia Chang2019 Tony Award winner Bradley King. Photo by Lia ChangTamilla Woodard. photo by Lia Chang2019 Tony Award winner André De Shields, Danielle King and 2019 Tony Award winner Bradley King. Photo by Lia ChangReeve Carney with his mother, Marti Heil and 2019 Tony Award winner André De Shields. Photo by Lia ChangGarth Kravits and Cherie Tay. Photo by Lia ChangKen Melamed, Liza Streb Melamed and 2019 Tony Award winner André De Shields. Photo by Lia ChangAline Kovacs and Cherie Tay. Photo by Lia ChangAline Kovacs, 2019 Tony Award winner André De Shields, Cherie Tay. Photo by Lia ChangCody Owen Stine, a guest, Jean Rohe and Liam Robinson. Photo by Lia ChangSeth Mellman, 2019 Tony Award winner Mara Isaacs and Danielle Mellman. Photo by Lia Chang2019 Tony Award winners André De Shields and Jessica Paz, Corrine Livingston. Photo by Lia ChangLiam Robinson and 2019 Tony Award winner Todd Sickafoose. Photo by Lia Chang2019 Tony Award winner André De Shields and Vinie Burrows. Photo by Lia Chang2019 Tony Award winner André De Shields and Vinie Burrows. Photo by Lia ChangVinie Burrows with André De Shields, winner of the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical for “Hadestown.” Photo by Lia Chang
Lia Chang is an actor, a multi-media content producer and co-founder of Bev’s Girl Films, making films that foster inclusion and diversity on both sides of the camera. Bev’s Girl Films’ debut short film, Hide and Seek was a top ten film in the Asian American Film Lab’s 2015 72 Hour Shootout Filmmaking Competition, and she received a Best Actress nomination. BGF collaborates with and produces multi-media content for artists, actors, designers, theatrical productions, composers, musicians and corporations. Lia has appeared in the films Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman. She stars in and served as Executive Producer for the short independent films Hide and Seek, Balancing Act, Rom-Com Gone Wrong, Belongingness and When the World was Young. She is also the Executive Producer for The Cactus, The Language Lesson, The Writer and Cream and 2 Shugahs.
Backstage Pass with Lia Chang 