How Many Tony-Winning Best Plays, Musicals, and Revivals From the Last 20 Years Opened in the Fall?

Every April, Broadway becomes an opening night bonanza. In the weeks leading up to the Tony Awards cutoff date, when shows must open in order to be eligible for a nomination, the industry races from theatre to theatre, celebrating each new show and saying goodbye to another season.

But while the traditional thinking is that scheduling an opening night as close to the a nominations announcement as possible is the best strategy—just look at how many awards season contenders open in movie theatres every December!—there are a surprising number of Broadway shows from the last 20 years that opened far earlier in the season. Hamilton may be the most famous, but it's hardly alone. How many of the others can you name? Flip through the gallery below to find out how well you know opening nights!

How Many Tony-Winning Best Plays, Musicals, and Revivals From the Last 20 Years Opened in the Fall?

Hamilton_Broadway_Production_Photos_2015_Phillipa_Soo_Lin-Manuel_Miranda_HR — How Many Tony-Winning Best Plays, Musicals, and Revivals From the Last 20 Years Opened in the Fall?

40 PHOTOS

Kiss Me, Kate_Broadway_Production Photos_1999_Marin_Mazzie_HR — Marin Mazzie in *Kiss Me, Kate*

Hairspray Playbill - Opening Night, July 2002

Hairspray HR — Harvey Fierstein and Marissa Jaret Winokur

Paul Kolnik

Avenue Q HR — Stephanie D'Abruzzo and John Tartaglia

Carol Rosegg

Henry IV Playbill - Opening Night, Nov 2003 — *Henry IV*: Opened November 20, 2003

Audra McDonald and Ethan Hawke in <i>Henry IV</i>, 2003 — Audra McDonald and Ethan Hawke in *Henry IV*

Paul Kolnik

La Cage Aux Folles Playbill - Opening Night, Nov 2004 — *La Cage Aux Folles*: Opened December 9, 2004

La_Cage_Aux_Follies_Broadway_Production_Photo_2004_Gary Beach_HR — Gary Beach and cast of *La Cage Aux Folles*

Carol Rosegg

HR - J. Robert Spencer, John Lloyd Young, Daniel Reichard and Christian Hoff in Jersey Boys — J. Robert Spencer, John Lloyd Young, Daniel Reichard and Christian Hoff in Jersey Boys

Joan Marcus

Spring Awakening Playbill - Opening Night

Spring_Awakening_Broadway_Production_Photos_2006_John_Gallagher_Jr_Jonathan_Groff_Lea_Michele_HR — John Gallagher, Jr., Jonathan Groff and Lea Michele

Company_Broadway_Production Photos_2006_Raúl Esparza and cast_HR — Raúl Esparza and cast of *Company*

Paul Kolnik

Billy Elliot orig HR — Trent Kowalik and company in the Broadway production of *Billy Elliot*

Alastair Muir

HR - Memphis (Broadway 2009) — J. Bernard Calloway and Montego Glover in *Memphis*.

Joan Marcus

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