How Did Critics Rate the 71st Annual Tony Awards? | Playbill

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    Tony Awards How Did Critics Rate the 71st Annual Tony Awards?
    By Olivia Clement
    June 12, 2017
     
    How did the evening stack up to past ceremonies, and what was the consensus of host Kevin Spacey’s efforts?
    Kevin Spacey
    Kevin Spacey Joseph Marzullo/WENN

    How did theatre and television critics rate the 71st Annual Tony Awards? On June 11, Radio City Music Hall transformed once again for Broadway’s biggest night, an epic evening of musical numbers, surprise guest appearances, and colorful speeches.

    Read what critics thought of host Kevin Spacey’s efforts—including his epic 11-minute opening musical number—and how they rated the event compared to previous years below:

    Deadline (Jeremy Gerard)

    The Guardian (Alexis Soloski)

    The Hollywood Reporter (David Rooney)

    L.A. Times (Robert Lloyd)

    The New York Times (Neil Genzlinger)

    Rolling Stone (Sarah Grant)

    Variety (Cynthia Littleton)

    Playbill will continue to update with reviews as they’re published.

    Missed Spacey’s opening number? Watch it below:

    Dear Evan Hansen was the most-awarded production of the 71st Annual Tony Awards; for the complete list of winners, click here.

    Flip through photos from the evening below:

    Follow the Red Carpet Arrivals on Broadway’s Biggest Night

    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Bette Midler_HR

    Follow the Red Carpet Arrivals on Broadway’s Biggest Night

    The stars arrive to the 2017 Tony Awards.

    126 PHOTOS
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Bette Midler_HR
    Bette Midler
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Bette Midler_HR
    Bette Midler
    Joseph Marzullo/WENN
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Ben Platt_HR.jpg
    Ben Platt
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Ben Platt_HR.jpg
    Ben Platt
    Joseph Marzullo/WENN
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Rachel Bay Jones_HR
    Rachel Bay Jones
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Laurie Metcalf_HR.jpg
    Laurie Metcalf
    Joseph Marzullo/WENN
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Phoebe Cates_Kevin Kline_HR
    Phoebe Cates and Kevin Kline
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Cynthia Nixon_HR.jpg
    Cynthia Nixon
    Joseph Marzullo/WENN
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Cynthia Erivo_HR
    Cynthia Erivo
    Joseph Marzullo/WENN
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Patti LuPone_HR
    Patti LuPone
    Joseph Marzullo/WENN
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Jonathan Groff_HR.jpg
    Jonathan Groff
    Joseph Marzullo/WENN
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Patina Miller_HR.jpg
    Patina Miller
    Joseph Marzullo/WENN
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Darren Criss_HR.jpg
    Darren Criss
    Joseph Marzullo/WENN
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Denis Jones_HR.jpg
    Denis Jones
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Megan Briones and Jon Jon Briones_HR.jpg
    Megan Briones and Jon Jon Briones
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_John Legend_HR
    John Legend
    Joseph Marzullo/WENN
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_4Rebecca Taichman_HR
    Rebecca Taichman
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Alex Lacamoire and Ileana Ferreras_HR.jpg
    Alex Lacamoire and Ileana Ferreras
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Georgiana Bischoff_Richard Thomas _HR
    Georgiana Bischoff and Richard Thomas
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Bradley King_HR.jpg
    Bradley King and guest
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Johanna Day_HR
    Johanna Day
    Joseph Marzullo/WENN
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Paula Vogel and Anne Fausto-Sterling_HR.jpg
    Paula Vogel and Anne Fausto-Sterling
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Sam Gold_HR
    Sam Gold
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Danny Rubin_HR
    Danny Rubin
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Eliza Bent and Dave Malloy_HR.jpg
    Eliza Bent and Dave Malloy
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Sally Field_HR
    Sally Field
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Alex Sharp_HR
    Alex Sharp
    Joseph Marzullo/WENN
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Paloma Young_HR.jpg
    Paloma Young
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Katrina Lenk_HR
    Katrina Lenk
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Corey Hawkins_HR
    Corey Hawkins
    Joseph Marzullo/WENN
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Susan Hilferty_HR.jpg
    Susan Hilferty
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Corey Hawkins_HR
    Corey Hawkins
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Sam Pinkleton_HR.jpg
    Sam Pinkleton
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Alison Wright_HR
    Alison Wright
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Condola Rashad_HR
    Condola Rashad
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Mimi Lien_HR.jpg
    Mimi Lien
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Chris Cooper_Marianne Leone Cooper _HR
    Chris Cooper and Marianne Leone Cooper
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Justin Guarini_HR.jpg
    Justin Guarini
    Joseph Marzullo/WENN
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Michelle Wilson_HR
    Michelle Wilson
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Stephanie J. Block_HR.jpg
    Stephanie J. Block
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Stephanie J. Block and Sebastian Arcelus_HR.jpg
    Stephanie J. Block and Sebastian Arcelus
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Ben Vereen_HR
    Ben Vereen
    Joseph Marzullo/WENN
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_John Douglas Thompson_HR.jpg
    John Douglas Thompson
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Irene Sankoff and David Hein_HR.jpg
    Irene Sankoff and David Hein
    Joseph Marzullo/WENN
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Orfeh and Andy Karl_HR.jpg
    Orfeh and Andy Karl
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Andy Karl_HR.jpg
    Andy Karl
    Joseph Marzullo/WENN
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Orfeh_HR.jpg
    Orfeh
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Kate Baldwin_HR
    Kate Baldwin
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Ron Duguay_HR.jpg
    Ron Duguay
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Anna Kendrick_HR
    Anna Kendrick
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Natasha Katz_HR.jpg
    Natasha Katz
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_David Korins_HR.jpg
    David Korins
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Anna Kendrick _HR
    Anna Kendrick
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Jeannie Santiago and Ruben Santiago-Hudson_HR.jpg
    Jeannie Santiago and Ruben Santiago-Hudson
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Veronica Vazquez-Jackson_Christopher Jackson_HR
    Veronica Vazquez-Jackson and Christopher Jackson
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Jenna Lyons _HR
    Jenna Lyons
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Denée Benton_HR
    Denée Benton
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_John Mulaney and Annamarie Tendler_HR.jpg
    John Mulaney and Annamarie Tendler
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_David Hyde Pierce_HR
    David Hyde Pierce
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_23_John Mulaney and Nick Kroll.jpg
    John Mulaney and Nick Kroll
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Taye Diggs Amanza Smith Brown_HR.jpg
    Taye Diggs and Amanza Smith Brown
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Leslie Odom Jr._Nicolette Robinson _HR
    Leslie Odom Jr. and Nicolette Robinson
    Joseph Marzullo/WENN
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Amanza Smith Brown_HR.jpg
    Amanza Smith Brown
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Tony Gerber_Lynn Nottage_Ruby Gerber_HR
    Tony Gerber, Lynn Nottage, and Ruby Gerber
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Jenn Colella_HR.jpg
    Jenn Colella
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Allison Janney_HR
    Allison Janney
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Lucy DeVito_Danny DeVito _HR
    Lucy DeVito and Danny DeVito
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Justin Paul and Benj Pasek_HR.jpg
    Justin Paul and Benj Pasek
    Joseph Marzullo/WENN
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Andrew Rannells_HR.jpg
    Andrew Rannells
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Christian Borle_HR.jpg
    Christian Borle
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Andy Blankenbuehler_HR.jpg
    Andy Blankenbuehler
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Laura Linney_HR
    Laura Linney
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Linda Cho_HR.jpg
    Linda Cho
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Jayne Houdyshell_HR.jpg
    Jayne Houdyshell
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Sara Bareilles_HR
    Sara Bareilles
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Joe Tippett_Sara Bareilles_HR
    Joe Tippett and Sara Bareilles
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Kevin Spacey_HR.jpg
    Kevin Spacey
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Kevin Spacey_HR.jpg
    Kevin Spacey
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Tina Fey_HR.jpg
    Tina Fey
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Sutton Foster_HR
    Sutton Foster
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Jason Sudeikis_HR
    Jason Sudeikis
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Josh Gad_HR.jpg
    Josh Gad
    Joseph Marzullo/WENN
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Scarlett Johansson_HR
    Scarlett Johansson
    Joseph Marzullo/WENN
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_David Gallo_HR
    David Gallo
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Mary Beth Peil_HR.jpg
    Mary Beth Peil
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_John Lithgow_HR.jpg
    John Lithgow
    Joseph Marzullo/WENN
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Chrissy Teigen_ John Legend_HR
    Chrissy Teigen and John Legend
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Chrissy Teigen _HR
    Chrissy Teigen
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Margo Nederlander_ James L. Nederlander_HR
    Margo Nederlander and James L. Nederlander
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Gianna Palminteri_Chazz Palminteri _HR
    Gianna Palminteri and Chazz Palminteri
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Norah O’Donnell_HR
    Norah O’Donnell
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Susan Lyons_Jefferson Mays_HR
    Susan Lyons and Jefferson Mays
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Olivia Wilde_HR
    Olivia Wilde
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Olivia Wilde_HR
    Olivia Wilde
    Joseph Marzullo/WENN
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Laura Osnes_HR.jpg
    Laura Osnes
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Sarah Paulson_HR.jpg
    Sarah Paulson
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Jennifer Ehle_HR
    Jennifer Ehle
    Joseph Marzullo/WENN
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Orlando Bloom_HR.jpg
    Orlando Bloom
    Joseph Marzullo/WENN
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Lucas Steele_HR
    Lucas Steele
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Glenn Close_HR
    Glenn Close
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Michael Xavier_Glenn Close_HR
    Michael Xavier and Glenn Close
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Josh Groban_HR.jpg
    Josh Groban
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Tim Minchin_HR.jpg
    Tim Minchin
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Tommy Tune_HR
    Tommy Tune
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Christine Ebersole_HR
    Christine Ebersole
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Mark Hamill_HR
    Mark Hamill
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Brandon Uranowitz_HR.jpg
    Brandon Uranowitz
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_02_HR.jpg
    Cobie Smulders and Taran Killam
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Cobie Smulders_HR.
    Cobie Smulders
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Rachel Bloom_HR.jpg
    Rachel Bloom
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Cristina Ottaviano_HR.jpg
    Cristina Ottaviano
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Eva Noblezada_HR.jpg
    Eva Noblezada
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Santo Loquasto_HR.jpg
    Santo Loquasto
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Lea Salonga_HR
    Lea Salonga
    Joseph Marzullo/WENN
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Kelly Devine_Christopher Ashley_HR
    Kelly Devine and Christopher Ashley
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Steven Roth Daryl Roth_HR.jpg
    Steven Roth and Daryl Roth
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Daryl Roth_HR.jpg
    Daryl Roth
    Joseph Marzullo/WENN
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Jordan Roth_HR.jpg
    Jordan Roth
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Jordan Roth_HR
    Jordan Roth
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Dancers_HR
    The Rockettes
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Jennifer Tipton_HR.
    Jennifer Tipton
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_David Henry Hwang_HR
    David Henry Hwang and guest
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Michael Greif_HR.jpg
    Michael Greif with daughter Hannah
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_13_HR.jpg
    David Zinn
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Steven Levenson _HR.jpg
    Steven Levenson and guest
    Tony_Awards_2017_Red_Carpet_Erich Bergen_HR
    Erich Bergen
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    Bette Midler_Tony Awards_2017_HR
    Bette Midler, 2017
    Joseph Marzullo/WENN
    Tony_Awards_2017_Press_Room_Bette Midler_HR
    Bette Midler
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    Ben Platt_Tony Awards_2017_HR
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    Joseph Marzullo/WENN
    Tony_Awards_2017_Press_Room_Ben Platt_HR
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    Joseph Marzullo/WENN
    Tony_Awards_2017_Press_Room_Rachel Bay Jones_HR
    Rachel Bay Jones
    Rachel Bay Jones and Ben Platt_Tony Awards_2017_HR
    Rachel Bay Jones and Ben Platt, 2017
    Joseph Marzullo/WENN
    Gavin Creel_Tony Awards_2017_HR
    Gavin Creel, 2017
    Tony_Awards_2017_Press_Room_02_HR.jpg
    Dear Evan Hansen Team
    Cynthia Nixon_Tony Awards_2017_HR
    Cynthia Nixon, 2017
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    Michael Aronov_Tony Awards_2017_HR
    Michael Aronov, 2017
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    Tony_Awards_2017_Press_Room_Steven Levenson_HR
    Steven Levenson
    Benj Pasek & Justin Paul_Tony Awards_2017_HR
    Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, 2017
    Joseph Marzullo/WENN
    Tony_Awards_2017_Press_Room_Rebecca Taichman_HR
    Rebecca Taichman
    Joseph Marzullo/WENN
    Tony_Awards_2017_Press_Room_Rebecca Taichman_HR
    Rebecca Taichman
    Joseph Marzullo/WENN
    Tony_Awards_2017_Press_Room_Christopher Ashley_HR
    Christopher Ashley
    Tony_Awards_2017_Press_Room_Alex Lacamoire_HR
    Alex Lacamoire
    Tony_Awards_2017_Press_Room_Alex Lacamoire_HR
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    Joseph Marzullo/WENN
    Tony_Awards_2017_Press_Room_Jitney_HR
    Jitney creatives
    Tony_Awards_2017_Press_Room_Bradley King_HR
    Bradley King
    Tony_Awards_2017_Press_Room_Bradley King_HR
    Bradley King
    Tony_Awards_2017_Press_Room_Christopher Akerland_HR
    Christopher Akerlind
    Tony_Awards_2017_Press_Room_Gareth Fry_Pete Malkin_HR
    Gareth Fry and Pete Malkin
    Tony_Awards_2017_Press_Room_Oslo_HR
    Oslo team
    Tony_Awards_2017_Press_Room_J.T. Rogers_HR
    J.T. Rogers
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