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'MJ,' 'Take Me Out,' 'Strange Loop' win big at the Tony Awards

Matt Doyle jumps when he arrives in the press room with a Tony Award at The 75th Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on Sunday in New York City. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
1 of 10 | Matt Doyle jumps when he arrives in the press room with a Tony Award at The 75th Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on Sunday in New York City. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

June 12 (UPI) -- MJ, Company, Take Me Out and A Strange Loop each won multiple Tony Awards honoring excellence on Broadway at a star-studded ceremony in New York Sunday night.

MJ took home the prizes for Best Lighting Design of a Musical, Sound Design of a Musical and Choreography. Its star Myles Frost won for Best Lead Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of late pop music icon Michael Jackson.

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Company won the award for Best Revival of a Musical, co-stars Patti LuPone and Matt Doyle took home the Best Featured Actress and Actor in a Musical honors, and Marianne Elliott earned the Tony for Best Direction of a Musical.

Take Me Out was named Best Revival of a Play and Jesse Tyler Ferguson won for Best Featured Role in a Play.

The Lehman Trilogy was voted Best Play and scored the honor for Best Direction of a Play for Sam Mendes, as well as the trophies for Best Lead Actor in a Play for Simon Russell Beale, Best Lighting Design of a Play and Best Scenic Design of a Play.

Six scored the prizes for Best Costume Design of a Musical and Best Original Score, and Joaquina Kalukango went home with the Best lead Actress in a Musical statuette for Paradise Square. The Best Musical and Best Book titles went to A Strange Loop.

Deirdre O'Connell won the Tony for Best Lead Actress in a Play for Dana H. and Phylicia Rashad picked up the prize for Featured Role in a Play for Skeleton Crew.

West Side Story Oscar winner Ariana DeBose -- who is also a Hamilton stage alum -- is hosting the gala at Radio City Music Hall.

"I am so proud that the theater is becoming more reflective of the community who adores it, and in doing so, has gained new performers, new creatives, new fans," DeBose said during her monologue.

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"It has shown us stories that have broadened our world and opened our hearts and our minds. And while we have not solved all of our problems, I feel like the phrase 'Great White Way' is becoming more of a nickname as opposed to a how-to guide."

The show opened with "This Is Your Round of Applause," a rousing tribute to classic Broadway musicals, including Gypsy, Chicago, Sunday in the Park with George, Hamilton, Evita and Bye Bye Birdie.

Previous Tony winners Lin-Manuel Miranda and Bernadette Peters also honored late composer Stephen Sondheim with Peters singing "Children Will Listen" from Sondheim's Into the Woods.

Jennifer Hudson, Andrew Garfield, Bryan Cranston, Cynthia Erivo and Ruthie Ann Miles were among the presenters at the event, which featured performances by the casts of A Strange Loop, Mr. Saturday Night, Company, Girl from the North Country, Paradise Square, MJ, Six and the 2007 production of Spring Awakening.

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Early in the show, Hugh Jackman led the Music Man ensemble in a medley that included "76 Trombones."

Five-time winner Angela Lansbury, 96, was to be presented with the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement. The award was announced in the untelevised pre-show, but the actress wasn't in attendance.

Moments from the Tony Awards in New York City

Michael R. Jackson, winner of Best Book for a Musical for "A Strange Loop," arrives in the press room with his award at the Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on June 12, 2022. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

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