Fun Home Makes History at Tony Awards

The poignant and groundbreaking coming-of-age show Fun Home was named best musical at the Tony Awards, one of five big trophies it won on the way to making history for its composing team. The show, based on Alison Bechdel's graphic novel memoir about growing up with a closeted dad in a funeral home and the first musical to have a lesbian as its main character, was nominated for 12 awards and also won for best book, best lead actor in Michael Cerveris, and best direction from Sam Gold. Its songwriters, Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron, became the first female writing team to nab a Tony for musical score—but that milestone happened during a commercial break.

Two veteran Broadway stars—Cerveris and Kelli O'Hara of The King and I— took home lead acting Tonys, while Alex Sharp, who just graduated from drama school last year, won the Tony for best actor in a play. Sharp won for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, beating out Bradley Cooper and Bill Nighy. His win was part of a huge five-trophy haul for the adaptation of Mark Haddon's best-selling novel, which also won best play, lighting, and scenic design and earned its director, Marianne Elliott, a Tony. Helen Mirren nabbed her first Tony for playing Queen Elizabeth II in The Audience. An American in Paris, which had a co-leading 12 nominations, won four technical awards, including best scenic design and one for Christopher Wheeldon for best choreographer. (More Tony Awards stories.)