“The Prom” went dateless during Sunday’s 73rd annual Tony Awards, but “Choir Boy” nabbed a trophy for best sound design of a play.
The two shows possessed Atlanta roots, with "The Prom" having staged its world premiere at the Alliance Theatre in 2016 and "Choir Boy" co-premiering at the venue in 2013.
“The Prom” had been nominated for seven Tonys, including best musical, which went to the awards-gobbling “Hadestown”; “Choir Boy” earned four nominations and Fitz Patton scored the sound design win.
Both shows presented spirited live performances during the CBS telecast.
“The Prom” focused on its themes of acceptance and inclusion during “Tonight Belongs to You” and “Time to Dance,” which ended with a same-sex kiss between the show’s couple, Caitlin Kinnunen (a best leading actress in a musical nominee) and Isabelle McCalla.
The cast of "Choir Boy" was introduced by BeBe Winans - whose "Born for This" premiered at the Alliance in 2016 – and presented a stirring performance of a capella singing and synchronized step dancing during Mahalia Jackson's "Rockin' in Jerusalem."
As expected, the 14-times nominated “Hadestown” commandeered the awards with eight wins. More surprising was “Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations,” which was nominated for a dozen awards but only landed one, for Sergio Trujillo’s choreography.
Meanwhile, “The Cher Show,” the lavish celebration of her singular life, won in two of its three nominated categories. Bob Mackie – a showbiz legend shamefully relegated to the pre-telecast for his first Tony win – picked up a best costume design award, and Stephanie J. Block, who memorably portrays the oldest of the three Chers in the show, won her first Tony Award for best leading actress in a musical.
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