British composer Toby Marlow has made history as the first non-binary Tony-winner at the 75th annual awards, on a night that celebrated increasing inclusion in the theatre. The creator of the historical comedy musical, Six, won best original score (music and/or lyrics) written for the theatre, alongside co-creator Lucy Moss.
The show is a modern retelling of the lives of the six wives of Henry VIII presented as a pop concert and was created by Marlow and Moss while they were at Cambridge University together.
Six was nominated for a total of eight Tonys including best new musical, best original score, best direction of a musical, best costume design of a musical, best lighting design of a musical, best sound design of a musical, best choreography and best orchestrations. Gabriella Slade also won best costume design for her work on the production.
Members of the musical’s cast delivered an explosive rendition of one of the show’s numbers in the final performance of the night. It was revealed after that performer Mallory Maedke had stepped in with 12 hours’ notice to fill her part, after an unexpected drop-out.
British talent fared well elsewhere at the annual award ceremony with top prizes being scooped by actor Simon Russell Beale, and directors Sam Mendes and Marianne Elliott.
The Tony Awards, which honour the best of live Broadway theatre, took place on Sunday night at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The ceremony was hosted by Oscar-winning actress Ariana DeBose, who opened the show with a medley of numbers from famous musicals including Chicago, Hamilton and West Side Story.
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