Tony Awards Opening Number: A Behind-the-Scenes Look

The Tony Awards opening number on Sunday featured high-flying stunts, sharp humor, and a star-studded cast of over 170 performers. Pink was suspended from the rafters, Megan Thee Stallion rapped about a best musical nominee, and Lea Michele made jokes about not winning awards.

The spectacle was set to a rewritten version of "Lady Marmalade" titled "Leading Lady Marmalade," created by Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, and Mark Sonnenblick.

Key Highlights

The number included lyrics referencing nominees Lesley Manville and Carrie Coon, as well as Lea Michele singing "We don't do it for the awards." (Michele was not nominated for a Tony this season.)

June Squibb delivered a solo with the line: "All the parts I played — I slayed 'em."

"That joke nobody flagged, and we were grateful that we got to have it."
— Benj Pasek on the Eagle leather bar joke

A standout moment featured Pink lifting Neil Patrick Harris off the ground using only her legs while belting—a move that was entirely Pink's idea.

The "Eagle" Joke

One notable bit involved Pink saying "Lost Boys and harnesses" and Ali Louis Bourzgui responding: "And not at the Eagle" (a reference to a New York leather bar). The creators reported no pushback on this joke.

Creation Process

The initial pitch was to rewrite the lyrics to "Lady Marmalade" because Pink would sing it, with the goal of honoring the Broadway community.

The lyric "Gitchie, gitchie Laurie Metcalf" was suggested first, later adapted to include Lesley Manville and Carrie Coon.

"She was so down... we wanted to write a song that celebrated the leading ladies of the season."
— Benj Pasek on Lea Michele's participation

Choreographer Sarah O'Gleby coordinated rehearsals for over 170 performers across different schedules. Remarkably, the full number was never rehearsed with all participants until the live broadcast.

Megan Thee Stallion rapped lyrics written by the creators, including the line about "two strangers carrying some cake."

Statements from the Creators

• Sonnenblick on the number's spirit: "We were trying to celebrate a lot of other parts of Broadway too... there's a lot of people who were not nominated and who don't do it for the awards."

• Paul on June Squibb: "She was in the original company of Gypsy... she can nail a musical."

• Pasek on the Eagle joke: "That joke nobody flagged, and we were grateful that we got to have it."

• Sonnenblick on the lift: Pink said, "I'll do this move where I lock my knees... I know how to do it."