Ariana DeBose Goes 'Unscripted' in Support of Writers' Strike During 2023 Tony Awards Opening Monologue

etonline.com:

76th annual Tony Awards, returning host Ariana DeBose addressed the ongoing Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike with studios during what normally would have been a traditional song-and-dance-filled opening monologue.

Instead, a planned performance written by Lin-Manuel Miranda was scrapped while the ceremony was allowed to go forward with live performances of nominated musicals and the handing out of awards, but with no scripted material.DeBose opened the show by opening up a blank script, which appeared to be no problem for the seasoned performer who danced her way on-stage to a jazzy medley of pre-existing Broadway hits, reimagined and newly orchestrated, thus not crossing the picket line of script writing, or rather, lyric writing.Macy Schmidt and Benjamin Rauhala constructed and arranged the medley after Miranda pulled the song he was working on for the opening number, in solidarity with the WGA strike.The dance and music-forward number was met with a standing ovation from the crowd, which proved that no words were needed to kick off the big night.After kicking off her dancing shoes, DeBose addressed the audience, «Well, well, well, DeBose began. „Welcome to the 76th annual Tony Awards.

And we are coming to you live from this gorgeous theater, the United Palace, uptown, baby, in Washington Heights. By the way, happy Puerto Rican Day!“She continued, „That was very special to me to be able to open tonight with dance forward and music forward and the number choreographed by Carlo Garcia.

Very special. Thank you. All right. So, I'm sure some of you caught that I opened the number by opening the script blank pages.