{"id":244898,"date":"2026-06-08T02:48:51","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T02:48:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/08\/everything-you-didnt-see-on-tv-at-the-2026-tony-awards-whitney-leavitt-darren-criss-and-more\/"},"modified":"2026-06-08T02:48:51","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T02:48:51","slug":"everything-you-didnt-see-on-tv-at-the-2026-tony-awards-whitney-leavitt-darren-criss-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/08\/everything-you-didnt-see-on-tv-at-the-2026-tony-awards-whitney-leavitt-darren-criss-and-more\/","title":{"rendered":"Everything You Didn\u2019t See on TV at the 2026 Tony Awards: Whitney Leavitt, Darren Criss and More"},"content":{"rendered":"


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The 2026 Tony Awards<\/strong><\/a> started with a bang \u2014 meaning a 170-person strong opening number<\/a> featuring first-time host Pink<\/a>, Neil Patrick Harris<\/a>, Megan Thee Stallion<\/a><\/strong> and many, many more singing a parody number of Pink<\/strong>\u2019s hit \u201cLady Marmalade.\u201d<\/p>\n

The three-hour CBS telecast of the Tonys<\/a> was just beginning, but for ceremony participants at Radio City Music Hall it has already been an action-packed day on the blue carpet.<\/p>\n

Keep scrolling for eight things viewers at home didn\u2019t see on the Tonys telecast, complete with intel from the hours-long carpet, backstage media room and more.<\/p>\n

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\n Related: <\/span>Tony Awards 2026 Red Carpet: Stars Bring Glamour to Broadway\u2019s Big Night<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tThe biggest stars on Broadway traded the stage for the red carpet at the 2026 Tony Awards. Host Pink joined the 79th annual awards show\u2019s nominees, presenters and performers at Radio City Music Hall in New York City for the Sunday, June 7, event. Thank You! You have successfully subscribed. Subscribe to newsletters Enter your [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

1. Whitney Leavitt<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 who performed at the Tony Awards as part of a 30th anniversary celebration of Chicago<\/em> \u2013 introduced herself to *NSync\u2019s Joey Fatone<\/strong><\/a> and JC Chasez<\/strong><\/a> (who walked the carpet together), telling them she\u2019s a big fan and introducing the singers to her husband, Conner Leavitt<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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2. Unlike at the Oscars \u2014 when celebrities tend to arrive in cars, step out and immediately hit the carpet \u2014 the Tonys had a little traffic jam where everyone doing the carpet first had to wait in a roughly 45-60 minute line. Yup, even VIP nominees like Daniel Radcliffe<\/a>,<\/strong> Carrie Coon<\/strong><\/a> and Jim Parsons<\/strong><\/a> all had to wait in the outside heat. Naturally, it turned into a catch up fest!<\/p>\n

3. Remember their names! Best Choreography winners Omari Wiles<\/strong> and Arturo Lyons<\/strong> drew press room cheers when they announced a dream project: a revival of Fame<\/em>.<\/p>\n

4. John Lithgow<\/strong> won his third Tony for his performance as Roald Dahl in the play Giant, <\/em>which deals with anti-semitism. \u201cIt ends with a moment that is inexplicably horrible,\u201d Lithgow explained to reporters in the media room after his win, referring to a real-life phone call Dahl had with a reporter<\/a>. \u201cMy challenge was always motivate that last moment, [to] try to help people understand where that kind of cruelty comes from, because in my mind that\u2019s exactly what the play is about. \u2026 [There\u2019s so much] cruelty of all kinds, hatred of the other. These are things that we\u2019re dealing with these days, and I think that\u2019s what makes Giant<\/em> so important and what\u2019s made it such a success.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n Related: <\/span>Tony Awards 2026 Nominees and Winners: See the Complete List<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tBroadway\u2019s biggest night is bringing together this year\u2019s nominees and past winners for an unforgettable 2026 Tony Awards. Pink made her Tonys hosting debut during the Sunday, June 7, ceremony at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The Lost Boys and Schmigadoon! lead this year\u2019s nominees with 12 nods each. Ragtime follows closely [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

5. Julia Louis-Dreyfus<\/strong> had a red carpet chat with Vogue<\/em>\u2019s Anna Wintour<\/strong>. Wintour\u2019s daughter Bee Shaffer<\/strong> was a fan \u2013 she introduced herself to Dreyfus on the carpet.<\/p>\n

6. Pink knows how to get a party started, but so does Usher<\/strong><\/a> \u2014 who brought his own drink to the afternoon carpet.<\/p>\n

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\n Usher and Jenn Goicoechea<\/span> Dimitrios Kambouris\/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

7. Alden Ehrenreich<\/strong><\/a> won his first Tony for his role in the play Becky Shaw<\/em> as a Nice Guy boyfriend who turns out to be something far more sinister. In his telecast speech, he talked about his mom\u2019s support. Speaking to press after, he discussed more about her role in his life.<\/p>\n

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