Emotional Jonathan Groff Wins First Tony, Thanks ‘Spring Awakening’ For Helping Him Come Out
Jonathan Groff finally took home his first Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical for Merrily We Roll Along. The 77th Annual Tony Awards, held on June 16, was a night of triumph and tears for Groff, who played Franklin Shepard in the musical. His co-stars, Lindsay Mendez and Daniel Radcliffe, also celebrated their wins, with Radcliffe giving a heartfelt shoutout to Groff in his acceptance speech.
“All I Wanted Was to Be a Part of This Community”
In an emotional speech, Groff shared how much the Tony Awards meant to him. “I used to tape it on VHS when I was a kid,” he said, his voice breaking. Growing up in a conservative town in Pennsylvania, Groff always dreamed of being part of the theater world.
He paused to thank his parents, who were in the audience, saying, “My family knew the life-saving power of fanning the flame of a young person’s passion without judgment. I walk through life with an open heart because you let me know that I could.”
He also gave a special shout-out to his Spring Awakening castmates, crediting them for inspiring him to come out at 23 years old.
20 Years in New York
The Frozen star marked his 20th anniversary of living in New York City, reflecting on his early days as a server while dreaming of being on stage. He also mentioned his close friend Lea Michele, whom he met while working on Spring Awakening. Though there are no immediate plans to reunite on Broadway, Groff said he’s “always looking.”
LGBTQIA+ Stars Shine at the 77th Tony Awards
Hosted by Ariana DeBose for the third year in a row, the 77th Tony Awards was a night to remember for LGBTQIA+ talent. Here are some of the big winners:
- Sarah Paulson: Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
- Maleah Joi Moon: Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
- Branden Jacobs-Jenkins: Best Revival of a Play
- David Adjmi: Best Play
- Tom Scutt: Best Scenic Design of a Musical
