But the ultimate insider was first-time host Kevin Spacey, who danced, joked and sang his way through the telecast easily.
Dear Evan Hansen was named best musical at the NY ceremony.
Living up to her bawdy reputation, Midler delivered a speech laced with mild profanity to the star-laden audience at Radio City Music Hall, chastising the orchestra as its music welled when she spoke at length.
"Dear Evan Hansen", the touching, heartfelt musical about young outsiders, has won the biggest theater popularity contest - winning the best new musical trophy at the Tony Awards. His Tony Award nomination for "Dolly" is his eighth, and he's already taken home four Tonys for such shows as the 1990 production of "Six Degrees of Separation" and the 1992 revival of "Guys and Dolls". Like many other winners, he made a pitch for the National Endowment for the Arts, which is facing funding cuts under the Trump administration, saying without it "half the people in this room wouldn't be here".
Best leading actress in a musical: Bette Midler, Hello, Dolly!
"Come From Away", about Canadians from Newfoundland who provided refuge to almost 7,000 airline passengers on September 11, 2001 when United States air space closed, also won one Tony for best direction of a musical.
Warriors, Cavs in a familiar place as finals return to coast
This is not to suggest that the Warriors aren't capable of turning the tables back on the Cavs. Normally, the team cruising to a 137-116 win wouldn't sit as nearly double-digit favorites.
Field, who was nominated for best actress in a play for her role in "Glass Menagerie", has been outspoken about President Trump since his inauguration, including a rally in NY the day before.
Nixon's speech, in which she quoted directly from The Little Foxes playwright Lillian Hellman, was a case in point.
"Oslo" took home best play honors, while August Wilson's "Jitney" took home best revival of a.
"Eighty years ago Hellman wrote, 'There are people who eat the Earth and eat all the people on it and other people who just stand around and watch them do it, ' " said Nixon.
He closed out his hosting duties by appearing in character as corrupt fictional president, Francis Underwood, which he portrays in "House of Cards" on Netflix, accompanied by his on-screen first lady.
"My love, my gratitude and my undying respect go out to all the people in 2017 who are refusing to just stand and watch them do it".
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