A.R.T.’s Pippin Wins Big at the Tony Awards

Photo by Michael J. Lutch via A.R.T.

If there was any doubt that Broadway was alive in Boston, Pippin proved it Sunday night at the 2013 Tony Awards. Before Sunday’s live show, Boston’s Huntington Theatre Company had already won the Regional Theatre Tony Award (a noncompetitive award that comes with a $25,000 grant). But it was Pippin that stole the show with four big wins last night (the show was nominated for 10).

A revival of the 1972-1977 musical directed by Bob Fosse, the American Repertory Theatre’s (A.R.T.) production of Pippin ran for about two months in December 2012 and January 2013 in Cambridge. The show was transferred to Broadway in March with the same team, including director Diane Paulus, lead actress Patina Miller, and featured actress Andrea Martin, who each walked away with a win at this year’s Tony Awards. (The fourth win for Pippin was Best Revival of a Musical.)

The A.R.T. at Harvard is no stranger to Tonys. Last year, its production of The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess also won Best Revival of a Musical, and Audra McDonald won Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical. So, two wins in 2012, four wins in 2013… If we’re looking at it as an exponential rise, then next year an A.R.T. production will take home eight Tonys…riiight? No pressure, Ms. Paulus.

Below, watch Boston, Cambridge, Harvard, and the A.R.T. get some well-deserved love and shoutouts in last night’s TOny Awards acceptance speeches:

Pippin – Best Revival of a Musical (Produced by Barry and Fran Weissler, “Thanks Hahvahd!”)

Diane Paulus – Best Direction of a Musical (Shoutout to Harvard president Drew Faust.)

Patina Miller in Pippin – Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Andrea Martin – Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical (Also the winner of most adorable acceptance speech.)