Out and About

Out and About, DPAC hit Tonys, after-party

From the red carpet to the official after-party, Out and About and DPAC were on the scene in NYC Sunday night.

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wral out and about tony awards
By
Kathy Hanrahan
N.Y. — Out and About and Durham Performing Arts Center had quite an adventure this weekend in NYC!

The Tony Awards gather some of the biggest stars of the stage for one night of outstanding entertainment. And we were front and center for the action!

Here's a rundown of our highlights from Tony Awards weekend:
  • Saw "Something Rotten" at St. James Theatre. Nominated for multiple Tony Awards, this hilarious production is a satirical take on how musicals were created. (It will be touring next year, so it will probably visit DPAC (all the major shows end up stopping there). Sat next to CBS' "Scorpion" star Elyes Gabel.
  • Saw David Hyde Pierce outside of Radio City Music Hall prepping for the Tony Awards.
  • Josh Groban running over to greet fans waiting for hours outside of the red carpet.
  • Helen Mirren walking over greet two young performers and inviting them on the red carpet with her.
  • "Finding Neverland" star and "Glee" alum Matthew Morrison posing and spinning around on the red carpet for fans.
  • Riding an elevator with Tony Lifetime Achievement Award winner Tommy Tune. Then snapping a selfie with him.
  • Getting complimented on my dress by Helen Mirren.
  • Seeing Sting and his wife inside Radio City Music Hall and then again at the Tony after-party.
WRAL Out and About Editor Kathy Hanrahan and Tommy Tune at the 2015 Tony Awards.
Award highlights
  • Josh Groban's "In Memoriam" presentation of "You'll Never Walk Alone" was stirring. Seeing him walk to his seat hand-in-hand with girlfriend Kat Dennings was adorable.
  • Charlotte's own Corey Mitchell winning the Tony Awards Excellence in Theatre Education award.
  • "Fun Home," a huge crowd favorite, taking home top honors.
  • "The King and I'" star Kelly O'Hara's impromptu dance during her acceptance speech for her win for best lead actress in a musical.
After party fun

Helen Mirren won the first Tony Award of the CBS broadcast Sunday night, and she was one of the last to leave the official after-party at The Plaza in the wee hours of Monday morning.

Mirren was celebrating her first Tony Award for playing Queen Elizabeth II in Peter Morgan's "The Audience." She already has an Academy Award for playing the monarch in the 2007 movie "The Queen." She's already got an Emmy or two, so that means she is just a Grammy Award away from achieving the EGOT - (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony).

Mirren snacked on cupcakes and petit fours at a table surrounded by friends. She declined photos but did sign playbills for fans.

"Glee" alum and star of "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" on Broadway Darren Criss congratulated Alex Sharp on his Tony win for best lead actor in a play for "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time."

Tony host Kristin Chenoweth posing for pics outside of The Plaza with winner Kelli O'Hara of "The King and I."

Other celebs spotted at the after-party: Leanne Cope and Robert Fairchild from "An American in Paris;" winner Christian Borle and nominee Casey Nicholaw from "Something Rotten" and "Fun Home" star and Tony nominee Syndney Lucas signing autographs outside of the party.

What's it like inside the after-party?

There are tons of beautiful flowers. Roses mostly. Everything is pink and white.

A live singer, dance floor and some light food options await on the upper floors, but it's definitely worth heading downstairs for small plates like dumplings, lobster and cupcakes. There is even frozen yogurt with lots of toppings.

Lots of food, an open bar and celebs floating around. Definitely worth the ticket if you can get it. I was lucky enough to get a ticket from someone who didn't feel well enough to attend. To that lovely woman who decided to just hand me her ticket on the street outside of The Plaza, I cannot thank you enough.

Thanks!

Thanks to Raleigh's own Justin Leblanc of "Project Runway" who loaned me two gowns and DPAC's Sami Biardi one outfit to wear! Also, thanks to Moon and Lola for hooking me up with some beautiful jewelry to wear and The Parlor Blow Dry Bar for giving me a great glow with an organic spray tan.

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