Grab your popcorn and get those tweeting fingers ready! Oscar Night is officially upon us!
As mentioned earlier in the week, while Hollywood's annual toast to the best in film is not as "full-on Broadway" as, say, that other awards show typically held in June, this year's ceremony is looking to be a more theatrical, thanks in no small part to the overwhelming success of a certain little-known film called LA LA LAND (and hey... don't a couple of people involved in that film have a big Broadway hit on their hands as well? Hmmm...???)
Given this (not to mention the slew of nominated Broadway alumni, including, but not limited to, Denzel Washington, Michael Shannon, Viola Davis and Michelle Williams), there's no doubt Broadway's best and brightest will take to Twitter to show their support and comment on the action.
Now, we know that all you're looking for is love access to these tweets, and we here at BWW are proud to bring it all to you. That's right, once again, we'll take you flying off the ground (and into the Twitter-sphere!) with our annual real-time roundup of social media reactions from all of your favorite Main Stem stars!!
Want to know what encouraging words the DEAR EVAN HANSEN cast will tweet out to songwriters Pasek and Paul, or how far the HAMILTON cast will go to support their Oscar-nommed lyricist, Lin-Manuel? Itching to see if DISASTER!'s Max Crumm will Instagram a #tb photo of his Oscar-nominated childhood bestie Emma Stone? Or if Alan Cumming will start a Twitter war over dually praising both of his Oscar-nominated Sallys? Who will have what to say about late-night hot-shot Jimmy Kimmel's hosting job... and who will petition him, based on his performance, for the MC gig at the Tonys?! (Hey... it could happen!)
For the answers to these questions (possibly - I really don't know what they're going to say!) and to her celebs' thoughts on so much more. Join me LIVE right here, for all the fun, beginning around 8:00pm EST and continuing on through the end of the broadcast. (And in the meantime, post your comments below re: predictions, what you're looking forward to, Oscar/Broadway theatrical connections, trivia, and anything else you want to say!)
Have fun, and we'll see you back here at 8:00 for a lovely night of Oscar theatrical magic! Can't wait!
8:10PM - PRE-SHOW / RED CARPET
@MattfDoyle: I'm rooting for the films that aren't profoundly overhyped...so that's bound to go well, right?
@LeslieKritzer: I will eat a clove of garlic every time someone says journey. #Oscars
@QueenLesli: every1s all "they r so fashion forward!" but Im bored probs b/c Id be wearing something from the Dolly Parton collection & I'm ok w that.
@WesTayTay: here for the chips and viola's speech #Oscars2017
@ItsJohnBolton: I've never done drag but I would totally wear Emma Stone's dress. #Oscars
@AlexBoniello: Look up "movie star" in the dictionary, and you'll get a photo of Emma Stone on this red carpet right now. #Oscars2017
@LeslieKritzer: Shout out to all my peeps not nominated. It's ok to be jealous and charge something on your credit card tonight. No judgment. #oscarenvy
@Lin_Manuel: Okay. Phone away. See you on the other side.
8:30PM - OPENING / MEHERSHALI ALI WIN
@AnnaMariaPdT: This opening, Justin Timberlake!! #CantStopTheFeeling #Oscars
@MattfDoyle: I love him. #jt #oscars
@QueenLesli: I wish Justin was hosting.
@GregoryJbara: Lept to my feet and applauded Meryl Streep.
@ArianaDeBose: Yep. Stand for the queen of thespians everywhere. #streep
@AudraEqualityMC: Did Viola get her Oscar yet?
@RoryOMalley: Love the clip of @joelgrey's #oscars acceptance speech!!!!! #broadway
@PattiMurin: Just realized that I met Mahershala Ali after a play at Second Stage and now I am obsessed. #Oscars
@RoryOMalley: CONGRATS!!!! Loved his performance. Every bit of recognition @moonlightmov & @BandryBarry gets is well deserved. #oscars
@WesTayTay: prince ali, mighty is he, oh mahershala #Oscars2017
@BetteMidler: Mahershala Ali; great speech, great acting, well deserved.
8:55PM - COSTUME, MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING / "HOW FAR I'LL GO"
@MattfDoyle: You guys..............suicide squad has an Oscar..............over Star Trek. #Oscars #discuss
@PattiMurin: Did the hair and makeup winners just get ushered offstage physically? #Oscars
@RoryOMalley: Colleen Atwood looks genuinely SHOCKED at her win for Fantastic Beasts costume design. Love that. #oscars
@IainLoveTheatre: He's on!! @Lin_Manuel is up there!!
@MattfDoyle: Hey @Lin_Manuel #Oscars
@ReneeGoldsberry: I see you on the #Oscars2017 @Lin_Manuel! And I'm so proud!
@jenashtep: Just watched the Oscars for 10 minutes and the first person I recognized was Lin's mom #jentepperproblems
@AlexBoniello: Where were you when @aulilicravalho got hit in the face with one of those wave things, but kept singing perfectly and beautifully?
@ryannreds: You better work Moana! You better sangggg through the flag slap! #Oscars
@jessetyler: Getting slapped by a blue flag while singing on the oscars keeps one humble.
@RoryOMalley: @auliicravalho was fantastic!!!! She's 16 years old people!!!!!!!! #HowFarIllGo #Moana #oscars COME TO BROADWAY!
@MoreorLesLuca: It's official. @auliicravalho =PERFECTION!!! That was amazing!!! #Oscars
@FeldmanAdam: Pretty amazing that Hollywood just brought in a Broadway star to seem cooler. #LinManuel #Oscars
@JuliaMurney: @Lin_Manuel @auliicravalho My viewing party was blown away by her poise. Brava, diva!
@rja_tkydky: This AWARDS show, tonight, is showing everyone what is GREAT about our COUNTRY!
@annhcallaway: Here's to the kumbaya moments of watching the Oscars together! Hope all watching and participating are having fun wherever you are!
9:23PM - KIMMEL'S CANDY GAG
@RoryOMalley: Usually food being thrown at actors in a theater is not a good sign... but they do look hungry. #oscars
@QueenLesli: We all know what happened in the Capitol when the gifts came from the sky and Katniss was too late I wouldn't chance it Oscars.
@BroadwayHumans: This candy shtick better happen during Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on Broadway
@MattfDoyle: #arrival was INCREDIBLE. Any award on their shelf is great. #oscars
@QueenLesli: I just think that the pandas could have taken off the Uggs for the Oscars
9:40PM - VIOLA DAVIS WINS SUPPORTING ACTRESS
@rja_tkydky: Here comes the VIOLA DAVIS win. Get ready for it. Looking for a GREAT acceptance speech!
@Jordan_Roth: And the Academy Award for Best Introduction of an Academy Award goes to Mark Rylance. #Oscars
@JackieHoffman16: Yes. #oscarssoblack
@AnnaMariaPdt: Yesss #ViolaDavis! Much-deserved win! Her speeches are always on point.
@colmandomingo: In tears after Ms @violadavis acceptance speech
@nikkalanz: What it means to live a LIFE.
@NikkiReneDaniels: Gotta love @violadavis!!!! #AcademyAwards #WellDeserved
@Jordan_Roth: I want to live in a world as @ViolaDavis sees it. #Oscars
@traciethoms: Queen. @violadavis. Thank God for you.
@MarleeMatlin: Truly, @violadavis just delivered the best speech ever at the #Oscars. A most deserved honor.
9:53PM - BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM / TOUR BUS SURPRISE
@QueenLesli: These Walmart "films" #Oscars
@Jordan_Roth: You can't stop the beat, or the commercials. #Oscars
@traciethoms: This is the best thing I've ever seen. #TourBusSurprise
@RichardJay-Alexander: THAT WAS GREAT! I hope all those stars have some PURELL with them! LOL!
@ChrisMzCarrell: Ok Ulery. Quick on your feet.???????
@LauraBellBundy: That was so adorable. Kimmel is killing it #oscars
@KyleScatliffe: If Denzel wins too I'll forgive OJ #Oscars
10:36PM - A HAMILTON REFERENCE AND MORE KIMMEL SHENINAGANS
@SteveBoyer5000: Seth Rogen & Michael J Fox onstage together at the Oscars is basically my SNL audition reel come to life.
@lomo212: Perfect @HamiltonMusical shoutout. Well done @Sethrogen & @MichaelJFoxOrg #oscars
@ReneeGoldsberry: Thx 2 Seth Rogan & @realmikefox 4 celebrating theater on cinema's big night! #WERK! #SchuylerSisters in the house!
@RoryOMalley: @Sethrogen & #MichaelJFox singing #SCHUYLERSISTERS!!! #oscars BROADWAY IS TAKING OVER HOLLYWOOD!!!
@joshgad: I've said it before & I'll say it again. #zootopia might be my favorite movie of the year. @ByronPHoward @thejaredbush @_rich_moore congrats
@johnnytartags: #merylsayshi should be the hashtag we all use from here on in any and all tweets.
@jenashtep: It all fades away but Meryl Streep and Meryl Streep is always better
@kchenoweth: Wow @jimmykimmel you're killin it tonight! #oscars
11:12PM - JOHN LEGEND PERFORMS FROM "LA LA LAND"
@iamKENNYLEON: Great job with the sets @derekmclane 2017 Oscars
@RoryOMalley: That @johnlegend can SAAAAAAANG! Good lord. That was a gorgeous. @LaLaLand is magical. #oscars
@jenashtep: I have never seen this John Legend sing before but he's real good for a regular music person!! Won't be mad if he ends up in a live musical.
@JuliaMurney: @jenashtep oh, honey-get on board...@johnlegend is the stuff. #Lovelovelove
@rja_tkydky: Watching and KNOWING that our friends, Benj Pasek & Justin Paul are just about to WIN an OSCAR!
@TheAndreaBurns: @Lin_Manuel @Vegalteno #LuzMiranda "Your son is an American treasure" Thanks @jimmykimmel - Couldn't agree more.
@RoryOMalley: Lots of people winning #Oscars tonight but clearly THE winner of the night is @Lin_Manuel's Mom.
@park24hrs: @pasekandpaul @johnlegend That was gorgeous. #Oscars
11:05 - PASEK & PAUL ARE OFFICIALLY OSCAR WINNERS
@PattiMurin: OH MY GOD I LOVE YOU @pasekandpaul #Oscars
@SydneyLucasNYC: OMG!!!! @benjpasek @pasekandpaul Congrats on your #Oscars for @LaLaLand!!!! So excited for you guys!!!!
@LindsayMendez: This is amazing. Love you @pasekandpaul !!!! Couldn't be prouder!!!!!!
@LacketyLac: @pasekandpaul! Dayuuuuum, you boys are Oscar winners! Congrats, you guys!
@KeenanBlogger: This is dedicated to all the kids who sing in the rain and all the moms that let them - @benjpasek
@UzoAduba: "Here's to the ones who dream." Congrats to these #theaterkids @benjpasek #justinpaul
@JackieHoffman16: It was worth it to see Lin Manuel Miranda actually lose something
@JuliaMurney: @pasekandpaul omigod congratulations but cut to the chase: what was it like to hug Justin Timberlake? #iloveyouguys
11:30PM - IN MEMORIAM
@MattfDoyle: Oh my god, this is going to be rough. So many beloved legends lost in one year. #Oscars
@QueenLesli: Last year sucked. #Oscars
@_mandygonzalez: Beautiful @SaraBareilles @LacketyLac!
@jessetyler: It's too bad that @SaraBareilles doesn't have the voice of an angel. Oh well.
@RoryOMalley: @SaraBareilles is an angel sent from heaven. That was gorgeous. #oscars
@bobbycannavale: That's 2 playwrights winning the 2 screenplay awards #theater #Oscars
@jessetyler: The fact that I have to clarify that I was being sarcastic here is maybe just another side affect [sic] of the Trump Years.
@actuallyNPH: I'm loving watching @jimmykimmel host the #Oscars and make it look effortless. He's awesome.
@will_roland: I hope that someday me and @BenSPLATT can have a #mattdamon and @jimmykimmel thing.
11:45PM - DAMIEN CHAZELLE WINS DIRECTOR / EMMA STONE WINS ACTRESS
@joshuahenry20: Damien Chazelle. Proof That it's never too...early. Oscar at 32? Wow! #Oscars2017
@AnnaMariaPdT: #DAMIENCHAZELLE! Youngest to ever win best director!? So amazing! #LaLaLand #Oscars
@QueenLesli: If I ever win an Oscar I'm gonna get me one of those Oscar chandeliers.
@joshgad: So proud of my girl #EmmaStone. Beyond deserved.
@rja_tkydky: EMMA STONE! I know people are greatly divided about this film, but I LOVED it .... and I think the 2nd half is a WILD RIDE.
@ArianaDeBose: Best speech of the night: #EmmaStone
12:05AM - THE BIG BEST PICTURE GAFFE / FINAL THOUGHTS
@JewdyGold: Looks like Faye has Dunaway with her wrinkles. #Oscars
@official_orfeh: WTF JUST HAPPENED???? And how the F DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING?!? #MOONLIGHT#Oscars2017 #Oscars
@MattfDoyle: Is Hillary president!?! #Oscars
@QueenLesli: Why couldn't this have happened with the election.
@actuallynph: What the what what?? What just happened?!? How did Emma Stone's name get in a second envelope? Weirdest. Ending. Ever.
@LizGoesOn: Wow! Bet John Travolta feels a lot better now. #Oscars
@LeslieKritzer: OK....um.....Warren and Faye. New reality show coming. You watch. GNITE!
@craigzadan: A great #Oscar show. Wonderfully produced and superbly paced. Congratulations to the producers and @TheAcademy.
@michaelarden: Falling asleep so very grateful to work in an industry with such incredible artists to look up to in it. Love, empathy and respect win.
And that's a wrap! So, what did you all think of the sparkly, theatric-heavy Oscars show? Of course (as alluded to above), it's hard to guess what the most tweet-worthy moment was -- the blunder heard 'round the world -- but it's all good: for one, the show biz-centric LA LA LAND still had a stellar night, racking up seven awards (including Best Director, Best Song, and Best Actress -- hey, Broadway alum Emma Stone!); plus, something tells me the producers are going to be just fine around Tony time, so.... we'll see. And it's not like we didn't receive our fair share of musical goodies; In honor of the film's epic night, and impressive seven victories (again, despite... you know)... we've included a clip of movie co-star John Legend giving us his GORGEOUS rendition of the two Oscar-nominated songs, "Audition (The Fools Who Dream)," and the eventual winner, "City of Stars." So, now you can sit back and fall in love all over (and over and over) again. Enjoy!!
Thanks again for joining me, folks! Hope you had a great night, and remember, as always... stay foolish and keep on dreaming. Here's to the mess we make! #SeacrestOut
Matt Smith is a writer and theatre enthusiast based in New York. For more information or further inquiry, including additional writing samples, please visit mattsmiththeatre.com.
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