Saturday Night Live Alumni Shine at the Tony Awards

The Tony Awards celebrated Broadway’s best, yet “Saturday Night Live” commanded attention on this prominent night. The renowned sketch comedy show, led by creator Lorne Michaels, made its mark as former stars took center stage.

The ceremony’s opening was marked by Darrell Hammond, former cast member and current announcer for “SNL.” From 1995 to 2009, he was a significant presence on the show. Meanwhile, Maya Rudolph, who was part of the cast from 2000 to 2007, also had an important role at the event. She currently stars as Mary Todd Lincoln in the comedy “Oh, Mary!” and presented the first award of the evening. While handing the award for best leading actor in a play to John Lithgow for “Giant,” she shared a lighthearted exchange with “Oh, Mary!” creator Cole Escola about the bravery needed to perform in return for compensation.

Rachel Dratch and Ana Gasteyer, both with significant “SNL” backgrounds, competed in the featured performance by an actress in a musical category. Dratch was nominated for her role as the Narrator in “The Rocky Horror Show,” while Gasteyer was recognized for her work in “Schmigadoon!.” Ultimately, Shoshana Bean from “The Lost Boys” took home the award.

Dratch, who spent seven years on “SNL” from 1999 to 2006, is no stranger to accolades, having been nominated in 2022 for her performance as the president’s secretary in “POTUS,” a comedy about feminism.

Overall, the presence of “Saturday Night Live” alumni and its creator highlighted the show’s significant influence extending beyond sketch comedy to Broadway and beyond.