Tony Award-nominated songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul became Oscar winners at the 89th Annual Academy Awards, held February 26 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Jimmy Kimmel hosted the ceremony that was televised live on ABC at 7 PM ET, and around the world.
A number of theatre artists—actors and creatives alike—were among this year’s nominees, including Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Dear Evan Hansen songwriters Pasek and Paul, who were represented for their work on the musical films Moana and La La Land, respectively.
At the ceremony, Miranda rapped the introduction to “How Far I’ll Go,” his Oscar-nominated song from the Disney animated film Moana, before Auli’i Cravalho took the lead in a red gown and flawlessly belted Moana’s anthem. Read WHAT WAS IT LIKE FOR DISNEY’S MOANA TO MEET LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA?
John Legend performed the honored songs from La La Land, “City of Stars” and “Audition (The Fools Who Dream),” written by Justin Hurwitz and Pasek and Paul. Read HOW A “CITY OF STARS” ALLIGNED FOR LA LA LAND’S COMPOSER TO MEET PASEK AND PAUL
Hurwitz won the award for La La Land’s Original Score, and he also took home the award for Best Original Song for “City of Stars” alongside La La Land lyricists Pasek and Paul.
In total, La La Land, which received 14 nominations—more than any other film featured—was awarded six Oscars, including Cinematography, Score, Song, Production Design, Actress in a Leading Role (Emma Stone), and Directing (at 32 years old, Damien Chazelle was the youngest director in history to receive this honor).
Viola Davis took home the award for Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance in Fences, the same role for which was awarded the Tony. Davis is the first black woman to win an Academy, Emmy, and Tony Award for acting.
The 10th performer in history to win a @TheTonyAwards and an #Oscars for the same role is...@violadavis, for FENCES! pic.twitter.com/4waLy5Erqr
— The Tony Awards (@TheTonyAwards) February 27, 2017
The evening’s coveted and final award—Best Picture—brought the ceremony to a dramatic standstill when presenters Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway erroneously announced La La Land as the winner.
La La Land’s producers were midway through their acceptance speeches when Jordan Horowitz, who produced the movie musical, stepped forward to announce that the wrong film had been named.
It was Berry Jenkins’ film Moonlight (adapted from playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney’s story) that won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
“There’s been a mistake. Moonlight won,” Horowitz said. The cast and creative team of Moonlight took the stage in disbelief. “Even in my dreams this cannot be true,” Jenkins said as he accepted the award.
Beatty later explained that he and Dunaway had been given the envelope for Best Actress, which had been previously awarded to La La Land’s Emma Stone.
Below is a shortlist of winners:
Best Picture
Moonlight
Directing
Damien Chazelle (La La Land)
Actor in a Leading Role
Casey Affleck (Manchester By The Sea)
Actress in a Leading Role
Emma Stone (La La Land)
Actor in a Supporting Role
Mahershala Ali (Moonlight)
Actress in a Supporting Role
Viola Davis (Fences)
Writing (Original Screenplay)
Manchester by the Sea
Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
Moonlight
