On Sunday, June 17, the 77^th annual Tony Awards were held in Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theatre in New York City. Among the winners and nominees were two bound-for-Denver hits plus six individuals who are affiliated with the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. And the DCPA connections were…

Gutenberg: The Musical

Nomination: Best Revival of a Musical

(L to R) Roger Bart (Doc Brown) & Casey Likes (Marty McFly) in Back to the Future The Musical. Photo Matthew Murphy

In this two-person musical spoof, a pair of aspiring playwrights perform a backers’ audition for their new, hilariously ill-advised project — a big, splashy musical about printing press inventor Johann Gutenberg. Coming to the Garner Galleria Theatre Nov 2, 2024-May 4, 2025.

Back to the Future: The Musical

Nominations: Best Scenic Design of a Musical, Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role

When Marty McFly finds himself transported back to 1955 in a time machine built by the eccentric scientist Doc Brown, he accidentally changes the course of history. Now he’s in a race against time to fix the present, escape the past, and send himself…back to the future. Coming to the Buell Theatre Jan 22-Feb 9, 2025.

Dede Ayite

Winner: Best Costume Design of a Play for Jaja’s African Hair Braiding

Nominations: Best Costume Design of a Play for Appropriate and Jaja’s African Hair Braiding; Best Costume Design of a Musical for Hell’s Kitchen

Dede was the Costume Designer on the Denver Center Theatre Company’s 2017 production of Macbeth and its 2018 production of Zoey’s Perfect Wedding.

Isabella Byrd

Marco Alberto Robinson and Nate Miller in The 39 Steps. Photo by Jamie Kraus Photography

Nominations: Best Lighting Design of a Play for An Enemy of the People; Best Lighting Design of a Musical for Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club

Isabella was the Lighting Designer for the Denver Center Theatre Company’s 2023 production of The 39 Steps.

Jiyoun Chang

Nomination: Best Lighting Design of a Play for Stereophonic

Jiyoun was the Lighting Designer for the Denver Center Theatre Company’s 2020 production of You Lost Me. Her lighting designs can be seen on stage in the Company’s current production of The Lehman Trilogy, playing the Kilstrom Theatre through June 2, 2024.

Takeshi Kata

Jake Horowitz and Caroline Aaron. the reservoir. Photo by Jamie Kraus Photography

Nomination: Best Scenic Design of a Musical for Water for Elephants

Takeshi was the Set Designer for the 2018 Denver Center Theatre Company production of The Constant Wife and will return to the Theatre Company to design The Reservoir Jan 17-March 9, 2025.

Nate Koch

Nomination: Best Musical for Illinoise

Nate was one of the producers of DCPA Off-Center’s 2023 immersive experience, Theater of the Mind.

Cody Spencer

Jenna Moll Reyes in DCPA Off-Center’s Theater of the Mind. Photo by Matthew DeFeo

Winner: Best Sound Design of a Musical for The Outsiders

Nominations: Best Sound Design of a Musical for Here Lies Love and The Outsiders

Cody was the Sound Designer on DCPA Off-Center’s 2023 immersive experience, Theater of the Mind.

Paul Tazewell

Nomination: Best Costume Design of a Musical for Suffs

Paul was the Costume Designer on the Denver Center Theatre Company’s 2014 production of The Unsinkable Molly Brown.

Additionally, former DCPA Education student and member of Phamaly, Jenna Bainbridge, was an ensemble member in Suffs, which won for Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre and Best Book of a Musical. It was also nominated for Best Musical,  Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical, Best Costume Design of a Musical and Best Direction of a Musical.

In another Denver connection, the Tony Awards were named after Denver native Antoinette Perry. Making her acting debut at Elitch Theater at age 11, she went on to be an actress, director, producer and philanthropist. She helped found, and was chairwoman and secretary of, the American Theatre Wing (ATW). Following her death, fellow producer Brock Pemberton suggested that ATW create a series of awards to be given in her honor leading to the establishment of the Antoinette “Tony” Perry Awards for Excellence in Broadway Theatre.

The Tony Awards will be aired Sunday, June 16 on CBS Colorado. Check local listings for the time.