NEW YORK, NY (AP) – Kecia Lewis pleaded with comic exasperation, “People, please stop texting!” She had just received her first Tony Award in a career spanning 40 years, for “Hell’s Kitchen,” an Alicia Keys musical. Now she was trying to read the acceptance speech from her phone. She was distracted by the annoying texts.

Lewis had the audience laughing, but soon in tears. She described how she wanted to quit many times in the past four decades, but was encouraged by the right people to continue. Lewis’ speech was among the best of the evening. She gave a direct order to those who are pursuing their dreams: “Don’t.” Give. Up!”

Broadway performers often perform their best work at the Tonys, making it one of the most entertaining award shows. Sunday’s Tony Awards was no different, as the performers were complemented by special guests like Hillary Clinton and Jay-Z.

The Tony Awards, as usual, crowned both veteran actors (Jonathan Groff for best actor in musical) and newcomers, (Maleah Moon for best actress in musical), but also made history by giving seven out of ten directing nominations to women, including four out of five nominees for best musical. Danya Taymor was the second woman to win for directing “The Outsiders,” after her aunt Julie Taymor, director of “The Lion King.”

As expected, David Adjmi’s “Stereophonic”, about a band that is trying to stay together and make a successful album, won the award for best play. The final award brought a surprise that made people whoop with delight. The Outsiders, based on a classic youth novel beat “Hell’s Kitchen”, for the best musical. There’s nothing like a thrilling last-minute show to get the crowd buzzing.

The evening’s key moments:

Start off in the concrete jungle with a bang

The first musical clip of the evening, “Hell’s Kitchen,” brought the audience to their feet at the David H. Koch Theater in Lincoln Center, a brand new venue for the Tonys. It was a jolt and a high-energy blast. Keys sang her 2009 hit “Empire State of Mind” with Jay-Z and traded lines with Moon before the piano appeared on stage. Keys’ descent from the stage and Jay-Z’s rapping of his lines in the grand lobby was a real crowd pleaser. Keys, in the middle of a song, explained that he had to do something “crazy”. It’s my home town!

‘Succession’: Still succeeding

The HBO hit, “Succession”, just keeps giving. Three of the stars of “Succession” have given star-making performances in recent months. Jeremy Strong was the recipient of the Tony award on Sunday. The actor who played troubled TV media scion Kendall Roy won his first Tony for best actor in play. He was awarded the award in the revival of Henrik Ibsen’s 1882 political drama “An Enemy of the People.“

The boy wizard has now been named a Tony Award winner.

Daniel Radcliffe is a stage actor who has established himself on Broadway. He may have gained fame and recognition as Harry Potter, but his career began in the movies. He won his first Tony award in five Broadway productions on Sunday for the best featured actor of the revival “Merrily we Roll Along“, the Stephen Sondheim and George Furth musical which progresses in time. Radcliffe stated that this was one of his best experiences. He said, “I don’t have to act, I can just look at you, and feel all the emotions I want to.” This was in reference to his obvious affinity with Jonathan Groff and Lindsay Mendez with whom he sang “Old Friends,” on the telecast. Groff, who was in the audience, cried.

His ‘Old friend’ is also there

Radcliffe cried when Groff won the award for best actor in musical (Merrily also won best musical revival). Groff, who is well-known on Broadway, and was nominated in the past for “Spring Awakening,” and “Hamilton,” told the audience that he watched the Tonys as a child in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He thanked his parents who were in the audience for letting him dress up as Mary Poppins at age 3. “Thank you for letting my act out scenes from ‘I Love Lucy’ on my 10th Birthday. You have always allowed me to display my freak flag without making me feel uncomfortable.

Think of your family

Moon, like Groff was also thinking about family when she won the award for best actress in musical “Hell’s Kitchen” in a close race with veteran Kelli o’Hara. The 21-year old, who is loosely based off Keys in the role, dedicated her award to “my parents… Dad, you have worked all your life.” Mom, you arrived in America when you were 17 years old and have been surviving since then. “Hell’s Kitchen” is about a seventeen-year-old girl on the brink of a big dream. I can’t even imagine how many dreams you put off, or how many sacrifices were made for me to have the life I do today. “I hope you get to enjoy yourself tonight.”

She is aware of what she says

Hillary Clinton was not only a U.S. Senator, Secretary of State and First Lady, but also a theater enthusiast. This is why she received one of night’s warmest standing ovations. She was now appearing as a producer and introducing Shaina Taub’s historical musical “Suffs” about early-20th-century suffragists. Clinton said with a wink, “I’m a little familiar with how difficult it is to change things.” She continued: “Now that it’s an election year, we need to remember how important voting is.” Earlier, Taub, the only woman to have written, composed and starred in a Broadway musical, had won both the best score and the best book. She urged: “If the story of Suffs inspires you, please register to vote and make sure everyone you know is registered.”

Women and History: A Conversation

Danya Taymor – niece of Julie Taymor – the first woman ever to win a Tony Award for directing a Musical – became the sixth woman in history to receive the award for “The Outsiders,” a classic adaptation of a young adult novel. Taymor was part of a group of women who made history: seven of the 10 nominees for directing were female, including four of the five nominees for best musical. She sent a message to “all the young artists who want create” telling them “what others may perceive as your weakness or liability might just be a superpower.” Do not be afraid to follow your gut.

Life lessons and lobster

The afterparty offered more life lessons over drinks and small dishes. Audiences poured out of the Koch Theater and onto Lincoln Center Plaza where a disco ball was installed over the famous fountain. In the David Geffen Hall of the New York Philharmonic guests enjoyed risotto, asparagus, pancetta and mushrooms, as well as steak and grilled shrimp. Lewis, who was carrying her Tony award, was the main attraction. She reflected in an interview on the time around eight years back when she considered quitting acting. “One of my friends asked, ‘What are going to do, will you drive a Bus? You will not be happy. “She said that she had been driving for Uber and Lyft a long time. She finally got her big break. Lewis, who portrays a stern, but influential piano instructor and mentor, said that she often speaks to fans after shows who share their own stories about mentors. “They talk about their grandmother, aunt, cousins, piano teacher or vocal coach. And I tell them to go thank them. Thank them if they are still with us. ‘”

Here’s a list of all the winners:

Best Musical: “The Outsiders”

Best Play: “Stereophonic”

Best Revival of a Musical: “Merrily We Roll Along”

Best Revival of a Play: “Appropriate”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical: Maleah Joi Moon, “Hell’s Kitchen”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical: Jonathan Groff, “Merrily We Roll Along”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play: Sarah Paulson, “Appropriate”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play: Jeremy Strong, “An Enemy of the People”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical: Daniel Radcliffe, “Merrily We Roll Along”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical: Kecia Lewis, “Hell’s Kitchen”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play: Will Brill, “Stereophonic”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play: Kara Young, “Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch”

Best Direction of a Play: Daniel Aukin, “Stereophonic”

Best Direction of a Musical: Danya Taymor, “The Outsiders”

Best Original Score: “Suffs,” music & lyrics: Shaina Taub

Best Book of a Musical: “Suffs,” Shaina Taub

Best Choreography: Justin Peck, “Illinoise”

Best Costume Design of a Play: Dede Ayite, “Jaja’s African Hair Braiding”

Best Costume Design of a Musical: Linda Cho, “The Great Gatsby”

Best Orchestrations: Jonathan Tunick, “Merrily We Roll Along”

Best Scenic Design of a Musical: Tom Scutt, “Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club”

Best Scenic Design of a Play: David Zinn, “Stereophonic”

Best Lighting Design of a Musical: Hana S. Kim and Brian MacDevitt, “The Outsiders”

Best Lighting Design of a Play: Jane Cox, “Appropriate”

Best Sound Design of a Play: Ryan Rumery, “Stereophonic”

Best Sound Design of a Musical: Cody Spencer, “The Outsiders”