Ariana DeBose - 'This Is Your Round Of Applause' (Tony Awards Opening Number 2022)

Academy Award winner Ariana DeBose ('West Side Story') performs "This Is Your Round of Applause," the opening number of the 2022 Tony Awards, for which she was the host, live at Radio City Music Hall on June 12, 2022.

"This Is Your Round of Applause" was arranged by Kurt Crowley and Benjamin Rauhala, and choreographed by Sarah O'Gleby, with costumes designed by Sue Makoo.

The number features dancers Jōvan Dansberry, Karli Dinardo, Daniel Gaymon, Carlos E. Gonzalez, Ashley Elizabeth Hale, Marc Heitzman, Jolina Javier, Yoori Kim, Robin Masella, Ilda Mason, Janayé McAlpine, Michael Munday, Julian Ramos, Ryan Steele, Khadija Tariyan, and Charlie Williams.

The original song portions were written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, the Tony Award winning composers of "Six." The number was orchestrated by Alex Lacamoire, the Tony Award winning orchestrator of "Hamilton." Patrick Vaccariello conducted the orchestra. Track elements were created by Will Wells. Tony Award honoree Emily Grishman served as Music Copyist.

Special thanks to Sarah Levine Hall and Krista Hibbard, as well as our music team assistants Eli Schildkraut, Stephanie Evans, and Terence Odkonor.

[cohones-dewu]

hitting every note while no-stoping dancing is amazing

[Tattooedmommy]

I love the look on face at the end when she realized that she did the damned thing in front of all her heroes!

[bookXbat]

she's doing all of that while making it feel effortless. ugh I love her so much

[greenelf]

Am I the only one still watching this performance on a daily basis? Like, this is still a huge part of my daily entertainment with multiple watches a day.

[Dead-or-Alive]

Lin practically JUMPING to his feet
no one touch me I'm emotional

[svizerana]

Her reaction to the standing ovation is just the best.

[madelynstoltzfus]

omg LMM at the end standing up and clapping 😭 he was so proud of her his face omg I love him

[sarahkrafcik]

The "Wait for Me" mixed with "It's All Happening" will never not make me cry.

[antonellapuchi]

I legit got emotional when they were showing the speeches, someday I’ll be there if I work hard for it. And the standing ovation was SOO well deserved, this is literally one of the best performances I’ve seen in my life, I got emotional for her, and for the someday that starts today and now.<3

[Landis]

2:49 This moment right here - The piano part of "Defying Gravity" under "You Can't Stop The Beat" - might be my absolute favorite part of the entire mashup.

[jaden]

This and NPH’s opening in 2013 are my favorite opening for any award ceremony that I’ve seen

[eduardoyoutube]

This is one of the GREATEST musical numbers in herstory. Ariana DeBose the woman and ICON that you are.

[j-art]

The pan over to Lin Manuel saying "I LOVE YOU" to Ariana debose is the best part tbh

[wuttatota]

Wait For Me playing in the background of the speeches almost made me cry ngl, along with Lin's iconic love is love speech

[jaspspiritual]

THIS HAS GOTTA BE MY FAVORITE TONY OPENING OF ALL TIME! THE CHOREOGRAPHY THE SONG THE MASHED BROADWAY MUSIC EVERYTHING! Also i just absolutely adore Ariana

[triffus]

She's amazing. Sounds so much like Idina

[Bwayswiftmac]

Something I love is just how comfortable she is during the “Magic to do” part since she was the leading player understudy

[BriBeMe]

I've watched it a million times and Lin's reaction at the end gets me every time!

[Wwillow]

Its that giant smile at the end where she looks so excited that gets me

[geraldfitzgerald]

Here are all the references I could spot:
1:33: "Women in the sequel! Work!" is a lyric in 'The Schuyler Sisters' from Hamilton.
1:38: The lyrics are from 'Wilkommen' from Cabaret
1:38: The music is from 'All That Jazz' from Chicago
1:50: Music is the opening of 'Buenos Aires' from Evita

1:54: Lyrics for 'A Lot of Livin' To Do' from Bye Bye Birdie
2:00: Music is 'Ease on Down the Road' from The Wiz
2:02: Lyrics of 'Buenos Aires' from Evita
2:06: Lyrics of 'Friend Like Me' from Aladdin
2:09: Lyrics of 'Magic to Do' from Pippin
2:13: Lyrics of 'I Can't Do It Alone' from Chicago
2:16: 'The Lonely Goatherd' from The Sound of Music
2:20: Nods to Hamilton, including Lin-Manuel Miranda cameo at 2:28.
2:23: Lyrics set to music from Rent (?)
2:37: Opening instrumental to 'Dancing Queen' from Mamma Mia
2:38: Lyrics to 'I Got Rhythm', a George Gershwin tune most famous in An American in Paris
2:45: Music (and Choreography) evoke 'Defying Gravity' from Wicked
2:46: Lyrics are from 'You Can't Stop the Beat' from Hairspray
2:57: Clicking evokes the famous choreography/music from West Side Story, specifically 'Cool'.
2:59: Couple of notes from 'Tradition' from Fiddler on the Roof (woodwind instrument, then violin at 3:05)
3:14: Opening notes from Wicked's 'Defying Gravity' (Again)
3:15: Instrumental sampled from the Overture from Cats
3:26: Lyrics from 'Wait For Me' from Hadestown
3:42: Lyrics from 'Somewhere' from West Side Story...
3:52: ...which transitions into 'It All Fades Away' from The Bridges of Madison Country...
3:58: ....and then 'Thank You For The Music' from Mamma Mia.
4:01: In the background is 'One More Day' from West Side Story
4:05: 'One Night Only' is from Dreamgirls.
4:06: The music and choreography evokes 'One' from A Chorus Line
4:12: Notes and choreography taken from the opening of 'Rich Man's Frug' from Sweet Charity- channeling Bob Fosse.
4:16: Lyrics from 'Let the Sunshine In/Aquarius' from Hair
4:17: Music is the main theme from The Phantom of the Opera
4:26: Choreography and music from 'America' from West Side Story-- possibly the specific 2021 version Ariana DeBose was in?
4:40: Trumpet playing 'Tomorrow' from Annie- Ariana's pose also evokes this.
4:45: 'Climb Every Mountain' from The Sound of Music
4:49: 'Keep It Gay' from The Producers
4:51: 'People' from Funny Girl
5:00: 'I Am What I Am' from La Cage aux Folles

There were probably some I missed.