On Sunday night the 76th Tony Awards took place at the United Palace in New York City and Broadway’s best all turned out in exceptional outfits. But one star in particular went above and beyond wearing not one, not two, not three, but four different looks that deserve our undivided attention. Julianne Hough was on-hand to perform during the ceremony, announce a category and co-host two different Tony Awards events, so the multi-hyphenate certainly needed a wide-range of dresses for the night.
“I had four looks this year, all of which I am obsessed with,” the dancer, actress and singer exclusively tells GRAZIA USA. “I collaborated very closely with my stylist, Jennifer Mazur, and my glam team on bringing our creative vision to life.”
First, Hough arrived on the red carpet in a Carolina Herrera floral-print halter gown, then changed into a Monique Lhuillier look for “The Tony’s: Act One” which she co-hosted with Skylar Astin. Next, she chose a Dior ensemble to present the best book of a musical category during the live telecast, and finally ended the night in Pamella Roland to co-host the 2nd Annual “After, After Party” with Darren Criss.
In the end, she says, “Each of these timeless looks was exactly what I imagined, perfect for an evening of celebrating the immense talent that makes up the Broadway community.”
When it came to her glam, Hough says she worked “hand in hand” with her go-to team, makeup artist Megan Lanoux and hairstylist Xavier Velasquez “on bringing each look to life and what we want to achieve with the aesthetic and feel.” For the 2023 Tony’s, they let the dresses inspire the glam. “The collaboration with them and seeing the final result is always my favorite part of the process,” she shares.
Hough notes one of the highlights of the night was seeing her friend Ariana DeBose host the 2023 Tony Awards. “She is truly so talented and seeing her up on the stage is always a proud friend moment,” the star says. Another highlight of course, was when she performed “Hot Honey Rag” from Chicago with DeBose, which was in honor of actor Joel Grey and composer John Kander, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award. “Getting to do this iconic stage number with her was a blast and I look forward to many more collaboration moments like it in the future,” Hough says. “We truly bond over our mutual love for entertaining, performing and of course, dancing!”
This year, the show went on despite the ongoing writer’s strike, and it was still one to remember. “The Tony’s might have looked a little different this year without a script and standing in solidarity with the WGA, but just feeling the energy of this Broadway community is what makes this an absolute privilege,” says Hough. “I enjoyed every second, and getting to do this year’s awards at the gorgeous United Palace Theatre was amazing!”
Want to see exactly what went down throughout the night and how Hough managed to nail all her appearances? The star is giving GRAZIA USA a peek inside the 2023 Tony Awards with her exclusive photo diary, below.
Let the Glam Begin
“Wrapped rehearsals and moved right to my dressing room at the United Palace Theatre to begin the fun — glam and styling with my amazing team,” Hough says. “Our collaboration is always one of my favorite parts of the getting ready process and for the Tony’s in particular, it’s always so rewarding to see all my looks come to life throughout the evening!”
Red Carpet Close-Up
“My stylist, Jennifer Mazur, pulled this beautiful Carolina Herrera gown for the red carpet. It ended up matching the background too! Such a fun and meant-to-be surprise. My hair (Xavier Velasquez) and makeup (Megan Lanoux) team always pull out all the stops for a beautiful red carpet moment, ensuring the glam we decide on is intentional and pulls the entire look together in a meaningful way.”
Broadway Besties!
“It was so fun hanging with my dear friend Ariana DeBose inside the Tony’s! We had such a great time performing and dancing to “Hot Honey Rag” from Chicago during the ceremony. Getting to perform with her is always incredible, but this night was particularly special. This was a tribute performance for the two very talented Lifetime Achievement Award winners of the evening, Joel Grey and John Kander.”
Inside the Tony’s
“Heading backstage after the red carpet for another quick change!”
Hostess with the Mostess
“About to go on stage for ‘The Tony’s: Act One’ with my co-host, Skylar Astin! I was thrilled to return this year as co-host.”
Backstage Breather
“A quick photo moment backstage — fell in love with this timeless Monique Lhuillier gown!”
All Hands on Deck
“Slipping into this gorgeous Dior dress ahead of presenting during the live 76th Tony Awards telecast. It takes a village!”
Dior Appreciation Post!
“’Can I hear a little commotion for the dress?!’ This Dior piece was absolutely stunning, and I couldn’t think of a better fit for my on-stage presentation of best book of a musical with Skylar Astin.
Signing Off!
“It was such a special night, once again, at the Tonys this year! Next stop, Pebble Bar with my dear friend Darren Criss as we celebrate our 2nd Annual After, After Party.”
