The actress Kara Young stood surrounded by admirers inside David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center around 1 a.m. on Monday morning, fielding a swarm of well-wishers after winning her first Tony Award, for featured actress in the comedy “Purlie Victorious.” Her older brother hovered close by and periodically fanned out the train of her lime chiffon dress.
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, the 39-year-old playwright who penned the night’s best play revival, the searing family drama “Appropriate” — and a fellow first-time Tony winner — was next in line to compliment Ms. Young and her gown from the designer Bibhu Mohapatra.
“This is a forever iconic Tonys look,” Mr. Jacobs-Jenkins told the actress. “When we’re like 70 years old, they’re going to show you in this.”
It was a flash forward on a night when, for many of the Tony Award winners, anything seemed possible. All eight of the acting honorees, across plays and musicals, earned their first-ever Tony wins on Sunday — some for their first major Broadway role or their first nomination, others after four decades in the theater.
“There are so many people who are like me,” said Kecia Lewis, a first-time winner for her role as a piano teacher in the coming-of-age musical “Hell’s Kitchen,” based on the life and music of Alicia Keys. She described at the party those “who have been toiling and doing their best, loving what they do, knowing that they’re pretty good at it, but feeling unseen.” (Ms. Lewis made her Broadway debut 40 years ago, when she was 18, in the musical “Dreamgirls.”)
Hundreds of nominees and attendees filled four floors at the after-party around 11 p.m. at David Geffen Hall, which sits across the plaza from the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center, where the ceremony was held.
Shaina Taub and Justin Peck clutched their newly minted trophies — Ms. Taub with two, for both the book and score of the Hillary Clinton-backed “Suffs,” and Mr. Peck with the choreography award for the dance-centric “Illinoise.” Elle Fanning of “Appropriate” caught up with her cast; Jessica Lange, Shoshana Bean and Steven Skybell, all acting nominees that evening, lingered outside near the bar overlooking the plaza.
“I’ve never been more excited about anything,” said Sarah Paulson, who won best actress in a play for her performance as an elder sister intent on protecting her father’s legacy in “Appropriate.” She started her career in the theater, and now that she was back onstage, she added: “I just feel like I don’t want to do anything else. You guys are probably going to get sick of me.”
Soon, she had tracked down one of the last veggie burgers at the party’s Shake Shack counter.
Ms. Paulson, Ms. Young, Will Brill of the behind-the-music play “Stereophonic” and Jeremy Strong of the Ibsen classic “An Enemy of the People” took home acting trophies for plays. The acting awards for roles in musicals were split between performers from “Hell’s Kitchen” and the Stephen Sondheim flop-turned-hit “Merrily We Roll Along,” the night’s best musical revival.
By 1:30 a.m., many of the nominees had left the official after-party and arrived at the Carlyle Hotel on the Upper East Side, where the theater publicist Rick Miramontez was hosting his famed late-night bash for several hundred guests with the producer John Gore.
“This space is so gorgeous,” said Amber Iman, a nominee for her performance as the model Rafaela in “Lempicka,” as she edged her way up a set of stairs to the bar in a sequined bandeau top and long green skirt.
As waiters in white coats circled with trays of shrimp cocktails, sliders, French fries and champagne, partygoers paired off in corners.
Jim Parsons and Celia Keenan-Bolger, both nominees for their performances as teenage siblings in Paula Vogel’s family drama “Mother Play,” huddled in a banquette. Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who had presented the Tony for actor in a featured role in a play to Mr. Brill of “Stereophonic,” walked over to greet them.
Nearby was Ali Louis Bourzgui, 24, who made his Broadway debut this season as the titular character in “The Who’s Tommy,” Pete Townshend and Des McAnuff’s rock-opera-turned-musical. He had just attended his first Tony Awards, where he and the musical’s cast had performed “Pinball Wizard” with The Who’s Mr. Townshend, who wrote the music and co-wrote the book of the musical.
“It was one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life,” said Mr. Bourzgui, his eyes growing wide.
Soon, the theater producer Jordan Roth arrived in a sheer black floral gown and a matching crown, and Eddie Redmayne, in a tuxedo with a cape-like detail, darted upstairs to the bar. Camille A. Brown, who was nominated for best choreography for “Hell’s Kitchen,” held her feathered ivory strapless gown aloft as she tried to squeeze into a lounge area.
Dylan Mulvaney, the influencer, said hello to Mr. Brill, who had just won his first Tony Award, for his role as the bass player Reg in “Stereophonic.”
“You were fabulous tonight,” said Ms. Mulvaney, who wore a long white gown with feathers.
“It’s cool that they let us — that they relented,” Mr. Brill said. (The producers of the Tony Awards had initially denied the cast of “Stereophonic,” a play that features live music, the opportunity to perform on the telecast before changing the plan last week.)
As the night wore on, attendees continued to trickle into the hotel bar from the ceremony, with Alex Edelman, the comedian and fresh winner of a special Tony Award; Ashley Park, the theater actress known onscreen for her role in “Emily in Paris”; Mr. Townshend; Ms. Paulson; and Ariana DeBose, who had hosted the ceremony for the third straight year, joining the crowd.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” said Ms. DeBose, who was soon unable to move more than few inches without being mobbed by admirers.
Just past 3 a.m., Jonathan Groff, who won his first Tony for best leading actor in a musical for “Merrily We Roll Along,” headed to the bar and led a rendition of a Sondheim standard from the show, “Old Friends.”
His co-star Daniel Radcliffe and Mr. Radcliffe’s longtime girlfriend, the actress Erin Darke, watched from their perch on a banquette as they greeted well-wishers. (Mr. Radcliffe had also just won his first Tony Award for “Merrily,” for his performance as the composer Charley Kringas.)
Then the pianist Billy Stritch started in on the rousing chords of Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York.” Soon the whole room, which included Eva Noblezada (“The Great Gatsby”) and Andrew R. Butler (“Stereophonic”), was belting along to the anthem for city dreamers.
“Start spreadin’ the news, I’m leavin’ today …”
Mr. Groff danced alongside the piano, growing progressively louder with each verse, until it was time for the finale.
“If I can make it there, I’ll make it anywhere/ It’s up to you, New York, Neeeeeeew York.”
