Neil Patrick Harris opens the 2013 Tony Awards with one of the best musical performances of all time!
The Tony Awards never fail to entertain, and the opening numbers are typically the best part. For a while, opening numbers were medleys that showcased nominated musicals, but in recent history, they’ve become original songs sung by the host(s). Many great hosts have sung original songs: Hugh Jackman, Sara Bareilles, Josh Groban, and James Corden. But no host has been as dynamic as Neil Patrick Harris.
Neil Patrick Harris, best known for playing Barney on How I Met Your Mother, hosted three years in a row. His opening numbers were all dazzling, but something felt different the last time he hosted. The 2013 Tony Awards opened with an original number titled “Bigger.” Harris sings his heart out while dancing, jumping through circus hoops, performing magic tricks, and honoring the best that Broadway had to offer that year. It even includes a great performance by Mike Tyson!
Few could pull off that performance, and he never once looked tired. The theater audience was so entertained that the applause at the end seemed to last an eternity (especially while Harris hung off the side of the set!). Before the 2019 Tony Awards air tomorrow night, let’s take a trip down memory lane and watch one of the greatest Tony opening performances of all time starring Neil Patrick Harris:
