David Byrne's 'American Utopia' celebrated with Special Tony Award

Former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne was honoured with a Special Tony Award at last night's 74th Annual Tony Awards for his Broadway production of American Utopia. 

The production, based on his 2018 album of the same name, was also adapted into a concert film by Spike Lee and released on HBO late last year. The show began its Broadway run at the Hudson Theatre in 2019, and closed early last year. Wholly unique, Byrne used new technology to allow himself and his twelve live band members and performers to move freely about the stage, rather than be tied to one spot with cables.

Including songs from the 2018 album, Byrne performs other Talking Heads classics like 'This Must Be The Place', 'Once In A Lifetime', and 'Road To Nowhere'. He also performs a cover of Janell Monáe's 'Hell You Talmbout'.

The musician performed the Talking Heads' 1982 classic 'Burning Down The House' at the Tonys, where Matthew Lopez's Howard's End-inspired play The Inheritance and Moulin Rouge! The Musical won big, sweeping up prizes in major categories including: Best Play and Best Musical, and Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play and Musical, respectively.

Juno writer Diablo Cody nabbed the Best Book of a Musical award for Jagged Little Pill, and Mozart in The Jungle producer Alex Timbers picked up Best Direction of a Musical for Moulin Rouge!. 

Watch David Byrne perform 'Burning Down The House' below.

.@DBtodomundo BRINGING down the house with that performance of "Burning Down the House" from @americanutopia! #TonyAwards pic.twitter.com/rxATHbnEAX

— CBS (@CBS) September 27, 2021