All Access: The Obie Awards From Every Angle You Can Imagine

The evening’s opening and closing numbers were performed by Brie Cassil, RaeMe, and Yvette Rovira.

John Leguizamo hosts the Obies Monday night at Terminal 5.

The actor F. Murray Abraham called in for a surprise comedic appearance during John Leguizamo’s opening monologue.

“The simplest and most beautiful words I know in the English language: Welcome to the 63rd annual Obie awards,” Voice critic Michael Feingold said from the podium.

The Obies bring a smile to the face of “Low Road” star Chukwudi Iwuji (right).

Pixie Aventura (right) joins John Leguizamo for a mid-performance drag act.

Stephen Trask (“Hedwig and the Angry Inch”) wore the same jacket last night that he wore to the Obies twenty years ago.

The composer Stephen Trask performed a sublime “Wig in a Box” as part of a twentieth-anniversary salute to “Hedwig and the Angry Inch.”

At the top of the show, John Leguizamo hurled himself over a wall — a reference to the immigration theme that peppered his monologue.

In a bit from his opening act, host John Leguizamo was pursued by two ICE agents.

“Describe the Night” playwright Rajiv Joseph celebrates his Obie win. “This is a remarkable, beautiful honor,” he said from the stage.

Like Off-Broadway itself, the Obies are heartfelt and raucous.

Andrew Garfield presented the first Obie of the night.

Rebecca Taichman, an Obie winner in 2017 for “Indecent,” presented this year’s directing winners.

Heather Hitchens, of the American Theatre Wing, and William Ivey Long proceed to the microphone.

Lifetime Achievement winner Kathleen Chalfant, waiting in the wings

At one point during her speech, Lifetime Achievement winner Kathleen Chalfant held up a sheet of paper and said, “This is a list of the other people who have won this award. This is a list full of my mentors and role models.”

The actress Denise Gough (“People, Places & Things”) accepted her Obie barefoot, saying, ”I’m Irish and I talk a lot and I’m really emotional.”

Voice CEO and president Peter Barbey (left) with Andrew Garfield

Lucy Liu presented an Obie to “Harry Clarke” star Billy Crudup.

“To be here in New York,” Billy Crudup said upon winning his Obie, “and create new theater with what I think are the most wicked performing artists on the fucking planet is such a privilege for me.”

Matthew Broderick presented an Obie to “Mary Jane” star Carrie Coon.

Carrie Coon, feeling the Obies mood

Lap Chi Chu won an Obie for sustained excellence of lighting design, but didn’t stay long at the podium. “I’m blinded,” he said, referencing the onstage lighting.

“All the artists who’ve ever worked for Ma-Yi Theater Company: This really belongs to them,” said Ralph B. Peña while accepting the Ross Wetzsteon Award.

Lilli Cooper presented an Obie to “Low Road” star Chukwudi Iwuji.

Laura Osnes sang onstage as part of the evening’s “In Memoriam” segment.

The faces of late, great theater artists flicker behind Laura Osnes as she sings “What Matters Most.”

“The Low Road” star Chukwudi Iwuji saluted New York while receiving his Obie: “There’s a pulse here. There’s a belief.”

“When I told [my mom] that I was going to be a director, she thought I was going to be directing big, pretty musicals,” said “Is God Is” director Taibi Magar.

The playwright Amy Herzog accepted an Obie for “Mary Jane.” For the Voice, David Cote wrote that Herzog shows “respect for human resilience.”

Lucy Liu travels backstage at Terminal 5.

In her victory speech, Carrie Coon told stories about how “Mary Jane” connected her with audiences.

“In the words of Elizabeth Taylor to her first six husbands: I won’t keep you long,” said “Is God Is” star Dame-Jasmine Hughes at the start of her Obies speech.

Montana Levi Blanco, one of the three design-team winners for “He Brought Her Heart Back in a Box”

“Admissions” star Jessica Hecht honored Voice critic Michael Feingold during her acceptance speech.

“When I was writing this insane play that I needed to get out of my body, I could never have imagined that people would respond the way that they have,” said “Is God Is” playwright Aleshea Harris.

James Morgan and Tisa Chang hoist their Obie Grant certificates near the Voice’s backstage photo booth.

Matthew Broderick passes through the winners’ area backstage at the Obies.