The Tony Awards Have Best Opening and Closing on Any Award Show Ever [VIDEOS]

So I love musicals and theatre and all that jazz.  (That was a reference to Chicago in case you didn't know.) And last night was Broadway's biggest night, The Tony Awards.  Neil Patrick Harris (NPH) was back to host for the 4th time and he did not disappoint.  Every time he hosts it is awesome.  Why he doesn't host every award show is beyond me.

This year's open was all about going bigger and boy did they.  I think the cast of every show was on the stage at some point.  And the sets didn't hurt anyone this year.  (Remember when Bret Michaels got hit by a set piece a few years ago.  Ouch!)

As if the opener wasn't good enough there is always a spectacular closing number.  I always find the close even more enjoyable because it usually is a rap summing up the whole evening.  Which means that some writers are backstage going crazy the whole night and NPH has to learn or at least read from a teleprompter very well.  This year was a take on Jay-Z and Alicia Keys' 'Empire State of MInd' and it was epic. Alicia's part was done by Broadway vet and 'Private Practice' actress, Audra McDonald.

Notice how NPH sets down his mic gently and Audra gets all gangsta and drops that mic like it's hot.