James Corden Nails A Broadway Mash-Up At The Tonys

Of course, the 2016 Tony Awards had to start with Hamilton — a spoof of the show's opening track, "Alexander Hamilton," got things off to a humorous start. But host James Corden also did a mash-up of Broadway songs, turning it into a passionate ode to his childhood as a theater-obsessed kid, reminiscing back to when he would see professional theater with his parents and daydream about hopping onstage and performing with them. Over the course of the medley, Corden managed to perform a bit from almost every single famous Broadway musical that theater nerds around the world memorize and practice in their bedrooms.

The medley included selections from: Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, The Lion King, Grease, Sweeney Todd, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Sound Of Music, The Music Man, Funny Girl, Guys & Dolls, West Side Story, Annie, Cats, A Chorus Line, Evita, Fiddler on the Roof, Dreamgirls, Gypsy, and 42nd Street. Whew! Corden's pipes got a serious workout from the musical montage.

He wrapped it up with an inspirational message to kids at home who feel like he did: "Don't wonder if it could be you, it absolutely could be!" Afterwards, Corden invited all of the musical acting nominees onstage to sing a chorus, ending with: "This could be you, and this could be where you belong!"

It was a heartfelt way to open the show and a beautiful tribute to the seemingly tight-knit Broadway community and everyone watching who hopes to be a part of it someday.