Five things to note after the Tony Awards Sunday. The broadcast drew 8.73 million viewers, up 35

Five things to note after the Tony Awards Sunday. The broadcast drew 8.73 million viewers, up 35 percent from last year, according to preliminary ratings from the Nielsen Co.

v Diversity wins: Every winning performer in the musical categories was a person of color — Leslie Odom Jr., Cynthia Erivo, Renee Elise Goldsberry and Daveed Diggs. Lin-Manuel Miranda, of course, took home some big honors, along with orchestrator Alex Lacamoire and costume designers Paul Tazewell and Clint Ramos.

v Persistence rewarded: Jayne Houdyshell, a mainstay of the New York stage, at 62 won her first Tony for “The Humans.” Her 61-year-old stage husband, Reed Birney, won his first Tony, too.

v Start small: Two of the night’s biggest winners, “Hamilton” and “The Humans,” began in nonprofit theaters. “Hamilton” was nurtured at the Public Theater, while the Roundabout Theatre Company reared “The Humans.”

v Corden rules: The host of “The Late Late Show” was a perfect choice to host at a suddenly tricky show. He was able to speak from the heart at the top of the show and pay tribute to the victims of the Orlando, Fla., nightclub shooting, and yet also perform a head-spinning medley of tunes from famous Broadway musicals.

v A visionary: Get to know the name. Ivo van Hove. The Dutch visionary director, known for stripping down a work to its essence and using minimal props, won best director of a play, and his version of “A View From the Bridge” won best play revival.

“Uncle Buck” (9 p.m., ABC): Mike Epps headlines a sitcom remake of the 1989 film starring John Candy.

“Animal Kingdom” (9 p.m., TNT): is a gritty new drama about a tough-as-nails matriarch (Ellen Barkin) of an organized crime family in a sleepy Southern California beach town. Think “The Sopranos” with estrogen and surf boards.

entertainment news

MV Players to stage ‘Much Ado’ play

YOUNGSTOWN

Mahoning Valley Players will present William Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” at 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Judge Morley Pavilion in Wick Recreation Area of Mill Creek MetroParks, 1861 McCollum Road. The venue is lawn seating, so audience members are encouraged to bring a blanket or chair. It is free and open to the public.

The cast includes Kage Coven, Katrina Mink, Donny Wolford, Rachel Clifford, Hunter Thomas, Jeremiah Kibler, Dave Wolford, Kat Bachman, Eric Kibler, Tracy McQuillan, Elizabeth Burnette, Amy Banks, Lisa Torrence, Jim Hain, David Cirelli, Elsie Kibler, Miranda Bachman and Molly McQuillan. Mary James is director.

Salem presenting ‘Little Mermaid’

SALEM

Salem Community Theatre is presenting Disney’s musical “The Little Mermaid JR.” on stage with a cast of 43 young regional actors and actresses from 6 to 18 years old. Performances at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and matinees at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Director is Niki Slaven with Bret Cowden, musical director.

Reserved seat tickets are available by calling the Salem Community Theatre Box Office at 330-332-9688.