Trenk Kowalik, David Alvarez, and Geoffrey Rush
(© Joseph Marzullo/WENN)
The 63rd Annual Tony Awards were held at a ceremony at Radio City Music Hall, beginning with the Creative Arts Awards at 7pm, hosted by Tony winners Laura Benanti and Brian Stokes Mitchell, followed by the official broadcast at 8pm on CBS -TV, hosted by Neil Patrick Harris.
According to preliminary reports from Nielsen, the show attracted 7.45 million viewers, a 19 percent increase over last year’s telecast.
The evening’s big winner was Billy Elliot, The Musical which took home 10 awards, including Best Musical and Best Performance by Leading Actor in a Musical for David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik, and Kiril Kulish and Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical for Gregory Jbara.
God of Carnage won for Best Play, Best Direction, and Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play for Marcia Gay Harden, while Next to Normal took home three awards, including Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical for Alice Ripley. The Norman Conquests was this year’s winner for Best Revival of a Play and Hair won Best Revival of a Musical.
Other acting winners included Geoffrey Rush for Best Actor in a Play for Exit the King, Angela Lansbury for Best Featured Actress in a Play for Blithe Spirit, and Karen Olivo for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for West Side Story. In addition, Liza’s at the Palace, starring Liza Minnelli, was named Best Special Theatrical Event.
Highlights of the broadcast included a satirical closing number by Harris (written by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman), an appearance by Lifetime Achievement Award winner Jerry Herman, along with performances by Dolly Parton, Elton John, Poison, and cast members from all of this season’s nominated musicals and musical revivals.
The evening’s many presenters included Kristin Chenoweth, Audra McDonald, Jane Fonda, Carrie Fisher, Will Ferrell, Hope Davis, James Gandolfini, Anne Hathaway, David Hyde Pierce, Lucie Arnaz, John Stamos, and Gina Gershon.
TheaterMania’s Editor in Chief Brian Scott Lipton live-blogged during the event on TonyAwards.com. For his commentary, Click here.
Below is a full list of nominees with the winners marked in bold.
Best Play
Dividing the Estate by Horton Foote
God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza
reasons to be pretty by Neil LaBute
33 Variations by Moisés Kaufman
Best Musical
Billy Elliot, The Musical
Next to Normal
Rock of Ages
Shrek The Musical
Best Book of a Musical
Lee Hall, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Brian Yorkey, Next to Normal
David Lindsay-Abaire, Shrek The Musical
Hunter Bell, [title of show]
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics)
Billy Elliot, The Musical, Music: Elton John; Lyrics: Lee Hall
Next to Normal, Music: Tom Kitt; Lyrics: Brian Yorkey
9 to 5: The Musical, Music & Lyrics: Dolly Parton
Shrek The Musical, Music: Jeanine Tesori; Lyrics: David Lindsay-Abaire
Best Revival of a Play
Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
Mary Stuart
The Norman Conquests
Waiting for Godot
Best Revival of a Musical
Guys and Dolls
Hair
Pal Joey
West Side Story
Best Special Theatrical Event
Liza’s at The Palace
Slava’s Snowshow
Soul of Shaolin
You’re Welcome America. A Final Night with George W. Bush
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play
Jeff Daniels, God of Carnage
Raúl Esparza, Speed-the-Plow
James Gandolfini, God of Carnage
Geoffrey Rush, Exit the King
Thomas Sadoski, reasons to be pretty
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play
Hope Davis, God of Carnage
Jane Fonda, 33 Variations
Marcia Gay Harden, God of Carnage
Janet McTeer, Mary Stuart
Harriet Walter, Mary Stuart
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical
David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik, and Kiril Kulish, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Gavin Creel, Hair
Brian d’Arcy James, Shrek The Musical
Constantine Maroulis, Rock of Ages
J. Robert Spencer, Next to Normal
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical
Stockard Channing, Pal Joey
Sutton Foster, Shrek The Musical
Allison Janney, 9 to 5: The Musical
Alice Ripley, Next to Normal
Josefina Scaglione, West Side Story
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play
John Glover, Waiting for Godot
Zach Grenier, 33 Variations
Stephen Mangan, The Norman Conquests
Paul Ritter, The Norman Conquests
Roger Robinson, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play
Hallie Foote, Dividing the Estate
Jessica Hynes, The Norman Conquests
Marin Ireland, reasons to be pretty
Angela Lansbury, Blithe Spirit
Amanda Root, The Norman Conquests
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical
David Bologna, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Gregory Jbara, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Marc Kudisch, 9 to 5: The Musical
Christopher Sieber, Shrek The Musical
Will Swenson, Hair
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical
Jennifer Damiano, Next to Normal
Haydn Gwynne, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Karen Olivo, West Side Story
Martha Plimpton, Pal Joey
Carole Shelley, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Best Scenic Design of a Play
Dale Ferguson, Exit the King
Rob Howell, The Norman Conquests
Derek McLane, 33 Variations
Michael Yeargan, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Robert Brill, Guys and Dolls
Ian MacNeil, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Scott Pask, Pal Joey
Mark Wendland, Next to Normal
Best Costume Design of a Play
Dale Ferguson, Exit the King
Jane Greenwood, Waiting for Godot
Martin Pakledinaz, Blithe Spirit
Anthony Ward, Mary Stuart
Best Costume Design of a Musical
Gregory Gale, Rock of Ages
Nicky Gillibrand, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Tim Hatley, Shrek The Musical
Michael McDonald, Hair
Best Lighting Design of a Play
David Hersey, Equus
David Lander, 33 Variations
Brian MacDevitt, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
Hugh Vanstone, Mary Stuart
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Kevin Adams, Hair
Kevin Adams, Next to Normal
Howell Binkley, West Side Story
Rick Fisher, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Best Sound Design of a Play
Paul Arditti, Mary Stuart
Gregory Clarke, Equus
Russell Goldsmith, Exit the King
Scott Lehrer and Leon Rothenberg, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
Best Sound Design of a Musical
Acme Sound Partners, Hair
Paul Arditti, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Peter Hylenski, Rock of Ages
Brian Ronan, Next to Normal
Best Direction of a Play
Phyllida Lloyd, Mary Stuart
Bartlett Sher, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
Matthew Warchus, God of Carnage
Matthew Warchus, The Norman Conquests
Best Direction of a Musical
Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Michael Greif, Next to Normal
Kristin Hanggi, Rock of Ages
Diane Paulus, Hair
Best Choreography
Karole Armitage, Hair
Andy Blankenbuehler, 9 to 5: The Musical
Peter Darling, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Randy Skinner, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas
Best Orchestrations
Larry Blank, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas
Martin Koch, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Michael Starobin and Tom Kitt, Next to Normal
Danny Troob and John Clancy, Shrek The Musical
Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre
Jerry Herman
Regional Theatre Tony Award
Signature Theatre, Arlington, Va.
Isabelle Stevenson Award
Phyllis Newman
Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theatre
Shirley Herz
