A Big Night For The Boys At Tonys
It was a big night out for the boys at the 60th Annual Tony Awards in New York, broadcast live on CBS Sunday night.
Heavily-favored "The History Boys" didn't disappoint, earning awards in six out of seven categories for which it was nominated, including best play.
The story about a group of boisterous students trying to get into Oxford or Cambridge received honors for actor Richard Griffiths; director Nicholas Hytner; featured actress Frances de la Tour; and two design prizes, for sets and lighting. The wins set a record for most Tonys given to a non-musical play.
"Jersey Boys," based on the lives of the group Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, won a total of four awards including best musical. John Lloyd Young received a leading actor award for his portrayal of Valli and Christian Hall won featured actor. The play also won an award for lighting design.
Canadian-born "The Drowsy Chaperone" had led the musical category with 13 nominations and ended up with five wins. The homage to the musicals of the 1920s won for best book, score, sets and costumes. Beth Leavel, who plays the show's tipsy namesake, was awarded best featured actress in a musical.
The audience cheered at every mention of Oprah Winfrey's "The Color Purple," but the only win for the show out of its 11 nominations was a lead actress nod for Lachanze. But it was a huge upset for the actress, who beat out veteran Broadway star Patti Lupone, nominated for her portrayal of the grisly Mrs. Lovett in "Sweeney Todd."
"You have made me so, so happy tonight," said the actress, best-known for her role as Miranda on the television series "Sex and the City.
Julia Roberts, who received less-than-stellar reviews for her performance in Richard Greenberg's "Three Days of Rain," did not get a nomination, but she was at the show to hand out the award for leading actor in a play.
"You are insanely talented people," Roberts told the audience.
Harry Connick, Jr. kicked off the evening with a medley of classic show tunes. Connick was one of 60 celebrity presenters who were selected to present in lieu of a single host.
"The 60th anniversary show is bigger than just one host," Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner, the show's executive producers, said in May. "So we have put together a lineup of 60 stars from the stage to lead our celebration."
Joe Pesci and members of the original Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons introduced a performance by the cast of "Jersey Boys." The casts of several other nominated musicals performed.
A special award for lifetime achievement in the theater was given to Harold Prince, and Sarah Jones won a special award for "Bridge and Tunnel."
Alfre Woodard, Cynthia Nixon and James Earl Jones honored the memory of playwrights Wendy Wasserstein and August Wilson with stirring monologues from their plays. The trio also introduced a montage of other Broadway luminaries who died in the past year.
The Antoinette Perry Awards (Tonys for short) were founded in 1947 by the American Theatre Wing. They are presented by the Wing and the League of American Theatres and Producers.
Tony nominations were made by a committee of nearly two dozen theater professionals. Winners were chosen by 754 theater professionals including actors, producers, writers, stagehands and theater owners.