Touching, Funny Moments from the Tony Awards Ceremony

COMMENTARY | The landmark Beacon Theatre in New York City was the site of the 65th Annual Tony Awards Sunday. "The Book of Mormon," the satirical look at Mormon missionaries in Africa from "South Park" creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, was honored with the top award of the evening, Best Musical. In the past, the Tony Awards have bestowed the coveted Best Musical to other controversial winners, such as "Monty Python's Spamalot," "Avenue Q" and "The Producers."

Neil Patrick Harris hosted Broadway's biggest night of the year for a second time. He opened the show with a cheeky musical production number about the types of Broadway patrons who frequent the shows. At the end, Harris packed a punch with an impressive recap of the night's festivities while rapping.

"War Horse" literally galloped away with five Tonys, including Best Play. What makes this play truly unique are the lifelike equine puppets made by the Handspring Puppet Company. These puppets were so exceptionally crafted they received a Special Tony Award for the extraordinary achievement. There were times I actually thought they were real horses. The play is set in England during World War I about a horse name Joey. Eventually, the horse is sent to the front lines in France. This play has been a huge success at the Lincoln Center Theatre.

Nikki M. James was the only actor to win for "The Book of Mormon" in the acting categories. James won Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical. She portrayed the sweet Ugandan whom the missionaries want to convert. Her acceptance speech was filled with deep appreciation and tearful gratitude.

One thing worth mentioning about the Tony Awards was the absolute sincerity and compassion from the actors who won in their respective categories. They were truly grateful for receiving the Tony. It was an honor for them to be participating in the Broadway community. You never hear this kind of affectionate speeches from other award shows.

One of the treats while watching the Tony Awards is learning about the various plays and musicals. It is so much fun to watch the musical numbers from the nominees. My absolute favorite was seeing the tap dance production from "Anything Goes," which later won Best Revival of a Musical. Sutton Foster is an incredible tap dancer. She truly deserved her award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical. "The Book of Mormon" featured a solo by one of the missionaries who must confront the Ugandan warlord who is known to kill anyone on sight. His show-stopping song was absolutely hilarious in parts, but he had to confront his fears and stay true to his faith. Now you can find out who the winners are.

Highlighted winners (including nominees) for the 2011 American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards:

Best Play

Good People
Jerusalem
The Mother with the Hat
War Horse

Best Musical

The Book of Mormon
Catch Me If You Can
The Scottsboro Boys
Sister Act

Best Book of a Musical

Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
Alex Timbers

The Book of Mormon
Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone

The Scottsboro Boys
David Thompson

Sister Act
Cheri Steinkellner, Bill Steinkellner and Douglas Carter Beane

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

The Book of Mormon
Music & Lyrics: Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone

The Scottsboro Boys
Music & Lyrics: John Kander & Fred Ebb

Sister Act
Music: Alan Menken
Lyrics: Glenn Slater

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
Music & Lyrics: David Yazbek

Best Revival of a Play

Arcadia
The Importance of Being Earnest
The Merchant of Venice
The Normal Heart

Best Revival of a Musical

Anything Goes
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play

Brian Bedford, The Importance of Being Earnest
Bobby Cannavale, The Mother with the Hat
Joe Mantello, The Normal Heart
Al Pacino, The Merchant of Venice
Mark Rylance, Jerusalem

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play

Nina Arianda, Born Yesterday
Frances McDormand, Good People
Lily Rabe, The Merchant of Venice
Vanessa Redgrave, Driving Miss Daisy
Hannah Yelland, Brief Encounter

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

Norbert Leo Butz, Catch Me If You Can
Josh Gad, The Book of Mormon
Joshua Henry, The Scottsboro Boys
Andrew Rannells, The Book of Mormon
Tony Sheldon, Priscilla Queen of the Desert

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Sutton Foster, Anything Goes
Beth Leavel, Baby It's You!
Patina Miller, Sister Act
Donna Murphy, The People in the Picture

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play

Mackenzie Crook, Jerusalem
Billy Crudup, Arcadia
John Benjamin Hickey, The Normal Heart
Arian Moayed, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo
Yul V¡zquez, The Mother with the Hat

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play

Ellen Barkin, The Normal Heart
Edie Falco, The House of Blue Leaves
Judith Light, Lombardi
Joanna Lumley, La Bªte
Elizabeth Rodriguez, The Mother with the Hat

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical

Colman Domingo, The Scottsboro Boys
Adam Godley, Anything Goes
John Larroquette, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Forrest McClendon, The Scottsboro Boys
Rory O'Malley, The Book of Mormon

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical

Laura Benanti, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
Tammy Blanchard, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Victoria Clark, Sister Act
Nikki M. James, The Book of Mormon
Patti LuPone, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

Best Scenic Design of a Play

Todd Rosenthal, The Mother with the Hat
Rae Smith, War Horse
Ultz, Jerusalem
Mark Wendland, The Merchant of Venice

Best Scenic Design of a Musical

Beowulf Boritt, The Scottsboro Boys
Derek McLane, Anything Goes
Scott Pask, The Book of Mormon
Donyale Werle, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson

Best Costume Design of a Play

Jess Goldstein, The Merchant of Venice
Desmond Heeley, The Importance of Being Earnest
Mark Thompson, La Bªte
Catherine Zuber, Born Yesterday

Best Costume Design of a Musical

Tim Chappel & Lizzy Gardiner, Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Martin Pakledinaz, Anything Goes
Ann Roth, The Book of Mormon
Catherine Zuber, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

Best Lighting Design of a Play

Paule Constable, War Horse
David Lander, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo
Kenneth Posner, The Merchant of Venice
Mimi Jordan Sherin, Jerusalem

Best Lighting Design of a Musical

Ken Billington, The Scottsboro Boys
Howell Binkley, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Peter Kaczorowski, Anything Goes
Brian MacDevitt, The Book of Mormon

Best Sound Design of a Play

Acme Sound Partners and Cricket S. Myers, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo
Simon Baker, Brief Encounter
Ian Dickinson for Autograph, Jerusalem
Christopher Shutt, War Horse

Best Sound Design of a Musical

Peter Hylenski, The Scottsboro Boys
Steve Canyon Kennedy, Catch Me If You Can
Brian Ronan, Anything Goes
Brian Ronan, The Book of Mormon

Best Direction of a Play

Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris, War Horse
Joel Grey & George C. Wolfe, The Normal Heart
Anna D. Shapiro, The Mother with the Hat
Daniel Sullivan, The Merchant of Venice

Best Direction of a Musical

Rob Ashford, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Kathleen Marshall, Anything Goes
Casey Nicholaw and Trey Parker, The Book of Mormon
Susan Stroman, The Scottsboro Boys

Best Choreography

Rob Ashford, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Kathleen Marshall, Anything Goes
Casey Nicholaw, The Book of Mormon
Susan Stroman, The Scottsboro Boys

Best Orchestrations

Doug Besterman, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Larry Hochman, The Scottsboro Boys
Larry Hochman & Stephen Oremus, The Book of Mormon
Marc Shaiman & Larry Blank, Catch Me If You Can

* * *

Recipients of Awards and Honors in Non-competitive Categories

Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre

Athol Fugard
Philip J. Smith

Regional Theatre Tony Award

Lookingglass Theatre Company (Chicago, Ill.)

Isabelle Stevenson Award

Eve Ensler

Special Tony Award

Handspring Puppet Company

Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre

William Berloni
The Drama Book Shop
Sharon Jensen and Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts

SOURCES:

Peter Marks, "'The Book of Mormon' wins big at Tony Awards", The Washington Post

Joe Dziemianowicz, "Tony Awards 2011: 'Book of Mormon,' 'War Horse.' Ellen Barkin nab wins as Neil Patrick Harris hosts", NYDailyNews.com

Tony Awards, CBS.com

Nominees & Winners, Tony Awards.com