‘Billy’ sweeps Tonys

NEW YORK – “Billy Elliot,” the big British musical about a coal miner’s son who dreams to dance, bowled over Broadway on Sunday, winning 10 Tonys, including Best Musical and a unique Best Actor prize for the three young performers, David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik and Kiril Kulish, who share the title character.

“Billy Elliot” collected eight other awards, including Director of a Musical, Book of a Musical and Choreography, but its composer, Elton John, was upset for Best Score. That award was taken by “Next to Normal” composer Tom Kitt and lyricist Brian Yorkey. Alice Ripley received the actress musical prize for “Next to Normal.”

Yasmina Reza’s “God of Carnage” was named best play and picked up awards for its director, Matthew Warchus, and actress Marcia Gay Harden.

“The Norman Conquests,” Alan Ayckbourn’s trilogy, received the revival-play prize, while “Hair” won in the musical-revival category.

The director/musical award went to Stephen Daldry of “Billy Elliot.”

“Billy” also received prizes for Featured Actor (Gregory Jbara), sets, lighting, sound and a tie with “Next to Normal” for Best Orchestrations, which Kitt shared with Michael Starobin.

Geoffrey Rush’s extravagant portrait of a dying monarch in “Exit the King” took the top actor prize.

Angela Lansbury received her fifth Tony, this time for her performance in a revival of Noel Coward’s “Blithe Spirit.”

Roger Robinson’s portrayal of a mystical shamanlike character in “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” was honored with the featured-acting prize.

Featured Actress-Musical went to Karen Olivo as the spitfire Anita in the revival of “West Side Story.”