Tony wins reflect box office
NEW YORK – The “Boys” took home the top 2006 Tonys Sunday night.
“Jersey Boys,” the fast-moving musical biography of pop icons Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, won best musical, while “The History Boys,” Alan Bennett’s wise, witty and warmhearted dissection of British education, was named best play.
“The History Boys” received six Tonys, more than any other production, also collecting prizes for actor, Richard Griffiths; director, Nicholas Hytner; featured actress, Frances de la Tour; and two design prizes, sets and lighting.
“You are insanely talented people,” said Julia Roberts before giving the best-actor prize to Griffiths for his portrayal of an unorthodox yet beloved teacher in “The History Boys.”
In his Broadway debut, John Lloyd Young, who plays Valli in “Jersey Boys,” took the top actor-musical award and dedicated the prize to his father. After the show, Young said winning the Tony was “a very personal thing for me. … To have been an usher a year and a half ago and now to be starring in a Broadway show and holding this – this is a triumph for everyone in my life.”
While the race between “Jersey Boys” and “The Drowsy Chaperone” was the evening’s most competitive contest, there were a few surprises. LaChanze won in the actress-musical category for her portrayal of Celie in “The Color Purple” – the only award the musical based on Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel received despite 11 nominations.
While “Jersey Boys,” picked up the top musical prize and received four Tonys, its main competitor, “The Drowsy Chaperone,” the Canadian-born musical that affectionately celebrates Broadway’s past, won one more for five total, including best book and score.
“The Pajama Game” edged out “Sweeney Todd” for the musical revival prize and took the choreography award, which went to its director Kathleen Marshall. “Sweeney Todd” managed two awards, one for its director, John Doyle, and one for its new, spare orchestrations.
Cynthia Nixon won the best actress-play prize for her performance in “Rabbit Hole.”
Ian McDiarmid, who plays Ralph Fiennes’ fey, funny manager in “Faith Healer,” yelped out a “fantastic” as he ended his speech thanking voters for his featured-actor prize.
No single host shepherded the presenters and winners through the telecast, although a parade of stars including Julia Roberts and Oprah Winfrey (a producer of the Tony-nominated “Color Purple”) were on hand to entice viewers to the CBS telecast.
“Jersey Boys,” “The Drowsy Chaperone” and “The History Boys” are among the shows doing potent business at the box office, underscoring the fact that the 2005-2006 season has been a good year on Broadway.