The biggest night on Broadway didn't disappoint, and it's really no surprise. With Neil Patrick Harris as host, a great group of nominated shows, and a musical that provided its own jokes (we're looking at you, 'Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark'), the 65th Annual Tony Awards was a smash hit for theater lovers.
According to E! Online, Harris hit the nail on the head when he proclaimed at the top of the show, "Broadway....it's not just for gays anymore!" And such was the theme for the evening.
Harris shined in his hosting duties, from an entertaining opening number -- which even included a bonus line flub by Brooke Shields -- to a "host-off' with pal and past host Hugh Jackman.
The 'Spider-Man' jokes did surface but were not thankfully overwhelming, with Bono and The Edge taking the jabs in stride.
"We used to be famous for being in U2," Bono joked while onstage presenting a number from their show. The Edge added: "In rock and roll, deadlines are just the lies your manager tells you to get you back on the bus."
But who were the big winners of the night?
'The Book of Mormon' took home the grand prize of the night -- the award for Best Musical -- beating out 'Catch Me If You Can,' 'The Scottsboro Boys' and 'Sister Act.'The instant raunchy hit for 'South Park' creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone also won 'Best Book of a Musical,' Best Directing' and 'Best Original Score,' just to name a few.
'War Horse' walked away with the 'Best Play' Tony award, with 'Anything Goes' winning 'Best Musical Revival' and 'The Normal Heart' taking home the 'Best Play Revival' award.
Ellen Barkin and Frances McDormand also won awards for their roles in 'The Normal Heart' and 'Good People,' respectively.
See the complete list of winners and Harris' opening number below!
Best Musical: 'Book of Mormon' Best Play: 'War Horse' Best Musical Revival: 'Anything Goes' Best Play Revival: 'The Normal Heart' Best Featured Actress in a Play: Ellen Barkin, 'The Normal Heart' Best Featured Actor in a Play: John Benjamin Hickey, 'The Normal Heart' Best Actress in a Play: Frances McDormand, 'Good People' Best Actor in a Play: Mark Rylance, 'Jerusalem' Best Actress in a Musical: Sutton Foster, 'Anything Goes' Best Actor in a Musical: Norbert Leo Butz, 'Catch Me If You Can' Best Featured Actress in a Musical: Nikki M. James, 'The Book of Mormon' Best Featured Actor in a Musical: John Larroquette, 'How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying' Best Choreography: 'Anything Goes' Best Direction of a Play: Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris, 'War Horse' Best Direction of a Musical: Casey Nicholaw and Trey Parker, 'The Book of Mormon' Best Book of a Musical: 'The Book of Mormon' Best Orchestrations: 'The Book of Mormon' Best Original Score: 'The Book of Mormon' Best Scenic Design of a Play: 'War Horse' Best Lighting Design of a Play: 'War Horse' Best Sound Design of a Play: 'War Horse' Best Sound Design of a Musical: 'The Book of Mormon' Best Lighting Design of a Musical: 'The Book of Mormon' Best Costume Design of a Musical: 'Priscilla Queen of the Desert' Best Costume Design of a Play: 'The Importance of Being Earnest'
Mitt Romney would not go see the Book of Mormon play because it is not put out by the church and it is not about the Book of Mormon. It dosen't even follow the line of the Book of Mormon. And whoever created it is making know nothing about the church.
Harris is brilliant. As for the gay theme, it was refreshing to have a positive spin for a change. So much different than the hate, ridicule, violence, and lies heaped upon gays everyday, so often by "religious" people and their imaginary gods.
I want to say you are a jerk but that's not really what you are. What you are is an ignorant bigoted piece of garbage. It's people like you who put progressive causes back. I would tell you that you should be ashamed of yourself but I have the feeling you have no shame.
Surprised by the good job done by Neil P. Harris...a real step up from his last hosting job (was it the Emmys or Oscars??)..he is very talented ...his numbers were delightful... I am sorry that so much "gay" had to be inserted ...that was the only low point of the evening. Always enjoy the Tony's...nothing like live entertainment!!! Good show this year....great production numbers...not quite sure about the "Book of Mormon" accolades...loved "Anything Goes"...all in all about an 8 on a scale of 10.
I enjoyed the show very much. Neil Patrick Harris is a fantastic host for this type of show. Although - I beg to differ that it's not just for gays. It seeemed the majority of people winning and men in the audience were gay.
The reason gay was mentioned a lot was because Broadway has been known to be gay friendly..whom seem to win a lot of the Tony's. Lets face it, if it weren't for gays, there would be no entertainment or for you to want to watch the show in the first place.
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The biggest night on Broadway didn't disappoint, and it's really no surprise. With Neil Patrick Harris as host, a great group of nominated shows, and a musical that provided its own jokes (we're looking at you, 'Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark'), the 65th Annual Tony Awards was a smash hit for theater lovers.
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Watched the program, a rarity for me, not much of a TV-viewer, these days...found it, and Neil Patrick Harris, genuinely entertaining.
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I wonder if Mitt Romney has seen "The Book of Mormon"?
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Mitt Romney would not go see the Book of Mormon play because it is not put out by the church and it is not about the Book of Mormon. It dosen't even follow the line of the Book of Mormon. And whoever created it is making know nothing about the church.
Living in the south, I really am not that interested in what Broadway type people do. But this was pretty good entertainment.Harris did well.
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Had to make sure he mentioned Gay didn't he?
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Good thing he wasn't singing about bigotry and ignorance or your name would have been in the song for sure!
Harris, the queen of the meat packers has spoken.
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That is funny ! He was just looking to push someones stool in,give him a break! LOL
Don't usually watch these kind of shows (at least all the way through) but Neil Patrick Harris made it funny, entertaining and lively. Great show.
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Pure entertainment, a break from the game.
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wow was amazed at the range of daniel radcliff he's apperantly not just "harry potter" bravo
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Harris is brilliant. As for the gay theme, it was refreshing to have a positive spin for a change. So
much different than the hate, ridicule, violence, and lies heaped upon gays everyday, so often by
"religious" people and their imaginary gods.
Reply
Imaginary? Think again.
I want to say you are a jerk but that's not really what you are. What you are is an ignorant bigoted piece of garbage. It's people like you who put progressive causes back. I would tell you that you should be ashamed of yourself but I have the feeling you have no shame.
Surprised by the good job done by Neil P. Harris...a real step up from his last hosting job (was it the Emmys or Oscars??)..he is very talented ...his numbers were delightful... I am sorry that so much "gay" had to be inserted ...that was the only low point of the evening. Always enjoy the Tony's...nothing like live entertainment!!! Good show this year....great production numbers...not quite sure about the "Book of Mormon" accolades...loved "Anything Goes"...all in all about an 8 on a scale of 10.
Reply
Not sure how "Mormon" won the "Best Book Musical" award when the music has absolutely nothing at all to do with the Book of Mormon.
Sorry, I mean the MUSICAL....not the music.
I enjoyed the show very much. Neil Patrick Harris is a fantastic host for this type of show. Although - I beg to differ that it's not just for gays. It seeemed the majority of people winning and men in the audience were gay.
Reply
I love Broadway shows and I miss that since I moved from New York. Neil Patrick Harris did a great job.
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The reason gay was mentioned a lot was because Broadway has been known to be gay friendly..whom seem to win a lot of the Tony's. Lets face it, if it weren't for gays, there would be no entertainment or for you to want to watch the show in the first place.
Reply