But the Tony Awards broadcast is never just an awards show. It's come to be known as a spectacular of entertainment from some of Broadway's brightest and best.
The Tony Award (named for American Theatre Wing leader, Antoinette Perry) was established in 1947 by the American Theatre Wing. It's purpose - to celebrate and reward excellence in the theatre.
The first Tony awards' ceremonies were not the televised extravaganzas we see today but were more intimate banquets held in famous hotel ballrooms, like The Plaza Hotel in NYC and broadcast over the radio. But even then, the Tonys were not without the multitude of big name stars.
1967 saw the very first televised broadcast of the Tony Awards. It lasted but one hour but paved the way for television viewers to enjoy all the brilliance and excitement of the theatre community's salute to it's bright lights. To this day, the Tony Awards broadcast is not looked upon as simply another awards show. It's one of televisions' most entertaining and popular broadcasts.
The Tonys found a permanent home on the CBS television network in 1987. What began as a one hour television program has now earned a three hour time slot.
For more "history" on the Tony awards, visit their official website at:
http://www.tonyawards.com/en_US/index.ht...
THIS YEAR'S NOMINEES
BEST PLAY:
1. Frozen
2. Anna in the Tropics
3. The Retreat from Moscow
4. I am my Own Wife
BEST MUSICAL:
1. Wicked
2. The Boy from Oz
3. Caroline, or Change
4. Avenue Q
Each of the above musicals is also nominated in the "best book from a musical" category.
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE:
1. Taboo (music by Boy George)
2. Wicked (music by Steven Swartz)
3. Caroline, or Change (music by: Jeanine Tesori lyrics by: Tony Kushner)
4. Avenue Q (music by: Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx)
REVIVALS
BEST REVIVAL OF A PLAY:
1. King Lear
2. Henry IV
3. A Raisin in the Sun
4. Jumpers
BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL:
1. Fiddler on the Roof
2. Big River
3. Wonderful Town
4. Assasins
BEST LEADING ACTOR/ACRESS IN A PLAY
ACTORS: Kevin Kline/Christopher Plummer/Frank Langella/Jefferson Mays/Simon Russell Beale
ACTRESSES: Phylicia Rashad/Swoozie Kurtz/Tovah Feldshuh/Anne Heche/Eileen Atkins
BEST LEADING ACTOR/ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
ACTORS: Hugh Jackman/Alfred Molina/John Tartaglia/Hunter Foster/Euan Morton
ACTRESSES: Donna Murphy/Kristin Chenoweth/Tonya Pinkins/Stephanie D'Abruzzo/Idina Menzel
***For more categories and more nominees, visit the official Tony Award site:
http://www.tonyawards.com/en_US/index.ht...
Watch this year's broadcast on Sunday, June 6 on CBS
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