Tom Stoppard's The Coast Of Utopia and new musical Spring Awakening collected more than half the awards handed out at the 2008 Tony Awards yesterday, winning in 15 of the 26 categories. Though London transfers were well represented among the nominations, they won only three awards on the night; Frank Langella for Best Performance By A Leading Actor In A Play (Frost/Nixon), Journey's End for Best Revival and Bob Crowley for Best Scenic Design Of A Musical (Mary Poppins).
Spring Awakening had the largest award haul of the night, collecting eight wins from 11 nominations. The musical, based on Frank Wederkind's play of the same title, is a tale of teenagers discovering their sexuality in 1891 Germany. Spring Awakening beat shows such as Curtains, Legally Blonde The Musical and the transfer of Mary Poppins to win in categories including Best Musical, Best Book Of A Musical, Best Original Score, Best Performance By A Featured Actor In A Musical and Best Direction Of A Musical.
The Coast Of Utopia had one less win than Spring Awakening, collecting seven awards from 10 nominations. Stoppard's trilogy, which covers three generations of life in Russia, was originally staged at the National Theatre in 2002. The Lincoln Center production won awards including Best Play, Best Performance By A Featured Actor In A Play (Billy Crudup), Best Performance By A Featured Actress In A Play (Jennifer Ehle) and Best Direction Of A Play. The production also won the Best Scenic Design Of A Play Award, a second win of the night for Crowley, who jointly designed with Scott Pask.
John Doyle's production of Company won the Best Revival Of A Musical Award, though Doyle missed out on the Best Direction Of A Musical Award, while other awards went to Julie White (Best Performance By A Leading Actress In A Play for The Little Dog Laughed), David Hyde Pierce (Best Performance By A Leading Actor In A Musical for Curtains), and Christine Ebersole and Mary Louise Wilson (Best Performance By A Leading and Featured Actress In A Musical for Grey Gardens).
The Tony Awards, Broadway's equivalent of London theatre’s prestigious Laurence Olivier Awards, were presented at a ceremony at Radio City Music Hall last night. For more information, visit www.tonyawards.com
MA