CNN - 'Rent,' 'Funk' and 'King' take most Tony honors

'Rent,' 'Funk' and 'King' take most Tony honors

June 3, 1996
Web posted at: 12:55 a.m. EDT

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Host Nathan Lane called the show the "Tabloid Tonys," but the 50th annual Tony Awards -- honoring Broadway's best -- went off smoothly Sunday night, despite some pre-show controversy.

Actually, it was the concept of "Broadway's best" that caused most of the controversy. "Victor/Victoria's" Julie Andrews had refused her nomination for best actress in a musical because her show received no other nominations, while the producer of another musical sued the nominating committee claiming his play was treated unfairly.

But with Bernadette Peters and Liza Minelli singing "The Show Must Go On" to open the show, the show did indeed go on. Actor-comedian Lane -- who picked up the Tony for best actor in a musical ("A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum") -- gently ribbed the controversies, especially Andrews.

"If Julie wins tonight, her award will be accepted by a very grateful Susan Lucci," he said. Lucci recently lost the daytime Emmy for best actress for the 16th consecutive time.

But, as it turned out, Lucci would have had no reason to come forward. The best actress in a musical award went to Donna Murphy for "The King and I," and the musical picked up three other awards as well, including best revival of a musical. The win was Murphy's second in three years.

Also winning four Tonys were nomination-leader "Rent," which picked up the best musical award, and "Bring in da Noise, Bring in da Funk," whose director George C. Wolfe won for best direction of a musical.

"Rent" also took best original score and best book for its creator, Jonathan Larson, who died just as the play opened dress rehearsals. His awards were accepted by his sister, Julie, who thanked their parents "who taught him everything about life and the theater and love."

Young tap dancer Savion Glover was honored for his choreography of "Bring in da Noise, Bring in da Funk."

Best play of the year went to Terrence McNally's "Master Class," which also earned Tonys for Zoe Caldwell (leading actress in a play) and Audra McDonald (featured actress in a play).

Edward Albee's "A Delicate Balance" also picked up three awards, including best revival of a play. George Grizzard won best actor in a play for his role in that production. Its director, Gerald Gutierrez, won the award for best direction of a play.

"I'd like to thank every single person I've ever met in my entire life," Gutierrez quipped as he accepted his award.

Ruben Santiago-Hudson ("Seven Guitars") won the award for featured actor in a play, and Wilson Jermaine Heredia ("Rent") and Ann Duquesnay ("Bring in da Noise, Bring in da Funk") were best featured performers in a musical.

The 49-year-old Alley Theater of Houston, Texas, was presented with the Tony award for regional excellence.

Related stories:

1996 Tony Awards -- Winners and Nominees
Acrimony steals show as Tonys mark 50 years - June 2, 1996
Julie Andrews snubs nomination - May 9, 1996

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'Rent,' 'Funk' and 'King' take most Tony honors

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