63rd Tony Awards

63rd Tony Awards
63rd Tony Awards poster
DateJune 7, 2009
LocationRadio City Music Hall
Hosted byNeil Patrick Harris
Most awardsBilly Elliot the Musical (10)
Most nominationsBilly Elliot the Musical (15)
Websitetonyawards.com
Television/radio coverage
NetworkCBS
Viewership7.4 million[1]
Produced byRicky Kirshner
Glenn Weiss
Directed byGlenn Weiss
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The 63rd Annual Tony Awards, which recognized Broadway productions of the 2008-2009 season, were presented on June 7, 2009 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The ceremony was broadcast by CBS, hosted by Neil Patrick Harris.[2]

The cut-off date for eligibility for the awards was April 30, 2009.[3] Nominations were announced on May 5, 2009 by Cynthia Nixon and Lin-Manuel Miranda.[4] Of the musicals, Billy Elliot the Musical received 15 nominations, every one that it was eligible for, which tied for the most received by any Broadway production[5] until this record was surpassed by Hamilton (16), followed by the Pulitzer Prize for Drama winner Next to Normal with eleven. Among the nominees for Best Revival of a Musical, Hair had the most nominations, with eight. Of the plays, the revivals Mary Stuart and The Norman Conquests tied for the most nominations, with seven each. All four stars of God of Carnage were nominated, as was the play itself. [6] Billy Elliot won 10 awards, the most of the night, including Best Musical. Next to Normal and God of Carnage each won three.[7]

The Isabelle Stevenson Award, a non-competitive award named after the late president of the American Theatre Wing, was presented for the first time. Its purpose is to recognize individuals from the theatre community who have volunteered time to one or more humanitarian, social service, or charitable organizations. The first recipient of this honor was Phyllis Newman. This was the first non-competitive category to be introduced since the Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre was established in 1990.[8]

The broadcast won the 2009 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Class Programs. The telecast also was nominated in the category of Outstanding Art Direction for Variety, Music or Nonfiction Programming.[9]

  1. ^ Porter, Rick (June 13, 2010). "Tony Awards Ratings History". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 16, 2017. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  2. ^ Gans, Andrew (May 14, 2009). "Neil Patrick Harris to Host 63rd Annual Tony Awards". Playbill. Archived from the original on May 18, 2009. Retrieved June 8, 2009.
  3. ^ Gans, Andrew (December 4, 2008). "Tony Rulings: American Buffalo Ineligible for Nomination". Playbill. Archived from the original on January 7, 2009. Retrieved June 8, 2009.
  4. ^ Gans, Andrew (January 9, 2009). "2009 Tony Award Nominations Will Be Announced May 5". Playbill. Archived from the original on April 30, 2009. Retrieved June 8, 2009.
  5. ^ Gans, Andrew (May 5, 2009). "Nominations for 2009 Tony Awards Announced; Billy Elliot Earns 15 Nominations". Playbill.com. Archived from the original on May 8, 2009. Retrieved May 5, 2009.
  6. ^ Jones, Kenneth; Andrew Gans (May 5, 2009). "Nominations for 2009 Tony Awards Announced". Playbill. Archived from the original on May 8, 2009. Retrieved June 8, 2009.
  7. ^ "Tony Award Winners". Retrieved June 8, 2009.
  8. ^ Gans, Andrew (October 8, 2008). "Tony Awards to Present Isabelle Stevenson Award in May 2009". Playbill. Archived from the original on December 11, 2008. Retrieved June 8, 2009.
  9. ^ Jones, Kenneth."The 2009 Tony Awards Broadcast Wins Emmy; Neil Patrick Harris Is a "Glee"-ful Winner" Archived September 25, 2010, at the Wayback Machine playbill.com, August 21, 2010