Fun Homea production based on lesbian Alison Bechdel's graphic memoir of the same namewon five awards ( including best musical ) at the 69th Tony Awards on June 7.
The musical, by Lisa Kron and Jeanine Tesori, also won for book, score, direction of a musical and best actor in a musical ( Michael Cerveris ). Kron and Tesori became the first women to win for original score.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time also took five awards ( best play, direction, sets, lighting and actor in a play, for Alex Sharp, in his Broadway debut ).
Dame Helen Mirren won for best actress in a play for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in The Audience. ( She earned an Oscar playing the same monarch in 2008's The Queen. ) In one of the night's most hotly contested categories, Kelli O'Hara won for best actress in a musical for her role in The King and I, edging competitors such as Chita Rivera and event co-host Kristin Chenoweth.
Special Tonys were given to Stephen Schwartz, composer of Wicked and Godspell, and John Cameron Mitchell, who wrote the current Broadway hit Hedwig and the Angry Inch with Stephen Trask.
In addition, a lifetime achievement award was given to dancer, actor and director Tommy Tune. In part, Tune said, "We know that Broadway has a universal mystique, and I am proud and humbled to be part of our Broadway universe. It is vast and inclusive and I believe that all of it, ALL OF IT, is simply an expression of love. What I did for love. What we do for love. On with the show."
Alan Cumming co-hosted the Tonys with Chenoweth.
Text by Andrew Davis