'Memphis' Wins Best Musical Tony Award

"Memphis," an interracial romance set against the backdrop of the 1950s rhythm 'n' blues explosion, has won the 2010 Tony Award for best musical.

The show of soulful sounds and a parade of engaging characters beat out "Fela!" - the innovative Afro-beat biography of Nigerian superstar Fela Anikulapo-Kuti; Green Day's rock musical "American Idiot"; and "Million Dollar Quartet," a fictional re-creation of a jam session of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis in a Memphis recording studio.

Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong and Mike Dirnt performed with the cast of "American Idiot," which did win Tonys for best scenic design of a musical and best lighting design of a musical.

The Tonys were telecast Sunday by CBS, live from Radio City Music Hall.