The 63rd Annual Tony Awards saw its best ratings since 2006 on Sunday night, with 7.45 million viewers watching the telecast on CBS, according to Nielsen Media Research.
The awards were hosted by Neil Patrick Harris and had double-digit
percentage gains in both viewers and key demographics since the previous year. In 2008, 6.27 million tuned in, making it a 19% increase this year.
“Billy Elliot, The Musical,” with a score composed by Elton John (music) and Lee Hall (lyrics), was nominated for 15 awards. It took home ten awards, including Best Musical, Best Orchestrations (Martin Koch) and Best Book of a Musical (Hall). Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical went to David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik and Kiril Kulish. Gregory Jbara won Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical.
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre was
awarded to “Next to Normal,” with music by Tom Kitt and lyrics by Brian Yorkey. The musical was nominated for 11 awards and brought home three, including one by Alice Ripley for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical. Best Orchestration was also awarded to Michael Starobin and Kitt.
Best Revival of a Musical was received by “Hair,” which was nominated for eight awards. Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical was taken home by Karen Olivo of “West Side Story,” which was nominated for four awards.
Updated Tony ratings will be available Tuesday.
