# 50th Tony Awards

The 50th Annual Tony Awards was broadcast by CBS from the Majestic Theatre on June 2, 1996. Nathan Lane was the host.

## Eligibility

Shows that opened on Broadway during the 1995–1996 season before May 2, 1996 are eligible.

## The ceremony

The opening number was "The Show Must Go On" performed by Liza Minnelli and Bernadette Peters, with Tony Award Alumni.
Presenters included: Bea Arthur, Edward Albee, Christine Baranski, Harry Belafonte, Matthew Broderick, Diahann Carroll, Hume Cronyn, Nanette Fabray, Robert Goulet, Gregory Hines, Uta Hagen, James Earl Jones, John Lithgow, Liza Minnelli, Patricia Neal, Sarah Jessica Parker, Bernadette Peters, John Rubinstein, Jane Seymour, Ron Silver, Lily Tomlin, Ben Vereen, Eli Wallach, Ray Walston, Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Musicals represented:
* A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum ("Comedy Tonight" – Nathan Lane and Company);
* The King and I ("Shall We Dance?" – Lou Diamond Phillips, Donna Murphy, and children);
* Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk ("Taxi"/"Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk" – Savion Glover, Ann Duquesnay, Jeffrey Wright and Company);
* Big ("Fun" – Daniel Jenkins, Jon Cypher and Company);
* State Fair ("All I Owe I-Oh-Way" – John Davidson, Andrea McArdle, and Company);
* Rent ("Seasons of Love"/"La Vie Boheme" – Anthony Rapp, Taye Diggs, Adam Pascal, Idina Menzel and Company);
* Chronicle of a Death Foretold;
* Swinging on a Star ("Swinging on a Star" – Company)

## Award winners and nominees

Winners are in bold
| Best Play | Best Musical |
| Master Class – Terrence McNally Buried Child – Sam Shepard Racing Demon – David Hare Seven Guitars – August Wilson | Rent Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk Chronicle of a Death Foretold Swinging on a Star |
| Best Revival of a Play | Best Revival of a Musical |
| A Delicate Balance A Midsummer Night's Dream An Ideal Husband Inherit the Wind | The King and I A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Company Hello, Dolly! |
| Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play | Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play |
| George Grizzard – A Delicate Balance as Tobias Philip Bosco – Moon Over Buffalo as George Hay George C. Scott – Inherit the Wind as Henry Drummond Martin Shaw – An Ideal Husband as Lord Goring | Zoe Caldwell – Master Class as Maria Callas Carol Burnett – Moon Over Buffalo as Charlotte Hay Rosemary Harris – A Delicate Balance as Agnes Elaine Stritch – A Delicate Balance as Claire |
| Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical | Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical |
| Nathan Lane – A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum as Pseudolus Savion Glover – Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk as 'da Beat/Lil' Dahlin' Adam Pascal – Rent as Roger Davis Lou Diamond Phillips – The King and I as The King of Siam | Donna Murphy – The King and I as Anna Leonowens Crista Moore – Big as Susan Lawrence Daphne Rubin-Vega – Rent as Mimi Marquez Julie Andrews – Victor/Victoria (declined nomination) as Victoria Grant |
| Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play | Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play |
| Ruben Santiago-Hudson – Seven Guitars as Canewell James Gammon – Buried Child as Dodge Roger Robinson – Seven Guitars as Hedley Reg Rogers – Holiday as Ned Seton | Audra McDonald – Master Class as Sharon Graham Viola Davis – Seven Guitars as Vera Michele Shay – Seven Guitars as Louise Lois Smith – Buried Child as Halie |
| Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical | Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical |
| Wilson Jermaine Heredia – Rent as Angel Dumott Schunard Lewis J. Stadlen – A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum as Senex Brett Tabisel – Big as Billy Scott Wise – State Fair as Pat Gilbert | Ann Duquesnay – Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk as 'da Singer/The Chanteuse Joohee Choi – The King and I as Tuptim Veanne Cox – Company as Amy Idina Menzel – Rent as Maureen Johnson |
| Best Book of a Musical | Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre |
| Jonathan Larson – Rent John Weidman – Big Reg E. Gaines – Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk Graciela Daniele, Jim Lewis and Michael John LaChiusa – Chronicle of a Death Foretold | Rent – Jonathan Larson (music and lyrics) Big – David Shire (music) and Richard Maltby, Jr. (lyrics) Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk – Daryl Waters and Zane Mark (music), Ann Duquesnay (music & lyrics), George C. Wolfe and Reg E. Gaines (lyrics) State Fair – Richard Rodgers (music) and Oscar Hammerstein II (lyrics) |
| Best Scenic Design | Best Costume Design |
| Brian Thomson – The King and I John Lee Beatty – A Delicate Balance Scott Bradley – Seven Guitars Anthony Ward – A Midsummer Night's Dream | Roger Kirk – The King and I Jane Greenwood – A Delicate Balance Allison Reeds – Buried Child Paul Tazewell – Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk |
| Best Lighting Design | Best Choreography |
| Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer – Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk Christopher Akerlind – Seven Guitars Blake Burba – Rent Nigel Levings – The King and I | Savion Glover – Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk Graciela Daniele – Chronicle of a Death Foretold Susan Stroman – Big Marlies Yearby – Rent |
| Best Direction of a Play | Best Direction of a Musical |
| Gerald Gutierrez – A Delicate Balance Peter Hall – An Ideal Husband Lloyd Richards – Seven Guitars Gary Sinise – Buried Child | George C. Wolfe – Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk Michael Greif – Rent Christopher Renshaw – The King and I Jerry Zaks – A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum |

## Special awards

* Special Regional Theatre Award
** Alley Theatre, Houston, Texas