# 51st Tony Awards

The 51st Annual Tony Awards was broadcast by CBS from Radio City Music Hall on June 1, 1997. "Launching the Tonys" was telecast on PBS television. The event was hosted by Rosie O'Donnell. The awards ceremony moved away from Broadway for the first time in 30 years. As Radio City Music Hall is much larger than any Broadway theater, this allowed members of the general public to attend the ceremony.
Chicago won six awards, the most of the night, including Best Revival of a Musical. Jonathan Tunick's win for Titanic made him the seventh person to become an EGOT winner.

## Eligibility

Shows that opened on Broadway during the 1996–1997 season before May 1, 1997 are eligible.

## The ceremony

The opening number: "On Broadway" - Rosie O'Donnell; "Rent" - cast of Rent; "Jellicle Cats" - cast of Cats; "I'm A Woman" - female cast of Smokey Joe's Cafe, "Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk" - cast of Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk; "Greased Lightnin'" - Rosie O'Donnell and cast of Grease; "Be Our Guest" - cast of Beauty and the Beast.
Presenters: Julie Andrews, Lauren Bacall, Alec Baldwin, Christine Baranski, Dixie Carter, Savion Glover, Whoopi Goldberg, Joel Grey, Marilu Henner, Hal Holbrook, Swoosie Kurtz, Liza Minnelli, Mary Tyler Moore, Mandy Patinkin, Bernadette Peters, Chita Rivera, Roseanne Barr, Susan Sarandon, Jimmy Smits, Marisa Tomei, Rip Torn, Leslie Ann Warren, Raquel Welch.
Musicals represented:
* Steel Pier — "Everybody Dance" - Karen Ziemba, Gregory Harrison, Company
* The Life — "My Body" - Sam Harris, Lillias White, Company
* Annie — "Tomorrow" - Brittny Kissinger
* Candide — "Bon Voyage" - Jim Dale, Company
* Once Upon a Mattress — "Shy" - Sarah Jessica Parker, Company
* Chicago — "All That Jazz"/"Hot Honey Rag" - Bebe Neuwirth, Ann Reinking, Company
* Titanic — "There She Is" - Michael Cerveris, Company

## Winners and nominees

Winners are in bold
| Best Play | Best Musical |
| The Last Night of Ballyhoo – Alfred Uhry Skylight – David Hare Stanley – Pam Gems The Young Man from Atlanta – Horton Foote | Titanic Juan Darien Steel Pier The Life |
| Best Revival of a Play | Best Revival of a Musical |
| A Doll's House London Assurance Present Laughter The Gin Game | Chicago Annie Candide Once Upon a Mattress |
| Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play | Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play |
| Christopher Plummer – Barrymore as John Barrymore Brian Bedford – London Assurance as Sir Harcourt Courtly Michael Gambon – Skylight as Tom Sergeant Antony Sher – Stanley as Stanley | Janet McTeer – A Doll's House as Nora Helmer Julie Harris – The Gin Game as Fonsia Dorsey Shirley Knight – The Young Man from Atlanta as Lily Dale Kidder Lia Williams – Skylight as Kyra Hollis |
| Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical | Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical |
| James Naughton – Chicago as Billy Flynn Robert Cuccioli – Jekyll & Hyde as Dr. Henry Jekyll/Edward Hyde Jim Dale – Candide as Various Characters Daniel McDonald – Steel Pier as Bill Kelly | Bebe Neuwirth – Chicago as Velma Kelly Pamela Isaacs – The Life as Queen Tonya Pinkins – Play On! as Lady Liv Karen Ziemba – Steel Pier as Rita Racine |
| Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play | Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play |
| Owen Teale – A Doll's House as Torvald Helmer Terry Beaver – The Last Night of Ballyhoo as Adolph Brian Murray – The Little Foxes as Oscar William Biff McGuire – The Young Man from Atlanta as Pete Davenport | Lynne Thigpen – An American Daughter as Dr. Judith B. Kaufman Helen Carey – London Assurance as Lady Gay Spanker Dana Ivey – The Last Night of Ballyhoo as Boo Celia Weston – The Last Night of Ballyhoo as Aunt Reba |
| Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical | Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical |
| Chuck Cooper – The Life as Memphis Joel Blum – Steel Pier as Buddy Becker André De Shields – Play On! as Jester Sam Harris – The Life as Jojo | Lillias White – The Life as Sonja Marcia Lewis – Chicago as Matron Mama Morton Andrea Martin – Candide as The Old Lady Debra Monk – Steel Pier as Shelby Stevens |
| Best Book of a Musical | Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre |
| Peter Stone – Titanic Leslie Bricusse – Jekyll & Hyde David Thompson – Steel Pier David Newman, Ira Gasman and Cy Coleman – The Life | Titanic – Maury Yeston (music and lyrics) Juan Darien – Elliot Goldenthal (music and lyrics) Steel Pier – John Kander (music) and Fred Ebb (lyrics) The Life – Cy Coleman (music) and Ira Gasman (lyrics) |
| Best Scenic Design | Best Costume Design |
| Stewart Laing – Titanic John Lee Beatty – The Little Foxes G. W. Mercier and Julie Taymor – Juan Darien Tony Walton – Steel Pier | Judith Dolan – Candide Ann Curtis – Jekyll & Hyde William Ivey Long – Chicago Martin Pakledinaz – The Life |
| Best Lighting Design | Best Orchestrations |
| Ken Billington – Chicago Beverly Emmons – Jekyll & Hyde Donald Holder – Juan Darien Richard Pilbrow – The Life | Jonathan Tunick – Titanic Michael Gibson – Steel Pier Luther Henderson – Play On! Don Sebesky and Harold Wheeler – The Life |
| Best Direction of a Play | Best Direction of a Musical |
| Anthony Page – A Doll's House John Caird – Stanley Richard Eyre – Skylight Charles Nelson Reilly – The Gin Game | Walter Bobbie – Chicago Michael Blakemore – The Life Scott Ellis – Steel Pier Julie Taymor – Juan Darien |
| Best Choreography |
| Ann Reinking – Chicago Wayne Cilento – Dream Joey McKneely – The Life Susan Stroman – Steel Pier |

## Special awards

* Regional Theater Tony Award
** Berkeley Repertory Theatre
* Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre
** Bernard B. Jacobs (posthumously)