32nd Tony Awards

The 32nd Annual Tony Awards was broadcast by CBS television on June 4, 1978 from the Shubert Theatre in New York City. (This was the first time that CBS broadcast the ceremony, which had previously been shown on the ABC television network.)Thomas, Robert Jr."New York Times", "Ain't Misbehavin" and Da Win Tonys", June 5, 1978, p.C18]

Presenters were Ed Asner, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Carol Channing, Bonnie Franklin, Robert Guillaume, Julie Harris, Helen Hayes, Bob Hope, Gene Kelly, Linda Lavin, Jack Lemmon, Hal Linden, Roy Scheider, and Dick Van Patten.

Bonnie Franklin introduced each segment from her seat in the audience. Bob Hope presented the "Lawrence Langer" Special Award to Irving Berlin, who was not present at the ceremony.The theme of the ceremony was "footlights", with each presenter telling of the first time they saw live theatre.

Musicals represented: "The Act" ("City Lights" - Liza Minnelli and Company); "Ain't Misbehavin'" ("Ladies Who Sing with the Band"/"Off Time" - Company); "Dancin'" ("Sing, Sing, Sing" - Company); "On The Twentieth Century" ("On The Twentieth Century" - Company); "Runaways" (Medley - Company).

Winners and nominees

"Winners are in bold "

Production

Best Play----
*"Da" by Hugh Leonard. Produced by Lester Osterman, Marilyn Strauss, and Marc Howard
*"Chapter Two" by Neil Simon. Produced by Emanuel Azenberg
*"Deathtrap" by Ira Levin. Produced by Alfred De Liagre, Jr., and Roger L. Stevens
*"The Gin Game" by D. L. Coburn. Produced by The Shubert Organization, Hume Cronyn, and Mike Nichols

Best Musical----
*"Ain't Misbehavin'". Produced by Emanuel Azenberg, Dasha Epstein, The Shubert Organization, Jane Gaynor, and Ron Dante
*"Dancin'". Produced by Jules Fisher, The Shubert Organization, and Columbia Pictures
*"On the Twentieth Century". Produced by The Producers Circle 2, Inc. (Robert Fryer, Mary Lea Johnson, James Cresson, and Martin Richards), Joseph Harris, and Ira Bernstein
*"Runaways". Produced by Joseph Papp

Most Innovative Production of a Revival----
*"Dracula". Produced by Jujamcyn Theaters, Elizabeth I. McCann, John Wulp, Victor Lurie, Nelle Nugent, and Max Weitzenhoffer
*"Tartuffe". Produced by Circle in the Square
*"Timbuktu!" Produced by Luther Davis
*"A Touch of the Poet". Produced by Elliot Martin

Performance

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play----
*Barnard Hughes ("Da")
*Hume Cronyn ("The Gin Game")
*Frank Langella ("Dracula")
*Jason Robards ("A Touch of the Poet")

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play----
*Jessica Tandy ("The Gin Game")
*Anne Bancroft ("Golda")
*Anita Gillette ("Chapter Two")
*Estelle Parsons ("Miss Margarida's Way")

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical----
*John Cullum ("On the Twentieth Century")
*Eddie Bracken ("Hello, Dolly!")
*Barry Nelson ("The Act")
*Gilbert Price ("Timbuktu!")

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical----
*Liza Minnelli ("The Act")
*Madeline Kahn ("On the Twentieth Century")
*Eartha Kitt ("Timbuktu!")
*Frances Sternhagen ("Angel")

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play----
*Lester Rawlins ("Da")
*Morgan Freeman ("The Mighty Gents")
*Victor Garber ("Deathtrap")
*Cliff Gorman ("Chapter Two")

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play----
*Ann Wedgeworth ("Chapter Two")
*Starletta DuPois ("The Mighty Gents")
*Swoosie Kurtz ("Tartuffe")
*Marian Seldes ("Deathtrap")

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical----
*Kevin Kline ("On the Twentieth Century")
*Steven Boockvor ("Working")
*Wayne Cilento ("Dancin' ")
*Rex Everhart ("Working")

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical----
*Nell Carter ("Ain't Misbehavin' ")
*Imogene Coca ("On the Twentieth Century")
*Ann Reinking ("Dancin' ")
*Charlaine Woodard ("Ain't Misbehavin' ")

Craft

Best Direction of a Play----
*Melvin Bernhardt ("Da")
*Robert Moore ("Deathtrap")
*Mike Nichols ("The Gin Game")
*Dennis Rosa ("Dracula")

Best Direction of a Musical----
*Richard Maltby, Jr. ("Ain't Misbehavin' ")
*Bob Fosse ("Dancin' ")
*Harold Prince ("On the Twentieth Century")
*Elizabeth Swados ("Runaways")

Best Choreography----
*Bob Fosse ("Dancin' ")
*Arthur Faria ("Ain't Misbehavin' ")
*Ron Lewis ("The Act")
*Elizabeth Swados ("Runaways")

Best Book of a Musical----
*"On the Twentieth Century" by Betty Comden and Adolph Green
*"A History of the American Film" by Christopher Durang
*"Runaways by Elizabeth Swados
*"Working" by Stephen Schwartz

Best Original Score Written for the Theatre----
*"On the Twentieth Century". Music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green
*"The Act". Music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb
*"Runaways". Music and lyrics by Elizabeth Swados
*"Working". Music and lyrics by Craig Carnelia, Micki Grant, Mary Rodgers, Susan Birkenhead, Stephen Schwartz, and James Taylor

Best Scenic Design----
*Robin Wagner ("On the Twentieth Century")
*Zack Brown ("The Importance of Being Earnest")
*Edward Gorey ("Dracula")
*David Mitchell ("Working")

Tony Award for Best Costume Design----
*Edward Gorey ("Dracula")
*Halston ("The Act")
*Geoffrey Holder ("Timbuktu!")
*Willa Kim ("Dancin' ")

Tony Award for Best Lighting Designer----
*Jules Fisher ("Dancin"')
*Jules Fisher ("Beatlemania")
*Tharon Musser ("The Act")
*Ken Billington ("Working")

pecial awards

*Lawrence Langner Memorial Award for Distinguished Lifetime Achievement in the American Theatre – Irving Berlin
*Theatre Award '78 - To the creators, Charles Moss and Stan Dragoti (of Wells, Rich, Greene, Inc.) of the I Love New York Broadway Show Tours and its sponsor, the New York State Department of Commerce
*Regional Theatre Award - The Long Wharf Theatre, New Haven, Connecticut

References

ee also

Tony awards

External links

* [http://www.tonyawards.com/en_US/index.html Tony Awards Official Site]