2007 Tonyzzzzzz

Somehow I managed to keep my eyes open during last night's soporific unhosted Tony Awards, which may have been the most boring telecast in Tonys history and that's saying something. Bring back Hugh Jackman! The two big winners each nearly swept their respective categories, with Spring Awakening winning eight musical awards and The Coast Of Utopia taking seven Tonys, a record for a play.

Sadly, my beloved Kiki & Herb did not win for Special Theatrical Event, losing out to ventriloquist Jay Johnson in a race that the New York Times had characterized as "the dummy versus the drag queen." Boo. Also: boo, boo, boo.

David Hyde Pierce was a surprise Best Actor (Musical) winner for his performance in Curtains, bringing the only real suspense of the evening for me as I waited to see if the recently out Pierce would thank his partner. He did, but unfortunately his acknowledgement came at the end of his acceptance speech as the orchestra began playing him off the stage. Pierce said, "...and my partner Brian, 'cause it's 24 years of listening to your damn notes, that's why I'm up here tonight. Thank you." The camera did a quick shot to a beaming middle-aged man in the audience, but they'd been cutting to so many other people that Pierce thanked, I've no idea if that was Brian. (UPDATE: It was.) Still, good for Pierce.

Musical Winners:
Musical - Spring Awakening
Director - Michael Mayer / Spring Awakening
Actor - David Hyde Pierce / Curtains
Actress - Christine Ebersole / Grey Gardens
Featured Actor - John Gallagher/ Spring Awakening
Featured Actress - Mary Louise Wilson /Grey Gardens
Choreography - Bill T. Jones / Spring Awakening
Score - Duncan Sheik & Steven Sater/Spring Awakening
Orchestration - Duncan Sheik / Spring Awakening
Book - Steven Sater / Spring Awakening
Revival - Company
Sets - Bob Crowley / Mary Poppins
Costumes - William Ivey Long / Grey Gardens
Lighting - Kevin Adams / Spring Awakening

Play Winners:
Play - The Coast Of Utopia
Director - Jack O'Brien / The Coast Of Utopia
Actor - Frank Langella / Frost/Nixon
Actress - Julie White / The Little Dog Laughed
Featured Actor - Billy Crudup / The Coast Of Utopia
Featured Actress - Jennifer Ehle / The Coast Of Utopia
Revival - Journey's End
Sets - Bob Crowley & Scott Pask / The Coast Of Utopia
Costumes - Catherine Zuber / The Coast Of Utopia
Lighting -Brian MacDevitt, Kenneth Posner, and Natasha Katz / The Coast Of Utopia

NOTE: Thanks to reader Brad, for getting the full Pierce quote.

UPDATE: I snagged the below photo of David Hyde Pierce's partner, Brian Hargrove, from Towleroad.