Two Shows Dominate 2007 Tony Awards

Jun 11, 07:35 AM

Current Headlines: By MICHAEL KUCHWARA

By Michael Kuchwara

The Associated Press

NEW YORK

"Spring Awakening," a pounding post-rock musical of teenage sexual anxiety, and Tom Stoppard's "The Coast of Utopia," a sprawling tale of 19th-century Russian intellectuals, dominated the 2007 Tony Awards on Sunday.

"Spring Awakening" captured eight awards, including best musical , and "The Coast of Utopia" had seven, including best play, a Tony record. The previous record was six, held by "Death of A Salesman" and "History Boys."

"Spring Awakening" picked up the best score award for Duncan Sheik and lyricist Steven Sater, who also received the prize for book of a musical.

Its director, Michael Mayer, also won as did John Gallagher Jr., who portrays a manic student in the show. He received the featured- actor musical prize.

"Heaven must feel like this," enthused Gallagher, 22.

Bill T. Jones danced down the aisle as he accepted his award for choreography for the musical. "I am a happy man," Jones said.

Stoppard's epic also was successful in picking up awards. Jack O'Brien, its director, won, as did two of the featured players in its large cast - Billy Crudup and Jennifer Ehle.

"Utopia" also swept the play technical awards, winning prizes for sets, costumes and lighting. The musical technical nods were split three ways: sets, "Mary Poppins"; costumes, "Grey Gardens" and lighting, "Spring Awakening."

Christine Ebersole took home the actress-musical prize for her critically acclaimed performance in "Grey Gardens."

Frank Langella, winning his third Tony, took the actor-play prize for his sympathetic portrait of Richard M. Nixon in "Frost/Nixon." "I am very proud to work among you splendid people," Langella said.

"I can't believe anything," said an emotional David Hyde Pierce, whose portrayal of a musical-theater loving detective in "Curtains" was a surprise winner of the actor-musical prize.

Also in something of an upset, an ebullient Julie White received the actress-play award for her portrayal of a conniving agent in Douglas Carter Beane's satiric "The Little Dog Laughed." Said a disbelieving White, "You Tony voters - what a bunch of wacky, crazy kids."

Equally overjoyed was Mary Louise Wilson, who received the featured actress-musical prize for her role as the eccentric Big Edie in "Grey Gardens."

She came on stage and said, "Everyone has been so articulate." Then she let out a howl of delight as the audience cheered.

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