79th Tony Awards Open as "Schmigadoon!" Claims 1st Best Book Win
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 7
79th Tony Awards Open as "Schmigadoon!" Claims 1st Best Book Win
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 7
Summary
"Schmigadoon!" took Best Book of a Musical for Cinco Paul as the 79th Tony Awards got underway Sunday night at Radio City Music Hall.
The ceremony began with several prizes handed out in a 6:35 p.m. preshow before the main CBS broadcast at 8 p.m., with Pink hosting the telecast and Laura Benanti and Tituss Burgess leading the early awards.
"Schmigadoon!" entered the night as a top contender, tied with "The Lost Boys" at 12 nominations, while revival "Ragtime" followed with 11 and "Death of a Salesman" led plays with 9.
The awards arrive after a lean Broadway season of 11 musicals and revivals, down from 21 a year earlier, even as producers leaned harder on celebrity casting to drive ticket sales.