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1974 TONY AWARDS, THE (TV)

Summary

The twenty-eighth annual presentation of the American Theatre Wing Tony (Antoinette Perry) awards for excellence in the Broadway theater, telecast live from the Shubert Theatre in New York. This year's program, hosted by Peter Falk, Florence Henderson, Robert Preston, and Cicely Tyson, has a theme of "Homecoming," in which stars from television and film return to their Broadway roots to help present the awards and perform. Preston opens the ceremonies before the current players of "Over Here" (including John Travolta) sing and dance to "Over Here"/"Charlie's Place." Then, Jane Powell presents the award for Best Scenic Designer to Franne and Eugene Lee ("Candide"); Esther Rolle presents the award for Best Lighting Designer to Jules Fisher ("Ulysses in Nighttown"); and Karen Black presents the award for Best Costume Designer to Franne Lee ("Candide"). Next, Beatrice Arthur performs "There Goes My Life" from "A Mother's Kisses." Michael Learned presents a special award to "Candide" for its "outstanding contribution to the artistic development of the musical theater." Then, Will Geer sings a medley from "Cradle Will Rock." Lesley Ann Warren presents the award for Best Choreographer to Michael Bennett ("Seesaw"). Ralph Carter sings "Sidewalk Tree." David Carradine presents the award for Best Supporting Actress, Musical to Janie Sell ("Over Here!"), and Suzanne Pleshette presents an award for Best Supporting Actor, Musical to Tommy Tune ("Seesaw"). Next, Charles Nelson Reilly performs a medley of comedic songs from Broadway shows. Lynn Redgrave presents a special award, the Theatre '74 Award, to the Theatre Development Fund.

Joel Grey performs a medley from "George M!" Then, he presents a special award to "A Moon for the Misbegotten" for being an outstanding revival of an American classic. Next, Edward Asner presents an award for Best Supporting Actress, Play to Frances Sternhagen ("The Good Doctor"), and Cloris Leachman presents an award for Best Supporting Actor, Play to Ed Flanders ("A Moon for the Misbegotten"). Then, Carol Channing, Peter Palmer, and Ian Tucker perform "Men" from "Lorelei." Next, Johnny Carson discusses his dubious stage credentials before presenting a special award to Bette Midler for "adding luster" to the Broadway season. Alice Faye and John Payne perform "You're the Cream in My Coffee" from "Good News." Then, Carol O'Connor presents the award for Best Director, Play to Jose Quintero ("A Moon for the Misbegotten"). Then, Channing presents a special award to the costars of "Good Evening," Dudley Moore and Peter Cook, for being so "howlingly funny." Then, Michelle Lee performs "I'm Way Ahead"/"Seesaw" from "Seesaw." Then, Nancy Walker, Charles Nelson Reilly, et al., perform "Upper Berth" from "Phoenix '55." Henry Fonda presents the award for Best Play to "The River Niger." Next, Virginia Capers performs "Whole Lotta Sunshine" from "Raisin." Peter Falk presents a special award to Liza Minnelli for "adding luster" to the Broadway season. Then, Gynis Johns presents Best Director, Musical to Harold Prince ("Candide"). Clevon Little performs "New Fangled Preacher Man" from "Purple." The Andrews Sisters perform "Over Here." Elizabeth Montgomery presents Best Actor, Musical to Christopher Plummer ("Cyrano"); Al Pacino presents Best Actress, Play to Colleen Dewhurst ("A Moon for the Misbegotten"); Elliot Gould presents Best Score, Musical to Frederick Lowe and Alan Jay Lerner ("Gigi"), though neither are there to accept; Joel Grey presents Best Book, Musical to Hugh Wheeler ("Candide"); Marlo Thomas presents Best Musical to "Raisin"; Alan Alda presents Best Actress, Musical to Virginia Capers ("Raisin"); and Bette Davis presents Best Actor, Play to Michael Moriarty ("Find Your Way Home"). Commercials deleted.

The acquisition and cataloging of The Theater Collection was made made possible by The Park Foundation, Inc., and the Verizon Foundation.

Details

  • NETWORK: ABC
  • DATE: April 21, 1974 8:00 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 2:42:42
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: T:71672
  • GENRE: Award presentations
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Musical revues, comedies, etc. - excerpts; Theater Collection, The; Tony Awards - 1974
  • SERIES RUN: ABC - TV, 1974
  • COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

  • Alexander H. Cohen … Producer
  • Roy A. Somlyo … Associate Producer
  • Clark Jones … Director
  • Enid Victor … Direction (Misc.), Associate Director
  • Hildy Parks … Writer
  • Bob Herget … Choreographer
  • Elliot Lawrence … Music (Misc. Credits), Musical Director
  • Peter Falk … Host
  • Florence Henderson … Host
  • Robert Preston … Host
  • Cicely Tyson … Host
  • Beatrice Arthur … Performer
  • Ralph Carter … Performer
  • Will Geer … Performer
  • Charles Nelson Reilly … Performer
  • John Travolta … Performer
  • Andrews Sisters, The … Performer
  • Virginia Capers … Performer
  • Carol Channing … Performer
  • Alice Faye … Performer
  • Joel Grey … Performer
  • Michele Lee … Performer
  • Clevon Little … Performer
  • Peter Palmer … Performer
  • John Payne … Performer
  • Charles Nelson Reilly … Performer
  • Ian Tucker … Performer
  • Nancy Walker … Performer
  • Alan Alda
  • Edward Asner
  • Michael Bennett
  • Karen Black
  • David Carradine
  • Johnny Carson
  • Peter Cook
  • Bette Davis
  • Colleen Dewhurst
  • Jules Fisher
  • Ed Flanders
  • Henry Fonda
  • Elliott Gould
  • Glynis Johns
  • Cloris Leachman
  • Michael Learned
  • Eugene Lee
  • Franne Lee
  • Alan Jay Lerner
  • Frederick Lowe
  • Bette Midler
  • Liza Minnelli
  • Elizabeth Montgomery
  • Dudley Moore
  • Michael Moriarty
  • Carroll O'Connor
  • Suzanne Pleshette
  • Christopher Plummer
  • Jane Powell
  • Harold Prince
  • Jose Quintero
  • Lynn Redgrave
  • Esther Rolle
  • Janie Sell
  • Frances Sternhagen
  • Marlo Thomas
  • Tommy Tune
  • Lesley Ann Warren
  • Hugh Wheeler